which wideband should i buy

chris-stockton · Post by **chris-stockton** » Tue Apr 23, 2013 9:19 am

ok guys, after a pretty crap rr session yesterday, I think the best way forward is going to be to buy a wideband & controller to get my westy set up correctly. It has a weber 500 on it at the mo but from what i saw yesterday is going to take quite a bit of experimenting with different jets/metering rods to get it to run well, something Im not prepared to pay somebody hundreds of pounts to do after wasting money yesterday.

So I've a few questions:

1) I am assuming the most suitable place to mount the boss's for the probe would be at the point the exhaust branches from 4 into 1.

2) what is the best value for money kit?

3) Id also like to be able to log the data with the kit, with the performance on WOT there is no way I would be able to keep an eye on the gauge.

4) What kind of a/f ratios should I be aiming for on cruise, light acceleration and WOT

DaveEFI · Post by **DaveEFI** » Tue Apr 23, 2013 10:21 am

If you like building things, Tech Edge do a self assembly kit. That's what I have, on the principle that one designed for home assembly means it can likely be repaired if it should go wrong - unlike so many factory made things.
Of course it's much larger than some others - the controller isn't that much smaller than a MegaSquirt.

I dunno much about others - except that there seem to be lots of problems with the LS1. Of course that might just be because they sell more than any other.

I have my O2 sensor mounted where the system goes into one - towards the back of the gearbox on my SD1. Seems to work just fine.

sidecar · Post by **sidecar** » Tue Apr 23, 2013 4:06 pm

I run an LC1 and a digital AFR gauge, I don't bother logging the info other than writing stuff down on paper!

The LC1 does seem a bit of a pain as you have to actually wire it up to the gauge, I mounted mine gauge in a plastic box, it only run the system when I'm messing about with the carb, I suspect that other systems will work just as well as long as they fulfill your monitoring needs.

With regards to AFR figures then your engine will determine some of this, in other words its no good trying to get the idle figure to a figure that you have been told if the engine does not like that figure. My cam must have a fair bit of overlap because my engine runs best on idle at 12.2:1 AFR which is quite rich, it's no good me trying for say 13:1 as the idle goes rough.

My cruise is around 14.5-15:1, the throttle response goes bad if I run it leaner that that. Other RV8's that I have messed about with which were running the Eddy 500 needed the same cruise figure.

Two figures which are often quoted in books are the acceleration and WOT figures, I believe that most engines will actually want the same figures, Vizard stated this in one of his books. From memory acceleration needs to be around 12-12.5:1 and WOT needs to be 12.8-13:1. The power falls away quickly at WOT if you run leaner than 13:1, it falls away much slower if you run richer than 12.8:1.

With regards to rolling roads the ones that I've tried don't have a clue about these carbs! (I'm not saying that they are all like that). I think that doing this stuff yourself is much more satisfying and quite within the realms of DIY anyway.

mgbv8 · Post by **mgbv8** » Tue Apr 23, 2013 8:36 pm

Chris!
Why dont you show us the printouts from the dyno

chris-stockton · Post by **chris-stockton** » Wed Apr 24, 2013 5:58 am

Cos they didnt seem to make any sense. Something was well amiss. Was something like 80bhp transmission losses. Which isnt right. At the wheel fig was 262 I think.. but I dont think thats accurate

Robrover · Post by **Robrover** » Wed Apr 24, 2013 8:49 am

AEM Digital Wideband UEGO Controller 30-4100 from MDIperformance's ebay store is what I bought, works brilliantly and no need to recalibrate.

chris-stockton · Post by **chris-stockton** » Wed Apr 24, 2013 10:26 am

Hello.do any have the facility to also log rpm that wud be handy

kiwicar · Post by **kiwicar** » Wed Apr 24, 2013 10:39 am

Hi
Perry has a set up that seems to log just about everything including revs, AFR, buttock clench . . . not sure exactly what it is but he will be along soon I'm sure.
Best regards
Mike

chris-stockton · Post by **chris-stockton** » Wed Apr 24, 2013 10:43 am

Cool. Is that on a carb or efi set up?

DaveEFI · Post by **DaveEFI** » Wed Apr 24, 2013 11:57 am

The Tech Edge kit I mentioned can log to a plug in memory card - so you don't need your laptop present just for logging. If course they also do ready built units.
http://wbo2.com/2y/default.htm

kiwicar · Post by **kiwicar** » Wed Apr 24, 2013 12:10 pm

Hi
Perry runs a 4-71 and a dominator but yes a carb!

Best regards
Mike

Johnny Rotton · Post by **Johnny Rotton** » Thu Apr 25, 2013 12:40 pm

I recently purchased an Innovate MTX-L digital AFR gauge for my 4.6 Westfield with Weber 500. Having had a bung welded into the exhaust pipe before the silencer on driver's side and wired up the gauge, I could not get the gauge to calibrate ! Ordered it from Graham Goode Racing and they are sending me another as I write this, so difficult to recommend this one at the moment. Hoping to install the new one at weekend so will let you know if it works.
Have already had a play with the jets and rods based on Sidecar's recommendations, but as he says, the only way to be sure is to check the AFR. I have 83 primaries, 63-47 rods and 86 secondaries, so will be interesting to see what the AFRs are.

sidecar · Post by **sidecar** » Thu Apr 25, 2013 1:05 pm

Johnny Rotton wrote:I recently purchased an Innovate MTX-L digital AFR gauge for my 4.6 Westfield with Weber 500. Having had a bung welded into the exhaust pipe before the silencer on driver's side and wired up the gauge, I could not get the gauge to calibrate ! Ordered it from Graham Goode Racing and they are sending me another as I write this, so difficult to recommend this one at the moment. Hoping to install the new one at weekend so will let you know if it works.
Have already had a play with the jets and rods based on Sidecar's recommendations, but as he says, the only way to be sure is to check the AFR. I have 83 primaries, 63-47 rods and 86 secondaries, so will be interesting to see what the AFRs are.

If your setup uses the 'LC1' as part of the kit then make sure it is nowhere near the dizzy or the HT coil (or any HT leads). I blew my first LC1 up due to the electromagnic radiation that is given off by this stuff!

DaveEFI · Post by **DaveEFI** » Thu Apr 25, 2013 2:06 pm

I know Innovate seems to be the market leader - but the forums are full of problems with them.

DaveEFI · Post by **DaveEFI** » Thu Apr 25, 2013 2:07 pm

Robrover wrote:AEM Digital Wideband UEGO Controller 30-4100 from MDIperformance's ebay store is what I bought, works brilliantly and no need to recalibrate.

Looks to be excellent value for money.