FAST EZ-EFI System Install - EZ-EFI

With the 383 already on the dyno, we got to work and installed our FAST 4150-style throttle body onto the Edelbrock manifold. We even used the same carb studs and nuts. Note: The linkage should be on the driver side.

For the coolant temperature sensor (CTS), FAST includes a manifold adapter with thread sealer on the sensor. From there, it was only a matter of installing the adapter (1/2-inch NPT) to the manifold followed by threading in the sensor (3/8-inch NPT). Note: The engine block or cylinder head may also have a provision for mounting the sensor but header heat absorbed by the metal sensor may skew the temperature readings to the ECU.

The next sensor was the Manifold Absolute Pressure (MAP) sensor. A simple connection attaches it to the side of the throttle body nearest the linkage. The MAP sensor provides instantaneous manifold pressure information to the engine’s Electronic Control Unit (ECU). The data is used to calculate air density and determine the engine’s air mass flow rate, which in turn determines the required fuel metering for optimum combustion.

Next were the fuel injector plugs. These four fuel injectors connect at the base of throttle body. Each one is labeled and numbered for their proper location.

At the rear of the throttle body we plugged in our Idle Air Control (IAC) sensor. The IAC is an electrically operated stepper-motor that allows air to bypass the throttle plate. It’s designed to adjust the engine idle rpm speed by opening and closing an air bypass passage inside the throttle body. The ECU receives information from various sensors and will output signals to adjust the IAC motor in or out to adjust engine idle speed.

On the passenger side of the throttle body is the Throttle Position Sensor (TPS). The TPS monitors the position of the blades in the throttle body. From there, the signal is used by the ECU, along with other parameters, to determine if extra fuel is needed.

Completing the system, FAST supplies one wideband oxygen sensor with a threaded fitting and block-off plug. The oxygen sensor’s job is to help determine, in real time, if the air/fuel ratio is too rich or lean. Since oxygen sensors are located in the exhaust stream, they do not directly measure the air or the fuel entering the engine. When the information from the oxygen sensors is coupled with information read from the ATC, MAP, and TPS sensors, the proper air/fuel ratio can be determined.

After the sensor connections are made, the main loom can be routed to the ECU. The ECU features a watertight connection and can be mounted anywhere you like. The LED on the front face of the ECU (logo side), will flash if the onboard diagnostics detect a problem and will remain solid when the engine is running normally.

[HANDHELD] To fire the EFI system and get the 383 running, we connected the communications cable that links the handheld with the main wiring harness. Since the EZ-EFI handheld serves as the user interface with the EZ-EFI system, you’ll need to answer a few questions during the setup. The good news is the handheld system uses a simple menu system that offers advanced features without requiring a laptop or any computer skills. Once the Setup Wizard tasks have been completed, the engine can be fired up. It also serves as a scan tool by displaying live data and diagnostic information. Beyond the basic setup and scanning functions, it offers the ability to adjust other settings to suit the engine, including the rev limiter and target air/fuel ratios.

Once all the Setup Wizard questions are answered, the engine can be fired up. From there, it’s only a matter of adjusting the idle, checking the timing, and making some pulls on the dyno.

[HANDHELD] To fire the EFI system and get the 383 running, we connected the communications cable that links the handheld with the main wiring harness. Since the EZ-EFI handheld serves as the user interface with the EZ-EFI system, you’ll need to answer a few questions during the setup. The good news is the handheld system uses a simple menu system that offers advanced features without requiring a laptop or any computer skills. Once the Setup Wizard tasks have been completed, the engine can be fired up. It also serves as a scan tool by displaying live data and diagnostic information. Beyond the basic setup and scanning functions, it offers the ability to adjust other settings to suit the engine, including the rev limiter and target air/fuel ratios.

The most appealing aspect of the EZ-EFI is its ability to learn. The adaptive learning feature of the EZ-EFI system goes beyond a normal closed-loop fuel control. Besides using the O2 sensor feedback to adjust instantaneous fueling, it also uses it to adjust the underlying base fuel table so that over time, it tunes itself. The Adaptive Learning feature is already built into the FAST ECU. It makes real-time O2 corrections and learns to adjust the mixture before it’s fed to the engine. For us, all that’s left to do is drive. The more you drive, the more it learns, the more efficient it becomes. CHP