ORIGINAL: mrbigshot

carbing is very easy. depending on the power level you want to achieve you are going to quickly outgrow the stock fuel pump, you can use any fuel injected pump like you would normally. (ie 255lph is the most common). carb's use low fuel pressure, under 6lbs depending on the model. your fuel pump will push almost 50 without a regulator in line. all you need to do is mount a regulator ($15-$50) and set it to 5.5 or 6lbs of pressure. than run the line from the regulator to the carb. that takes care of the fuel side.

the igniton side is slightly more involved but not to much, chances are with a drag car you were going to upgrade the ignition system anyways now you just get different parts. a common way to go would be to buy a msd 6al igniton box, a blaster 2 coil, and a distrubter. theres a few wire connections to make but its not to hard with a dummy light and the instructions. (ft power, key+crank power, ground, coil+, distubter connection)if you are not planning on running lots of boost and huge amounts of n20 you can buy a ford hei distrubter, its easy as pie to hook up. just 1 positive wire to a full time source, and another to the igniton switch. your wires will all be in the harness and will be easy to find with a test light. its also the cheapest way to go at around $200. they come with good coils and as been proven with chevys you can make a good deal of power with one (up to about 600 or so n/a)

its not hard to swap out at all, its much cheaper as i said to build a carb motor vs a efi motor. a efi intake costs as much as a good carb and intake combined. you dont have to buy new injectors ($299) a new maf ($150) throttle body ($150) plus tons of little things. you can sell your stock computer, maf, harness if you like, air intake, intake + tb, distubter, fuel rails and injectors, and make offset the cost of new speed parts. (i could see about $300 for everything).

the most important thing you can do to your car is change the heads, they are the major cork in the engine. big power comes from changing them (almost 100hp with some killer aluminum heads).car craft took a bone stock 50, out on some afr 185 heads, 1.7 rockers, good headers, a duel plane intake, a simple carb and made 401hp. you will lose some power from running the alternator and ps pump but its only about 10 at most. under 2grand plus some suspention items and a dietyou could be runnign solid 11's. mabey even high 10's with the right converter and n20.