MY SDS EFI Install, Some details of my recent installation of a SDS EFI Options

[Joe Owensby]

I thought I'd share some details of my recent installation of a SDS fuel injection control unit. First, I would like to thank the admins and contributors on this board for all the information available to help me make the choices I made. I spent a lot of time reviewing the posts about various benefits of the different FI systems, carbs, etc. People such as McMark, MarkHenry, Ottox914, and all-- thanks. The info here was very educational. I am posting this to maybe do my part in sharing experience. A qualifier is due up front. I am no expert in cars, engines, etc. etc. , so I would not want anyone to assume that what I post is correct. It is just what I chose to do. Comments or suggestions are also welcome.

Details: My car is a '73 1.7 that I bought new in 73. I restored the car, and started it up about a year ago. Engine is one of Jakes earlier kits. I highly recommend Jake's products by the way. I had a set of Dellorto 40's on the car. I had to learn how to set the jets, etc., and finally had the car running fairly well. I didn't like the cold nature of the carbs with no choke, and I also wanted a car that I could enjoy the radio in while driving. A lot of the noise was from the carbs. I made a sort of air filter type deal to dampen the noise, but I decided to put a FI system on the car using a stock 2.0 manifold system. The FI system on my car was 35 years old, and almost everything on it was shot. This made the decision to go to an aftermarket FI system a little easier. If I had most of the original components, I would have just tried to get new or at least good components. At least now, all the components should be relatively easy to obtain. So, the details that follow entail replacing pretty much all of the FI system components for the car.

After reading about all the available systems out there, I had narrowed it down to a Meagsquirt or the SDS. I chose the SDS because I read a few cases where people screwed up stuff on a Megasquirt and the result was something such as either blowing an engine or letting the magic smoke out of the electronics. I have seen ME screw things up, so I decided to take the more conservative route with the SDS. I am not saying anything against the Mega or Microsquirt systems. However, I can add that the SDS system did turn out to be fairly simple to install and get running- exactly as advertised. I ordered the system on a Friday, and it showed up on my door the following Tuesday, with custom length wires and all. Also, Ross at SDS was extremely helpful in helping me decide what to order, injector sizes, etc. After I got the system, I have asked him two questions about tuning, and the reply was almost instanteous. I couldn't ask for better support than I got from SDS. I'll share details on the system later.


FUEL SYSTEM:
For fuel pump, I bought a new Bosch fuel pump from a local parts supplier. I bought one of the two port filters listed for a 75 914. This was the best price I could find, and was about half of the cost from other suppliers. I wanted as many new components as I could get to hopefully get better reliability.

I bought the front fuel hose/filter kit from AA, as well as their hose kits for the upper and lower engine compartment. These worked well. I had already replaced the fuel lines through the tunnel with SST fuel lines from Chris at Tangerine racing. Great products also. I mounted the pump below the fuel tank, using a removable cover fuel pump mount from a 75 (purchased from a member here). My system had the original type fuel filter before the pump, and I added a metal fuel filter in the engine compartment, mounted where the old MPS was.

I used the original 914 steel fuel rails for the injectors, along with a new stock fuel pressure regulator from AA. This came in set to 30PSI, which was the pressure I had intended to use. I purchased an airbox manifold and throttle valve from another member here, Adidas. He only lives about an hour away, so I was able to pick up those parts personally.

More details next post.