87 Fuel Injection vs 81-86 Carb trucks

[swanny]

Haven't been here in a while, sorry LOL. Well I'm not seriously looking to buy right now, maybe as early as spring, I need to get my car sold first...

So I'm on the lookout for a clean 81-87 GMC/Chevy shortbox in black, as close to bone stock as possible. I have a picture of almost my dream truck below, anyways, I prefer to drive a fuel injected vehicle as it starts better and really shouldn't need any "tweaking". So I initially set out to make an 87 truck my first choice. But that limits my searches big time, so I need to look for 81-87.

Now when I buy a truck it will be a summer cruiser. Up here we get lots of snow in the winter so it will be parked then. This wouldn't be a daily driver either, it would basically be a weekend cruiser.

I'm debating as to whether carb vs stock 87 fuel injection. The 87 setup is TBI (throttle body injection), isn't it?

I know for 87 the tank & fuel pump is a little different since the pump is inside the tank and not on the engine. Would the 87 also have an O2 (oxygen) sensor?

What are the real life differences between running a carb vs FI engine on a weekend cruiser? Here's what I'm aware of:
- May need to warm up the carb engine a bit before driving if sitting for a while
- Need to pump the gas pedal once before cranking if been sitting for a while

Would the carb engine run rougher? Would it get worse fuel economy (don't care honestly though).

Really it all boils down to the fact that it's easier to find a clean 81-87 truck than it is to find a clean 87.

[Jason S]

Here is what I have to offer... In my opinion; if you find a 81-86 truck that you absolutely love, any carburetor issues you might find could be worked through pretty easily.

Would the 87 also have an O2 (oxygen) sensor?

     Yes

What are the real life differences between running a carb vs FI engine on a weekend cruiser? Here's what I'm aware of:
- May need to warm up the carb engine a bit before driving if sitting for a while
- Need to pump the gas pedal once before cranking if been sitting for a while

>With a properly tuned engine and carburetor in good working condition, warm up time for a carb engine in the summer won't be significantly different than fuel injection.
>Pumping the gas pedal once before cranking on a carburetor is to deliver a shot of gasoline into the intake tract and set the choke. Again, the choke probably won't need to be engaged for a long time during summer months.

Fuel injection can provide more accurate fuel delivery, adjusts for variables like elevation and can give better economy due to constant feedback and control of fuel delivery from exhaust gas monitoring. However, large cams and other performance modifications may not be compatible with factory fuel injection.  Proper operation of fuel injected engines depends upon the sensors (O2, knock, engine temperature, etc) and the computer control, as well as the fuel pump(s) and the injection device (e.g., throttle body), as well as an ignition system in good working order. 

A properly tuned carburetor in good working condition and matched to the engine requirements with adequate fuel pump delivery to the carburetor will give good to great drivability. If emissions equipment are not required, then a carburetor is very simple and effective.

Either fuel delivery system (fuel injection or carburetor) won't deliver satisfactory results if there are issues with: ignition system, fuel filter(s), fuel pump(s), fuel lines, vacuum leaks, intake sealing, cooling system, exhaust, etc.

Would the carb engine run rougher?

  No, not necessarily.  Unless the carb engine was built with a lopey cam and other high performance goodies.

Would it get worse fuel economy (don't care honestly though).

No, not necessarily.  It may get slightly worse fuel mileage, but it would also depend upon other factors like transmission type, rear end gear ratio, driving habit, engine condition, ignition condition, etc.

Just a few things that I could think of at the time.  Hope this helps.

[bake74]

     Just to add to Jason S, they do sell TBI kits to bolt on, or you could get everything from a donor.
     The real difference between the 2, the FI or EFI engines require less tuning on a regular basis, that is why everyone says they are better.  If you are the kind of person who likes to continually make sure your carb'd engine is running at maximum efficiency than you can almost put out the same as a FI engine.

[swanny]

Thanks for the replies. I won't let a carb truck scare me off LOL They are easier to find and if need be I could convert it I guess. I know the basics of how a carb works but I have no idea how to tune it. I'll cross that bridge if I come to it.

Do any 81-87 trucks come from the factory with a catalytic converter (non-California trucks)? I'm thinking if you have an O2 sensor on the 87 maybe it will have a converter too... not sure.

[Jason S]

I'm pretty certain that all 81- up 1/2 ton (C/K-10, C/K-1500, R/V-1500) Chevy/GMC trucks had a catalytic convertor when they left the factory.

[Captkaos]

All 1/2 Tons from 1975 (or 1976) depending will have cats on them from the factory.