Makesy
Club Member
Hi all,
For those of you that have been following my build thread, you'll know I decided on a separate write-up for my Fast EZ-EFI system due to the technical nature of the ECU and the lack of information available for this system.
I do not wish to turn this into a debate around the pros and cons of fuel systems (I love what many of you have achieved with carbs). There are plenty of other threads which argue the cases for both.
Background
It became apparent that my stock EFI was no longer fit for purpose. Wires were cracked all over the place, the temp sensor had been cut off and the air flow regulator had been bypassed. When I did briefly get the car running, it was very rich and I wasn't happy with how that would bode for the future. This looks less chaotic than how I remember it:
My aim with this car has always been to do as much of the work as possible myself (or with the help of friends). Whilst comfortable with tinkering, I am/was fairly inexperienced with restorations and car mechanics so there was always going to be a learning curve involved.
My methodology for the engine was simple. I want a car that:
would run smoothly
be relatively easy to tune should I wish to increase power
allow me to run diagnostics myself without the need for a garage to be involved
start "first time" between periods of inactivity
As such, I chose to maintain EFI as opposed to flipping to carbs.
Options
Based on the above, I had a few options available. Some of the main ones I looked at were...
Mega-squirt - functional and flexible, though looked complex for a novice
Fueltech - similar to megasquirt, however there's a local agent near me. This was a more expensive system, and I felt I'd be "going it alone" without familiarity of this system within the community
Emu - I'm aware of someone running this system on a Z in the UK, however it wasn't without its hiccups, and again, I was concerned around support from the manufacturer
EZ-EFI
I decided on the FAST EZ-EFI kit offered by Z Car Depot. Having read some positive reviews and had following some discussions with Zcardepot, I felt this was the right kit for me
There were a number of factors which went into this decision:
The 'self-tuning' aspect would remove some of the headache
The install looked fairly straight forward
All the components I would need would come in the kit, so I didn't have to concern myself around compatibility issues
I had just changed jobs and had a few spare weeks in which to complete an install before my new role begun, so timing was important as I knew getting the kit set up would be a big task for me with my limited knowledge.
As it would happen, I would be in California around when the kit would be ready for dispatch so had planned to chuck it in my case for the return flight, saving a few quid and a bit of time.
Unfortunately Z Car Depot were out of stock, which meant a delay, and the expense of shipping charges. All in, the kit cost around £1250 (including freight, duty and a 10% discount from ZCarDepot)
I've since lost the pic of when it arrived a link to the product on their website:
https://zcardepot.com/products/fuel-injection-retrofit-kit-fast-efi-280z-280zx
The kit is quite comprehensive and includes:
ECU
Screen
Main harness
Adaptor for laptop
Extension cable for screen
Smaller harness to link with coil for rpm module
A series of sensors were included:
Throttle position sensor (LS type)
Coolant temp sensor
Air temp sensor
Idle air controller
RPM module
MAP sensor
O2 sensor
Most of these are GM parts from what I can tell, and could be obtained from Rockauto if needed
Also a few fittings/ancillaries:
Aluminium bracket and fixings for the TPS
Aluminium housing for idle air controller
K&N filter+oil for IAC controller
Aluminium thread adaptor for the temp sensor
2 X hose adaptors for the IAC (presumably dependent on the size of hose you wish to use)
Aluminium pipe (for bypassing air flow meter on the stock EFI)
Weld-in bung for exhaust, to affix O2 sensor (my Zstory exhaust already had one of those! Thanks @SeanDezart !)
You also get some instructions from FAST, a wiring diagram and a sheet from Z Car Depot with setup details to use
First thoughts pre-Install
+ General quality of the kit seems good.
+ The machined aluminium parts are well considered and remove some headaches
+ The harness looks well put together and connections appear to be fitted well
+ Sensors are brand names and should be easily available if they need replacing
- The harness wrapping seemed out of kilter with the rest of the quality of the kit, using a generic plastic tubing (see pic of injectors later)
- Aside from one sheet on settings written up by ZcarDepot, the instructions are a generic guide. Some of the FAST instructions are a little confusing to follow
Despite the shortfalls, installation wasn't too challenging.
Installation
Originally I had planned to place my ECU to the left of the driver-side footwell, however I quickly found the the harness would conflict with the pedals and so this wasn't ideal placement.
Having had a rethink, I have since moved the ECU to the passenger side footwell. I plan on fitting it to the firewall or trans tunnel at a more suitable juncture.
I did face 2 issues with the kit....
1) The IAC housing had incorrect threads due to a manufacturing issue. An email to Z Car Depot and they promptly replaced this without charge
2) The ECU would not originally fire the injectors. After an email exchange with Z Car Depot, they advised complication had arisen with a particular batch of EZ-EFI ECUs which had meant a factory recall had been necessary, and this one had slipped through the net! (Trust my luck!)
Z Car Depot arranged for FAST to sent me a fresh one out and requested I send my dud one back in the post at my convenience, and reimbursed the cost.
Annoyingly, customs charged me for the replacement despite several phone calls to argue my case to Fedex. Z Car Depot kindly agreed to pay half of this cost. Though, disappointingly, I was informed that FAST did not offer to contribute, which does leave a bit of a sour taste on a 4 figure purchase.
When installing, everything connected up easily enough. I've made an amend to the wiring interacting with the fuel pump, but nothing extraordinary.
Handheld Setup
Following the provided Z Car Depot instructions sheet, setup was simple. You more or less just follow the instructions. Do note that everything reads in "freedom units"!
I did, however make life very difficult for myself with both a timing and a fueling issue. I could not get the car to start at all, but later learnt this was through no fault of the ECU. I wasted weeks troubleshooting what turned out to be a tank low on fuel!
Fast forward a few weeks and with a good few litres of fuel and accurate timing, much to my relief, the car burst into life.
Thoughts a few weeks on
My car is yet to be out on the open road, but accelerating through the range is very smooth. I suffer a small stutter at low revs, but I think I can cure this with an increase to idle speed.
What is particularly pleasant is that the car starts very easily and predictably unlike before.
Also, the handheld gives me a good reading of voltage (helping me keep an eye on the alternator doing its job) air-fuel ratio, temperature and RPM (handy when your stock rev gauge is broken!
Video of the car running last week:
Since installation, I've moved to a non-stock setup using corrado VR6 injectors, an aftermarket fuel rail and a Sytec regulator, and toying with the settings on the handheld to get things running smoothly was very easy.
Final impressions
Overall, whilst I'm pleased with how the EZ-EFI functions for now, I feel there are better offerings on the market which are more suited to my aims. I'm in no rush to switch from this kit at present, though I do wonder if I'll still have this view in a couple of years once I've run it for a few miles.
I'd recommend this kit for someone who wants to replace their outdated EFI on their Z, but for those who are looking to modify and drive significant performance upgrades, this may not be the kit for them.
This kit lacks the flexibility to include a turbo should you wish to go down this route in the future, and whilst the handheld tuning is simple, it does feel somewhat too basic for those who want to better understand their mapping.
Another key feature which is missing from the EZ-EFI setup is that it still relies on a standalone ignition system, whereas systems such as Megasquirt can run ignition too.
Since I purchased my kit, Godzilla Raceworks in the US released a pre-programmed megasquirt kit which has gained some positive traction. Looking back, I think I'dve been tempted by this kit instead as a halfway house between pre-programmed setup and self-customisation.
Nevertheless, my car runs, and runs well. And Z Car Depot have lived up to their reputation with some great support and a tailored kit to meet a market need!
Overall summary
+ Easy kit to install and use with some nice features (Handheld dashboard is fantastic)
+ Practical, functional replacement for old EFI
+ Top support from Z Car Depot team
- not a large community of users in the UK when seeking support
- perhaps too basic for those looking for a system to manage ignition and/or explore turbo options
- Harness wrapping could be improved
For those of you that have been following my build thread, you'll know I decided on a separate write-up for my Fast EZ-EFI system due to the technical nature of the ECU and the lack of information available for this system.
I do not wish to turn this into a debate around the pros and cons of fuel systems (I love what many of you have achieved with carbs). There are plenty of other threads which argue the cases for both.
Background
It became apparent that my stock EFI was no longer fit for purpose. Wires were cracked all over the place, the temp sensor had been cut off and the air flow regulator had been bypassed. When I did briefly get the car running, it was very rich and I wasn't happy with how that would bode for the future. This looks less chaotic than how I remember it:
My aim with this car has always been to do as much of the work as possible myself (or with the help of friends). Whilst comfortable with tinkering, I am/was fairly inexperienced with restorations and car mechanics so there was always going to be a learning curve involved.
My methodology for the engine was simple. I want a car that:
would run smoothly
be relatively easy to tune should I wish to increase power
allow me to run diagnostics myself without the need for a garage to be involved
start "first time" between periods of inactivity
As such, I chose to maintain EFI as opposed to flipping to carbs.
Options
Based on the above, I had a few options available. Some of the main ones I looked at were...
Mega-squirt - functional and flexible, though looked complex for a novice
Fueltech - similar to megasquirt, however there's a local agent near me. This was a more expensive system, and I felt I'd be "going it alone" without familiarity of this system within the community
Emu - I'm aware of someone running this system on a Z in the UK, however it wasn't without its hiccups, and again, I was concerned around support from the manufacturer
EZ-EFI
I decided on the FAST EZ-EFI kit offered by Z Car Depot. Having read some positive reviews and had following some discussions with Zcardepot, I felt this was the right kit for me
There were a number of factors which went into this decision:
The 'self-tuning' aspect would remove some of the headache
The install looked fairly straight forward
All the components I would need would come in the kit, so I didn't have to concern myself around compatibility issues
I had just changed jobs and had a few spare weeks in which to complete an install before my new role begun, so timing was important as I knew getting the kit set up would be a big task for me with my limited knowledge.
As it would happen, I would be in California around when the kit would be ready for dispatch so had planned to chuck it in my case for the return flight, saving a few quid and a bit of time.
Unfortunately Z Car Depot were out of stock, which meant a delay, and the expense of shipping charges. All in, the kit cost around £1250 (including freight, duty and a 10% discount from ZCarDepot)
I've since lost the pic of when it arrived a link to the product on their website:
https://zcardepot.com/products/fuel-injection-retrofit-kit-fast-efi-280z-280zx
The kit is quite comprehensive and includes:
ECU
Screen
Main harness
Adaptor for laptop
Extension cable for screen
Smaller harness to link with coil for rpm module
A series of sensors were included:
Throttle position sensor (LS type)
Coolant temp sensor
Air temp sensor
Idle air controller
RPM module
MAP sensor
O2 sensor
Most of these are GM parts from what I can tell, and could be obtained from Rockauto if needed
Also a few fittings/ancillaries:
Aluminium bracket and fixings for the TPS
Aluminium housing for idle air controller
K&N filter+oil for IAC controller
Aluminium thread adaptor for the temp sensor
2 X hose adaptors for the IAC (presumably dependent on the size of hose you wish to use)
Aluminium pipe (for bypassing air flow meter on the stock EFI)
Weld-in bung for exhaust, to affix O2 sensor (my Zstory exhaust already had one of those! Thanks @SeanDezart !)
You also get some instructions from FAST, a wiring diagram and a sheet from Z Car Depot with setup details to use
First thoughts pre-Install
+ General quality of the kit seems good.
+ The machined aluminium parts are well considered and remove some headaches
+ The harness looks well put together and connections appear to be fitted well
+ Sensors are brand names and should be easily available if they need replacing
- The harness wrapping seemed out of kilter with the rest of the quality of the kit, using a generic plastic tubing (see pic of injectors later)
- Aside from one sheet on settings written up by ZcarDepot, the instructions are a generic guide. Some of the FAST instructions are a little confusing to follow
Despite the shortfalls, installation wasn't too challenging.
Installation
Originally I had planned to place my ECU to the left of the driver-side footwell, however I quickly found the the harness would conflict with the pedals and so this wasn't ideal placement.
Having had a rethink, I have since moved the ECU to the passenger side footwell. I plan on fitting it to the firewall or trans tunnel at a more suitable juncture.
I did face 2 issues with the kit....
1) The IAC housing had incorrect threads due to a manufacturing issue. An email to Z Car Depot and they promptly replaced this without charge
2) The ECU would not originally fire the injectors. After an email exchange with Z Car Depot, they advised complication had arisen with a particular batch of EZ-EFI ECUs which had meant a factory recall had been necessary, and this one had slipped through the net! (Trust my luck!)
Z Car Depot arranged for FAST to sent me a fresh one out and requested I send my dud one back in the post at my convenience, and reimbursed the cost.
Annoyingly, customs charged me for the replacement despite several phone calls to argue my case to Fedex. Z Car Depot kindly agreed to pay half of this cost. Though, disappointingly, I was informed that FAST did not offer to contribute, which does leave a bit of a sour taste on a 4 figure purchase.
When installing, everything connected up easily enough. I've made an amend to the wiring interacting with the fuel pump, but nothing extraordinary.
Handheld Setup
Following the provided Z Car Depot instructions sheet, setup was simple. You more or less just follow the instructions. Do note that everything reads in "freedom units"!
I did, however make life very difficult for myself with both a timing and a fueling issue. I could not get the car to start at all, but later learnt this was through no fault of the ECU. I wasted weeks troubleshooting what turned out to be a tank low on fuel!
Fast forward a few weeks and with a good few litres of fuel and accurate timing, much to my relief, the car burst into life.
Thoughts a few weeks on
My car is yet to be out on the open road, but accelerating through the range is very smooth. I suffer a small stutter at low revs, but I think I can cure this with an increase to idle speed.
What is particularly pleasant is that the car starts very easily and predictably unlike before.
Also, the handheld gives me a good reading of voltage (helping me keep an eye on the alternator doing its job) air-fuel ratio, temperature and RPM (handy when your stock rev gauge is broken!
Video of the car running last week:
Since installation, I've moved to a non-stock setup using corrado VR6 injectors, an aftermarket fuel rail and a Sytec regulator, and toying with the settings on the handheld to get things running smoothly was very easy.
Final impressions
Overall, whilst I'm pleased with how the EZ-EFI functions for now, I feel there are better offerings on the market which are more suited to my aims. I'm in no rush to switch from this kit at present, though I do wonder if I'll still have this view in a couple of years once I've run it for a few miles.
I'd recommend this kit for someone who wants to replace their outdated EFI on their Z, but for those who are looking to modify and drive significant performance upgrades, this may not be the kit for them.
This kit lacks the flexibility to include a turbo should you wish to go down this route in the future, and whilst the handheld tuning is simple, it does feel somewhat too basic for those who want to better understand their mapping.
Another key feature which is missing from the EZ-EFI setup is that it still relies on a standalone ignition system, whereas systems such as Megasquirt can run ignition too.
Since I purchased my kit, Godzilla Raceworks in the US released a pre-programmed megasquirt kit which has gained some positive traction. Looking back, I think I'dve been tempted by this kit instead as a halfway house between pre-programmed setup and self-customisation.
Nevertheless, my car runs, and runs well. And Z Car Depot have lived up to their reputation with some great support and a tailored kit to meet a market need!
Overall summary
+ Easy kit to install and use with some nice features (Handheld dashboard is fantastic)
+ Practical, functional replacement for old EFI
+ Top support from Z Car Depot team
- not a large community of users in the UK when seeking support
- perhaps too basic for those looking for a system to manage ignition and/or explore turbo options
- Harness wrapping could be improved
