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a/f gauges any one using one?

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Old Nov 10, 2006 | 08:10 PM
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From: Arlington Va Current ride 04 vert, previous vettes: 69 vert, 77 resto mod
Default a/f gauges any one using one?

any body using one of these

http://www.jegs.com/webapp/wcs/store...14275_-1_10625

http://www.jegs.com/webapp/wcs/store...96341_-1_10625

http://www.jegs.com/webapp/wcs/store...63485_-1_10625
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Old Nov 10, 2006 | 08:13 PM
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No thanks...too pricey. Plus, with proper tuning and monitoring the carb...isn't it a little moot?
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Old Nov 10, 2006 | 08:19 PM
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From: Arlington Va Current ride 04 vert, previous vettes: 69 vert, 77 resto mod
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Originally Posted by Durango_boy
No thanks...too pricey. Plus, with proper tuning and monitoring the carb...isn't it a little moot?
and what monitoring are you using?
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Old Nov 10, 2006 | 08:20 PM
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Originally Posted by bobs77vet
and what monitoring are you using?
Checking the plugs and making sure the carb is tuned.
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Old Nov 10, 2006 | 08:24 PM
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From: Arlington Va Current ride 04 vert, previous vettes: 69 vert, 77 resto mod
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Originally Posted by Durango_boy
Checking the plugs and making sure the carb is tuned.
and how are you making sure the carb is tuned?? the A/F ratio matters alot and small variations mean alot....its more then just looking at plugs
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Old Nov 10, 2006 | 08:42 PM
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Originally Posted by bobs77vet
and how are you making sure the carb is tuned?? the A/F ratio matters alot and small variations mean alot....its more then just looking at plugs

Spark plugs will tell you everything you want to know.
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Old Nov 10, 2006 | 08:46 PM
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From: Arlington Va Current ride 04 vert, previous vettes: 69 vert, 77 resto mod
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Originally Posted by l88rocket
Spark plugs will tell you everything you want to know.
how can you say that?

what if you have a high rpm run lean problem ???? and at lower rpms everything is fine.......spark plugs will tell you on average whats going on but will not be specific to any one RPM range
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Old Nov 10, 2006 | 08:48 PM
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If you plan to use A/F ratio gauge,unless you but a sensor in every header tube it's really not giving a true reading,by only having one sensor in the collectors only,because it doesn't give a breakdown on each cylinder only what the whole mix is,the front and rear cylinders are natural leaner there for need for fuel.
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Old Nov 10, 2006 | 08:52 PM
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My plugs looked good after a day of racing, I use a new set each weekend. They're cheaper than four gallons of gas. The wide band showed where it was too rich and just right others. The wide band is a great tuning tool. Ron B.
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Old Nov 10, 2006 | 08:52 PM
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From: Arlington Va Current ride 04 vert, previous vettes: 69 vert, 77 resto mod
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i realize it gets back to some averaging....but the collector is where i wss thinking of putting it....maybe even put a bung on both sides...plug one and then switch sides
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Old Nov 10, 2006 | 09:02 PM
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I have the Innovate AF meter. I have yet to hook it all up. I bought it after reading some of the posts on here. Just have not had the chance to dive in and do the install. I have a set of headers I want to install the bung in. One of these days pretty soon I will get around to it.
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Old Nov 10, 2006 | 09:43 PM
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Installing and using the LM-1 wideband A/F meter was one of the most eye opening things I have done in a long time with my car. Reading plugs is good for one thing, drag racing, at the end of the run take a look whether you are rich or lean.

For everyday driving how do you know if you are lean at idle, fat at part throttle or lean at WOT unless you can see it. My plugs were a nice a tan color, been that way ever since I built the motor, thought everything was fine until I put the LM-1 in. Showed me I was lean at idle, fat at cruise (11:1 A/F) and dangerously lean at WOT (15-16:1 A/F) which all averaged out to a nice tan color plug

I have sinced tuned my 550HP small to get 24MPG (CND) on the highway @ 80 MPH in 5th gear. With the LM-1 I was able to tune a Demon race carb to work perfect at part throttle, cruise and WOT and get good gas mileage out a high HP motor to boot. If you aren't tuning with a wideband you are shooting in the dark
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Old Nov 10, 2006 | 10:14 PM
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Originally Posted by l88rocket
Spark plugs will tell you everything you want to know.

I was being alittle smart ***,but you can tell by the electrode color and other tricks to get a ballpark idea,but like my next post said you need exact reading to use a A/F to it's fullest.

I have one on my 94 z28,and my old pro street car had on on it.

So usefull yes,but if its going on a stock motor no.
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Old Nov 10, 2006 | 10:15 PM
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Originally Posted by MotorHead
Installing and using the LM-1 wideband A/F meter was one of the most eye opening things I have done in a long time with my car. Reading plugs is good for one thing, drag racing, at the end of the run take a look whether you are rich or lean.

For everyday driving how do you know if you are lean at idle, fat at part throttle or lean at WOT unless you can see it. My plugs were a nice a tan color, been that way ever since I built the motor, thought everything was fine until I put the LM-1 in. Showed me I was lean at idle, fat at cruise (11:1 A/F) and dangerously lean at WOT (15-16:1 A/F) which all averaged out to a nice tan color plug

I have sinced tuned my 550HP small to get 24MPG (CND) on the highway @ 80 MPH in 5th gear. With the LM-1 I was able to tune a Demon race carb to work perfect at part throttle, cruise and WOT and get good gas mileage out a high HP motor to boot. If you aren't tuning with a wideband you are shooting in the dark

On a motor like this I would not have one,it needs very fine tuning.
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Old Nov 10, 2006 | 11:38 PM
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I am running the AEM wideband and love it. My car runs 12.5-13.2 throughout he whole RPM range. I am running a supercharger and did not want to take a chance of running lean. I can help with tuning. You can see at which point you are going rich or lean. But it really isn't worth it unless you get the wideband.
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Old Nov 11, 2006 | 09:16 AM
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This is the one I have on order. Backordered untill new years. It's not wideband, but it's better than nothing. It's the only 2 5/8" analog I could find.
http://store.summitracing.com/partde...5&autoview=sku
It's holding up my guage project.
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Old Nov 11, 2006 | 09:43 AM
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Originally Posted by Bee Jay
This is the one I have on order. Backordered untill new years. It's not wideband, but it's better than nothing. It's the only 2 5/8" analog I could find.
http://store.summitracing.com/partde...5&autoview=sku
It's holding up my guage project.

So according to that gauge 14.7 is a perfect balance?
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To a/f gauges any one using one?

Old Nov 11, 2006 | 09:44 AM
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A typewritter is good for writting letters, but it is 2006. Hey, we're all communicating on a computer! Wideband A/F Hopefully, the prices will come down.
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Old Nov 11, 2006 | 09:58 AM
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Well 14.7 is what most all cars run at today it is the ratio where the most fuel is burned. In all my readings you get the most torque from 12.5 and the most horsepower at 13.2. So I kept my my range in between those numbers. The plugs always looked great.

Last edited by windsoreight; Nov 11, 2006 at 11:19 AM.
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Old Nov 11, 2006 | 10:28 AM
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From: Arlington Va Current ride 04 vert, previous vettes: 69 vert, 77 resto mod
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how wide is the wide band and do you have any sites???
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