AFR meter - anyone using one?

[peteracs]

Hi All

Just been reading a very long thread on the retrorides forum about the ups and downs of a fulvia ownership (well worth a read, but make sure you allocate the time, 35 pages and counting) see

http://retrorides.proboards.com/thread/142841/1972-lancia-fulvia-coupe-running

Anyway, towards the end the guy (Steve) talks about adding a AFR (air/fuel ratio) gauge to check the running of the engine, which quickly highlights some lean running issues under load. So having seen various posts here about stuttering on acceleration, I wondered if anyone here had used one and if it helped identify issues that are hard to pin down other then going on a dyno?

The one installed is made by AEM see

http://www.aemelectronics.com/wideband-air-fuel-systems-15/digital-wideband-air-fuel-gauge-25/

Peter

[rossocorsa]

Thought about it and I have a lambda sensor bought cheap off eBay on the shelf with a view to rigging one up if I ever get the car running, seems a good substitute for rolling road for checking mixture (?)

[gengis]

Yep...I fitted one to my 124 Spider last winter.  I was concerned about mixture control at idle, but more so at full throttle...thought I was running rich.

Once fitted, it made idle adjustment a doddle (very responsive) also found that the mixture wasn't too bad at full throttle.  It allowed me to trim the spring tension within the AFM to get it pretty much bang on.  I returned 45mpg on a 1400 mile road trip after the adjustments, and the engine run as sweet as a nut.

Quite an installation, but will allow easy future tune ups.

[peteracs]

Hi Gengis

Just for the record, which manufacturer/model did you use?

Peter

[rossocorsa]

Looked that aem kit up on eBay looks good value given that it will save a lot of expensive garage and maybe rolling road time. If I ever get the vx going I will certainly get one

[gengis]

Hi Peter,

I got the one in your link. 

I'm thinking about getting a AFM with a bigger throat size...say from a early BMW 5 or 7 series, and transferring the components from the Spider AFM to it.  Just a thought at the moment, if I can get a AFM cheap enough.  Could be a good performance upgrade.

John.