Hi all, I am a 51 year old hot rodder that had my own  shop for 26 years. I have built an owned everything from a custom van in the 70's to SS Elcaminos and most everything else in between. Right now I drive an 86 Grand National and A 91 Syclone. And I am now teaching  auto technology at a large tech center. All but one of my students are in their 20's and don't even know what a carb. is. As I was reading the 5.3 truck engine build (I have 2 5.3 trucks) up I was upset to see again you throw away fuel injection for a carb. You may do ok on a dyno  with a carb but a fair injection set up will out preform  a carb. over all long term and get better fuel mpg and run cleaner. With all the work on my GN I run the stock injection setup with bigger injectors and a Red Armstrong 108 chip it's an 11 sec car with bigger turbo 3 " down pipe and a cat my last road trip I got 26 mpg at 75 with a/c  and IT IDLES GREAT. If you want a younger market build real world motors with FI making what you have go faster is what makes a hot rod. I will do some work on my 5.3's but the FI will stay.

Animal  

Ummm look at the muscle car era. How manyof those full bodies had fuel injection? Also look at simplicity of desing to performance. If I want to 'tune' my Malibu, all IO need are a timing light a multi bit screw driver, and a 9/16" wrench. EFI engines require an ECM. Yes they may operate with better economy, and make better performance, but can your average builder, who is 20 years old really afford the Computer programs, and hardware, like a dynometer? Car Craft is dedicated to builder on a BUDGET. Look at a Summit magazine. Carb 250 bucks, intake 110 bucks, header 200 bucks. 400 HP Chevy old tech, pushrod engine in a 1979 Pontiac Firebird, Priceless.

Now your equation. High performance ECM chip for street/strip use 350 bucks, Programming software and adapter for ECM plug in vehicle, probably like another 250 bucks, High performance turbo kit, with high performance fuel injectors, probably quadruple digits. State of the Art Honda DOHC V-Tech with 160 HP still geting smoked by the guy with his 'Stone Age' Firebird, still priceless.

And for everything else there is MasterCard. I believe technology helps engines of today by far in performance, but when it comes to reliability, and costeffective builds, hands down the carb set-ups from the STONE AGE, still riegn supreme.  

Two good points.

It's hard to get 10 seconds on the cheap without a carb.

It's hard to get new people to care about dying technology when their parents are buying them fuel injected cars.  

animalGN....    i sure hope that at least some of your courses teach carbs and point type ignition systems..  that is the basis for everything in the automotive world...  

I teach automotive at a small high school (1300 students) and, to be honest, I start out my fuel systems class by going over carbs.  I eventualy work my way into complex fuel injection, but the students seem to be more interested in the carbs.  We have built several off the wall projects in my classes and we have used a carb on most of them.  The main reason for that is because it is cheaper and easier than hunting down a computer/wiring setup for a fuel injected 454.  We just yank the fuel injection and throw on a carb.  No high pressure fuel system, just a hose stuck in a can.

Don't get me wrong, fuel injection is great for economy and the environment.  It just seems that on my teacher salary fuel injecting a project doesn't fit my budget.

Oh, I teach points too (don't use them, just teach them).  

nothing wrong with fuel injection. and car craft may very well do regular articles on it one day. after every one is driving solar powered hover cars or whatever they come up with next. there are lots of mags for younger kids all about that stuff. car craft even does stuff on it now. just most of us who read this like our older motor and carbs. it's just what we like you don't have to as well. and of course it is somewhat less efficient on average. but can indeed get good mpg and horses out of carbs if you know what you are doing. and the aftermarket make it even easier. with a little tuning and patience a carb can be as good as efi. that has been proven. it has also been proven that not all. or even that many are good enough to do that. even less nowadays. since efi is mainstream. and i am happy you are happy with your efi. just remember lots of us are happy with carbs. i won't try to change you. don't try to make me change for you.