2003 8.1, can it be carbed?

[no1uknow]

Can this engine be used effectively with a carb? It needs the wiring so I'm assuming it must be expensive since I'm not much of a gear head. They want 600 buck with th400 included I think.......
http://sandiego.craigslist.org/nsd/pts/674985109.html

 

[Cowboy_80]

you can carb anything, just depends on how deep your pockets are. It would probably be cheaper to find a computer and wiring harness for it. Of course, it might be like small blocks and just need a little bit of drilling on a carb intake to make it fit right. Someone with BBC knowledge should know that answer.

 

[Thunder]

I dont know if you could carb it. I dont really think so without spending a bunch of cash. First you would need to find a carb manifold to bolt to the heads. I am not real familiar with 8.1 engines but I think they are a tall deck. Mabe a tall deck manifold would fit.? But doubtful with the Vortec Heads.
Also they dont have a distributor so you would need one. But beings they are MPFI engines I dont even know if the cam has a dist gear on it? You cant mix parts from older 454 with 8.1 to make things work. Totally diferent engins.
I have never torn an 8.1 apart. But from what i have seen of them. Putting a carb on one would be a project.

 

[no1uknow]

Would getting the wiring for it be worthwhile? I mean is this a good engine or am I better off getting a 454? That probably won't work with my current 700r4 tranny right, I have an 89 blazer............

 

[shaun89]

if thunder is right and they are tall deck, this might help,my friend has a old 427TD and to run a normal BBC intake manifold he used theses spacer/adapters that they sell between the head and intake,im not sure where he got them but it works!

 

[bigblock72]

The 8.1s use a totally different port layout than a regular gen IV-VI big block does, they also don't have a water crossover in the intake manifold either.

You're on your own and will have to have an intake custom made if you want to run a carb.

The easiest way to get an 8.1 running is use an aftermarket computer (Megasquirts are cheap and can handle the coil on plug) and use a conventional throttle body.

The 8.1 will bolt up to any chevy pattern trans, the 700r4 will need some good parts but it can be made to live with the torque.


The downside to an 8.1 is there almost no aftermarket parts available for them, what you install is what you get.