A&Q about Lotus
Q:
What about FAST EFI (XFI)?
It's used a lot in the domestics when it comes to standalone units. Wide band 02, MAF or MAP inputs, Windows friendly, etc. I'm pretty sure it has sufficient features to control the cam switch. If one were to scrap the entire lotus ECU and install custom gauges (still have to do something with the anti-lock brakes), why not? It's cheaper than some (under 4 grand for all the bells and whistles) and is supposed to be quite simple to tune... I'm not sure of the resolution. It might be limited, which may be why it's popular among the drag racing crowd, e.g. they only use 0% throttle and 100% throttle... I've been out of the ECU tuning circuit for so long, that I've forgotten more than I ever knew about this stuff, so please go easy on the flames
Anyone?
Best,
Phil
A:
I had seriously considered it for another car that i was doing an engine swap on.
I suppose you'd have to do it like the Hydra, let the oem ecu run the gauges. The people at FAST seem easier to deal with that Haltech and others. I spoke with the top guy at FAST but forgot his name. He said it could be configured to run the purge canister (I was concerned about the smog test). For those not familiar, this unit definitely won't let you get thru the smog testing proceedure. As far as the cam change, well, you have to be able to turn it on at say 6000 or whatever and off at say 5500 so it doesn't cycle on and off. Then the tuning for that process. When you're starting at low rpm, you hit the big cam at 6k. So you'd have to tune the A/F to run on the small cam at WOT until then. The catch is, if you let off the throttle and drop back to 5500+, now you're on the big cam. Different tuning required than previously. I don't know what units can address that. Then the '06 with dbw. They make a unit for the Corvette but don't know if the FAST will accept the Toyota.
The wideband is a good idea, the unit can store multiple maps and switched on the fly. It has some diagnostic capability. I think it's one of the better units out there and not a bad value. You can catch new ones on Ebay.
There's a local place with a Mustang dyno that was going to do the FAST on my engine swap project. I would consider him but throwing the Toyota motor and a parallel system at him might be a problem. He's more into street rods.
I guess I'll wait and see what develops with the Hydra.