Holley Sniper on the dyno

[Tuner]

Here it is, the genesis of carburetors, NACA Technical Report 49, published Jan 01, 1919.

https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=19930091078

Report presents the results of an extensive experimental investigation of the performance of different types of carburetors as effecting the maintenance under all conditions of correct ratio between the weights of fuel and air. It also gives a description of the Bureau of Standards carburetor test plant, test equipment and measuring instruments used to determine the metering characteristics of carburetors.

http://hdl.handle.net/2060/19930091078

[cjperformance]

I just got a reprint of a circa 1920 Liberty aero engine handbook; all original type and illustrations. Just pick it up and start reading. Contrast that with what it would take to scoop up a few thousand sixties-era computer punch cards and make sense of them, then consider the number of incompatible data storage systems that span the gulf to the present...

Mind you, if the is useful, its not difficult to copy it across to one of the newer formats. In a hundred years time, when the internal combustion engine is a relic like steam engines are today, I doubt anyone will give a toss about a 2018 aftermarket fuel injection system or keeping it operational. A liberty aero engine however - that is another matter.

Oh so true!

[BigBlockMopar]

Good point!!! We can still reboot a carb that is over 100 years old with a screwdriver and pliers and make a gasket out of a Cracker Jack box if we have to, and now there are EFI systems not even a decade old that are not supported, nevermind they were touted as the best thing since sliced bread when they hit the market.

One thing to might think off, is that whatever gizmos have not been invented yet, could render an EFI system obselete.
Old engines with a gummed wornout trashed carb; throw on a newer carb and it will run.
Early 90s crapped out electronic engine control? Rip it out and install a modern day EFI system and it will run.
50-100 years on, that 'once cool' EFI-unit's circuitboard and copper-traces have now oxidized to dust; install the then current electrofazed ignition-gizmo used for 'ancient' transportational devices and crank 'r up.
Or just print up a new circuitboard with 3D printed electric components already installed.

But, 100 years from now, you'll more likely be put away for life as a terrorist for poisoning the enviroment with a toxic gas...

[BradH]

Tough crowd...

[Frankshaft]

Good point!!! We can still reboot a carb that is over 100 years old with a screwdriver and pliers and make a gasket out of a Cracker Jack box if we have to, and now there are EFI systems not even a decade old that are not supported, nevermind they were touted as the best thing since sliced bread when they hit the market.

One thing to might think off, is that whatever gizmos have not been invented yet, could render an EFI system obselete.
Old engines with a gummed wornout trashed carb; throw on a newer carb and it will run.
Early 90s crapped out electronic engine control? Rip it out and install a modern day EFI system and it will run.
50-100 years on, that 'once cool' EFI-unit's circuitboard and copper-traces have now oxidized to dust; install the then current electrofazed ignition-gizmo used for 'ancient' transportational devices and crank 'r up.
Or just print up a new circuitboard with 3D printed electric components already installed.

But, 100 years from now, you'll more likely be put away for life as a terrorist for poisoning the enviroment with a toxic gas...

Humans will be extinct by then anyhow. But I hear what your saying.

[cjperformance]

Good point!!! We can still reboot a carb that is over 100 years old with a screwdriver and pliers and make a gasket out of a Cracker Jack box if we have to, and now there are EFI systems not even a decade old that are not supported, nevermind they were touted as the best thing since sliced bread when they hit the market.

One thing to might think off, is that whatever gizmos have not been invented yet, could render an EFI system obselete.
Old engines with a gummed wornout trashed carb; throw on a newer carb and it will run.
Early 90s crapped out electronic engine control? Rip it out and install a modern day EFI system and it will run.
50-100 years on, that 'once cool' EFI-unit's circuitboard and copper-traces have now oxidized to dust; install the then current electrofazed ignition-gizmo used for 'ancient' transportational devices and crank 'r up.
Or just print up a new circuitboard with 3D printed electric components already installed.

But, 100 years from now, you'll more likely be put away for life as a terrorist for poisoning the enviroment with a toxic gas...

Humans will be extinct by then anyhow. But I hear what your saying.

^^ nice positive note to start off the day, thanks !

[BigBlockMopar]

My day was just ending overhere, but I'm not sure what Frankshaft's excuse could be...

[cjperformance]

My day was just ending overhere, but I'm not sure what Frankshaft's excuse could be...

Franky just likes messing with people's minds!

[andyf]

Most, if not all, have all of the injectors running all the time. Hence the 1:1 linkage required. It can make it quite snappy and usually requires a linkage change to tame it a bit if desired.

I've only tuned one sniper and as Andy said, it is extremely programmable. The other "handheld" stuff is crap IMO. Best dime per dollar I've seen yet.

Yeah, I agree. Very good value for the buck. For roughly $1000 a guy gets a programmable, self-tuning fuel injection setup plus a data logger. This has to be one of the best deals going for a low buck bracket guy. Unfortunately, most of those guys refuse to even consider fuel injection. Might take another 10 years for this stuff to really catch on.

It is good value. My holley c950 is no longer supported. I need a laptop running Windows Vista or earlier to tune it. Holleys answer is to purchase one of their new ecm / wiring harness combos and use the existing throttle body and sensors. Cost is nearly double that of the sniper.

Yeah it kind of stings when the stuff isn't supported anymore but that is fairly common with electronics. Once they are more than 10 years old the support dries up. Good news is that the new stuff is so much cheaper than the old stuff you can buy the new capabilities for less money than upgrading the older stuff. I think the cost will continue to go down on this stuff. Based on a few years in the industry I'd wager that the Sniper only costs a few hundred bucks to build so if the volume is high enough Holley could cut the price even more and still make money.

[MadBill]

...
Yeah it kind of stings when the stuff isn't supported anymore but that is fairly common with electronics. Once they are more than 10 years old the support dries up...

Not just with aftermarket stuff either. Ever notice how many good condition eight to fifteen year old Luxury cars like high-end Bimmers, Mercs and Audis are parked at the back of people's driveways, with flat tires and expired tags? You can bet most are in need of one or more $5,000-plus essential modules that probably aren't even made anymore, but the owners just can't bring themselves to scrap out a car worth $20,000 or more in running order.

[Circlotron]

^^ Yep. Decades ago, car wrecking yards used to be filled with rows and rows of smashed cars. Nowadays most of them look better than my car! Most of them are probably economic writeoffs. That plus the fact that nowadays engines last for so long that by the time they finally quit everything else is worn out too.