I was to say 87 for most GM products outside of the TPI, but enlighten me.

I was looking to my next project, and I want it to be a carb motor, so the least amount of computer controlled garbage, the better.

I've been looking at Caprices specifically, but who knows . . .

 

Im pretty sure that every carbd car since 82 at least had the computer and CC Qjet. My 82 olds did. Every american sold thirdgen did. I know that pickups in 81 didnt, but as far as cars, I think all did past 82.

 

The 81 camaro had a computer controlled carb.

 

A long time ago my uncle had told me all cars since 1980 1/2 (effectively 1981 since there weren't any "1/2" models since the 60s) had some form of a computer onboard..

Then again, as above stated, it appears trucks didn't have a computer at all in 1981. Maybe trucks were a year later?

 

Funny thing, neither my 83 nor 84 Camaro's came with ECM's from the factory.
83 had the 2.8, and the 84Z had the LG4.

 

They have to be Canadian or export cars then. All 3rd gens sold in the US had to have computers due to gov regs.

 

Most Canadian cars had computers too. I had an 82 X-body with the H.O. 2.8 and it had a computer controlled carb also. I have heard the rumor that SOME Canadian cars didn't come with a computer (when they should) and I always suspected they were "pulled" by someone.

But as someone else said, 1982 (maybe 81 for a few) was generally the year the majority of GM cars came with some form of computer (even if they only had a carb).

 

There were a lot of canadian cars without the computer setup. But all american ones had it. Although, I would prefer to not have it, which is why I dont.

 

didn't the late 70's cars come with Qjet carbs?

 

Engine management processors first appeared in 1976 on some GM models. 1977 brought more processors on more models. Most domestic GM cars had some form of processor by 1980.

 

Many 70s cars came with the qjet, but not the computer controlled one.

 

The LG4 in the Canadian thirdgens wasn't computer controlled.

 

Not all. I was involved when BC went emissions testing and they had to track down what emission equipment came on what cars in Canada.

Yes, it was found that some manufacturers DID NOT comply with the required emissions and gave "Export" cars instead of "US Federal Emission" cars. But it was more a "hit or miss". No one model was found to be exclusively "Export". It was more "the majority were US Fed but a number of Export ended up in certain parts of Canada.

However, now for the bad news, just because your car is built "Export" doesn't exempt it from BC emissions testing (if you live in the Lower Mainland of BC). In fact, for a lot of models, the BC emission requirements are LESS than California. They lowered the emission limits on my 1991 GTA below California standards (before I relocated to Kamloops which doesn't have emission testing).

Since 1992 ALL cars brought into Canada MUST meet have minimum US Fed emissions - no more Export cars to fill the gap. That is why in BC, if your car may fail emissions and it was built in 1991 or earlier, you can obtain a "waiver" if you spend a minimum amount (use to be $150) to attempt to bring your car in compliance with the emission standard. If your car was buillt in 1992 or later, you have to spend "what ever it takes" to make it pass.

Thus, if you want to modify your engine, 1991s and earlier are the vehicles to get. You only have to spend the minimum amount to "attempt" to make it pass emissions.

 

Not all, no, but certainly the vast majority. The older it is the more likely it is to be non-CCC.

 

Personally, I consider them to be "lucky". No one would touch my 1982 X-body with the computer controlled carb. And that carb (it was a two barrel with a primary and secondary) was hard to find and very expensive.

 

But that was back in the day when everyone was used to conventional carbs and nobody understood computers. Now the opposite is true.

 

Exactly how would a computer control a carb?

 

Sensors for metering airflow etc. Sets richness via ECM. It is actually a really nice setup. Do a search for CC Qjet, and you will find lots of threads.

 

The primary metering rods are raised and lowered by a solenoid, instead of by vacuum. When the mixture is rich, the rods are lowered, when the mixture is lean, the rods are raised.