Looking to go with Holley dominator efi.. I need to run a 4l80 along with the engine. It’s a turbo small block. Pro’s and cons????

 

I can't speak as to the specifics of your needs, but I've been incredibly happy with my Holley HP. The product itself as well as the customer service has been top notch.

 

Other than price, I don't think there are any negatives

 

It should work fine. Holley stuff is easy to use. Havent done any electronic trans control stuff but the software and tuning is easy and straightforward

 

Well the main reason I’m going this route is because of the trans and I can add a digital dash easy enough. Plus.. should I pop the small block. It’s just a harness and programming change to go to an LS

 

Glad to hear. I was tossing around the idea of the HP unit. And doing a separate trans controller. But it’s more $$ that way.

 

I've also looked into that, should I ever need/want to LS swap. .....as for gauges, not sure what your goals are, but I'm running the small 3.5" screen for the ancillary gauges. Still using stock speedo and tach. That little screen is awesome. ...I'm considering going with some stock style speedhut gauges and putting the 3.5" in the middle. We'll see. For now, this is working really well. I reguarly run 4 basic gauges, oil, water, volts and an on/off tach warning light to function as a shift light, but you can monitor up to 16 at a time, and as many as you program the Holley to monitor. You can program to tell you when your fans come on if you want. You can tune and one button data log too. It's pretty awesome.

Obviously the full size dashes to that too.

 

Why not a 24x setup? Can run 4L80. And can run the LS if you pop the SBC...

 

Might as well buy the ls harness now and a crank trigger setup and the efi connecton cam sync dizzy. Run ls coils now, then if it blows or decide to change to ls you already have everything just need to relocate cam and crank sensor wires

 

Looks nice. I’m not sure I can get the factory 92 gauges to work. So I was thinking of the 7” screen. Just making a mount and replacing the factory gauge cluster.

 

It's just the tach and speedo. I am not sure why people think that is a big deal. Both of those are easy with 24x or Holley. The GM ECM is easy since it has output for both already. The Holley has a tach output, and the trans has VSS, so you just need an SGI-5 box to get the speedo to work

Oil pressure unit you can use the stock 4th gen, and for the temp you just use a 98 F car temp sender

 

Never heard of an SGI-5 box. I’ll definitely look into that right now. That will save a ton of money. THANK YOU!!

 

Dakota Digital

 

Ive heard of Dakota digital. Just wasn’t a big fan of the designs they had. But it’s been a few years since I’ve checked them out.

 

Cant the holley be programmed to output correct vss? That i am not sure mine is cable driven lol

i still use factory gauges on my 24x setup and my new bbc holley setup. The gauges are on their own senders separately from engine harness so its easy. Tach works fine.

With holleys harness you have to use holley like sensors with the metripak connector ends. Oem gm stuff from ls1 may not work depending on year and type. Plus ls1 sensors are metric thread and sbc is not. Pita

but all u need is thirdgen oil pressure and swap pigtails over, and the coolant temp in head is single wire to gauge so that doesnt need changed

 

He wasn't talking about their gauges, just that box. It's just converts signal. After it's installed you'd never see it.

Not sure about the Dominator, but I believe the HP can be made to work using their programmable outputs. I don't think it's intended for that though, so there's no direct Holley support. You'd have to figure out math to convert the signal, but I do think you can do it. If that sounds sorta half informed it's because it is, lol. I've never done it, but I do recall reading through a post about it.

 

I’ve followed your builds for awhile. But can’t remember what efi setup you use?

 

First several were stock oem thirdgen stuff. Last turbo deal was stock oem ls1 411 pcm using efi connection 24x reluctor and cam sync

current is holley hp on my big block using the efi connection cam sync dizzy as before but with holley 36-1 trigger and smart coils. Holley ls harness that i made small modifications too to fit. Been running all motor. Hanging turbos now

 

I'm doing a Terminator X one on a small block now, with 24x conversion, that's the route I would go if you are thinking LS in the future. I think it was under 1k, and really handy to setup.

Almost everything I am doing on EFI small blocks is with the new Holley stuff. Priced right and it just plain works.

 

Ill do some research on that. I just seen they have trans control and boost. I’ll do some digging. Thank you!

 

The Dominator can output a vss signal to any output pin you want. Just have to know ppm on the gauge it's going to want to see to work . Dont know about the factory gauge but on an autometer speedo autometer told me it needed to see 16000 ppm something like that. Hope that helps

 

Factory gauge is supposedly 4000ppm. Good to know about the output. Thanks

 

That is interesting. I din't think it could do that. I don't think it matters too much on the output PPM since most aftermarket gauges can be calibrated to the PPM that they are seeing. I think Autometer is defaulted to 16,000 or something though

 

I had to upgrade to the dominator from a hp because of the 4l60e.
Pros: all in one package no add on trans controller like other systems.
Alot of input and outputs. Endless end user customization.
Pretty much supported and used everywhere.
Uses same main plugs if you upgrade from a hp
Dual wideband, dual knocks if so desired
Holley forums and Holley tech line open on Sat as well.
Cons:
Wiring, going from a hp there is alot more wiring. In a dedicated track car who cares. Mines not.But I used to have my hp under the passenger kick panel and you wouldn't know it's there. Used factory route through fender like stock wiring. Upgrading to the dominator will be tricky where to put it. Wiring isnt long enough unless you drill right through the firewall which I didnt want to. So I live with it under the kick panel In passenger compartment.no biggie. It's a big ecu. This is on a traditional sbc with cnp. You have ls so wiring might be more compact.

Basically get some weather pack tools and good crimps. Bellanger motorsports I used alot.You will need to repin some stuff or may run across it or need to move or add pins or mistakenly pin something and need to remove it.
If your battery is in the trunk you will need to step up the power feed off the crimp to 10 g when you extend off the holley harness. There really isnt another ecu out there that supports gm trans in an all in one unit. So it's an easy choice.
Hope this helps.

 

You have far too much enthusiasm, which tells me you've not actually installed a Dominator under the dash.

You'll find that's not the case. I can hardly find a shop that will touch Holley EFI. They mostly do factory GM or Megasquirt. You will have to be your own support team for the most part. And you forgot to mention it weighs more than an average mother-in-law.

 

i would be interested in seeing pics of mounting the dominator under the dash.

i did mount my HP nicely under the dash in basically the same spot as the OEM with a custom bracket i made which also mounts the Dakota VSS box and my Fuel Gauge translator box for LS1 fuel sendor to work with the stock gauge. it fits great and is nice and secure, but i can't see getting the dominator to fit, but i haven't tried that either

from my perspective tuning my projects with everything from original 165 to EBL, and LS E38/67 and now holley HP, i have to say the holley in my opinion is the better option. to me the problem with the GM is there are really a lot of limitations and you are fully bound to really changing parameters that can do a lot, but is no where near as flexible as being able to make your own logic algorithms, etc that the holley can do. if you don't like to do a lot of your own tuning i agree it may not be the best choice, but if you do i think it becomes quickly the more enjoyable choice

the other thing with the Holley is basically you can use the same ECM for for SBC to LS / LT anything... to me that is very attractive as well

 

I did install it under the dash. No big deal. It's a big ecu? If you have installed one in a thirdgen you would know what I'm talking about.Alot of shops do the new gm stuff not the gm stuff on factory installed on these cars. More Megasquirt vs Holley tuners? That's a stretch.

 

Sorry, that's what I meant by factory GM (LS and modern LT engines). That's good news the Dominator installed in the dash! I'd really like to see pictures are your mounting scheme.

I don't think as many shops tune with Holley as you suspect. I went to a local place that was said to be one of the premier HP EFI dealers in the nation. He couldn't tune my car worth crap and I had to fix the mess he made! I've made a lot of phone calls around the midwest to speed shops with incredible reputations and MOST are not familiar with the software and said no thanks. I was finally able to partner with a local guy that does a good job, but I still have to do a lot of my own drivability tuning.

I have learned how to find them though. The experts aren't in the typical street car speed shops, they're in the shops that support professional race teams. They're hard to schedule with (they know their priorities) but sometimes you can get in.

Lots of hobby people out there with HP EFI though and many will lend a helping hand.

This is all likely inconsequential though because nearly anybody with a Dominator EFI system is hardcore and does their own tuning anyway.

 

That is the main thing to look at when getting an aftermarket efi ecm....who is going to tune it lol. If yourself get whatever you like. If you arent going to do the major tuning, then find a shop to work with and get what they recommend and are familiar with. Its gonna vary area to area

we have a few guys that know holley gm and others.

 

Lol. I couldn't mount it in the dash. I tried. I think if I removed the dash and modified the inside of it I could, maybe. I made a plate out of black abs that matches the dash and just bolted it to the underside of the kick panel. It looks ok. Passenger can sit with leg room. I tried sitting with it there and I'm 6ft and I was not uncomfortable so Iguess it works for now. If you have ever installed one of these you would understand the sheer amount of wiring. I think my situation is different though compared to ls style. It's a sbc with cnp so that's an extra harness. Another wideband, another harness. Plus the trans wiring. Then under the dash you need to attach 12 volt key on to the trans harness and brake switch wiring. Then you add in the fp relay off main harness, trans relay etc. This all accompanied by fuses right out the back of the ecu.I seriously think there is more wiring in my engine bay than was factory by a long shot. OP has an ls. I think the harness is more compact not sure. I think they make an ls computer for swaps now as well.About the only other way you could mount the harness and run the ecu under the pass seat say and I dont know if it would even clear the tracks. Is to drill a hole right through the firewall . But my heater core and fan is there. That's why I didnt do it. Hp fits great with sbc wiring. Dominator is a whole other thing.
What I dont like about some of the wiring is like for example the fuel pump wiring. There is a relay and fuse. But its maybe 16 maybe 14 g tops feed green wire. So its redundant to the effect you have to take the green wire feed off Holleys pump harness relay to use as a 12 volt turn on ,on to another relay with upgraded 12g wiring to run a pump that pulls more amps like a 340 or bigger. Plus the run to the back. It's like 12-15 ft so running that long a run on 16 gauge is a no no. Things like multiple 12 volt key ons in the different harness for example. Instead of one you have one in the trans harness, one in the fp harness, one in the cnp harness. Things like that. Could they be consolidated into one? Yes, maybe. The hp and dominator main harnesses interchange. But a dedicated say main harness for the Dominator that y's 2 wideband would be an upgrade. On this setup you run one off main harness and then a whole new harness that runs all the way from header to the ecu is added for another wideband. As much as I dislike some of the install of the dominator I can say compared to the Fast xfi. I like Holleys end result much better. Fast doesnt do trams control, unless you buy a trans controller like an add on. The wiring on the xfi is noticeably shorter than the holley stuff. XFI I compare to the HP though. Both will fit under the dash wiring on the XFI needs to be run as tight as possible if using the factory ecu wiring route. Holley you can tuck it in under the fan box. On the Mega squirt I have never used it or seen one installed. Looked at the website and it looks like promising hardware. Just doesn't fit what I needed it for. So if it works for you that's great. That's what matters.



In the end I'm just trying to give op a little insight to what he may run across installing the ecu and wiring. Aesthetics and Ocd may play a part in some installs. Kind of like yes everything is plug and play but to give it the finishing touch things may need to be moved around and made to fit/ look correct. Hope this helps

 

I have no facts to back this up, but if Holley wasn't far and away the most supported aftermarket EFI system by a ridiculously gross margin, I'd be shocked. obviously every geographical area will be different, and I by no means am suggesting you're wrong about your area, but as a general rule, I think you'll find more Holley support than anything else.