The Corvette has had electronic fuel injection since 1982. For most of that time, what the world has needed is a good textbook on Corvette EFI systems directed at those not well-versed on EFI and focused on theory and general description rather than on diagnosis and repair.At first glance, this book appears to fit that bill. It's written and laid-out more like a textbook than a service manual. Its 400-page package size has room for detail. It has nine chapters, each covering one aspect of Corvette EFI theory and function with only two chapters on diagnosis and service and one (a very large one) of schematics. The book's outline is pretty good. Charles Probst, who's authored other books on electronic fuel injection seemed like a perfect match for Bentley Publishers, a long-time producer of automotive technical books.
Unfortunately, once you find out how much inaccuracy and sloppy proofreading are in this book, there's just no way around the fact that How to Understand and Modify Corvette Fuel Injection and Electronic Engine Management 1982 Through 2001 has more problems than just a long title.
The errors begin as soon as you open the book, on the inside back cover, in a an '82-'01 Corvette powertrain listing) where the L98 engine is misidentified as an "L89" and the 2001, LS1's power output is listed as 345hp-it's actually 350hp.
If all that's wrong with this book is a few typographical errors in engine RPOs and power ratings, how can a reviewer have such a negative opinion? After all, it was the late Chuck Probst's final project in life. He died at age 82, a week after finishing it.
With due respect to Probst's legacy, it's not just a "few errors"; it's a lot of errors-throughout the entire book. Excuses for such errors miss the point. This book is supposed to be a textbook-quality reference on electronic fuel injection and, thus, must be accurate. Probst was a automotive technical author and training film producer. He probably began this project as nothing less than the definitive text on EFI as used on Corvettes. I'm sure he believed accuracy was of prime importance. Perhaps in his final months, Probst might have been ailing but that was no excuse for substandard fact-checking and proof-reading by Bentley Publishers, especially not to the extent I found in this book.
This title's problems extend farther than typos. For example: there are several discussions of differences between the current, SAE-standard, engine controls nomenclature and manufacturer-specific terms used prior to 1993. In several places, "short-term fuel trim" is listed as the modern term for for "block learn" and "long-term fuel trim" is listed as the modern name for "integrator". Fact is, it's the other way around, ie: STFT=integrator and LTFT=block learn. In other places, the two sets of terms are translated correctly. If one purpose of this book is to explain basics to laypersons; it confuses its intended audience because few of these readers will know which translation is right and which is wrong.
In the book, engines are identified with their RPOs, such as: L83, L98, LT1, LT4, LS1 and LS6. The LT5 engine is, in most instances, misidentified as "ZR-1". RPO LT5 identified the engine in a specific Corvette model known as the ZR-1. This error is ironic is because at the beginning of the book there's a picture of Probst in the driver seat of a ZR-1. We can assume he was at least a ZR-1 enthusiast or, perhaps, a ZR-1 owner and should have known the difference.
The book's mistakes and inaccuracies are not only text. They extend to illustrations. A drawing, which according to its caption portrays the computer-aided gear selection ("CAGS" or "skip shift") wiring and components on the ZF S6-40 six-speed manual transmission in a '89-'96 Corvette, actually shows the Tremec T56 six-speed used in 1993-2002 Chevy Camaros. Another drawing's caption says the reader is viewing 1997-1999 Corvette LS1 and '01- oxygen sensor and catalytic converter placement but shows that hardware for a 1998-2002 Chevy Camaro LS1 which has an entirely different O2S and cat layout.
Detonation is misidentified as pre-ignition in a mistake which laypersons often make but in a book like this is inexcusable. The first emissions controls are listed as being introduced in 1968 but, in reality, the year was 1966 for California cars and 1967 for all cars sold in the U.S. The book consistently lists six-speed introduction in Corvette as 1990 but it was, actually, 1989. The LT5 is said to have two different lengths of intake port runners. It does not. The book claims most EFI Corvettes use engine-driven AIR pumps. Most Corvettes have electric AIR pumps. The book says "underhood" catalytic converters (also known as "auxiliary" or "pup" cats) only operate during the first four minutes after start-up. Pup cats operate at all times. There's a chart of model year, number and location of Corvette catalytic converters that has incorrect information for several years. The list of problems goes on and on.
Perhaps the book's most grievous error is the chapter on modification which, in addition to having errors, lacking detail and being too short, relies too much on aftermarket manufacturer claims of performance gains rather than facts gained through impartial testing.
Now, this book is not all bad. There is some error-free, good information, particularly in the explanations of general EFI theory and in a section at the back of the book on basic diagnostics. Unfortunately, interspaced in the theory and explanations are so many typographical errors, mistakes and inaccuracies that, for laypeople, this book would be an unreliable source of information.
I think you get the picture. Understanding and Modifying Corvette Fuel Injection is a stinker. If you're looking for a text that offers accurate and detailed information about Corvette EFI, don't look here. Until Bentley Publishers decides to revise this book, stick to the factory service manual or other sources.
