SDS fuel injection
Posted: Mon Feb 26, 2007 9:18 am
We have installed the SDS EM-4F engine managment system on a Milano Verde and I thought I would write a little about it. This system offers some advantages you won't find on other systems so it's worth looking at. I have been very impressed with this system.
In a nutshell, SDS replaces the entire fuel injection and ignition system including the distributor. It includes a custom made wiring harness for the Alfa and equipment for tuning, no laptop is required. It eliminates the AFM and uses a combination of crank position, manifold pressure, and throttle position data for accurate control. You can use either low resistance or high resistance injectors.
I like it for the following reasons.
1. It's ultra reliable. I don't know of any other affordable system used on aircraft.
2. It's super easy to tune. It has built in data logging that's so accurate you can get the tuning very close to perfect before heading to the dyno. All adjustments can be changed easily and fast with the included tuner. About an hour on the dyno and you will have everything just right. There is no need to spend $400 on data logging equipment.
3. No more replacing caps and rotors. The system uses commonly available coil packs. Eliminating the distributor also frees up a lot of space for other things.
4. Crankshaft postion is sensed with tiny magnets. No need to mess with a toothed wheel. The magnets are installed by drilling 4 tiny holes in the crank pulley and pressing them in. This provides 100% accurate position sensing. Even if the magnets are not in exactly the right place the software can compensate for it up to about 20 degrees! Of course in the case of a supercharged motor you don't even need to remove the crank pulley because you can simply press the magnets into the supercharger drive pulley.
5. It's affordable. Starting at $1311 for a 4 cylinder setup. We got it up to about $1600 with all the options we selected. (6 cylinders, supercharged, etc.) Note: SDS does make cheaper systems starting at $883.
6. Numerous records in racing.
7. Fantastic instructions and tech support. A phone call to the central time zone puts you in touch with the guys who build and use this system. These guys really cared about my installation!
8. It can drive any type of injector and it's powerfull enough to pulse large high resistance injectors fast enough for a good idle. With the ability to handle up to 60 pounds of boost and huge injectors I don't think your car will outgrow this system.
9. It has a lot of features I didn't use but they might be helpful to others. For example nitrous oxide spark retard, knock control, supercharger clutch, etc.
10. The ability to use our stock Bosch sensors or any other type you may want to use.
As with any system there are drawbacks.
First you can't connect it to a laptop. You have to do the tuning in the car. Honestly tuning with this thing is so easy and so fast I can't see that being a problem. If you just have to look at data in your living room spend money on a data logging device like the one from innovative motorsports.
Second, as with any system like this installation is time consuming. Even though it comes with a wiring harness and is essentially a "complete kit" you will have some work cut out for you. This involves making a lot of brackets. You need a bracket to hold the coil packs (I know, I know, you could just drill holes in the car and bolt everything up but that's not how I do things), you need a bracket to hold the crank position sensor, you need one for the throttle position switch, etc. Of course you also need to remove the old injection system. I would budget a couple weekends for this project.
Results with this system were nothing less than fantastic. It idles more smoothly than any Alfa I have seen, responds better, and is essentially perfect. It allowed for a massive 276 horsepower at the wheels (265 corrected) on just 7.5 pounds of boost so I know it's not holding the motor back!
I am NOT a dealer for these things, just a happy customer.
http://www.sdsefi.com/
In a nutshell, SDS replaces the entire fuel injection and ignition system including the distributor. It includes a custom made wiring harness for the Alfa and equipment for tuning, no laptop is required. It eliminates the AFM and uses a combination of crank position, manifold pressure, and throttle position data for accurate control. You can use either low resistance or high resistance injectors.
I like it for the following reasons.
1. It's ultra reliable. I don't know of any other affordable system used on aircraft.
2. It's super easy to tune. It has built in data logging that's so accurate you can get the tuning very close to perfect before heading to the dyno. All adjustments can be changed easily and fast with the included tuner. About an hour on the dyno and you will have everything just right. There is no need to spend $400 on data logging equipment.
3. No more replacing caps and rotors. The system uses commonly available coil packs. Eliminating the distributor also frees up a lot of space for other things.
4. Crankshaft postion is sensed with tiny magnets. No need to mess with a toothed wheel. The magnets are installed by drilling 4 tiny holes in the crank pulley and pressing them in. This provides 100% accurate position sensing. Even if the magnets are not in exactly the right place the software can compensate for it up to about 20 degrees! Of course in the case of a supercharged motor you don't even need to remove the crank pulley because you can simply press the magnets into the supercharger drive pulley.
5. It's affordable. Starting at $1311 for a 4 cylinder setup. We got it up to about $1600 with all the options we selected. (6 cylinders, supercharged, etc.) Note: SDS does make cheaper systems starting at $883.
6. Numerous records in racing.
7. Fantastic instructions and tech support. A phone call to the central time zone puts you in touch with the guys who build and use this system. These guys really cared about my installation!
8. It can drive any type of injector and it's powerfull enough to pulse large high resistance injectors fast enough for a good idle. With the ability to handle up to 60 pounds of boost and huge injectors I don't think your car will outgrow this system.
9. It has a lot of features I didn't use but they might be helpful to others. For example nitrous oxide spark retard, knock control, supercharger clutch, etc.
10. The ability to use our stock Bosch sensors or any other type you may want to use.
As with any system there are drawbacks.
First you can't connect it to a laptop. You have to do the tuning in the car. Honestly tuning with this thing is so easy and so fast I can't see that being a problem. If you just have to look at data in your living room spend money on a data logging device like the one from innovative motorsports.
Second, as with any system like this installation is time consuming. Even though it comes with a wiring harness and is essentially a "complete kit" you will have some work cut out for you. This involves making a lot of brackets. You need a bracket to hold the coil packs (I know, I know, you could just drill holes in the car and bolt everything up but that's not how I do things), you need a bracket to hold the crank position sensor, you need one for the throttle position switch, etc. Of course you also need to remove the old injection system. I would budget a couple weekends for this project.
Results with this system were nothing less than fantastic. It idles more smoothly than any Alfa I have seen, responds better, and is essentially perfect. It allowed for a massive 276 horsepower at the wheels (265 corrected) on just 7.5 pounds of boost so I know it's not holding the motor back!
I am NOT a dealer for these things, just a happy customer.
http://www.sdsefi.com/