How was fuel regulated in turbocharged cars before fuel injection was mainstream? Did carbs really keep up with the fuel demand? I don't know enough about either type of fuel supply system to arrive at a conclusion that will make me stop thinking about the question.

Anochie

 

There were almost no regular production cars with turbos (yeah I know there were a few exceptions) before the ready availability of electronic FI.

 

Carbs were used and that is a large part of why turbos took so long to go mainstream. Remember, turbos (and SCers and NO2 and water inj and anything else you can think of) were used in the '40s on fighter airplanes as they had great high altitude performance and power increase, but it took until the advent of electronic fuel injection in the '80s for them to be viable in the automotive industry. I don't understand all those people that want to run carbed turbos when EFI systems are so cheap and flexible now.
How do you adapt for a 40 degree drop of temp from day to night in the desert w/ a carb and turbo- change the jets. In EFI, nothing your intake air temp sensor adjusts it for you.

 

Wow. I can't believe you just said that.

Just off the top of my head, I can think of the Olds F-85 and Chevy Corvair (60's!), the Trans Am Turbo, the original Buick V6 turbo, and the original Lotus Turbo Esprit.

This is not to mention the NUMEROUS "kits" that have been available that used either aftermarket or slightly modified stock carburetors. (BAE, Janspeed, GiK, Arkay, etc etc)

Or all of the production turbo cars that used mechanical fuel injection (BMW 2002 Turbo, most Porsches until very recently, many SAABs and Volvos...)

 

Buddy, that is the stupidest question I've ever heard.
No lie, and I've taught Honda engineers!

j/k