Originally posted by Scirocco#28:
There is a product called k-star (sorry no link)from UK. It was developed for high compression motors when they got rid of their higher octane fuel. I'm still waiting on their brochure to see what its all about, but it can adjust timing as well as fuel pressure on the fly to your specs.
I started a thread on K Star on the volkswagenracer.com forum, but not too many people are looking over there right now. First, here's the link:
http://www.milford.ndirect.co.uk/kstar.htm...#microprocessor
They make 3 products. One is a programmable (in 500 RPM increments) ignition module to control timing. This should be legal on both IT and limited prep production cars. The second is a programmable module for the CIS K Jetronic system, and the third is a combo unit that handles the ignition and fuel injection in one module. They also sell a program called K Soft that sets up the programming. The prices on their web site are in English Pounds, but without checking the conversion rate, I think the combo module is less than $500. I don't have a price for the software.
The fuel injection module works in a very similar fashion to the emission control module on all '81 and newer VWs, and on 1980 models in California. It uses a lambda sensor (O2 sensor), the control unit, and a frequency valve to vary control pressure. I've corresponded with them by Email, and they indicate they are not familiar with the US spec emission control system, but believe it might be possible to use their system with the existing frequency valve used by VW. The only difference would be that the control module would be programmable.
This should make the K Star system automatically legal for all limited prep K Jetronic systems in GP, as all GTIs have the emission control system. Legality for HP LP is a bit more problematic, because the only 1.6 VW to have the emission control system is 1980 models sold in Calif. My opinion is that is enough for legality, as they were available on at least some of the US SPec cars listed on the PCS spec line.
Their web site lists Shine as a US dealer. I've sent an Email to Shine to inquire, but have not received an answer yet. Probably the next step is to actually buy one of the units and compare it to the US Spec system, and maybe ship one of our control units and frequency valves to them.
It might even turn out to be legal for IT under the new ECU rules if Milford could install their system in one of our control unit boxes, but I don't pretend to be up on the IT rules.
Don Horner
HP Limited Prep Rabbit Under Construction