<VV> WB units Re: Catalytic Converter for Corvair

[FrankCB at aol.com]

Craig, Bill and VVers, 
    Wide band O2 units are available for less now IF  you are willing to 
build them from a kit.  Better have excellent soldering  skills and a temp. 
controlled fine pointed soldering iron to make it work.
    Innovate Motorsports has both single units (already  built) and DUAL 
ones.  The dual ones can show TWO separate readings at once  if you want to 
install a separate sensor on each bank of the Corvair's exhaust  system.
    IMHO, you really need a wideband unit to properly  setup an EFI 
conversion.
    Good luck!
    Frank Burkhard
 
In a message dated 4/6/2008 8:06:16 PM Eastern Daylight Time, NicolCS  writes:

Bill wrote:

Something occurred to me...couldn't I  install  leaner
jets in the carbs?

For most city driving (90% of my driving  is city under
30 mph) there is no bad smell whatsoever; when I get
the  car up to 50 mph and over, I can smell the rotten
eggs (very  slight).

btw the car still runs much better with the  cat
installed.  Gas mileage is the same as before.

Thanks  guys for your advice...Bill Hershkowitz
 
Craig replies:
The basic answer is "yes" a leaner main jet will lean-out the cruise,  
especially when we remember that lots of folks throw in larger jets (usually  53s) 
as a matter of course.  I'm a big fan of data and knowledge though  so if it 
were me, I would install an oxygen sensor based air/fuel ratio meter  and find 
out what's really happening.  I'd also suggest reading Bob  Helt's book on 
Corvair Rochester carburetors so you can learn the effects of  emulsion tubes and 
correction orifices to really do the job right.   Here's what happens if you 
go too lean: (which is NOT "leaner", I mean TOO  lean): combustion chamber 
temperatures go through the roof resulting in  detonation, burned valves (or 
pistons), and prodigious Nox production.   There are two types of oxygen sensors: 
Wide band, which are relatively costly  ($300 ish) and narrow band (which are 
more like $120 ish). Narrow band sensors  will do the job (that's what I use) 
but aren't nearly as accurate and require  more thoughtful interpretation 
(guessing)
Craig Nicol



 



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