EFI options

Starting from a blank sheet with the new engine build and thinking of FI rather than Webers. Anything I need to import will double the cost so looking at Megasquirt injection

Any one using this and comment on their set up and experience?

Experience with bike or auto junkyard TB's and other bits?

Robert-

shoptalkforums.com has an entire EFI section, filled with guys who build their own megasquirt systems for ACVWs. There are a lot of opinions about what is best to do, and why- but there are guys there with experience with the questions you are asking. You'll find that in really short supply here.

thesamba.com forums also has a performance/engines/racing section with guys who do a lot of this sort of stuff as well. It's a wealth of information (and misinformation) over there regarding the nuts and bolts of high performance Type 1s.

Either place would be better than here for this type of question. This site is much more of a "lifestyle" website than a place to glean cogent answers to specific mechanical questions. Things like setting up valve geometry, specific jetting questions, and how to piece together a workable EFI system out of parts (rather than purchase a package from a vendor), are really outside of the scope of the stuff that gets talked about much here.

The guys that do megasquirt seem to be in love with it. As a 46 year old small businessman in the thick of life, I don't have the time or inclination to piece together an EFI system out of a kit and parts from a junkyard. Maybe when I'm retired, or end up in a situation where it looks like more fun to me, I'll do it- but I guarantee, I'll ask all the big questions where I know I'll get relevant answers.

Good luck.

i have to say that Electronic fuel injection is the best. I have a scooby motor in the back of my speedster. The motor was second hand when i bought it and came without the computer box. I have an aftermarket engine management system which allows control over the ignition and fuel injection. This allows me to get the maximium performance out of the engine.

the way i see a conversion onto a beetle motor would be to use two twin choke carbs as throttle bodies and then fit injectors into the manifold, This should not be to much of a problem for an engineering shop. A toothed wheel would need to be added to the crankshaft pully with a hall type sensor.

This would certainly be a fair bit more expensive than a set of webbers or similar, but i would be prepared to bet that it will run smother and deliver more power, torque and better fuel economy than a carburetion setup.

There is a company (Dyna-tek?) that makes a Weber-looking throttle body and EFI system. They are always at Carlisle showing these off four at a time on a big block V8 Cobra, or some such. They claim the system is self-learning, and works like a miracle. What else would they say?? Also hugely expensive. Exactly how you would hook up a pair of these on an ACVW, and get the linkages tightened up to work like they should, I dunno. On the V8, it is clear that a lot of trouble ($$) was put in to ganging the throttle plates to work just so. nd having them all sitting in a tight row makes that job easy, vs the falt 4 arrangement we have come to know and love. EFI done right, w/ the broad range, real-time tunability and feedback, is definitly a big step up from carbeuration. And as you have heard, there are a lot of ways to get it done for these little AC 4-bangers. Good luck!!

For the record the scooby motor has a large 76mm throttle body feeding all four cylinders. I suppose a single throttle body could work on the beetle motor too. With regard to self learning yes if a lambda probe is fitted most systems can set the fueling to a target value. This really works well at partial throtle positions.

Robert - think early on I suggested a Subbie engine vice VW AC. That was based partially on there has to be a whole lot of them available in Thailand - vs trying to find 30 year old VW performance pieces. Then you have advantage of modern technology and dependability --- plus HP with gobs of heat and AC.

CB performance sells a kits.
http://www.cbperformance.com/catalog.asp?ProductID=1665
http://www.cbperformance.com/catalog.asp?ProductID=280
http://www.cbperformance.com/catalog.asp?ProductID=286
I have the older efi/turbo kit, not computer programmable. It was a complete kit. fuel pump, regulator etc. I love it. just wished I had the new one.

I have used the quick tune EFI on several cars, including one I just finished driving moments ago. It is great!
We've gone through all of the minor shortcomings over the last few years and sorted those out with Pat as well. CB just released a new dashboard for tuning and it is even more in depth than before.
I have written about it before, but as the computer self tunes, you can apply the new figures as your "tuned" base map. You also have enrichment sliders for cold start and such.
The only real issue I had was that if a sensor failed the default value of a bad sensor was either undefined or as low as possible. e.g. we had a CHT sensor fail and it told the computer that the head temps were all of a sudden something like -30 degrees. The computer tries to compensate for that, which obviously doesn't work too well. I went into the backdoor of the system (with Pat's help) and reset the default values to a low normal operating temp. You would see a difference in the way it ran and would have to change the faulty sensor, but would no longer be stranded if this occurred.
One of the neatest things about the CB Quick Tune is that you can get on a FTP site and Pat can view your engine parameters live via the internet and help you set up or tune as needed.

I have also used SDS on a few TIV motors, all set up by Jake. I have yet to tune one myself, but will be next week and would be happy to report on how it is to tune. It seemed to work great as well.

My own car has a Subaru but this one if for the wife, and I want a ACVW engine in it.

The CB kit doubles in cost by the time I import it, so Megasquirt seems the way to go as I can get a lot of the bits here. Will need to tap the knowledge base online in order to piece together the bits.

BTW, the Dub Shop has a canned EFI kit using a Megasquirt brain for 1350.00 USD

Told ya. ;)