EFI Installation Diary

Last Update: August 27, 2002

These pages will document the installation of a Tim Systems fuel injection system and a turbo on a well used 1641 VW engine. After I install the EFI, I plan to take a homedyno run and use that to calculate the airflow requirements for the turbo. Some form of intercooling will also be installed.

The main reason I am going with a fuel injection system is to stop the carb flooding problems when off roading. A second but equally important reason is because it will make it very easy to install and tune the engine for a turbo.

Here's what I had to start with:

1641, Dual Kadrons, external oil cooler and filter without full flow.

Problems: The oil takes forever to heat up. The carbs constantly flood in low RPM bumps even with long vent lines. That wastes gas, kills rings and puts fuel in the oil. The engine is a PITA to pull with all the parts mounted on the frame. The engine has no low end power (wrong cam)

The plan is to add a full flow filter, revert back to a stock fan shroud, add a Fuel Injection system and then a turbo. This is on a buggy that gets a lot of rough use so durability and safety will be a top priority as well as low RPM torque and drivability. The engine is old, but still has good oil pressure so I plan to give it the torture test while I work on a new engine.

Things I need:

If anyone has the following parts and would like to donate them for testing, please email me. tkirkwood@dune-buggy.com

Bosch Dual Vacuum Dual Advance distributor with electronics (from late Vanagon??)

Bosch Single Vacuum Dual Advance distributor

Stock bug cam in good condition. Yes a stock bug cam.

Turbo cam

Suggestions for air cleaner. I'll probably use a centrifugal air cleaner and it will be mounted high for water crossings.

Step 1: Strip engine, full flow case, install gas tank fittings, clean throttle body

Step 2: Make fan shroud reinforcement plate, make intake flanges, make plenum parts

Step 3: Bend runner tubes, make fuel rail, cut injector holes.

Step 4: Run fuel lines and test for adequate pressure

Step 5: Mount computer, run wires and tune