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istruggle2gate11

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Calling Megasquirt Gods:

Before you read the rest of the post, please understand, I am NOT being lazy, just confused! I have looked at the megasquirt website but tend to lose the plot!

The stuff Im not confused with:

1) I understand the principle of megasquirt - and I like it (and want it!).

2) I am willing to give it a go.

3) I have a couple of 3.9 hotwire systems on the shelf in the garage to play with.

4) On the PC side of things I am more than happy, got a few spare laptops I can play with.

5) Im just about to install a 4ltr V8 (fully top hat linered,blue printed and balanced) which is currently on carbs.

6) The vehicle is only at chassis level, so perfect time to plan and install.

The stuff I am confused with:

1) Who from/what/where/ how do I buy it?

2) How much is a sensible system?

3) Anybody willing to give some advice (in very much a simple laymans terms)? On a regular basis?

4) How easy/hard is it to go for coil packs? i.e. sensors etc.

5) Do I need lambdna sensors?

6) Can a guy with simple vehicle wiring experiance get away with this?

7) One option is I have a Janspeed turbo 3.5ltr, would this be worth converting to injection with megasquirt?

Thanks

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<cue loud groans from the back of the room> :P

1) Who from/what/where/ how do I buy it?

In the UK you want to contact Bill Shurvinton, I'll PM you his contact details to avoid posting e-mail addies in public and attracting spam.

2) How much is a sensible system?

A "stock" V2.2 ECU is about £170 built / £120 kit.

If you're planning on doing ignition and other stuff it could be worthwhile going for a V3 ECU, no difference in capability but the V3 is more electrically robust and more expandable / modifiable.

V3 ECUs cost a few quid more, can't remember how much exactly.

Modifications can be done during the build, if you want stuff changed to add features let Bill know and it shall be done.

3) Anybody willing to give some advice (in very much a simple laymans terms)? On a regular basis?

Just post here, I won't pretend I've got owt else better to do :rolleyes:

4) How easy/hard is it to go for coil packs? i.e. sensors etc.

More options are appearing by the day, currently MS will drive an EDIS-8 system with very minor mods.

The latest news is you can build the required circuitry into the ECU and run your choice of pickups (VR sensors) and coil packs.

More info on all the options is at http://megasquirt.sourceforge.net/extra/select.html

5) Do I need lambdna sensors?

Lambdna?

lamb.JPGdna.jpg

You don't need a lambda sensor, but for the £10 it'll cost you from the scrappy it's worth sticking one in for tuning and the cruise economy.

6) Can a guy with simple vehicle wiring experiance get away with this?

I can supply a wiring tail and instructions to fit it to a RR EFi loom, or a complete new loom. It's not rocket science.

7) One option is I have a Janspeed turbo 3.5ltr, would this be worth converting to injection with megasquirt?

I'd say so (well, I would :D) because you gain several layers of engine protection with it - decent fuel nd ignition control, boost retard, overboost protection, boost control, hard & soft fuel & spark rev limit, even knock sensor feedback and EGT.

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Calling Megasquirt Gods:

That would definitely be pushing it - I'm about to start installing mine, so much of this is currently second hand experience, but I'll have a stab. Fridgefreezer will doubtless correct anything I get wrong :)

3) I have a couple of 3.9 hotwire systems on the shelf in the garage to play with.

If you're building the vehicle up from scratch you might as well leave them on the shelf, barring a few odds and ends like throttle position sensors. You could use the wiring looms if you have them, but you'll have a much neater job if you make your own new ones.

4) On the PC side of things I am more than happy, got a few spare laptops I can play with.

Does one of them have a serial port (common on old laptops, very rare now)? Ideally, that's what you want, although you should be okay with a USB to serial converter. Ask on the megasquirt forums which ones are known to work.

5) Im just about to install a 4ltr V8 (fully top hat linered,blue printed and balanced) which is currently on carbs.

Now you're making me jealous... :D

1) Who from/what/where/ how do I buy it?

2) How much is a sensible system?

You've got two options:

  • buy all the bits and build it from scratch - if you're into electronics it would be an interesting and perfectly manageable project.
  • buy a ready made one - in the UK, talk to Bill Shurvinton (I'll PM you his email later). It's not that much more expensive than the parts, and will save you a lot of time and potentially agro.

I'll have to check what I paid Bill for mine - including all the EDIS distributorless ignition bits apart from the trigger wheel. It was very reasonable, though.

3) Anybody willing to give some advice (in very much a simple laymans terms)? On a regular basis?

4) How easy/hard is it to go for coil packs? i.e. sensors etc.

I'm going to fit the Ford EDIS distributorless ignition system, controlled by megasquirt. This has been tried out on at least one V8 Land Rover and ran quite happily underwater (there's a novel idea... :lol: ). In theory it's pretty straightforward, but ask me again once I've done it...

If you ask on here there are a couple of people already running megasquirt - fridgefreezer is known for his enthusiastic evangelism of the system ;) I'll be sharing my experiences with the megasquirt and EDIS conversion as I go (bound to be some bloopers for your entertainment).

There are also a lot of very helpful people on the megasquirt forums - they're busy, so if you're asking about a particular subject like EDIS try to ask on the relevant specialist sub-forum. They prune old threads, so if you get a particulary useful answer copy it somewhere on your own machine.

5) Do I need lambdna sensors?

No, megasquirt will run quite happily without them - it'll just run the fuel maps you give it without any correction.

6) Can a guy with simple vehicle wiring experiance get away with this?

Hope so...

7) One option is I have a Janspeed turbo 3.5ltr, would this be worth converting to injection with megasquirt?

Now you're definitely getting beyond my experience, but I don't see why not - if you browse round the megasquirt forums you'll find people have converted just about everything under the sun to megasquirt - including far more exotic engines than that.

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That was quick!

Thanks Fridgefreezer and Geof.

I know the answers are out there, I think my biggest problem is I am not sorting the wheat from the chaff in the forums and then forget the bit I started reading 10 mins ago :unsure:

Fridgefreezer - Lambdna - see how new this modern technology thingy magigies are to me!, Ive only just learnt the terms that go with coils - Im a long time leafer! - That lovely V8 is still on carbs.

If you're building the vehicle up from scratch you might as well leave them on the shelf, barring a few odds and ends like throttle position sensors. You could use the wiring looms if you have them, but you'll have a much neater job if you make your own new ones
Hmm, perhaps eblag could help me fund this part of the project then.
Does one of them have a serial port (common on old laptops, very rare now)? Ideally, that's what you want, although you should be okay with a USB to serial converter. Ask on the megasquirt forums which ones are known to work.
Yes most have got serials, Im a bit of a computer freak really. got about 8 laptops collecting dust at the moment, even thinking about permantly installing an old IBM in the dash (still leaves 2 ibm's as spares)
I'm going to fit the Ford EDIS distributorless ignition system, controlled by megasquirt. This has been tried out on at least one V8 Land Rover and ran quite happily underwater (there's a novel idea... ). In theory it's pretty straightforward, but ask me again once I've done it...
Fancy doing a online diary? :rolleyes:
1) Who from/what/where/ how do I buy it?

In the UK you want to contact Bill Shurvinton, I'll PM you his contact details to avoid posting e-mail addies in public and attracting spam

Please do.
3) Anybody willing to give some advice (in very much a simple laymans terms)? On a regular basis?

Just post here, I won't pretend I've got owt else better to do

Very much apreciated, ta.
I can supply a wiring tail and instructions to fit it to a RR EFi loom, or a complete new loom. It's not rocket science
Brilliant.

Thanks again guys, I will start planning ASAP, I will contact Bill and go for it, hoping for an install before May.

I shall try and avoid making you regret your good offer of help!

Thanks John, just received your PM.

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Hmm, perhaps eblag could help me fund this part of the project then.

That was my plan - unfortunately prices on eBay are not good at the moment. Might need to hang onto them 'til summer comes and people get to work on their projects :)

Fancy doing a online diary? :rolleyes:

I'm planning on writing it all up as I go, so pretty much, yes.

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That was my plan - unfortunately prices on eBay are not good at the moment. Might need to hang onto them 'til summer comes and people get to work on their projects :).

Very true, cant get to grips with Ebay seasons really, just supply and demand I suppose, just sold a Merc 2.8 petrol engine and auto box on there - fetched hardly anything, then today sold a Rangie upper and lower tailgate, fetched double what I expected :D

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I have a sort of related question!

I have purchased an efi manifold etc - but it came without any of the wiring loom (apparently sold to someone else!)

Any ideas where I can get the connectors that plug in to the injectors? Worst case I could just solder them, or use tiny female spade terminals - but I'd rather (for once) make a tidy job of it when I install my megasquid.

TIA

Si

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Any ideas where I can get the connectors that plug in to the injectors? Worst case I could just solder them, or use tiny female spade terminals - but I'd rather (for once) make a tidy job of it when I install my megasquid.

TIA

Si

Simon

I believe they are Junior-timing-housings at least I hope they are as I pulled on off when pulling MogLites engine :angry:

Andy

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