Hey Guys,

This will be a very noob question. I have done research on older cars and I need some explanation.

What is the difference between the intake (intake manifold I think) and the Carburetor?

The research I have done says they both control the air/fuel mixture/ratio. (Or at least that is what I understand it to mean) But what confuses me is when people talk about upgrading the carburetor and intake to increase performance. Why would a car have both? Or am I just misreading this. Basically, I am completely lost on this and need some people to spell it out for me.

Thanks.

 

carb introduces the fuel to the air as it passes through it. The intake manifold distributes the fuel (and air) that has passed through the carb to each cylinder intake.

 

Carburetors are no longer used in USA, on modern street car engines. Their purpose was to mix raw gasoline with air, in the right amount to keep an engine running happily. Fuel injection on modern cars, took the place of carburetors. The intake manifold is what directs/channels the air into the intake ports of your engine. Modern cars still have these.
What some people call "intake" actually refers to an aftermarket air filter and the tube that connects it, to the throttle body. This is not the same as an intake manifold.

 

Ya, I was aware fuel injection replaced the carburetor on newer models. I am purchasing my dream car, a 1980 corvette, and wanted to learn all I could about the older engines.

 

Carburator: Pulls in the air and mixes gas/air and then flows this mixture into the intake manifold.


Intake manifold: air/fuel pushed/flowed from the carburator is then directed/flowed to the heads. The airfuel mixture is then flowed thru the intake valve to the combustion chamber.

 

So the air filter connects to the carburetor, the carburetor sits on top of the intake manifold (I am guessing based on the hole in the picture above), which, in turn sits above the heads which feed into the individual cylinders...correct?

 

Correct!

 

I hope not me, my gf is hotter than her.

 

combustion engine video....it's only a 4 cylinder FI overhead cam but, the concept is the same as a V8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature...&v=W2eILCrW53M

 

Wow, that was a pretty cool video. I think I knew about 3/4 of the parts in that video. I wish they labeled them as they went on.