New 'Hobby' Project, carb tuning gone high tech Options

[McMark]

EDIT: I know about tube-and-water setups. You can't drive with those. I'm building some different.

I've been pondering this project for awhile, and now I'm finally getting ready to start. Every time I synch carbs I think about how terrible and approximate the process is. What I'm going to try is using a small, programmable computer called an Arduino. There are add-ons called Shields to expand the functionality, and I'm using a LCD screen shield. I'm going to hook up 4 to 6 MAP sensors to the Arduino and output their readings on the screen. Using this tool, I'll be able to numerically evaluate the relative balance of the carb throats.

One possible shortcoming is that the intake pulses may create fluctuating values that are difficult to interpret. Although, I have some ideas that may deal with this. Some sort of averaging could help. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/idea.gif)

Here's what the Arduino looks like (this is the Uno version)
(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/www.adafruit.com-419-1381898348.1.jpg)

Here's the screen shield
(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/www.adafruit.com-419-1381898349.2.jpg)

Here's the MAP sensors I'm going to start with.
(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/thumbs4.ebaystatic.com-419-1381898350.3.jpg)

I'm also probably going to have to make some plates that will go between the carb and manifold with a vacuum port on it. This would be the easiest way to access manifold vacuum since I can't count on carbs to have vacuum ports. Oh, and this will also be useable while driving to evaluate dynamic synch.

[bulitt]

I agree, this Arduino stuff is a cool concept.
Read where some MAF's output acceptable voltage for the Arduino.

I understand your quest to learn and build a tuning tool, for the rest of us not so technically gifted-
How about an airflow anemometer (@ 48$ on Ebay). Slip it over the carb somehow. It reads air velocity, but more importantly CFM.

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/thumbs4.ebaystatic.com-13632-1392129288.1.jpg)

[McMark]

I agree, this Arduino stuff is a cool concept.
Read where some MAF's output acceptable voltage for the Arduino.

I understand your quest to learn and build a tuning tool, for the rest of us not so technically gifted-
How about an airflow anemometer (@ 48$ on Ebay). Slip it over the carb somehow. It reads air velocity, but more importantly CFM.

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/thumbs4.ebaystatic.com-13632-1392129288.1.jpg)

It might work. Only one way to find out. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)
This CFM reading is essentially what the 'snail' Synchrometer does, so it should work just fine and your idea will give you a numeric reading whereas the Synchrometer is much more ambiguous.