If this is wrong section, i apologize. About to buy my DIY ecu set up and really liked videos and how people spoke about the Microsquirt. Many others are running Megasquirt 3.

Im a new turbo drag builder and wondering if the microsquirt is right for my needs.
​​​​4.8 gen 3 LR4 SBE
Gapped rings
LJMS stg3 tubo cam
Ported 826(stock) heads
BTR .660 dual springs
BTR pushrods
Bosch 127lb injectors running 93+meth or E70 (undecided)
BW S480
Attached to proglide 1.80
To a MWC 9"

How easy will it be to add a MSD plug and play 2 step me with microsquirt?

I noticed that microsquirt doesnt use any knock sensors, do i just elimimate them?

Any other input encouraged

 

I'm a megasquirt junky. And when questions like this get asked, my response is ms3. Even if it's the 3x version 3.57. Reason is, your wanting to add stuff already. Add it all up and compare. Are you wiring yourself? For around the 900 range iirc the 3x will do your two step, control boost pretty darn good, has inputs and outputs for other things and best of all the ability to datalog it all

Edit, 820 plus shipping

 

I now see that the MICRO has a built in 2 step. I guess i could just wire it through the transbrake solenoid.

Any other issues foreseen?

 

820 is a big chunk of change conpared to $399 micro. Micro does have a 2 step rev limiter.

 

The ms2/micro does have a two step. Feature limited though. I'm just not a fan of the limits it gives. Having sequential ability, trans brake and bump box control, fan out puts and several analog input to data things like tranny pressure, coolant pressure, oil pressure, oil temp, even tranny temp can be very valuable as your combo grows. You have large injectors you'll be trying to batch fire, I did batch fire my 1600cc setup on gas and it worked, but I'm finding I'm tuning different injector at idle and others at wot to get egt matching up

The ms2 code line is about done, there is no room left for firmware updates, where Ms3 keeps growing and the current firmware is on par with all the big names

Micro will work just fine, just look at the future and what it might bring. I'm running a Pro, and have used up every input and output on it and have a micro as an additional I/O box now and love the data I get for each pass

 

hmmm, you make some very valid points. I think for budgets sake ill stick with Mircosquirt for now and then as i dig deeper down this rabbit hole ill upgrade to a Mega3. I cant convince myself that the extra $400 couldnt be put to something else on the build.

 

the micro will do what you need to make it run /race. it is the easyiest way to get it on the track. but it is bare bones compared to the others. I have built a few cars with them and if I was building a car today id buy a micro. the lack of knock sensors is the biggest downfall but on e85 I don't wory to much

 

$400 is a drop in the ocean if it gets you a much better and more future proof system.

It will cost you a lot more to upgrade/change in the future.

 

i have a microsquirt. i have been very happy with it and i have learned a lot . with that said i am in building another car and i will buy a megasquirt for this car for the reasons listed , i need more inputs and outputs.

 

A Microsquirt can do quite a bit. However, not without adding on components.

Mine has the capability of nitrous control, water/meth control, boost control, knock sensor, fuel composition sensor (flex fuel), stepper idle control, as well as monitor and log up to 8 additional temp and/or pressure sensors. Most aren't aware that you can do all that, at the same time, with a Micro. But, it can be done.

A CAN I/O extension board adds much of the capabilities, but you'll also need a knock module, and PWM to stepper adapter. All of it adds up quick. And although it's still a savings over the full sized ECU, there's only a hundred or two dollar difference and the full size ECU has even more to offer beyond that, in an all in one solution.

Would I do it again? Maybe. Maybe not. Depends on my specific needs. This install needed to be small and waterproof, although I probably could have finagled a MS3PRO where I need it to go.

Will a Micro do what you need? It'll get the job done. You can always upgrade later.

 

^ isn't canbus a great thing. I actually used up all my Pro i/o's and installed a micro as the additional I/o box and only have 2 of this inputs left!

Perfect Tuning makes a pretty nice canbus guage that has 3 additional inputs that can be sent over to an Ms3 for data inputs, or just logging

 

lol i think i still have an unassembled MS v1 breadboard kit back from the yahoo groups bowling and grippo days

 

No kiddin. I part of that group back in 2000. Like 110.00 got you fuel only and 50 people needed paid up! I had a supercharged 22re in my sandbuggy, also squirted my dads buggy too. I remember it was a big deal when V2.2 came out

 

I have built and used many micro systems on cars and trucks. It's the best bang for the buck and with the online tutorials, you can solder together a simple LSx harness in a few hours. No need to buy a bunch of new sensor pigtails. I head to the u wrench it and snag all the connectors off gm v6 cars. Some v6 are supercharged and you can get the IAC, IAT, CLT, 2 bar MAP, and injector pigtails for about $20. Not a bad deal in my opinion. But if you are building a basic boosted car and are a DIY guy, there is no better bang for the buck. IAC control can be done via a Ford Fidle solenoid or the EFI source adapter box. Both work well.

Check out my micro vids in my sig block link.

 

I have had several MS systems over the years, including Micro on an LS engine. If you have the funds, the MS3x is a great system for the price. The Micro will run the engine just fine but all the added features of the MS3 systems make it so much better to drive.

 

just wanna say I love your videos & arduino/oled stuff. keep up the great work!

 

CANbus is a great thing. I guess I'll tell the story of my progression. If anyone considering a MicroSquirt can see them selves going down the same path I did, ya might consider going with an MS3 right off the bat. If you have better control over your mind and keep it from wandering, that would help the situation. LOL

I bought the Micro a couple years ago and the project has taken longer than expected. Over that time, my desires have changed and grown. CANbus has covered it, for the most part.

Originally, I was going to omit using an IAC valve and just utilize adaptive idle control. Which left enough outputs to have the Micro do boost control, knock sensors (with a knocksense module), and a fuel composition sensor. Ultimately, that Covered everything I need. And actually, I probably don't NEED knock sensors or the fuel composition sensor. But, the option was there... Why Not? Right?

Then I started to pine a little over the convenience of having an IAC valve. Mostly for warm up, but also to ensure idle stability in and out of gear (the engine is going in a boat) without having to have a slightly higher idle out of gear. I figured out that I could incorporate the PWM to stepper IAC adapter and keep the other planned functions, IF I was willing to give up the Tach Out to re-purpose to boost control. So, started down that road. Figured, if I found that I needed or wanted a Tach Signal, I could come up with an alternative source.

The MicroSquirt's Tach Out is limited to 300mA and boost solenoids need about 450-500mA, so I ran that signal through a more robust transistor, external to the Micro. A foolish mistake while testing the function damaged the original TachOut transistor on the MicroSquirt board, so I just replaced it with one that was the same size but increased current capacity, capable of running the boost solenoid without the need of using an outboard inline transistor.

So, at this point I've got all my basses covered with the MicroSquirt alone. But, I did have to give up the Tach signal. I should note that the PWM to Stepper adapter has a few wiring options and with limited outputs left to use, there was only one option I could utilize. That wiring option applies constant current to the IAC valve... And it get's HOT. Too hot to hold for more than a moment, like a hot biscuit right out of the oven. I don't feel too good about that.

Then, I started thinking... I sure would love to be able to log fuel pressure, oil pressure, and oil temperature among other things... I'm a geek for compressor and intercooler efficiencies and logging various stages of the intake tract would be great too.

Enter the CANbus I/O Extender.

Now I can move the boost control and knock sensors to the extender, giving me back my tach signal and allowing me to utilize the wiring options that wont over heat the IAC valve. As well as let me monitor and log fuel pressure, oil pressure, and oil temperature. And also give me 5 other inputs I can use to sate my inner geek.

I chose to use the TinyIOx, which isn't a plug and play solution. You'll need to have some soldering skills to use this. It's basically assembling the conditioning circuits for the sensors you'll be using.

With the CANbus protocol you can add additional CANbus components. However, I think the Micro is pretty much tapped out at the point I'm at. There are no more options left in TunerStudio. I'm not positive, but I think it has to do with the limited memory in the Micro, as someone mentioned earlier.

 

Hi Seth,

I already dove into the water and bought my micro! I did not realize how limited the inputs & outputs are. Im hooking up my micro to my naturally aspirated 2004 6.0 with sloppy stage II cam, stock injectors and long tube headers for now. Plan is to add my twin turbos & intercooler, 2nd AEM 400 fuel pump, maybe snake eater 150s etc in a couple months after learning to tune on the micro at 1st naturally aspirated.
I did order the IAC stepper with cable on the micro. I also hooked up a GM flex fuel sensor to the flex wire so I can run E85 when I go to larger injectors. I may just run decaps before adding turbos for e85 now naturally aspirated. I will also learn how to tune in lambda.

Question do I still have an input left for a hooking up a 2 step to build boost at launch? Im not running a trans brake, I will foot brake and Im running a turbo 400 trans in my 72 nova. I could have sworn Matt said the 2 step is a 1 wire input and its basically run through a switch then to ground to activate the 2 step. I dont even remember what that wire is called on my 24x v3 micro. He said even with foot braking the 2 step really helps spool the turbos to build boost before launch a bit better at the line? Is there a way around this with a can bus to add a 2 step if I have to go that route?

Again Im a brand new newbie at this. I will 1st time fire my 6.0 in about a week. Thanks for any help or advice in advance! Bob

 

PS After googling a bit I found a video where guy uses and selects in drop down of micro under Boost Advanced, then Launch Control the spareADC wire (peach colored with grey stripe on my harness). That is the wire to use for a switched ground (on/off) to activate 2 step. Right under Wire selected to use, you type in actual RPM of the 2 step to hold RPM at under Launch Hard limit. Just below that is a selection for Soft Limit Zone. Matt says you can widen this a little to not make it so harsh. I think defaulted at 100 RPM. So you can set it at 150 or 200. Idea of soft limit is so RPM is plus or minus for example 100 RPM above and below your selected say 3400 Launch Hard Limit or right about where your torque converter is selected to kick in? lol Im brand new at all this stuff.

Anyways my question remains. Do I have have an input left over on the micro squirt after wired in IAC with harness and Flex fuel sensor on my micro or do I have to go to a can bus somehow for the 2 step? Then I will have to research "How to" for a can bus. Again thanks for any advice here. Im sure lots of new guys want to know this stuff and minimal input/output micro capabilities. Bob

 

Hey brother I hate to be that guy and I can't answer your question but this thread is 3 years old and Seth hasn't been on since Dec 18 so I doubt he's gonna answer. You should really try asking your question in the pcm and tuning section it will probably get more help for you.