I've been watching the evolution of aftermarket self-learning TBI fuel injection systems over the years and, *at least on paper*, it seems that FiTech might have come up with the near perfect system. The Go-EFI4 TBI + Fuel command center seems like it solves most of the biggest issues with TBI systems. And the price looks very reasonable (~60% of cost of other equivalent systems).
http://fitechefi.com/
My (limited) understanding of the evolution of some of self-learning TBI systems (at introduction) over the years is:
Fast EZ-EFI:
Pros: Self-learning
Cons: Multi-module, no timing control, return-style fuel system required, baffling in fuel tank needed to solve fuel starvation from fuel slosh
Powerjection III:
Pros: Self-learning (sort of), ability to fine tune, single module, supports return-less fuel system
Cons: No timing control, baffling in fuel tank needed to solve fuel starvation, sort of self-learning (most applications needed some amount of tuning to really get good performance), laptop required
MSD Atomic EFI:
Pros: Self-learning, single module, supports return-less fuel system, timing control
Cons: Baffling in fuel tank needed to solve fuel starvation, needed separate ignition box (eg MSD) to support timing control, no laptop support for fine tuning parameters
Edelbrock E-street TBI + Universal EFI Sump Fuel Kit
Pros: Self-learning, timing control, return-less with use of sump kit
Cons: Multi-module, needed separate ignition box (eg MSD) to support timing control
FiTech Go-EFI4 + Fuel Command Center
Pros: Self-learning, single module, timing control without need for external ignition box, return-less with Fuel command center sump, simple handheld controller but also ability to fine-tune parameters with laptop, priced at 60% of others similar equivalent systems,
Cons: New company so there are questions of quality and overall support.
The things that impressed me with the FiTech solution were:
Like Edelbrock they have solved one of the most vexing problems – fuel starvation – by putting the efi fuel pump in a small sump that is placed under the hood of the car. The existing mechanical fuel pump pumps fuel from the tank to the sump (think of the sump as similar to fuel bowls in a carb). The efi pump is immersed in the sump keeping it cool and eliminating starvation (the two biggest problems with previous efi fuel systems) and pumps high pressure fuel to the TBI module which is installed just like a carb.
They also state that they can control timing without the need of an external MSD ignition box. You only need to be able to “lock out” (disable the mechanical and vacuum advances) on your existing distributor. I think, however, that the distributor does need electronic pickup (aka like Pertronix) – I'm not sure if it would work with points or not.
They supposedly are using all “off-the-shelf” parts (injectors, O2 sensors, etc). I take that to mean that with possible exception of the actual ECU, you can source any failing parts directly from an auto-parts store.
You can use just the hand-held controller to set up the system or, according to FiTech, you can fine tune with a laptop. With the hand-held controller you can monitor various metrics (AFR, RPM, temp, etc) while driving. I also assume that you can disable your efi using the hand-held. If so, you now have a nice anti-theft system – disable the efi and take the controller with you.
The ability to easily swap back and forth from EFI to a carb (if needed). Say you're trying debug a problem and want determine if it is EFI related or something else. The ability to swap out the TBI module for a carb, swap some fuel lines, and unlock your distributor can make this job easy – a couple of hours of work.
The single biggest issue I see is that these are the new guys on the block. Will the quality be there and will the customer support be there? From other threads there seems to be a lot of interest in this system. Give it a year+ of people banging on it and see what people have to say then.
If nothing else, I hope this forces the other companies to bring down prices on their EFI systems.
http://fitechefi.com/
My (limited) understanding of the evolution of some of self-learning TBI systems (at introduction) over the years is:
Fast EZ-EFI:
Pros: Self-learning
Cons: Multi-module, no timing control, return-style fuel system required, baffling in fuel tank needed to solve fuel starvation from fuel slosh
Powerjection III:
Pros: Self-learning (sort of), ability to fine tune, single module, supports return-less fuel system
Cons: No timing control, baffling in fuel tank needed to solve fuel starvation, sort of self-learning (most applications needed some amount of tuning to really get good performance), laptop required
MSD Atomic EFI:
Pros: Self-learning, single module, supports return-less fuel system, timing control
Cons: Baffling in fuel tank needed to solve fuel starvation, needed separate ignition box (eg MSD) to support timing control, no laptop support for fine tuning parameters
Edelbrock E-street TBI + Universal EFI Sump Fuel Kit
Pros: Self-learning, timing control, return-less with use of sump kit
Cons: Multi-module, needed separate ignition box (eg MSD) to support timing control
FiTech Go-EFI4 + Fuel Command Center
Pros: Self-learning, single module, timing control without need for external ignition box, return-less with Fuel command center sump, simple handheld controller but also ability to fine-tune parameters with laptop, priced at 60% of others similar equivalent systems,
Cons: New company so there are questions of quality and overall support.
The things that impressed me with the FiTech solution were:
Like Edelbrock they have solved one of the most vexing problems – fuel starvation – by putting the efi fuel pump in a small sump that is placed under the hood of the car. The existing mechanical fuel pump pumps fuel from the tank to the sump (think of the sump as similar to fuel bowls in a carb). The efi pump is immersed in the sump keeping it cool and eliminating starvation (the two biggest problems with previous efi fuel systems) and pumps high pressure fuel to the TBI module which is installed just like a carb.
They also state that they can control timing without the need of an external MSD ignition box. You only need to be able to “lock out” (disable the mechanical and vacuum advances) on your existing distributor. I think, however, that the distributor does need electronic pickup (aka like Pertronix) – I'm not sure if it would work with points or not.
They supposedly are using all “off-the-shelf” parts (injectors, O2 sensors, etc). I take that to mean that with possible exception of the actual ECU, you can source any failing parts directly from an auto-parts store.
You can use just the hand-held controller to set up the system or, according to FiTech, you can fine tune with a laptop. With the hand-held controller you can monitor various metrics (AFR, RPM, temp, etc) while driving. I also assume that you can disable your efi using the hand-held. If so, you now have a nice anti-theft system – disable the efi and take the controller with you.
The ability to easily swap back and forth from EFI to a carb (if needed). Say you're trying debug a problem and want determine if it is EFI related or something else. The ability to swap out the TBI module for a carb, swap some fuel lines, and unlock your distributor can make this job easy – a couple of hours of work.
The single biggest issue I see is that these are the new guys on the block. Will the quality be there and will the customer support be there? From other threads there seems to be a lot of interest in this system. Give it a year+ of people banging on it and see what people have to say then.
If nothing else, I hope this forces the other companies to bring down prices on their EFI systems.