jalopytech

Lets see now if I can yet start another argument. ECMs and EFIs were originally hot rod material, up until someone decided to save the planet and the greenies of the time found that these designs are controllable. Add just enough EGR/ cats, etc. to keep the fuel system atomized and not vaporized (knock sensor(s)). The ECM is the brain and controls many functions determined by inputs and parameters. Ignition is its major function along with two basic factors RPM and manifold pressure (MAP). With this info. it can determine how much air it is taking in and how much fuel is needed, telling the injectors how much to spray. So with this basic info. the engine will run. Tweak it here and there and you could create a hot rod.
Now were the problem lies is were the Martian's added EMISSIONS; they make it more and more complex and even mix it up a bit mid year to keep California from falling into the ocean. some of there creations are good charcoal canisters, PCVs (no lead in the fuel anymore because babies were being born naked), so they sent it down the tube to lube the valve stems and gunk up the intake. We used to send this crap on out the exhaust with an orifice tube from the covers to the exhaust (creating vacuum) we determined were to put the orifice by painting the exhaust pipe with rattle can paint, give it a good run and were the paint stopped burning off is were we located the orifice. But this is no more because unleaded is all there is (lead lubricated). So now we by crap from China containing lead and give it to our kids to suck on.
Getting past emissions is a little more than plugging lines and removing thingy's. The biggest being what's called valve overlap which is ground into the cams and a huge obstacle. Yes one can do this and make that bigger and on and on. Justify the expense and aggravation by saying it runs somewhat better. Bottom line is, they won.......