Efi

[Marty Buth]

I use the SDS (Simple Digital Systems) for my EFI. It really is simple. It is on the NHRA approved list. It is used also for light aircraft due to it's reliability. I know of a guy that tried to use the stock ECU and had major issues with head gaskets popping. You can do it with a stock ECU, but I think it is much easier to tune with the aftermarket ECU's.

[Ron Middleton]

I think it all boils down to how up to date your ECM/Program is and how talented you are at tuning. Most of the major players such as Big Stuff, Fast, Holley, etc. are close to plug and play with minimal tuning by the end user. On GM's EFI Live and HP Tuners can tune the stock ECM as well but require much more knowledge and tuning experience. Systems like Megasquirt and others are also quite capable but require much more tuning knowledge and setup than FAST, Big Stuff, etc. Just make sure and purchase the newest version you can get, just like computers aftermarket ECM's get outdated pretty quick
(still useable but the newer stuff is almost always better). JMT.

[ALMACK]

Originally Posted by Marty Buth

I use the SDS (Simple Digital Systems) for my EFI. It really is simple. It is on the NHRA approved list. It is used also for light aircraft due to it's reliability. I know of a guy that tried to use the stock ECU and had major issues with head gaskets popping. You can do it with a stock ECU, but I think it is much easier to tune with the aftermarket ECU's.

Marty:
Do you use the SDS EM-4 on your Turbo Coupe ?
I see it's plugs into the factory harness.
Or did you go with a custom setup ?

http://www.wmsracing.com/new_wms/wms_efi.php


BTW:
How good is the tech support at SDS ?

[Ed Wright]

Originally Posted by Marty Buth

I use the SDS (Simple Digital Systems) for my EFI. It really is simple. It is on the NHRA approved list. It is used also for light aircraft due to it's reliability. I know of a guy that tried to use the stock ECU and had major issues with head gaskets popping. You can do it with a stock ECU, but I think it is much easier to tune with the aftermarket ECU's.

No reason at all the factory ECU would hurt head gaskets (or anything else) if the tuner knew what he was doing. The aftermarket boxes still need tuned. Most offer a selection of start-up tunes for starting places. Seldom real close to a race tune up.

[art leong]

I use Vi-Pec. It's got a built in datalogger (up to 10 runs). All the bells and whistles of the top brands. At half the price. Plus you don't need to buy all the special sensors, for the most part you can use what you have.

[Marine One]

I had HP Tuners for a few years. Worked good for street / strip. Had "something" go wrong and my ECM was locked. Okay, just contact their tech line. Here is what I got:

"Chad, Don't know what caused it either, but the only fix for it is to buy more credits"

Wow. You cannot even explain what could have happened? If it was something I did, that is cool, just tell me what it was so it does not happen again. No can do, just give us a few hundred and then we can fix it by sending you a file to download via email.

$800 here, $200 there...No thanks. I looked around and talked to everyone running EFI from younger tech geaks to older gents running their first EFI cars. If they were serious and consistently doing good, they were not running HP Tuners. For the most part, FAST was top pick.

I pulled every wire out of the car from stem to stern and threw it in a pile, called Jegs and had a FAST system sent to my door. What I pulled out of the car damn near filled the bed of an S10 truck. The FAST system with all the harnesses fit in the front seat.

[art leong]

Take a look at the Vi-Pec unit It's a lot cheaper And it comes with the data logger. Few if any extra costs. (wide band O2 sensor).

[Ed Wright]

Good move Chad. The internal data logger is great too. It's just a firmwear down load. They sell it to you to load up yourself, if you didn't order it that way. No more cable credit bs.

[Bobby Fazio]

Went with Accel DFI with wideband o2 sensor for stocker. I'll let you know how it works out.