Quote:
Originally Posted by 68GTOSCA
Gentlemen:
I am planning to add a EFI system and then add boost. However, after some research I have discovered that the EFI systems available are all big money. Have I missed something, it just seem crazy to pay this type of money. Is their a work around, are their commerical available systems that can be salvaged. I would I some advise.
Thank you  |
I too am going FI. When I first started looking at EFI kits I thought wow! $4000 was the normal cost so I started looking at the "race ECU's" like F.A.S.T. XFI, BigStuff3 and Accel DFI, then I came across Holley's ECU's. XFI and BS3 are big $$$ and aimed more to the "professional" EFI set up as they do tons of functions I think they even tie your shoes for ya but Accels DFI Thruster and Holley's HP EFI will do plenty and both come come available with wide-band O2 sensors for boosted apps. I looked at and researched both systems spending many late nights on TheTurboForums.com and Google, I even downloaded and installed the software for both systems to run samples and see how the functionality was. What it came down to for me was the Accel DFI is a great system and has boost control for a turbo set up but it was $100 more than Holley's HP EFI but didn't come with the coolant temp. sensor, Air intake sensor or MAP sensor, that was and extra $130, while Holley HP EFI comes with all the sensors but it only comes with a standard 1 bar MAP sensor and since I will be running 15-20 psi of boost I will have to purchase a 3 bar MAP sensor for around $70 anyway so with the MAP sensor offset the Accel DFI will cost about $160 more. Both of these systems come complete with main wiring harness, injector harness and wide-band O2 sensor, the XFI and BS3 cost $400+ more and do not come with harnesses or sensors which can be another $500. I also spent countless hours on Ebay and cross referancing what I could find with big name/$$$ parts. When it comes to throttle bodies I would read so much about guys fussing over the cost of them since the F.A.S.T. 4 bbl style deals are $500 and up same with Wilson Manifold stuff, this all runs the cost of EFI through the roof. Since my turbo build is, well lets just say it's not Pontiac (for cost reasons of an aftermarket block) I found an EFI off-shore intake for $150 - EFI fuel rails for that intake for $50 - I was going to get a kit that came with that manifold, fuel rails and a 1000 CFM 4150 style throttle body for $450 (they have the same deal for Pontiac in the same price range) but through hours of digging around the internet and since I'm going boosted, if I got that TB set up I would have had to also purchase a $200 hat so decided on a 92 MM LS style single bore TB for $150 and a 90 degree fabricated sheet metal plenum elbow from 6061.com (super nice piece) for $200 - I got a 1000 lb/hr EFI fuel pump and regulator for $250 (same pump Aeromotive sells for $499). The huge variable here is fuel injectors, if you're going 400 HP N/A, a $100 set of 24 lb will do fine while 1500 boosted HP will call for 120/160 lb injectors which will get ya for around $500 - the Holley HP EFI ECU cost me $1450 complete so:
Holley ECU - $1450
Manifold - $150
Fuel Rails - $50
Pump/Regulator - $250
Fabbed Elbow - $200
92 mm TB - $150
*Injectors (N/A) - $100
*Total (N/A) = $2350
^Injectors (boosted) - $500
^3 bar MAP sensor (boosted) - $70
^Total (boosted) = $2820
Another reason I chose the Holley HP EFI (and looked at he Accel DFI) is for the self learn capabilities, you can down load a "generic" program to the ECU to get the car running then let it self learn which many have had great success with just those settings alone but then you can go in and tweak timing and fuel curves to get a bit more out of it. Even though the initial price hit sounds a bit high, you gotta take into consideration what a blow-through carb ordeal will cost ya:
Good manifold - $250+
CSU/CSI or equivalent blow through carb - $1250
Aeromotive A1000 or Eliminator pump - $350-$500
Matching return style regulator - $170
Extreme Velocity or equivalent carb hat - $200
LM-2 wide-band O2 meter with data logging - $480
stand alone boost controller (deasent one) - $400
an ignition box that can do "boost timing" retard (6 BTM on the low side digital 7 on the high side) - $375-$830 *disclaimer: EFI or carb your gonna need and ignition box so I would say whatever the price of a boost controlling ignition box OVER what a "standard" box would cost
Total - $3200-*$3600
Not to mention if you change boost you gotta tear down the carb to make jet changes while one with the EFI will plug in a laptop and make a few adjustments in minutes while sipping on a cold glass of lemonade with clean hands.
I read a post on the TurboForums where a guy with a turbocharged 347 in a Mustang was very happy with his blow through carb, had very good street manners running 9 teens @ 147, he reluctantly tried an EFI system (I think it was the Holley HP EFI) right away before any tweaking he ran a 9.01 @ 149 and was getting 15 mpg cruising... How can you beat that. These ECU's can be programmed to control your fuel pump and fan, no more toggle switches and forgetting to turn your fan on. Don't get me wrong you just can't beat the XFI or the BS3 if that is what you need, for me it would be like a single person buying a 5 bedroom 2 1/2 bath house, if you got the cash then go for it but I'm not going to buy more than I need. First there were 4 speeds with Zoom clutches now automatics with transbrakes, there were dual point distributors now digital CD ignitions, there were carburetors now EFI, it's just the prgression of performance... D. Miles