Am I the only one who thinks learning on old carbureted engines is pointless now?

My shop still gets a few classics, but most cars are fuel injected. I spent years mastering carbs, but new tech makes that skill rare. Some guys say it builds fundamentals, but I think time is better spent on modern systems. Had a young tech struggle because he only knew old methods. What's your take, should we still teach the old ways or focus on what's on the road today?

3 comments

3 Comments

wood.jana5d ago

Feel your pain on outdated skills.

sanchez.ivan5d ago

Ever notice how skipping the basics can leave you lost with new stuff? My friend tried to fix a fuel injection issue last month but had zero clue how air and fuel actually mix, which is carb knowledge 101. Reading daniel_carter's point about wasting a weekend made me laugh, because my pal wasted a whole Tuesday throwing parts at a simple problem. Understanding the old way gives you that gut feeling for how engines breathe, even if you never touch a carb again. Sure, focus on what's on the road, but the ideas behind those old parts still explain why new systems act up.

daniel_carter5d ago

I read a shop manual that said "time is better spent on modern systems" and I kinda agree. Saw a guy at a meet waste a whole weekend tuning a carb for a car he'll never own. Seems better to learn what you'll actually fix.