As of right now, no one makes a harness for a lightning to support a FAST system. (aka felpro system, speedpro system) For those of you that missed my previous post of what a FAST system is, i'll try to explain it as genericly as i can.

The FAST is run with a program on a lap top. It replaces your stock computer. It acts as 2 main things. It is a chip burner, you can control every aspect of tuning that you truck already does, it allows you to change fuel curves, timing, rev limiter, and a ton of other stuff. The second is that unlike a chip or an older style DFI system, the FAST system corrects itself for conditions. If you key in a wrong # (as long as it isn't grossly wrong) it will correct, i beleive, 20% both ways for optimum performance.

I can not begin to try to explain how good a tool this would be for any performance car/truck, most 9 second and under Grand Nationals run this system.

I talked to my guy who sells these systems for GN's , stangs, LS1's and he called his supplier. They said if the interest is there, they will take the time to make a harness, and write starter programs for our trucks. The unit is very pricy @ around $2000 for a bank to bank system, but is worth every penny. A syste like this can save you fromalot of breakage at the track,and will record all parameters of your pass in graph form (so you can see exactly what your car did going down the track , @ what rpm ad mph)


So anyone seriously interested???

 

Here's what it comes with:

CONTENTS INCLUDE:
Hardware and Wiring Installation
Initial Setup
Communication Setup
Loading and Saving Calibration Files
Navigating the Software - Hot Keys, Mouse Functions, etc.
Should I use Speed/Density or Alpha-N mode?
Global Setup Parameters
Base Fuel Table
Target Air/Fuel Ratio Table
Spark Advance Table
Cranking and After-Start Fuel Tables
Oxygen Sensor and Closed Loop Parameters
Idle Speed Control
Air and Coolant Temperature Correction Tables
Acceleration Enrichment Fuel Tables
Viewing and Configuring Dashboards
Data logging
Individual Cylinder Correction (sequential only)
Nitrous Oxide System Controls
Knock Retard (ESC) Controls

 

The idea is a good one, but I'm not so sure the expense will be worth it. You'll need much more than just the FAST system to use it on the truck. The transmission is also controlled by the PCM, so you'd also need to purchase and install a programmable stand alone transmission controller. The ignition system on these trucks is individual coil on plug, also controlled by the PCM, so you'd need to come up with some type of aftermarket ignition system, that could be used on a vehicle with no distributor. And you would also lose your speedometer and tach, your PATS anti-theft system, your cruise control, your speed sensitive radio volume, your intercooler pump control, and probably a bunch of other stuff I can't recall right now.

I'm not saying it can't be done, or it's not a good idea (I've tuned some DFI cars), but I just don't see the benefit outweighing what will probably cost close to $4-5k when you are done. In all honesty, the Ford EEC system is a powerful tool and does a great job of what we need, even if we don't have individual cylinder control. My truck makes over 800hp and 1000 ft lbs at the motor, and yet I can slap my stock tires on and drive across the country with stock like street manners. I'd suggest picking whichever Lightning specialist you are comfortable with, and building a close relationship with them, and work with them and you'd be surprised what can really be done with a "chip"

 

How does this get rid of the MAF? Do you replace it with as MAP?

Coldie

 

Sal, thats excellent feedback. I'm printing out your resonse to send to him. This system is pricy, even at 4 to 5 grand i would be a good deal to someone wanting to run in the 10's (9's future) with some kind of consistency and control. I don't think it would be worth it for the low 12,high 11 sec truck @ $4k, but if it were able to be done @$2k to $3k, it would make it a tougher decision. The savings from 1 blown motor would = the 4 to 5K, not to mention the tuneability you have to get you much better times at the track..

I have alot of homework to do on this i know. I amin no ways a GURU especialy when it comes to these trucks. I do know if i had a mid 10 sec. L like yourself, even 4 to 5k would e a wise investmet.

 

I had Cal Hartline, at Hartline Performance install a FAST system in my '94 GT (408 stroker, ATI D1SC, etc). He is a GN guy (hey, everyone has their problems) and a damn good tuner. However; we couldn't get the ABS or tranny (AODE) to work with it. Went with a built AOD and stripped the ABS.

I wouldn't want to do that on an L, as the computer is even more thoroughly integrated into the driveline. A hybrid system might work, with the computer still in place and managing ABS, shifting, etc, and the FAST system handling ignition/fuel/etc. You can set up a crank triggered system with the FAST, and likely integrating the coil on plug setup would be doable.

Hope you have a lot of cash to experiment though...

 

You GN guys are always bucking the trend and can't leave well enough alone... I guess that's how new things come about sometimes

 

Thats good...no great for serious racers. I'd be happy with a Lightning Scanmaster and a functional knock sensor right about now. The SpeedPro system is undeniably the way to go in the GN world, if the same benefits can be brought to the L world that would be wonderful. Way more than I need but I'll be happy when I hit 12's so more power to ya!.

 

You could spend even more and get a Motec.


99L

 

I'm thinking this could something very bad for some one with more money then brains.

But I have to say the idea of doing our own tuning is very tempting.

Personally I'd like to see something where we can make minor changes, if possible under a controlled enviroment to minimize the chance of blowing stuff up.

 

this is what i ran on my daily driven 99 cobra.

it was called until last year, but same thing

the 99 cobra was coil on plug, it took some manuevering, but we got the system hooked up

sal, for once, i think i get to know some more than you lol, j/k

the pre 99's (mustang) you could remove the entire wiring harness and still keep all of your dash functions,

with the new computers however, if you want to maintain the dash functions, you have to keep the stock computer, we used the stock computer to start the car and control all in dash functions and it worked fine

the a.b.s can be made to work to, but would take a lot of time, for me it wasn't worth it, because by not using it, i also got rid of the dreaded traction control

for ignition we used the d.i.s. 4, i was one of the first in the country to get the "stacker 8" but it was worthless with the speed pro. we were originally told we would need 2 dis 4's to fire the coil on plug but we were able to wire it to operate 2 coils each. needing only 1 dis box, also needed was an edis 8 module.

also, since i was converting to an automatic, we had to purchase a baumennator tcs (transmission control system). which works kinda like the f.a.s.t. for the tranny.

it's pretty need because you can set every shift point individaully

the only reason i had went to this setup was because at the time, almost no one could do anything with the returnless fuel system

the autologic software designed by wesley (former ford computer designer) is awesome stuff. you got sal running mid 10's on it with no computer problems whatsoever. some would think being able to tune the truck yourself is awesome which it is, and so is the data logger, at the same time it's much easier to break something. i know because i wanted that extra 10th added 3 degrees of timing, and kaboom to a forged piston on a built shortblock.

as far as how it gets rid of the m.a.f. i didn't see this mentioned, it's a speed density setup.

get your truck set up, and have a custom dyno tune done and you shouldn't have any problems with these trucks.

the main thing is to run the proper fuel for the proper tune