Holley or ms3 gold box??
Thread Starter
Staging Lane
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 85
Likes: 2
From: manteno illionois
Holley or ms3 gold box?? Im in such a dilemma between buying the terminator x vs the ms3 gold box. The car is a 5.3 turbo car. Looking for 800-1000hp for now..lol. Im stuck between the two. I like the software of holley, ive played with it because its free and it seems easy. I like the self learning stuff and the ease of learning the program but the inputs and outputs are what draw me back. So basically im asking do you think the terminator x would be a good buy vs the gold box for someone starting fresh with the efi programs? I know the boxes are pretty much plug and play if and when id want the dominator. But the gold box is only 1200$ and you get just as much features in it. Any input is appreciated thanks guys
Restricted User
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 7,192
Likes: 109
From: Ohio
Holley is a lot more user friendly, gold box is more "tinkerer capable" and allows for more inputs, CAN-BUS addons (including custom made ones), custom settings, etc.
Also, if you're running an electronic trans, go with the Holley. My experience with a microsquirt trans controller add-on is less than great. It works fine, but the setup isn't the easiest, and integrating things like gear/mph into boost control and traction control isn't as straight forward.
Also, if you're running an electronic trans, go with the Holley. My experience with a microsquirt trans controller add-on is less than great. It works fine, but the setup isn't the easiest, and integrating things like gear/mph into boost control and traction control isn't as straight forward.
the UX is a little nicer on the holley if you are new to EFI software.
but they can both do the same stuff. closed loop fueling, and boost control
I have never used the MS3 with an electronic trans, but the holley was pretty easy to tune the trans once I had a line pressure sensor installed.
but they can both do the same stuff. closed loop fueling, and boost control
I have never used the MS3 with an electronic trans, but the holley was pretty easy to tune the trans once I had a line pressure sensor installed.
That is how I got mine. But that is without trans control. You need the max to control a transmission.
Last edited by Dragframe; Oct 16, 2019 at 12:24 PM.
Someone had a complete Holley HP (So no trans control) system listed for a $1,000 yesterday in the classifieds, It seems he raised the price to $1150 now.
Holley HP EFI w/ Harness, Pressure Sensors, 3Port, Lcd, NTK Wideband Oxy 5 hrs of Use
Holley HP EFI w/ Harness, Pressure Sensors, 3Port, Lcd, NTK Wideband Oxy 5 hrs of Use
Then you can get it without screen for $800 with same coupon and some other **** in your cart. I've used the little screen before but a tablet or other larger screen is a bit more useful.
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Verdad Gallardo they charge like $250 or $350 for that screen Separately .. works as a quick way to look things over/monitor stuff when you don’t have the laptop with ya. It’s worth the $100 imho.
but yeah your right. it is far from a replacement for the can cable and a laptop. You need the cable to do anything outside of the most BASIC stuff with Holley.
I just know with my truck I really hate lugging around the laptop when me and the wife go cruise. And if I wanted to do a little change or log I’d either have to have the laptop or go home and grab it. A nice lil screen would be really useful. I can use the efilive v2 to datalog but not make changes unless I had a already built tune loaded in the v2 and flash it. Wife doesn’t really like holding onto the laptop either.
It’s just another tool in the box. You won’t need it at all though if your buying the bigger Holley dashes. You can do a lot from those. The 12” one is super sweet. They just released another 6.9” or something sized dash that is pretty sweet and a lot less money than the 12”
Thread Starter
Staging Lane
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 85
Likes: 2
From: manteno illionois
Thanks for all the input so far everyone. The car has a glide so no need for the x max and i dont really ever plan to have anything that would need the trans control. But im just worried about inputs. To be honest i still do not really under stand inputs/outputs. Like what theyre for. Is it just extra things for the ecu to control. Like say the 2 step and trans brake those use up i/o’s ? And if you wanted to run the fan does that use em? Also just other stuff i wanted to monitor or what? Does the holly term x have logging features?
Thanks for all the input so far everyone. The car has a glide so no need for the x max and i dont really ever plan to have anything that would need the trans control. But im just worried about inputs. To be honest i still do not really under stand inputs/outputs. Like what theyre for. Is it just extra things for the ecu to control. Like say the 2 step and trans brake those use up i/o’s ? And if you wanted to run the fan does that use em? Also just other stuff i wanted to monitor or what? Does the holly term x have logging features?
Yes to basically all those questions. You have 4 inputs and 4 outputs. You can use the outputs for fan control, nitrous control, boost control, etc etc. The programmability is pretty wild.
and you have 4 inputs. These can be used for additional sensors such as a dome pressure sensor for better boost control, run a trans brake activated signal for timing control while staging or boost control while staging. Speed sensor I believe can be run here as well. Log coolant system pressure if you wanted to see if your having head gasket issues
You can log directly to the Sd card that goes in the 3.5” screen it comes with or with a laptop
Thread Starter
Staging Lane
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 85
Likes: 2
From: manteno illionois
Yes to basically all those questions. You have 4 inputs and 4 outputs. You can use the outputs for fan control, nitrous control, boost control, etc etc. The programmability is pretty wild.
and you have 4 inputs. These can be used for additional sensors such as a dome pressure sensor for better boost control, run a trans brake activated signal for timing control while staging or boost control while staging. Speed sensor I believe can be run here as well. Log coolant system pressure if you wanted to see if your having head gasket issues
You can log directly to the Sd card that goes in the 3.5” screen it comes with or with a laptop
and you have 4 inputs. These can be used for additional sensors such as a dome pressure sensor for better boost control, run a trans brake activated signal for timing control while staging or boost control while staging. Speed sensor I believe can be run here as well. Log coolant system pressure if you wanted to see if your having head gasket issues
You can log directly to the Sd card that goes in the 3.5” screen it comes with or with a laptop
And with the dominator you can remap any pin on the ecm afaik. you can control fueling on individual cylinders (as with the hp). As well as control more cylinders than the terminator can. And run low impedance injectors as far as I know
All those i/os are useful. I went with the dominator and am glad I did. I will never use all of its capabilities, of which there are very many. But I wanted to get rid of all the gauges and switches in my car so I use the holley 7" dash and run EVERYTHING through it. Boost control, meth injection, all the temp and pressure gauges, fans, etc. Also allows you to create virtual switches for toggling power to line locks, trans brakes, etc...
Launching!
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 249
Likes: 36
From: Pennsylvania
Don’t follow the fad of buying what everyone else is buying. Talk to your car friends, find a good tuner in your area and see what he likes. Gold box and Holley Do the same things it’s all personal preference.
I have had 3-4 of the Holley systems (still dont understand all of it, lol) so i am used
to it. I looked at the MS stuff at one time, seemed you had to buy some other stuff to
actually make it work, I wanted all in one. I found a guy that had good deals on the
Holley stuff. Just picked up the 3.5" screen for the new project, kind of flying blind
w/o it-great for picking what you want to view, then add in cautions to get your attention.
to it. I looked at the MS stuff at one time, seemed you had to buy some other stuff to
actually make it work, I wanted all in one. I found a guy that had good deals on the
Holley stuff. Just picked up the 3.5" screen for the new project, kind of flying blind
w/o it-great for picking what you want to view, then add in cautions to get your attention.
Restricted User
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 7,192
Likes: 109
From: Ohio
Megasquirt offers more opportunities for I/O through CANBUS. Even more than Dominator. It just won't be incredibly user friendly to setup.
Megasquirt was created as an open-source project for tuning that has evolved over 15 years.
Starting as an open source project means that it was aimed more towards programmers and the DIY guys.
This is why the Holley is far more user friendly. The Holley works better for 95% of setups, not because it is better but because its easier to make work.
Megasquirts datalogging is light years better, though.
Megasquirt was created as an open-source project for tuning that has evolved over 15 years.
Starting as an open source project means that it was aimed more towards programmers and the DIY guys.
This is why the Holley is far more user friendly. The Holley works better for 95% of setups, not because it is better but because its easier to make work.
Megasquirts datalogging is light years better, though.
Thread Starter
Staging Lane
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 85
Likes: 2
From: manteno illionois
When your monitoring shock travel on all four corners... coolant psi. Crankcase vacuum. Turbine wheel speed (yeah that’s a thing lol)... 8 egr sensors... 8 widebands.. Trans temp. Trans pressure. Oil temp. You can see where lots of inputs and outputs could come in handy if you got a race car
And with the dominator you can remap any pin on the ecm afaik. you can control fueling on individual cylinders (as with the hp). As well as control more cylinders than the terminator can. And run low impedance injectors as far as I know
And with the dominator you can remap any pin on the ecm afaik. you can control fueling on individual cylinders (as with the hp). As well as control more cylinders than the terminator can. And run low impedance injectors as far as I know
Megasquirt offers more opportunities for I/O through CANBUS. Even mote than Dominator. It just won't be incredibly user friendly to setup.
Megasquirt was created as an open-source project for tuning that has evolved over 15 years.
Starting as an open source project means that it was aimed more towards programmers and the DIY guys.
This is why the Holley is far more user friendly. The Holley works better for 95% of setups, not because it is better but because its easier to make work.
Megasquirts datalogging is light years better, though.
Megasquirt was created as an open-source project for tuning that has evolved over 15 years.
Starting as an open source project means that it was aimed more towards programmers and the DIY guys.
This is why the Holley is far more user friendly. The Holley works better for 95% of setups, not because it is better but because its easier to make work.
Megasquirts datalogging is light years better, though.