What is a EFI (Electronic Fuel Injection) Conversion?
In the context of classic air-cooled Porsches and similar vintage cars, a conversion to modern EFI generally consists of an ECU (electronic control unit), relevant sensors for determining engine position, throttle position, temperatures, and other inputs, and some induction and fuel injector assembly (one or more throttle bodies, intake manifold, fuel rails, lines, fuel pressure regulator, etc), and sensors to evaluate feedback and correct fueling and ignition such as lambda or O2 sensors and knock sensors. A wiring harness connects this all together and integrates with other existing systems in the car, such as the tachometer, fuel pump, charging/starting system, and ignition switch.
The ECU is a computer that utilizes inputs from sensors on the engine and/or vehicle and contains the capability to process these inputs and send outputs to control the air flow (induction), ignition, and fueling of the engine. There are many available and our sensor kits, ignition kits, throttle body kits, and other related items are compatible with just about any system out there. Sometimes they are called EMS (engine management systems), fuel injection controllers, or other names.
Selecting an ECU is one of the first and most important steps in planning out a EFI conversion, and we can help you to navigate the many options on the market. In general, most modern options are enough to run an air-cooled Porsche adequately and the choice is most often driven by the preference of the tuner/calibrator and installer (see below for EFI Conversion Kit packaging and installation)
The EFI ECU we offer in our most popular kits today is Haltech, but our components and kits are compatible with essentially any standalone ECU or EMS out there. Customers often use Motec, Emtron, Megasquirt, and various other options based on their preference.
EFI benefits
Electronic Fuel Injection, or EFI, is what every modern car runs on today. It is the most precise, reliable, and optimized method for measuring the parameters of the engine's airflow, temperature, and other factors to optimally deliver fuel at precise timings in the correct amounts and control a fully adjustable ignition map to extract the most out of your engine. The operation and reliability when set up well is on par with the experience of a much more modern vehicle, allowing you to enjoy the use of your classic Porsche with less tinkering.
While it is beneficial to be able to extract the best performance out of the ever more expensive Porsche air-cooled engines we love, the most attractive aspect of our EFI engine management conversions is the drive-ability.
- With the right calibration (tuning), the car will start, idle, run, and generally perform much like a modern vehicle.
- There is no more messing with carburetor jets, lingering fuel smell, and sub-optimal performance from worn distributors or being locked into a default mechanical or vacuum-based ignition curve. Hard-to-find components to rebuild or refresh CIS or MFI systems will no longer be needed, replaced by the items in the EFI conversion kit.
- Advanced features such as engine protections from oil pressure drops or overheating, drive-by-wire throttles enabling traction control or boost control strategies of modern vehicles are possible.
- An added bonus is many of the potential failure items of the engine are replaced, such as old wiring, connectors, sensors, and ignition/fueling/induction related items.
We use crank-fire triggers with hall-effect sensors for engine RPM and cam sync signal to run full sequential fuel injection using modern port-injection fuel injectors.
Ignition is direct-fire coil-on-plug or coil packs with ignition leads (spark plug wires) for a more traditional appearance.
Induction is handled by Clewett Engineering or PMO Individual Throttle Bodies (ITBs), or we can configure systems to work with factory intake manifolds including 930/turbo setups. Other manufacturers' ITBs and intake systems are also able to be used with our parts and kits.
EFI Conversion Kit packaging and installation
Our engine management packages are listed as examples of common conversion kits for Porsche 911s, but each one is tailored for your specific vehicle and engine setup and needs.
We start with a base kit which includes components common to most applications. Our kits feature only top quality, name brand components and have upgrade options available to assist every level of installer.
The EFI ECU (electronic control unit) we offer is Haltech, but our components and kits are compatible with essentially any standalone ECU or EMS out there. Customers often use Motec, Emtron, Megasquirt, and various other options based on their preference.
The mechanical installation of our kits is approachable for a capable mechanic. The wiring can be provided as unterminated/universal/DIY harnesses with flying leads that needs to be made into a complete wiring harness, or we can work with professional wire harness specialists to create a harness for your application that is "plug and play."
An important factor however that we do strongly recommend is a professional tuner or calibrator. The tuning/calibration of the ECU is the difference in it performing well or poorly. Feel free to reach out to us for advice with the installation and tuning -- we have customers all over and can usually find professional help near you.
Haltech EMS (Engine Management System), aka ECU (Engine Control Unit)
We find the Haltech engine management systems to be a comprehensive system with a competitive price, good technical support documentation, and popularity with installers and tuners/calibrators aaround the world. The Elite 750 is a good ECU that will do everything needed to run an air-cooled flat-6 well without paying extra for more options.
Optional higher level Haltech ECUs with additional inputs, outputs, and features available on request. The Nexus S3 starts supporting drive-by-wire (DBW), and connects to mobile apps and has more advanced datalogging and engine protection features. The Nexus R3 contains some built-in PDM (power distribution module) features to eliminate the need for some relays and fuses in separate boxes.
Haltech Elite 750 info: LINK
Haltech Nexus S3 info: LINK
Haltech Nexus R3 info: LINK
Haltech ECU buyer's guide (Choosing between Elite 750, Nexus S3, Nexus R3, etc): LINK
Legacy Electromotive support
While discontinued, we will do our best to support the legacy Electromotive ECUs we have offered in the past such as the TEC3R, TECgt200, and other TEC (total engine control) systems. We can also assist with converting the unavailable ECUs to a modern system while retaining as many of the components you already have as possible for a lower cost upgrade to a modern system.
