I'm pretty much "Old School" when it comes to my Hot Rods. Fuel Injection and Computer interface tuning is awesome but my logic (be it lame) has always been... If I break down in "Onyx", I can fix a Carburetor with a paper clip....

Anyway, with the advent of HEI ignitions, I'm just terrible at reading plugs or doing the various seat-of-the-pants driving techniques to determine jetting. I saw a few "You Tube" videos on Carburetor-based vehicles using the wide-band sensor to tune that got my attention.

I wrestled with myself ($200 bones), finally closed my eyes, and clicked the Summit "buy" button. I'm running an "X-Pipe" and reasoned that the sensor bung could be installed at that intersection to sample both banks of the engine.

Does anybody have experience using this Gauge with comments or advice to share?

Thanks a bunch,

Dawg-a-roo

 

I have a 56 Fairlane with a 312 in it. Early last year I installed a new carb on it and it ran fantastic but.... I felt it was running rich and mileage had dropped substantially from the previous carb. A few months ago I installed a gauge from Summit in one side only. On the first test run I found I was running about 12 to one cruising but during moderate acceleration ratio would fall to 9 to 1. After 3 adjustments to the metering rods and jets I now have it running at 13 to 1 at cruise and 12 to 1 during acceleration. As good as it was running before it is even better now. acceleration is stronger and smoother. I don"t know about mileage yet but have already driven much further on my current tankful than I could before adjustment.

 

I wrote about mine briefly here: https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...l#post14943855

It's a fascinating tool, and as noted, reading plugs just doesn't work any more. My plugs look no different at 14:1 than 12:1.

Eman, putting the sensor at the X-pipe may not be hot enough for it. What engine do you have? Usually with Ford intake manifolds, each barrel of the carb (on a 2-bbl) feeds two cylinders on each side, so monitoring one header is good enough.

Have you tried logging your runs on a laptop yet? I'd be interested to see them!

 

Good stuff Ross. I'm probably a few weeks away from the cam break-in. I just wanted to get the gauge while I was installing my wiring harness. The X-Pipe location being too cold did cross my mind. I'm running a SBC and in retrospect, don't think a sample from both banks is needed. While I selected intake, heads, and cam to produce an honest 375 horsepower, it will be mostly street driven and it won't be running at Indy.....

Thanks,

Dawgie

 

Can you tell if the SBC manifold splits up the barrels like Ford's?

This is for flatheads specifically, but is very good info: Tuning Can Work Wonders! - The Ford Barn

 

It's a dual-plane design. Both Plenums feed select ports on both banks.