FITech with FBO HRR688

[dsburch]

  Just to report in on a popular topic, I went FiTech and started the engine today.  Took a little over a day to detail the install, and feel satisfied that the bundling and such was laid in OK.  All those added wires will turn some folks off, but I am running a pretty stock look, so no big deal for me. Anyway. I have been running the FBO HRR688 ECU with Rev limiter for some time, with the recommend 12V Flamethrower coil and a jumper across the four-pole resistor.  The distributor is stock Mopar electronic (practically new) and runs fine with the full 12V. I bought the FiTech unit that can perform timing control, and despite all the dorking I've read about, I think the FBO setup at full 12V should run fine IF I ever decide to run timing control.  Timing is dialed in so well right now, I'll leave it alone. When I was contemplating the install, I looked at the resistor and decided to apply the FiTech ignition (white) wire to the resistor jumper wire, and soldered it on there.  Sure enough, works fine so far.  I have only fired it off in the garage  and run some idling and revving so far, because it is a cold rainy day (rain- eek!), but tomorrow looks to be clear and in the 60s, so I'll look forward to some "learning" time.  One minor complaint about the FiTech, there's just not much tuning guidance.  They give you a quick start guide, but nothing beyond that, and there are lots of settings which can be tweaked.  So, I'll have to pick things up from their web site and the forums.  So far, so good, though. 

[GoodysGotaCuda]

Sounds good! I've installed a FiTech for my father-in-law and am fairly experienced with it. Post up with questions or concerns and I may be able to get you in the right direction.

The online facebook FiTech groups can be helpful and also have many "pinned posts" full of information.

[70chall440]

I have installed a Fitech system on my 52 dodge PU, a FAST system on my Cuda and a Holley system on my Challenger. I will try to help where I can as well. For me the Fitech system was very straightforward and has worked well. I cannot say I have a lot of miles on it but I can say they it got better every time I drove it.

[dsburch]

Thanks much guys... I'm pretty good so far....  Like the old adage says, "fill your library before you fill your garage", I read all their posted manuals and a lot on the forums before purchasing.  I literally read every review posted on Summit's product page.  I understood it well enough that the day I installed it, I didn't have to read a single instruction.  Pretty impressed with the overall system, but I think they do need some help on the documentation and guidance side.  It must be costing them a fortune in support calls, when some thought and some organization for all that info would help customers and them.  But, enough complaint.  I got the system working pretty well, and day-um it runs smooth and pulls like crazy.  I've seen plenty of comments about throttle response, but I had no idea it was this crisp.  I now need to fine tune the pump, after start, and warm-up cycles just a little.  I'm getting low IACs when the temp gets to the 130s, and its now well behaved for return to idle.  Tailpipes have turned very clean, and the smell is much improved.  I have very little driving time on it, the weather is looking bad, the weekends are booked with relatives, and it will be awhile 'till more quality time.  Thanks again, I really appreciate it, and I'll report back later.     

[70chall440]

Sounds like you got it under control, enjoy it and welcome to the 21st century 

[GoodysGotaCuda]

Thanks much guys... I'm pretty good so far....  Like the old adage says, "fill your library before you fill your garage", I read all their posted manuals and a lot on the forums before purchasing.  I literally read every review posted on Summit's product page.  I understood it well enough that the day I installed it, I didn't have to read a single instruction.  Pretty impressed with the overall system, but I think they do need some help on the documentation and guidance side.  It must be costing them a fortune in support calls, when some thought and some organization for all that info would help customers and them.  But, enough complaint.  I got the system working pretty well, and day-um it runs smooth and pulls like crazy.  I've seen plenty of comments about throttle response, but I had no idea it was this crisp.  I now need to fine tune the pump, after start, and warm-up cycles just a little.  I'm getting low IACs when the temp gets to the 130s, and its now well behaved for return to idle.  Tailpipes have turned very clean, and the smell is much improved.  I have very little driving time on it, the weather is looking bad, the weekends are booked with relatives, and it will be awhile 'till more quality time.  Thanks again, I really appreciate it, and I'll report back later.     

Sounds like our experience. I expect most people that love their carburetors either just like the nostalgia, or have no idea what they're missing out on. I'm going to Holley Sniper EFI my Warlock as soon as I can.

[70chall440]

I just got my FAST EZ 1.0 running; needs a little tuning but way better than a carb! 

[dsburch]

Update:  FiTech working really well.  Starts right up, and the Lunati 703 idles lower and smoother than I thought it could.  The system will find proper idle in gear and with the a/c on, which is totally new and totally appreciated.  I am doubting a lot of what the forums say about the unit only learning when the temp reaches 170F.  My unit seems to have settled in, been driven a few times, and in cool weather, has barely reached 170F, but it certainly seems to have learned the motor while spending most it's run time far well below the 170F mark (so far, but summer in Texas is coming).  It starts without pedaling, holds a high cold idle for too long, and I'll work on that...I think I should probably change the thermostat, but it's just working too well to dive in and fix it so far.  I've only changed the idle and low rpm AFRs, taking targets to 14.1 due to a very slight after-smell, and it seems to like it - plugs look about right.  AFRS run about 13.5ish cold.  432 inches, Stealth heads at about 10:1, and Lunati 703 cam.  Pulls so much stronger and is much more ticklish to the GO foot.  Advice to others - their data leaves much to be desired.  Read all the posted reviews and installs you can - they are getting more and better all the time.  You'll learn more skipping the goofies and the haters and focusing on the problem solvers.  Can't wait for a long summer trip to test the mileage....  If I don't like it, I'll change it while I sit in the a/c.       

[70chall440]

Thats outstanding and is very similar to my experiences with EFI (Fitech, FAST and Holley). I completely agree with your last statement, the haters are people who have never tried EFI and/or don't understand it. I will never run a carb again if I can help it.

[Fern]

How does Fi tech run with a big cam?
I am running a Hughes whiplash cam in my 440 and it makes about 11 vacuum.  The only problem with the carb is it makes the exhaust smell. Would you recommend  the efi to run on a big cam and would it make the exhaust smell.less?

[70chall440]

What do you "smell"? Is it running rich? Ive noticed this comment many times with older cars, people are not used to smelling "exhaust fumes" from something that does not have a catalytic converter, thus it smells different. That said, it shouldn't burn your eyes either as that would indicate it is running too rich. An EFI equipped car will run leaner or better said run more efficiently once the computer learns the engine and environment or the car is tuned (if you have an EFI system that is tunable). In the case of a Fitech system, most I believe are self learning (at least the lowest costing system is) and when you first install it, it will have to learn what the engine wants/needs which will take a little time, but eventually it will clean up if you drive it some and according to the directions.

I have to admit that when I installed my first EFI system, I too noticed the smell because in my head I was thinking it would be different, however I was/am not running a cat and the system was rich (fat) so once I got my head around it, it worked out.

[dsburch]

How does FITech work with a big cam?  (Sorry to take so long to reply - I hope you found your answer sooner.  There are numerous good forums now about FI use and the major brand products all behave similarly, or so I have read.)  In the FITech setup, there are four Camshaft settings, 1 thru 4, which are driving the system based on vacuum behaviors.  The system reports in psi, and FiTech says to think of that as in hg.   I cannot really tell you how a "big" cam behaves. Based on the vacuum at idle, my 11 psi idle is just within range to be a number 2, while the wildest cam setting is number 4 for really low idle vacuum. Lunati 703 cam at 268/276 behaves surprising well under the injection controls of the number 2 setting.  I changed setting briefly to a number 3, but did not detect a difference - the ranges appear to overlap (they would have to) for the vacuum readings. I have read many posts where people have good luck with large cams (like 290, 300 plus) and these types of systems.     

[70chall440]

I don't have any idea how it behaves with a big cam, however it sounds like you got yours sorted out. I will be running EFI on my Hemi in my RR and that should have a "healthy" cam but I am a long way from getting that running.