Holley Carb issues
#33
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Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 14,110
Likes: 3,695
From: On A Dirt Floor
So, I would suggest this thread is not carb vs efi, but one about junk ProComp/Speedmaster/SSI (sll same fraudulent and horrible makers of parts) thrown onto something that is mot working correctly as it was.
So, I’m just sitting back and watching the trials and tribulations of this one off messed up carb project.
#34
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Joined: Mar 2020
Posts: 372
Likes: 183
From: East Tennesseee
EFI will usually start easier and there are some gains to be made in part throttle fuel consumption and the ability to closer monitor fuel for torque gains thru the rpm range. But if you really think that a carb can't compete...
#36
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Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 37
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From: Bradenton, FL
Neither EFI or Carb can make more power for a given combustion mix. been proven thousands of times on dynos.
enough with the bashing guys. Its not that I have been trying to fix a carb for a month since this thread only started 8 days ago and 4 of those days were weekends when nothing is going to ship until the following monday, and 2 of those days I was recovering from surgery. I can guarantee I have learned more in the past 8 days on carb tuning and how PVCR's IFR's LSAB's and HSAB's effect the fuel curve. that is knowledge that will remain with me forever
no such thing as a "good out of the box one-size fits all carb" Especially a Holley or QFT you can get close with a custom ordered Demon, however that is well over $700. buy a custom built carb to match your exact specs and you are well over $1500.
I went the route of buying a used carb and other than the incorrect jet sizing on the PCE metering blocks requiring a few different size jets, It will get tuned for my motor by me. to those that helped, thank you.
enough with the bashing guys. Its not that I have been trying to fix a carb for a month since this thread only started 8 days ago and 4 of those days were weekends when nothing is going to ship until the following monday, and 2 of those days I was recovering from surgery. I can guarantee I have learned more in the past 8 days on carb tuning and how PVCR's IFR's LSAB's and HSAB's effect the fuel curve. that is knowledge that will remain with me forever
no such thing as a "good out of the box one-size fits all carb" Especially a Holley or QFT you can get close with a custom ordered Demon, however that is well over $700. buy a custom built carb to match your exact specs and you are well over $1500.
I went the route of buying a used carb and other than the incorrect jet sizing on the PCE metering blocks requiring a few different size jets, It will get tuned for my motor by me. to those that helped, thank you.
#37
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Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 9,982
Likes: 6,477
From: Chicago
I have a couple 1000hp blower motors turning 18" diameter props that bite hard. (you gotta have the tune on point otherwise it dies during a shift .
I`ve spent a considerable amount of time, as in a 4-5 seasons, trying to get the curve right . watching and recording AFR`s and making constant adjustments with air bleeds, jets, power valves, boost referenced , non boost referenced etc. If I had a dollar for every weekend I was in the bilge with my hands full of fuel changing jets I`d have a lot of dollars. Most people who think their carbs are so great never even know what AFRs they are running. They set a good idle , check plugs a few times and off they go . probably easier to be ignorant of it honestly.
While it idled like a 500 EFI and ran great the fuel curve was never good no matter what. The nickerson "custom" carbs I got rid of were even worse and they were $1500 carbs .
I could go into how EFI is constantly compensating to have a perfect fuel curve at all times, how the IACS and timing control idle , how I don`t have to run in the low 12`s at idle to keep the engines from dying during a shift, how bad it is to be dumping so much fuel at idle in the motors, how I have a bunch safeties set up if anything goes wrong . how easy it is to make changes via laptop, how easy it is to run one bus cable to populate all gauge info, 7" screen that show you everything you can possibly think of .. how the gas savings were pretty unbelievable ..
Try and achieve this fuel curve with a carb at 50* or 99* different elevation , humidity, etc .. you can`t . ever .

I get it thou, it`s not for everyone...I still have friends that have a flip phone .. but carbs are probably more like a pager vs smart phone.
BTW , I never got EFI cause I thought it would give me more power and I also have no idea what HBAS IFR`s LSABs are .. with a good carbs I never had to mess with any of that .
I`ve spent a considerable amount of time, as in a 4-5 seasons, trying to get the curve right . watching and recording AFR`s and making constant adjustments with air bleeds, jets, power valves, boost referenced , non boost referenced etc. If I had a dollar for every weekend I was in the bilge with my hands full of fuel changing jets I`d have a lot of dollars. Most people who think their carbs are so great never even know what AFRs they are running. They set a good idle , check plugs a few times and off they go . probably easier to be ignorant of it honestly.
While it idled like a 500 EFI and ran great the fuel curve was never good no matter what. The nickerson "custom" carbs I got rid of were even worse and they were $1500 carbs .
I could go into how EFI is constantly compensating to have a perfect fuel curve at all times, how the IACS and timing control idle , how I don`t have to run in the low 12`s at idle to keep the engines from dying during a shift, how bad it is to be dumping so much fuel at idle in the motors, how I have a bunch safeties set up if anything goes wrong . how easy it is to make changes via laptop, how easy it is to run one bus cable to populate all gauge info, 7" screen that show you everything you can possibly think of .. how the gas savings were pretty unbelievable ..
Try and achieve this fuel curve with a carb at 50* or 99* different elevation , humidity, etc .. you can`t . ever .

I get it thou, it`s not for everyone...I still have friends that have a flip phone .. but carbs are probably more like a pager vs smart phone.

BTW , I never got EFI cause I thought it would give me more power and I also have no idea what HBAS IFR`s LSABs are .. with a good carbs I never had to mess with any of that .
Last edited by ICDEDPPL; 11-23-2020 at 06:22 PM.
#38
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Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 1,268
Likes: 239
From: Michigan
I have done the same Dan, F ing around with jets, and LSAB, HSAB on my procharged set up, yes it runs good but... in my opinion there is a lot of "driveability" left on the table.
I believe EFI is the way to go.
Carbs work ok but EFI is so much better WHEN DONE CORRECTLY.. I think there are a lot of EFI hacks out there adding to the mistrust of EFI. JMHO
I believe EFI is the way to go.
Carbs work ok but EFI is so much better WHEN DONE CORRECTLY.. I think there are a lot of EFI hacks out there adding to the mistrust of EFI. JMHO
#39
Do you believe that you have better fuel efficiency with your EFI? Your setups would be a good comparison. You are still throttle body, not port injected right?
#40
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Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 14,110
Likes: 3,695
From: On A Dirt Floor
I have done the same Dan, F ing around with jets, and LSAB, HSAB on my procharged set up, yes it runs good but... in my opinion there is a lot of "driveability" left on the table.
I believe EFI is the way to go.
Carbs work ok but EFI is so much better WHEN DONE CORRECTLY.. I think there are a lot of EFI hacks out there adding to the mistrust of EFI. JMHO
I believe EFI is the way to go.
Carbs work ok but EFI is so much better WHEN DONE CORRECTLY.. I think there are a lot of EFI hacks out there adding to the mistrust of EFI. JMHO




