I'm playing with the idea of water injection, from the carb base, and many of the good installations recommend an O2 sensor (unfortunately they are EFI engines). No converter, no airpump on the car, all stock otherwise. My car doesn't have any OBD on it either. Is it just a PITA or worthwhile adding one? I've looked at this info, but I don't get a sudden flash of "Oh Yeah!" http://www.aftermarketnews.com/default.aspx?type=wm&module=4&id=3&state=DisplayFullText&item=5589 This is the system I'm gonna try: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel_library/ethanol_motherearth/me3.html And here's a decent view of Ford Explorer systems: http://autorepair.about.com/library/faqs/bl026h.htm It just seems like a good way to automatically keep the Air-Fuel mixture around the optimum range, but the sensor alone wouldn't do it. I'm running a stock Dizzy distributor/coil setup.
The old Model-T had this all worked out right on the steering column. One stick was the gas, the other was the timing advance. Ford owners can truly say (about their cars anyway) "My daddy was a pistol, I'm a son of a gun." In my case, adding water injection, means the combustion chambers cool down when the water mist/vapor becomes steam mixed with fuel, and explodes in the chamber with each spark. That means the air going in has to be within the 14.7:1 range. 14.7 air to 1 part of fuel. The O2 sensors are supposed to do that. With an OBD you'd get some kind of idiot light flashing, or some fine adjustment to the mixture. That's fine for EFI engines, with all the sensors taking these bits of info and adjusting this and that. On an old tech V8 or I6, these widgets don't exist. What to do, what to do?? I went back to the home of the Ford Six and did some digging. O2 sensors are great for the Emissions Testing folk, and they would be very useful for a DIYer to test his exhaust system for leaks, and so on, but on these Old-Tech cars, you have to find other options. My guess at a good strategy is to install a vacuum gauge, tweak the vacuum advance cannister as recommended here: http://www.fordmuscle.com/archives/2000/03/timing/index.shtml Set up my Duraspark ignition to work PERFECTLY (Precisely) and seek and seal every vacuum leak there might be: Install these little guys in the Distributor: http://www.msdignition.com/dist_69.htm For this reason: http://www.classicinlines.com/DSII_swap.asp#DSIIgas And follow the tips on tweaking the DIZZY II (thanks to HandyAndy) http://www.carbdford.com/viewtopic.php?t=5543 http://members.cox.net/joetrojan/ http://www.carbdford.com/viewtopic.php?t=5392&sid=cad527b5cf70027ef6ed077c35804eab There are digital Air/Fuel gauges out there like this: http://www.aempower.com/ViewCategory.aspx?CategoryID=67 To do the Water Injection on EFI systems::confused: http://www.aempower.com/ViewCategory.aspx?CategoryID=120 So, because I like simple, I'll K.I.S.S. this project.
I think you'd be crazy to try and add all that. It would be a nightmare and not trying to be insulting, it would not be engineered to operate optimally. Unless of course you can get it on a dyno and then reprogram the ECU computer to run it all. I think it would be very difficult to get anything out of it....inexpensively.
Not insulted at all. I'm pie-in-the-skying this whole Sensor thing, because I think I can still do the Water injection without all these add-ons. So thanks for the reality check.
I remember back in the 70's water injection was done in to the base of the carb somewhere. I'm thinking it was a vacuum port. A tee was added. The water was metered via an orifice in the line.
Yeah, that's what this system looks like too! http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel_library/ethanol_motherearth/me3.html
O2's sensors and monitors are simple.... AEM makes kits, Innovative makes a setup, and another inexpensive setup is here http://www.14point7.com/JAW/JAW.htm
