View Poll Results: Best Engine Management System for LSx Platform?
Voters: 54. You may not vote on this poll
Which Aftermarket Engine Management System?
I have played with the FAST setup on a buddies turbo buick. I liked it alot. I did read somewhere that it would not directly communicate with the stock coils and would require some sort of converter box to use them. This supposedly causes some sort of communication delay that can cause ignition issues. Have you heard or seen this issue? Has it been worked out?
TECH Apprentice
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 304
Likes: 0
From: Newmarket, Ontario
Megasquirt If you are doing it yourself, you NEED to look into Megasquirt, it is a fraction of the price, uses all the stock sensors and has everything built in..
Controls High or Low Impedance Injectors
Launch Control (2 Step)
Flat Shifting
Knock Retard
Meth/Water Injection
AFR Feedback w/autotune
On the fly tuning
Boost Control
NOS Control
Huge support Forum
Full datalog capabilities
and Much More...
If someone else is doing it, use what they are familiar with.
Controls High or Low Impedance Injectors
Launch Control (2 Step)
Flat Shifting
Knock Retard
Meth/Water Injection
AFR Feedback w/autotune
On the fly tuning
Boost Control
NOS Control
Huge support Forum
Full datalog capabilities
and Much More...
If someone else is doing it, use what they are familiar with.
If you are doing it yourself, you NEED to look into Megasquirt, it is a fraction of the price, uses all the stock sensors and has everything built in..
Controls High or Low Impedance Injectors
Launch Control (2 Step)
Flat Shifting
Knock Retard
Meth/Water Injection
AFR Feedback w/autotune
On the fly tuning
Boost Control
NOS Control
Huge support Forum
Full datalog capabilities
and Much More...
If someone else is doing it, use what they are familiar with.
Controls High or Low Impedance Injectors
Launch Control (2 Step)
Flat Shifting
Knock Retard
Meth/Water Injection
AFR Feedback w/autotune
On the fly tuning
Boost Control
NOS Control
Huge support Forum
Full datalog capabilities
and Much More...
If someone else is doing it, use what they are familiar with.
I am the tuner. All these aftermarket setups are easier to tune with than the stock PCM. The thing is that I have never done a "from scratch" setup on any of these systems so I am trying to get familiar with the different nuances that may be specific to each system.
If you are doing it yourself, you NEED to look into Megasquirt, it is a fraction of the price, uses all the stock sensors and has everything built in..
Controls High or Low Impedance Injectors
Launch Control (2 Step)
Flat Shifting
Knock Retard
Meth/Water Injection
AFR Feedback w/autotune
On the fly tuning
Boost Control
NOS Control
Huge support Forum
Full datalog capabilities
and Much More...
If someone else is doing it, use what they are familiar with.
Controls High or Low Impedance Injectors
Launch Control (2 Step)
Flat Shifting
Knock Retard
Meth/Water Injection
AFR Feedback w/autotune
On the fly tuning
Boost Control
NOS Control
Huge support Forum
Full datalog capabilities
and Much More...
If someone else is doing it, use what they are familiar with.
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Brett Foote
TECH Apprentice
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 334
Likes: 1
Los,
I believe you know Jake (from Power By The Hour) and Darin (from Race Part Solutions). Both are very familiar with MegaSquirt and are worth talking to for their opinions and expertise. They have Dman's 6L, with twin MP70's, running on Megasquirt (using the MSD ignition box). I am not up and running yet, but will be using MegaSquirt on my 408" with twin 76's, running the stock coils in wasted spark.
I believe you know Jake (from Power By The Hour) and Darin (from Race Part Solutions). Both are very familiar with MegaSquirt and are worth talking to for their opinions and expertise. They have Dman's 6L, with twin MP70's, running on Megasquirt (using the MSD ignition box). I am not up and running yet, but will be using MegaSquirt on my 408" with twin 76's, running the stock coils in wasted spark.
9 Second Club
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 13,616
Likes: 185
From: Norn Iron
I am the tuner. All these aftermarket setups are easier to tune with than the stock PCM. The thing is that I have never done a "from scratch" setup on any of these systems so I am trying to get familiar with the different nuances that may be specific to each system.
So what do you require of any system ? What level of control do you need ? That will then let you decide which system is most suitable. And of course not forgetting what sort of customer support is available if there are problems.
And its always easier to use a system, that can interpret the factory triggers, ie cam and crank as well as all its OE sensors.
Just saves hassle setting up initially.
Los,
I believe you know Jake (from Power By The Hour) and Darin (from Race Part Solutions). Both are very familiar with MegaSquirt and are worth talking to for their opinions and expertise. They have Dman's 6L, with twin MP70's, running on Megasquirt (using the MSD ignition box). I am not up and running yet, but will be using MegaSquirt on my 408" with twin 76's, running the stock coils in wasted spark.
I believe you know Jake (from Power By The Hour) and Darin (from Race Part Solutions). Both are very familiar with MegaSquirt and are worth talking to for their opinions and expertise. They have Dman's 6L, with twin MP70's, running on Megasquirt (using the MSD ignition box). I am not up and running yet, but will be using MegaSquirt on my 408" with twin 76's, running the stock coils in wasted spark.
So what do you require of any system ? What level of control do you need ? That will then let you decide which system is most suitable. And of course not forgetting what sort of customer support is available if there are problems.
And its always easier to use a system, that can interpret the factory triggers, ie cam and crank as well as all its OE sensors.
Just saves hassle setting up initially.
And its always easier to use a system, that can interpret the factory triggers, ie cam and crank as well as all its OE sensors.
Just saves hassle setting up initially.
9 Second Club
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 13,616
Likes: 185
From: Norn Iron
You still dont explain your needs.
Do you need an ecu for the instrument cluster ?
Do you need it to control the trans ?
How many or what type of injector ?
What sort of datalogging etc ?
IMO, whilst MS is cheap....I just dont think its cheap enough to warrant the ******* about building and setting up.
The likes of DTA, Haltech, Link/ViPec and no doubt many others would run any engine you need, and very reasonable costs, and be pretty easy to tune.
Do you need an ecu for the instrument cluster ?
Do you need it to control the trans ?
How many or what type of injector ?
What sort of datalogging etc ?
IMO, whilst MS is cheap....I just dont think its cheap enough to warrant the ******* about building and setting up.
The likes of DTA, Haltech, Link/ViPec and no doubt many others would run any engine you need, and very reasonable costs, and be pretty easy to tune.
You still dont explain your needs.
Do you need an ecu for the instrument cluster ? No. All aftermarket gages
Do you need it to control the trans ?No. Powerglide.
How many or what type of injector ?8 low impedance 160ish
What sort of datalogging etc ?All the usual stuff. Nothing out of control.
IMO, whilst MS is cheap....I just dont think its cheap enough to warrant the ******* about building and setting up.It is my understanding that you can buy it ready to go. All you have to do is wire in the harness. I do agree that the BS3 looks easier but it is over $1K more money.
The likes of DTA, Haltech, Link/ViPec and no doubt many others would run any engine you need, and very reasonable costs, and be pretty easy to tune. I haven't seen these in action. Will they control fuel and ignition?
Do you need an ecu for the instrument cluster ? No. All aftermarket gages
Do you need it to control the trans ?No. Powerglide.
How many or what type of injector ?8 low impedance 160ish
What sort of datalogging etc ?All the usual stuff. Nothing out of control.
IMO, whilst MS is cheap....I just dont think its cheap enough to warrant the ******* about building and setting up.It is my understanding that you can buy it ready to go. All you have to do is wire in the harness. I do agree that the BS3 looks easier but it is over $1K more money.
The likes of DTA, Haltech, Link/ViPec and no doubt many others would run any engine you need, and very reasonable costs, and be pretty easy to tune. I haven't seen these in action. Will they control fuel and ignition?
9 Second Club
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 13,616
Likes: 185
From: Norn Iron
All of the above will control fuel and ignition, as will every aftermarket ecu.
Most of those will not fire lowZ injectors directly though. Haltech will, the others will require a driver box.
Motec can fire both, although its mega expensive.
Im using the DTA S80Pro on my own car. It does only do highZ injectors, although I ended up with 2 inj per cylinder.
http://www.dtafast.co.uk/S_80_PRO.htm
But really... when BS3 is readily available there, there are other guys using it etc etc..it would make sense to opt for that, unless there really are reasons not to ( forgetting price for a second )
When you start adding time+hassle to tuning... $1000 really isnt a huge sum of money, if paying it initially, makes all subsequent tuning far far easier.
Most of those will not fire lowZ injectors directly though. Haltech will, the others will require a driver box.
Motec can fire both, although its mega expensive.
Im using the DTA S80Pro on my own car. It does only do highZ injectors, although I ended up with 2 inj per cylinder.
http://www.dtafast.co.uk/S_80_PRO.htm
But really... when BS3 is readily available there, there are other guys using it etc etc..it would make sense to opt for that, unless there really are reasons not to ( forgetting price for a second )
When you start adding time+hassle to tuning... $1000 really isnt a huge sum of money, if paying it initially, makes all subsequent tuning far far easier.
TECH Apprentice
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 334
Likes: 1
I'm also a do-it-yourself tuner, but its nice to know that we've got Darin and Jake around locally for any problems or questions that might come up. Between the two of them, they've MegaSquirted a lot of different vehicles, so they can probably figure out just about anything. Good luck!
Rob
I ran the FAST XFI XIM combo on the old shop car. Never had any problems with it.
Next time around will be a MS2 for Fuel and MSD 6010 for Spark. Simple, cheap and effective.
BS3 is a solid option also. Lots of guys running it so there is lots of info should you have any issues or questions.
Next time around will be a MS2 for Fuel and MSD 6010 for Spark. Simple, cheap and effective.
BS3 is a solid option also. Lots of guys running it so there is lots of info should you have any issues or questions.