Wideband AFR gauge… any of you guys use it?

[Gas Pig]

Ok I hate carburetors because I never to seem to get them just right. On my family build which is I’m still chasing one dumb thing after another, I’m onto the carb now, It seems to idle ok and run well when I’m on it but at cruising speed there is a flat spot. Also my wife hates how this bronco stinks like exhaust. It’s running rich. I’m running a Holley and it may actually need rebuilt or simply could have gotten gummed up from sitting to long? Not sure but since carbs are not my thing would getting an AFR gauge be the best way for a carb hack like myself to help me get my carb tuned in properly?

Any you guys using them and which brand?

 

[nvrstuk]

Could be any number of things causing it to not run (I'm a carb guy but run SEFI) a wide band AFR guage can help you. I do NOT like Holley carbs on Broncos. They are ok for a street machine but there are much better choices for off road. Qjet is unquestionably the best 4bbl for on/off road. I built many of them for Bronco owners. Do not do it any more.

Innovate is a good brand Wide Band but they do have problems with premature death- even when installed properly.

I use AutoMeter's Wide Band gauge setup I got from Summit. Flawless since 2017.

 

[Gas Pig]

Could be any number of things causing it to not run (I'm a carb guy but run SEFI) a wide band AFR guage can help you. I do NOT like Holley carbs on Broncos. They are ok for a street machine but there are much better choices for off road. Qjet is unquestionably the best 4bbl for on/off road. I built many of them for Bronco owners. Do not do it any more.

Innovate is a good brand Wide Band but they do have problems with premature death- even when installed properly.

I use AutoMeter's Wide Band gauge setup I got from Summit. Flawless since 2017.

So would it be better if I sold off this Holley and bought Qjet if so do you have a particular one in mind? Or do I just go back to stock intake with a 2bbl? I’m really wanting to do efi but Fitech and Sniper I heard to many issues and not to mention cost.

I must be brian dead at the moment I know what EFI is but “SEFI”? lol

I bought this motor this way, but I always been told people over carb their engines. Bigger is not always better it all depends on how the motor is built and how it used, like you said.

 

[Ol'Blue]

If you are interested in a qjet, try Bruce at Carburetors Unlimited. Hes been building them for over 40 years. He will get all your motor info and build you a carb and adapter that will be ready to run. I tried the Sniper when it first came out a few years ago and it gave me too many issues. Went back to the qjet.

Hes built two for me and never gave me issues.

http://carburetorsunlimited.com/

 

[pcf_mark]

I use an Innovate wideband O2 to tune Holley carbs. What I can tell you is every Holley out of the box is rich everywhere and crazy rich at part throttle. A wide band will make you smarter about what is going on but will not help you adjust the carb to do what you want. For example you can lean out the main jet a ton and it will still be rich at low throttle openings while cruising because it is not using much of the main jet circuit. Just saying you will have more info but the learning curve is just starting.

If you smell check your timing and change it to see if it helps. I run 18 degrees at idle which sounds crazy but the throttle response is great and idles smooth. However I get more NOx emission and it smell like it is rich but the O2 says it is very close to perfect. One of these days I'll back down the timing to see if the smell goes away.

 

[nvrstuk]

There are basically 5 different circuits in a carb. To tune it, you need to work with all 5 circuits. That's why so many people seem to think when they adjust "those two screws in the front" that they are done. lol

Anyway, Bruce is pretty good. Probably a few others out there also but the Qjet is by far the best 4bbl for on/off road. All those that say the Avenger or this or that works perfect for them - well, that's great but don't waste your money on any other 4bbl if you need off road performance. The Qjet is essentially a variable carb as it works flawlessly (when tuned) for 4 cyl up to 500 cuin engines. I've built them for both extremes. We just sold the last boat we had here with the 4cyl and 800cfm qjet. Worked perfect.

The small primaries are what makes the qjet so responsive off idle and get's you great mpg when trying.

Just posting all this so you'll understand the background a bit better w/o writing a book.

The wide band is a tuning tool- it won't fix anything on it's own but like posted above, it can help you dial things in.

Good luck.

 

[DirtDonk]

I always wondered why so few carbs were spread-bores. And why so many of those were only hi-po versions. And then why some others (AFB/Edelbrock) were spread-bore wannabes.
Seemed to me, it was really the only “have your cake and eat it too“ solution to the carburetor dilemma.

 

[Madgyver]

It is a stock Motorcraft 2 barrel carb or built Rochester QJet for me.
my motors are not normal with the camshaft choices I have in them so the QJet is my choice. We have no good local tuners here in my area for EFI or any that are willing to help. I like to do thing myself and could probably learn the curve but I want to just go and drive, I choose simple. I have been thinking of adding the AFR gauge or sensor port in my exhaust to assist in my tuning.

 

[Gas Pig]

I did talk to Bruce at Carburetors Unlimited… what a great guy to talk to! I’ll most likely have him build me a QJet and rebuild a ‘66 Autolite for a N code ‘66 that I’m working on.

The one thing I forgot to ask Bruce can the Qjet be set up for a AOD with the Lokar kick down cable. Do any of you guys know?

Thanks again for all guy’s help!

 

[Ol'Blue]

I did talk to Bruce at Carburetors Unlimited… what a great guy to talk to! I’ll most likely have him build me a QJet and rebuild a ‘66 Autolite for a N code ‘66 that I’m working on.

The one thing I forgot to ask Bruce can the Qjet be set up for a AOD with the Lokar kick down cable. Do any of you guys know?

Thanks again for all guy’s help!

The Lokar kick down cable system for the AOD looks exactly like the kit for the C4 at the carb base so I don't see why not.

Here are the instructions with a couple of pics of mine.

https://www.lokar.com/assets/instructions/INS0008-FordAOD-Kickdown.pdf

Yep Im missing the sleeve for the kick down. Its on the fix list.

Ive heard the AOD can be picky about the TV cable settings though.

Also, Bruce knows but make sure you get the Edelbrock adapter plate.

See this thread.

https://classicbroncos.com/forums/threads/quadrajet-adapter-plate-gap-air-leak.321417/#post-3512848

Good luck !

 

[EFI Guy]

In my opinion, the best consumer-grade wideband on the market is Ballenger Motorsports AFR 500. It's based on the old NTK wideband but has some upgrades.

However, what I usually recommend for tuning EFI is Innovate products, like the MTX-L. The reason for this is that they work with tuning software to datalog digitally rather than needing an analog input. It seems that the sensor that it comes with initially dies quickly, but the first replacement will last for years.

 

[rocknhorse76]

In my opinion, the best consumer-grade wideband on the market is Ballenger Motorsports AFR 500. It's based on the old NTK wideband but has some upgrades.

However, what I usually recommend for tuning EFI is Innovate products, like the MTX-L. The reason for this is that they work with tuning software to datalog digitally rather than needing an analog input. It seems that the sensor that it comes with initially dies quickly, but the first replacement will last for years.

My first sensor didn’t last very long at all. The second one lasted a couple years until my engine developed some serious blowby. The oil and sensor didn’t get along. I put a new sensor in with my new stroker and used the Innovate bung extension for some extra insurance.