Putting my abf on carbs but can I run standard ecu.

[sallyandsean]

Changing my abf onto carbs as having a lot of problems with the fuel injection. I know a lot of people will think why but it's because I'm old school and understand carbs but my question is can I just use standard ecu with a vacuum balance it the ecu and will the ecu just run the ignition side then? Cheers

[bortaf]

No idea what an ABF is but usually when the timming is ECU controled the dizzy shaft is locked and has no vacume advance? if it does the ECU will most likely need a throttle position sensor and or MAP/MAF to judge the load on the engine

[sallyandsean]

Jun 19, 2015 12:00:57 GMT bortaf said:

No idea what an ABF is but usually when the timming is ECU controled the dizzy shaft is locked and has no vacume advance? if it does the ECU will most likely need a throttle position sensor and or MAP/MAF to judge the load on the engine

would you please explain that like I'm a 4 year old lol

[jpr1977]

From memory, i think you need the ignition bits off the KR lump to get it to run right and ditch the Mk3 ecu etc. (i looked at doing this 'several' years ago but instead put a 1.9 TSR lump in the MK1 and then took it off the road for a quick respray where it remain to this day, as yet untested)...

A quick check of old bookmarks/google came up with;

www.edition38.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=302516

Jp

[duggers]

What's the ABF in? If it was standard fit so Mk3 golf etc it is generally difficult to get carbs to meet MOT emissions standards related to the later models, not an issue if it's a retro fit in something older
You need KR ignition unit and wiring to get carb set up working.

Check out the usual Vw sites for info, Ed38, vortex etc.

[usedabused]

For those that don't know

VW ABF 2 litre engine.

VW KR 1.8 litre engine.


To be fair I really prefer carbs to injection to add to the above have you not considered Mega-watsit spark control?
That way you get the best of both worlds and if you fit LPG emission issues are removed completely.

[reida1994]

Any chance you have a spare abf engine for sale?

[Hudzoyne]

If the ABF uses a map sensor you could connect this line up to your carb inlet so it would follow the correct reference on the ignition map of the ECU... However missing some injection components I believe it would drop into limp mode and go into a very conservative timing map.

Megajolt would be the easiest and best solution if you want to run carbs.

[sallyandsean]

Jun 22, 2015 13:30:09 GMT Hudzoyne said:

If the ABF uses a map sensor you could connect this line up to your carb inlet so it would follow the correct reference on the ignition map of the ECU... However missing some injection components I believe it would drop into limp mode and go into a very conservative timing map.

Megajolt would be the easiest and best solution if you want to run carbs.

that was my exact place. Iv made a balance bar to go into each cylinder that way I can connect vacuum to ecu and take it from there. Not after mega power or anything like that just want a system I can use every day and adjust if needed. Thanks for that!!

[sallyandsean]

P's it's in a mk1 golf!!!!

[sallyandsean]

Car all running like a dream on the abf ecu. I have found it runs smoother than it did with the injection as was always lumpy with the bigger cams.

[steveg]

Hi, interesting reading about this. How much did you have to leave connected or the injection system to make it go ? My Astra got upset when I blanked the EGR valve but left it connected.

[sallyandsean]

I left everything really, just disconnected the injector and throttle body stuff.

[sparkyt]

Abf is a bit old it has no limp home mode to cause you problems.

Leaving the injector unplugged should give you no problems

[sparkyt]

Kr dizzy is a 4 lobe but the abf has one .
You can run the old 8v ecu which has no imob system and a kr dizzy

So the wiring is simpler with no key chip

[sallyandsean]

Sept 1, 2015 14:29:11 GMT sparkyt said:

Kr dizzy is a 4 lobe but the abf has one .
You can run the old 8v ecu which has no imob system and a kr dizzy

So the wiring is simpler with no key chip

Still running abf ecu and dizzy with no problems at all. Like you say would be a lot less clutter wiring wise with the kr set up but fine as it is so I have left well alone lol!!!

[mikeymk]

You don't need vacuum anyway, i drilled through the water heating points in the carbs and ran vac several years ago but it didn't really help and i've ran without vac since i went on to use a bigger set of carbs. Depending on the cams there can be some compromise at idle but i've never had a problem with various short block engines (Polo/Bora/Leon 1.4/1.6).

That said, i run the older Electronic ignition system with centrifugal advance, omitting engine sensors.