General question

[Jim Pearl]

Tracing the harness? They will give you the pinouts for their computer - =
I know I have a set (although I think it may be off a bit - mine's not =
"standard"). I think what he may be trying to tell you is that he =
doesn't have a standard plug in unit for your cars harness. The best way =
around that is to run your own - I can say that 'cause I didn't have to =
(smile). Others here can probably help you better with wiring than I =
can. If the car you have started out carburated than I think (opinion =
here) that the hardest part will be setting up the pickup from the =
ignition. Keep in mind that the standard DFI is batch fire BTW and that =
DFI isn't doing any development on it that I can find.

As for liking it. Well I like it but I'm envious of the new system they =
came out with for my car - a piggy back system (aargh!). With that =
system you don't have to teach it to walk, crawl, jog, or get good gas =
mileage. right now I'm tracking a mysterious O2 grounding problem (yeah =
- I've not even gotten under the car yet!). I also think the knock =
sensor is too sensitive and would like to find out if the knock sensor =
displays for the Buick GNs would work with my DFI's knock sensor to tell =
me when that puppy sensed knock. I'd also like the ability to damp it =
electronically. Some of the explanations for some of the idle screens =
also aren't real clear. The person who wrote the software could use a =
course in software design and it would be nice if I could track more =
than 6 functions at a time with the datalogger. I'd also like it to log =
more than once a second when doing extended logging. The book tries to =
explain alot about the various screens - VERY little on how to tune the =
system to work best - as in zero certain tables, get the fuel map right, =
then tune the others. I guess you're supposed to goto one of their =
dealers for that right? Duttweiler's fuel map that he thought would "get =
me in the ballpark" had to be leaned over 50% (I'm not knocking him, I =
just had a little trouble is all) and I killed many bugs driving to a =
friend's house to get his laptop. Fooling with his off WOT timing curve =
got me an extra 5MPG - up from 10 to 15 (still poor!).

I could go on but you get the idea. The system works, the software could =
be better, and I'm still learning. For the price you can't beat it =
(IMHO) - mine was about $800 and plugged into my harness. I've read many =
books on EFI (I posted about one earlier - it's very good) and =
researched many options. I still get Electromotive's catalog every year =
and think they're software sounds like nirvana - mind you I've not =
programmed a car with it yet. DFI could do much of what they are doing =
with their software but I guess they're mostly car guys and not software =
guys.=20

When I look at friend's that are fueling their Vortechs with silly FMU's =
and boost retards I just shake my head. I even know one guy who just =
dropped a bigger than 460 big block in a car with a Vortech R-trim (ha - =
it only makes 3lbs with his current pulleys) and is using the stock =
EEC-IV computer (for a 302) with FMU and boost retard. Now tell me his =
fuel and ignition curve is going to be anywhere close when he finally =
hits 12lbs of boost? When compared to that sort of Mickey Mouse kind of =
stuff I thank my DFI for at least letting me know what's going on and =
retarding my timing when I'm too stupid to get out of it under =
detonation.

P.S. There is supposed to be some software for the DFI that allows you =
to monitor much more than just 6 functions - but it won't let you =
monitor O2 voltage. I'd love to find out where I can get it. Duttweiler =
mentioned it to me..

P.P.S. - Sorry guys - I was on a roll and it got a little long! Would it =
be of benefit if I posted some tech tips on what I've learned with my =
DFI? I was actually hoping someone could tell ME this sort of stuff =
(grin).

----------
>From: 	Orin B. Harding[SMTP:orin at nr.infi.net]
Sent: 	Friday, December 22, 1995 8:25 PM
To: 	diy_efi at coulomb.eng.ohio-state.edu
Subject: 	RE: General question

Jim,

You're right about the Electromotive priceing policy...Hardware =
OK..Software TOOOOOO expensive for what you get...I also looked into the =
DFI/Accel/Mr. Gasket system and was shocked at how little information =
they send with their system. No wiring diagrams, pin-outs, nothing!!!  =
The guy I talked to, at Accel, said I would have to make my own by =
tracing the wiring harness that came with the unit...

Other than that, how do you like your system??
Orin Harding - Greensboro, NC
('74 MGB-GT - '79 MGB Roadster - '95 3000GT, BRG of course!)