Ok, I have too many carbs to tune and not enough experience with them too ear tune adequately. I am looking to get an AFR/wideband etc. My question is....... Since I know nadda about these, what type do I need to begin with? I see there is wideband, narrow band, just afr etc. I have a 12a n/a streetported with no ignition mods yet. (direct fire soon as time allows) I don't have a laptop, or an engineering degree. LOL Is there a specific type/brand etc. that's easy to learn and install without needing to be a carb guru to use? Or if there are other "tools" that would help me tune my carbs, I'd like to know this as well.

 

wide band is more accurate. i like the aem and inovate lm-1. the lm-1 is pricey tho.

 

Do you need a laptop or a degree to use em?

 

I dont have experience with the AEM but I do know that the LM-1 from Innovate has a handheld thing that you can use to see what the real time AFRs are. This would be best with a friend watching it while you drive. Also there is a tach sensor you can buy seperately and then use the handheld readout to save your runs and then you can hook that up to any computer to see at what RPM you are running lean/rich so you can tune from there. I am sure AEM has a similar setup.

 

nope! i have the Lm-1 too, you just plug it into the cigarette lighter, and put the o2 sensor in the exhaust (i've even clamped it in the tailpipe).

its so simple even i got it to work right the first time!

 

Well, Inovate LM-1 it is then.

 

Does the inovate lm-1 have provision for mounting/adding an afr gauge? or just the reader/meter?

 

I used the autometer wideband kit, very simple install!

 

You can hook up a the XD-16 gauge, which is also quite expensive.

 

they even have one that's just the gauge and the o2 sensor, great for something more permanent

 

so am i right in understanding that the meter that comes with the lm-1 is basically a data logger and they charge for a separate gauge to get more money from u. but all others actually come with a gauge to mount in the car?

 

The LM-1 is no longer sold. The new LM-2 is a smaller/better replacement. Their LM line is designed more for the professional. It can be easily moved around from car to car. It can still work for everyday use as a "gauge" buts it's a bit much. The screen isn't that easy to read either compared to the XD-16 or similar. On the other hand, the new LM-2 has ALOT more features if you plan to tune other things. It has an OBD-II plug, 2 wideband inputs, various analog inputs/outputs for RPM, TPS, MAF, etc. that can all be datalogged and then reviewed on the unit without a laptop or saved to SD or hooked up via USB

For the OP, if you don't plan on using a laptop, go for the LM-2 "BASIC" + dash/window mount + analog cable to hook up RPM signal to.

 

Ok, I bought the LM-1 setup. Summit has an inovate DB gauge it says works with the LM-1, anyone familiar with that? Will it work WITH the reader, or instead of it? Meaning, can I Use the logger/reader with the gauge installed, or do I have to use one or the other?

 

Are you sure you bought the LM-1? Summit Racing no longer has the kit in stock and redirects you to the LM-2. Either way though, the DB gauges are just voltmeters that read an analog output which the unit outputs depending on how you configure it, so yes they can both be used at the same time.

 

Thanks! I bought the unit from a company doing closeout on the LM1 to make room for the newer LM2 units. Then saw the summit gauge and thought I'd grab it as well.

 

From what I understand the wideband sensor is different to an o2 sensor as it takes egt into account (maybe other things as well) whereas the o2 sensor just gives a variable voltage output and only measures one thing.. Also the o2 sensor will give no accuracy in rich afrs around 11:1 - 13:1 so is only useful (in tuning terms) for setting cruise mixtures

please correct me if I'm wrong here, looking at getting a wideband myself for tuning and this is what I gathered from researching a bit

 

Lil bit of miss information you got there. All O2 sensors measure the same thing: AFR=(mass of air)/(mass of fuel). That's it. EGT is a totally different thing. You seem to be thinking about narrowband vs. wideband. Narrowbands get inaccurate in really rich/lean conditions, yet are more accurate/quicker responding vs production costs which makes them acceptable for use in production cars where 99% of the time the car is in cruise/closed-loop.

 

Oh ok.. so what's the advantage of using a wide band sensor (bosch lsu 4.2) over for example the stock o2 sensor in a 2nd gen.. is it just more accurate.. From what I gather you need a computer to get the info from the wideband sensor but the basic o2 sensor could be read with an afr gauge?

Edit: Oh unless the 2nd gen sensor is a narrow band, that would make sense

 

buy an AEM uego wbo2, way less headaches then the innovative ones, no calibrating or anything and comes with a digital and led sweep gauge. its all plug and play you just weld the supplied o2 bung into the exhaust
you dont need a computer but you can datalog with a laptop
i just keep an eye on my gauge while driving


innovative ones you have to calibrate, and the similar gauge to the aem costs as much as the whole aem wbo2 setup

 

http://www.boostsource.com/?p=131

 

Hey does anyone recommends the AEM Wideband UEGO Air Fuel Ratio Gauge Model: 30-4100???? I myself would like to get a wb as well and I liked how this one looks and also price wise seems to be good

 

Thanks for the link j9fd3s! That is a great explanation of things in a "laymens" terms.

 

i just tuned my tr3 with the WB.... low 13's at idle, starts on the first crank

 

I've been using that for over 2 years , i use it for all my tuning, its pretty much the only gauge i watch. its an awesome set up, best one out there IMO

 

Thanks for your input. I will get one of this myself