intake debate

I have had a lot of great suggestions and recomendations from you all before, now I have a new dillemma. I have a sbc set up with all edelbrock rpm parts. I was always planning on getting a manual choke 650-700 carb, but now I'm thinking of an aftermarket TPI or something a little more reliable. I can tune a carb, but I don't want to be constantly messing with it. Plus, gas is getting spendy, and I plan on riding as often as I can. I heard TPI's are better on mileage, but do they reduce the throttle response and/or HP? Please help. Anything would be appreciated... Also, I was recently working on the block when I took the water pump off and accidentally dropped one of the lock washers in the water gallery!!! Am I screwed!?!

A properly functioning TPI will not only give you better mileage, it will run smoother across the entire range, increase hp, and be more adaptable to changing atmospheric conditions if set up in closed loop. It'll run somewhere around $3k depending on the system and modifications necessary, so there's a lot of expense to offset. Your value judgement on whether or not it's worth it.

Thanks Streets.. after reading Parameter's reply, I bet the mileage probably won't be worth the extra expenses. And the washer thing.. That took a load off!! I put too much money in this thing to scrap it for a 2 cent part.

Stick with the carb. Edelbrock make a great carb right out of the box. The mileage diff wont be that big and as the previus people said it will cost a few bucks to implement a fuel injection system. I would not worry about the washer either.

hehe My last engine I tore apart had a couple of washers stuck in various water holes, and one sitting in the bottom of the oil pan(that ain't good). EFI is not that much more efficient, but if you were tearing the top half off anyway, I would say it might be worth it. If you're like me and just love a challenge.... well lets just say I'm learning how expensive performance LT1 parts are. I could have built a 440HP engine for the cost of the upgrades I'm putting in. Hell I could have bought a RAT.

EFI is more efficient than carb, but TBI is actually more fuel efficient(believe it or not) than EFI. But EFI produces more HP.