LS1 engine management?
 

We have a 2004 Corvette that we are going to run in IHRA Pure Stock (B/PS) this summer. With a cold air kit, gear and converter it should run 0.5 under the index (12.45) and still be driven to the track. We'd eventually like to add headers, a cam, Bogarts, etc. and run IHRA & NHRA Stock Eliminator. Currently we use a local tuner for computer tunes. We're just getting started and would like to jump in and do the engine management system ourself so that we can learn as we go, not have to rely on another tuner, be able to make changes at the track and be able to make adjustments as we add parts. We (my fiance and I) are pretty savvy on the computer; we both have degrees in mathematics and she has a minor in computer programming. However, we have zero experience with automotive tuning. What would be a good system for us to purchase and learn with that's user friendly and that we could use throughout the entire process as we transition into a full-blown Stocker one day? We hope, even though we're starting small, to run with the Big Dogs one day so we understand this is a long-term project.

Thanks.

Wendy & Scott

Re: LS1 engine management?
 

I think Fast Xfi 2.0 is a great system. Software is very user friendly with instructions available directly in the software. Call Kevin Winstead at fast and tell him I told you to call. I have dealt with big stuff and fast and my personal preference is fast.

Re: LS1 engine management?
 

There you go!

Re: LS1 engine management?
 

Before you pick one. Take a look at the Vi-Pec website. Their unit is a lot more reasonable. Comes with a built in datalogger, 2 step function, and you can use your sensors. Upgrades are done by downloading the firmware and at no charge.

Re: LS1 engine management?
 

The FAST XFI part number 301003 features internal datalogging. 3 seperate configurable rev limiters are standard with the XFI 2.0 and all FAST software and firmware updates are made available on the FAST website free of charge. If you are thinking of going Class Racing, FAST not only supports Sportsman racers through the contingency program, we invest in our product support by sending FAST technicians to Sports Nationals and points meets throughout the season. I am proud to say that we have already paid contingency to 2 stock and one Superstock winners this year. It has been great to help soo many of our customers at No Problem this weekend. Ed Wright is a dealer of ours so contact him for more info. If you have questions, I would be glad to help you.
David Page
Sales Manager
Fuel Air Spark Technology

Re: LS1 engine management?
 

My personal dealings didn't work out like that. I bought a grey box from a dealer brand new. Didn't put it in the car for a year and a half. Called for some help. And was told by a couple of people there. To junk it and buy a new one. I was not a happy camper.

Re: LS1 engine management?
 

Art, I am sorry to hear about your experience. I am not aware of the details of your situation. I can only tell you that we are passionate about supporting our customers.

Re: LS1 engine management?
 

I can back up what David says. I am on the 6th Fast system that I have either directly owned or been involved in and there is no way I would use anything else. David Page, Kevin Windstead, and others from Fast have been a tremendous help plus the system is by far the most user friendly of any I have personal experience with.

Re: LS1 engine management?
 

David is back! Happy dance! Hi buddy!

Just worked with my first Holley Dominator system on a COPO. Made me appreciate FAST even more. LOL

Artie, I would be more upset at the guy that sold you an obsolete system. Those do work, just not as user friendly.

Re: LS1 engine management?
 

I can back this up.... Call David or Kevin and you will get great customer service..... They have patience to endure all my DA questions. They can "break down" the tech explaination in the directions to "common talk" even I can understand.... Give them a call before you buy.... You won't be sorry......

Re: LS1 engine management?
 

Speaking of user friendliness. My crew chief is not "one with the computer." He know exactly what he wants the engine to do and it not afraid of jumping in there if I am not at the track such as this weekend.

He will call me to read off the logs and tell me what he is seeing. I will walk him through the fuel map changes which is akin to telephone hostage negotiation. All in all, he will do it exactly right and we double check it afterwards.

Try doing that with the other two of the big three.

Re: LS1 engine management?
 

Thank you everyone for all of the comments. We sincerely appreciate the feedback and are excited to jump in and try the programming ourself and not be at the mercy of our local tuner.

Ed ... you have PM.

Scott

Re: LS1 engine management?
 

We started out with HP Tuners, more or less because we did not know any better. Their idea of support revolved around charging a little here, a little there, etc. After sinking about $800 into that game, we told them to go pound sand. Purchased 2 FAST XFI systems from Jegs the same week. We put 1 in the Camaro last year and the other is still sitting in the box waiting to go into the Firebird. Zero regrets so far...just wish we could have avoided the whole HP Tuners fiasco.

Re: LS1 engine management?
 

no experience with the XFI but Kevin at fast has been more than helpful with my old "grey box" classic fast that I bought from Cooter and Jimmy. As for performance, the FAST was .13 quicker with a baseline tune, first pass, than the previous Accel Gen 7 was with 2 years of messing with it. Not saying that some of it wasn't me, but the fast is much more user friendly, and the accel support was non existent.

Re: LS1 engine management?
 

Working with the factory systems, I agree with most of what you said. I would not run the factory computers in a race car.

I work with all the race systems too, and much prefer the FAST. It's also easier for customers to take over tuning their own cars after getting them going.

Re: LS1 engine management?
 

Chad say it aint so , I hope I can get the car to start . . what happened at no problem ? Mike

Re: LS1 engine management?
 

Scott, do you know if we can run aftermarket management in Pure Stock? I was of the impression we could not, but sure would make it easier to transition from PS to Stock.

Re: LS1 engine management?
 

Mike, the Accel system is good, Kent LaPorte is flying with it. I would however recommend that you DON'T use the two step built into the ACCEL. In Belle Rose the car was on a very good pass, and at 1000' it was at the RPM it used to cross the stripe at. Turns out we a had a few springs going soft and it tapped a few valves. I attribute a lot of our gain to the help from cooter on the tune.

Re: LS1 engine management?
 

thanks Chad I just needed a little push to get going with it . Mike

Re: LS1 engine management?
 

I work for Holley

We have many NHRA racers running our Holley EFI system with great results. The software is very easy to use and most racers and engine builders can relate to the base fuel map that uses pounds per hour verses VE or Pulse Width.

If a tuner prefers they can opt to use VE tuning also.

We offer plug and play 24X or 58X harnesses for LS engines.

The software is available free online at http://www.holley.com/TechService/Library.asp then choose V2 software installer. THere are several global folders in the software to get an idea of the cababilities of the system.

It has 2 gig of internat data logging.

Let me know if you have an questions regarding the Holley system.

Robin

Re: LS1 engine management?
 

I'm not sure but I'll try to remember to ask when we head to the points meet in Crandall next month. Speaking with Ed this might not be the route we go at this point. The factory computer controls a lot of things that a FAST system could not (speedo, tranny, etc.) and since we still drive the car on the street every now and then it's not a full-blown race car and we need those functions. I would like to go that way though when we make it a pure race car.