I am looking for someone who has delt with this company before.http://www.customefis.com/[URL]

Anyone have anything good or bad to say?

That's John Wilson and I have nothing but good to say about him. He and I discussed my system for nearly a year before I purchased it from him. Answered every question quickly and a pleasure to deal with. I have an AMC 401 and we used a GM 454 throttle body and an HEI distributor, converting the HEI to computer control as well. I only had one issue with the install and that was one power lead labeled "switched 12V" and I made the mistake of connecting it to a switched circuit that goes dead when the key is in the start position :rolleyes: I only knew of one switched circuit that stayed hot in the start position (the one that went to the old ignition) so I used that along with a GM solenoid and all is well. John includes a solenoid now but he wasn't aware of this potential problem back when I bought my setup. He was going to send me a solenoid but I said no worries and picked one up at the boneyard for $.50 :D When we first started talking I was going to go all the way and do port injection but funds caused me to fall back to TBI. However, knowing that I want to go port someday John built the harness with that in mind. He knows GM EFI inside and out, is a great guy to deal with (the whole switched 12v deal? He helped me fix that on a Sunday! :beer: ), and as far as EFI retro-fits go the price is outstanding. He can furnish everything or just computer and harness depending on how much you want to pick up on your own (for example I purchased the O2 sensor and fuel pump at a parts store and the 454 throttle body on ebay). Once I had the power issue squared away it fired right up just like it was supposed to (cam gear promptly shredded :rolleyes: but that's another issue unrelated to the EFI conversion). I then had a little trouble finding a connector that, with the computer controlled HEI, you need to disconnect to set the timing but John pointed me in the right direction with a quick phone call (again on a Sunday). Drivability results are excellent with one exception, and that is it falls on its face with heavy throttle at low rpms under load (such as lugging 4th gear around town). This is a tuning issue and I've already spoken with John about it. He states on his website that tuning for your motor is highly recommended. At the time I bought mine I don't think he had much 401 feedback (especially with the 454 throttle body) so he took a ballpark stab at the ignition and fuel mapping and almost nailed it. Offroad it has performed beautifully. I've been holding off on my "review" of the conversion until we get it resolved, but since you asked I hope some of this info will prove useful. I'll be happy to answer any questions I can about my setup and impressions. In the meantime here's a really bad shot of my TBI setup when I started installing it (thus the wiring harness being all over the place). Cleaned up real nice, I can post a "finished" look if you like. Just gotta borrow a camera to do it :D

BTW, while I'm on the HEI topic I'd like to give a plug for Cape Conversions who bent over backwards to help me address the cam gear issue I alluded to above. Turned out to be my fawk-up and yet they got me straightened out (including new cam and dist. gears) in short order at no cost :eek: :beer: :beer:

Eric, sounds like he set you up with a nice system. What was the wiring harness like? Did John make it from all new wire or is it from a doner vehicle modified to fit yours? Why did you chose to purchase the TBI yourself instead of from him?

I honestly don't know if it was a brand new harness or modified donor harness. I think he modifies existing harnesses but I'm not certain. Sure looked new but I'll take a closer look at it tonight if I get a chance.

I bought the 454 throttle body myself because they're tough to find. John didn't have any on hand so I got it off of ebay. Suckers are expensive too. :( We're talkin' $50 vs. $350+ here so if you can use a 350 throttle body then by all means do it. I didn't know if it would be enough for the 401 or not so I opted for the larger 454 setup. BTW, after purchasing the throttle body I sent it to John to check it out just to be sure it was ok.

The Custom EFIS web site says that it is easy to reprogram your PROM with a laptop and some new freeware that has recently come out. Do you use a laptop to monitor your system?

Sorry for the delay, been out of town lately. Yes I'll use a laptop to monitor the system and collect the performance data using the free software. That's where I'm at right now, just been distracted on other stuff for the Heep :rolleyes: Other than the stumble I described it runs like a champ so I'm really not in much of a rush to tune it :D

Thanks again Eric. I should be getting my motor back from the machine shop in about a week. Once I decide on a cam I will call custom EFIS and see what they can set me up with.

One more thing, where did you mount the ECU? I was thinking since the glove box in my FJ40 is so big and problably the driest location I would put it there.

No problem, and good choice for location. I put mine behind my CJ glovebox (or where the glovebox used to be anyway, only the door remains). On CJ's there's just enough room to tuck it between the heater box and the fresh air intake hose. I looked around at some of the stock mounting brackets in the boneyard and almost ended up with one from a Fiero of all places, but in the end decided to make my own out of aluminum angle. Wish I had a pic handy but I don't :(

Ive been trying to e-mail this guy for about 2 weeks and it keeps getting sent back to me. Anyone know whats up with this guy or how to get a hold of him?

I've also talked with John Wilson a bunch of times on the tbi subjects. Eric when you had a problem with the distributor what made the gear shear? I've been talking with a buddie about putting a tbi on his 304 but monies kinda tight for everyone right now. I was thinking of building a distributor for him. Do you know what hei they started with to build yours. thanks

Ive been trying to e-mail this guy for about 2 weeks and it keeps getting sent back to me. Anyone know whats up with this guy or how to get a hold of him?

I've been interested in customefis.com for some time. I just had an email exchange with him about a week ago, used the email from his website. Looks like he knows what he's doing, although I have not purchased anything from him but his book.

Do a search at www.ifsja.org

Looks like there have been some delivery problems.

I don't see any pricing on his site????

Don't buy a thing from that guy. He has had my deposit for 5 years and has stopped returning any calls, e-mails, im's, etc. If you do searches I am not the only person. His business phone has been disconnected. I know he has moved at least once. The latest address I have for him is in Alabama. I have spoken to the local police to go pay him a visit. If anyone has any contact info for him, I would really appreciate a PM with it so I can try to get ahold of him. I would rather him just refund my deposit than have to take him to court or have him arrested.

Search the internet. There are stories like mine all over the place. I do feel bad for him because I have talked to him several times. He means well, but he still is taking people's money and not delivering the product he promised. He should just refund everyone's money and get out of the business. He is an engineer and should have no trouble finding a job.

If you choose to go with him, do it at your own risk and consider yourself warned. Howell is not much more and will be well worth it.

Being the original thread starter I will tell you guys my experience with him.

Nothing.

I could never reach him to talk about his product. His website has good EFI info but thats about all the use Custom EFIS was to me. I ended up just running a q-jet and still have it but am now looking at going dual fuel with propane from Gotpropane.com.

Its been 6 years since this thread was started and I still have a fawking carb. :shaking:Oh well, if I chose to go EFI there several more choices available now.

Does anybody have a current phone number or email address for John Wilson?