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Digital or Analog?

electronic engine controls
Posted June 19 2008 07:03 PM by CHP John 
Filed under: Miscellaneous, Car Engine, General Chevy Talk

plotting the curve

Dialing it in with the push of a button--what's not to like?


Common wisdom says that most gearheads—at least the traditional type, a group that includes those who work on their own vintage cars—would rather turn a screw or change a spring than deal with computer controlled devices meant to perform the same task. For many, it’s easier to turn a mixture screw, adjust a float level, or change a jet on the side of the road than it would ever be to deal with an EFI issue under the same circumstances. There's also the issue of taking a distributor apart enough to change the advance springs—it’s not hard, but it’s not exactly fun, either, especially when the needle-nose pliers slip and the spring you need goes shooting across the room. Compare that to the process in the story I just finished: a carbureted LS1 with an ignition control box. (Look for it in our October issue.) Using a laptop and the appropriate software, it literally took a couple minutes to access the timing curve and change it to exactly what we wanted with a few clicks of the mouse. A second change took even less time, since the software was already running. It was easy and efficient. Turning a screw or changing a spring isn’t bad, but it’s hard to beat that kind of push-button precision and tuneability. What do you think?

JN

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