FiTech fuel injection: what can you tell me about them

So I saw an ad on facebook today for a FiTech fuel injection setup, and I thought maybe they have an LS fuel injection setup. Then I found this

So has anyone used one of these kits. This looks like an incredible deal. Are they any good? What can you tell me about them. For those who are interested I am thinking about one of these kits for my Studebaker.

I just saw their 4 barrel EFI replacement for like $800. I am curious too.

What I love about the kit is it includes an upgraded throttle body, intake, and injectors, which alone are worth $500 to $700 if you are thrifty, and it also has the pcm and harness. Oh and it tunes itself. It just seems to good to be true.

I have been looking at the MS3 gold wiring harness and pcm for LS engines for a while now, but for $275 more you could have this kit and be way further ahead. Again it seems too good to be true, which is why I was hoping someone who has taken the plunge could give me their opinion/recommendation.

I can tell you that the system has been out for a year.

The vast majority or buyers love them.

A small group runs into problems that they cant resolve and give up

The Fuel Command Center (FCC) had some design issues when it first came out. The proposed fix makes the FCC redundant: Install a new line to run the FCC vent back to the tank?!

Holley has finally released a competing product this month. The Holley SNIPER seems to have a lot more bits to it than the Fitech

The most quoted benefits: Fast cold starting and cold running behavior

Much less unburned fuel smell

Faster throttle response

Better fuel economy (depends on how well tuned the carb was)

Complaints:

Electronic glitches; hand-held resets on its own

Some cars just wont tune and they give up

Durability still unknown; will it last ten years in the DD?

I can tell you that I am on the fence myself as to where to go with this kind of product.

The one article I read said +29 horsepower too.

TheV8Kid wrote: The one article I read said +29 horsepower too.

Versus your dad tuning a carb, I would guess no gain.

Stop thinking about it and buy it- it's that good. Easily one of the best purchases I've made. I put one on my 347 SBF, replacing a pretty well tuned 750 Holley. I can say with utmost certainty I will never use a carb again. It starts easily and stays running without me babying the throttle, fantastic throttle response and much less unburned fuel smell. Low and midrange power/response is noticeably improved. The handheld controller is really quite detailed on what you can adjust to fit your car. I would buy it again in a heartbeat.

patgizz wrote:

TheV8Kid wrote: The one article I read said +29 horsepower too.

Versus your dad tuning a carb, I would guess no gain.

Very true.

I think we are talking two different things here. The OP posted a link to this system:

I was talking about the throttle body version of EFI that fitech sells.

In reply to NOHOME:

Correct. I am talking specifically about the ls1 kit, but I am open to discuss the throttle body kit as well.

Edit: also as a clarifier. I posted the ls3/l92 kit above. My engine has cathedral ports, so I would need part number 70001 (Here), which is for ls1/ls6 engines. My mistake.

I would love to see a real comparison between the forward facing throttle body and the "looks like a carb" style. I have seen scary fuel distribution plots from the typical V8 style stuff, but the dyno doesn't lie and they seem to perform well but I have not seen them back to back.

Whoops my bad- but their carb replacement option is awesome, so hopefully that translated over.

In reply to ross2004:

No problem. You're good. I appreciate the review of one of their other products. Chances are if they make good tbi kits, they make good sfi kits.

Throttle body injection is a half measure. Wetted walls, puddling, & fuel distribution issues are unresolved. Port injection solves these issues.

Not sure how it stacks up to a junkyard salvaged MPI intake, rails, injectors, and sensors combined with an MS2 and generic wiring harness kit. new GM weatherpack connectors and. TunerStudio software license.

I suspect the MS2 solution would be less expensive and a bit more flexible in the long run.

Just a thought. It would be a good article for GRM to do; compare some of the EFI solutions on the market to see where they all stack up against each other.

TheV8Kid wrote:

patgizz wrote:

TheV8Kid wrote: The one article I read said +29 horsepower too.

Versus your dad tuning a carb, I would guess no gain.

Very true.

Uh, if I get your education correctly, IMHO, this should be a good challenge for you. Learn the techniques your dad does, and then apply the tweaks that electronics give over controlled leaks.

No question, your dad is one of the best carb tuner out there.

BTW, if you make it work, I know a company who would really be interested in hiring you.

Avoid.

Paul_VR6 wrote: Avoid.

Why?

In reply to alfadriver:

It is funny that you say that. My dad and I describe fuel injection as electronic screws. Instead of turning a physical screw you are rearranging electrons, with some other major benifits.

I do have some experience with rewiring and tuning a factory truck LS pcm and harness with hptuners. It was a lot of work, and I am not sure if it was worth it. The factory pcm has so much extra luggage slapped onto the top of it, that it makes it very difficult to tell what you are doing.

I would like to get into a simpler setup, which is why I have been looking at megasquirt. Some of you will say that I can rewire another harness for megasquirt, but this is going on a non challenge car. I'd rather spend a few extra bucks and save the time.

This kit seems to be a much better bang for the buck than megasquirt. If I am wrong, please tell me why.

If I were to put this kit together myself with megasquirt, this is what I think I would have in it.

Intake - $350

Throttle body - $100

Injectors - $100

Fuel rails and regulator - $100

Wideband - $50

If I build the harness myself:

Pcm - $600

Harness - $30

If I buy the MS3 gold plug and play:

MS3 gold plug and play harness and pcm - $1300

So at best I am at $1330, and if I take the easy route, I am at $2000.

So let's approach it from this angle, compared to megasquirt, how is the pcm? Has anyone tuned or messed with a FiTech pcm?

TheV8Kid wrote:

Paul_VR6 wrote: Avoid.

Why?

Customer service and you're the one at fault always.

Ranger50 wrote:

TheV8Kid wrote:

Paul_VR6 wrote: Avoid.

Why?

Customer service and you're the one at fault always.

Have you had personal experience with this? I'm not doubting you, but I'd like some context.

TheV8Kid wrote:

Ranger50 wrote:

TheV8Kid wrote:

Paul_VR6 wrote: Avoid.

Why?

Customer service and you're the one at fault always.

Have you had personal experience with this? I'm not doubting you, but I'd like some context.

Personally, no. But I wouldn't ever use their system. There were a few people on the sloppy mechanics FB group along with the v8 ranger FB group, IIRC, that echoed the same experiences. It's either freaking awesome or "you are an idiot and our product is awesome.".

Ranger50 wrote:

TheV8Kid wrote:

Ranger50 wrote:

TheV8Kid wrote:

Paul_VR6 wrote: Avoid.

Why?

Customer service and you're the one at fault always.

Have you had personal experience with this? I'm not doubting you, but I'd like some context.

Personally, no. But I wouldn't ever use their system. There were a few people on the sloppy mechanics FB group along with the v8 ranger FB group, IIRC, that echoed the same experiences. It's either freaking awesome or "you are an idiot and our product is awesome.".

Do you know if they were using the throttle body injection kit or the sequential LS kit?

So I've done enough research to figure out that the particular product I am interested in is too new to find a review on. I'm going to wait a couple months and see how things shake out.

TheV8Kid wrote: In reply to alfadriver: It is funny that you say that. My dad and I describe fuel injection as electronic screws. Instead of turning a physical screw you are rearranging electrons, with some other major benifits. I do have some experience with rewiring and tuning a factory truck LS pcm and harness with hptuners. It was a lot of work, and I am not sure if it was worth it. The factory pcm has so much extra luggage slapped onto the top of it, that it makes it very difficult to tell what you are doing. I would like to get into a simpler setup, which is why I have been looking at megasquirt. Some of you will say that I can rewire another harness for megasquirt, but this is going on a non challenge car. I'd rather spend a few extra bucks and save the time. This kit seems to be a much better bang for the buck than megasquirt. If I am wrong, please tell me why. If I were to put this kit together myself with megasquirt, this is what I think I would have in it. Intake - $350 Throttle body - $100 Injectors - $100 Fuel rails and regulator - $100 Wideband - $50 If I build the harness myself: Pcm - $600 Harness - $30 If I buy the MS3 gold plug and play: MS3 gold plug and play harness and pcm - $1300 So at best I am at $1330, and if I take the easy route, I am at $2000. So let's approach it from this angle, compared to megasquirt, how is the pcm? Has anyone tuned or messed with a FiTech pcm?

I'm not sure why you'd go with the most expensive MS3 solution for a non-Plug and play install. It makes sense for a plug and play solution, but there isn't much to be gained over a standard MS2 running the Extra firmware or even a bog standard MS3.

Note: you can do sequential injection with MS2.

Building a harness isn't terribly difficult and you can be certain it is laid out how YOU want it and you can drop everything that isn't needed to simply run the motor.

The extra processing power doesn't really help in terms of controlling the fuel injection on a pushrod V8 or even most 4-cylinders. The time between reading the sensor to when a desired change is sent in reply still has to wait for the next cylinder firing moment to come around.