Outer Limits 4x4 Board

Hi all

I've been trying to find information on theis subject but it seems to be scarce. I'm going to be undertaking the conversion soon (into a MAV SWB) but can't decide which way to go.

Using a standard computer to run the set up, all issues with memcal, speed sensor, auto trans motor to manual gearbox (haven't purchased a motor yet) etc.. all these problems, time delay and potential costs are a little worrying.

Or

By fitting a "Plug and Play" aftermarket computer that plugs into the holden wiring harness all these problems should go away and make installation, tuning and mods (exhaust, cam etc) easy is the future. But not many people seem to do their conversions this way and stick with the standard computer. Why??

Wolf and Microtech seem to sell these setups at a reasonable price. Are there any traps i should look out for?

You can actually use the standard Holden computer and several places can reprogram them to suit. Absolute plug and play as well as factory options like lean burn for good economy on the highway. NOt to mention factory reliability.

aftermarkets like microtech and wolf are illegal on road, not tht this changes anything but just maybe a reason

id personally go aftermarket, more potential imo

aftermarket will give you more tuning capability, but won't run as nice as a factory ecu. holden spend huge amount of hours on a dyna getting there maps right, most dyno tuners will only spend a few. if you can find a good tuner.

IMO, and i speak from previous experience, go the factory ecu and get the memcal reprogramed to what ever tune you want.

i helped my mate set up his 5L in a GQ with a wolf ECU, with his current tune and auto gearbox he is lucky to get 3KM per Litre fuel economy.

Buy a VN computer, you don't have to worry about the security coding then. Kalmaker do an aftermarket chip for the Holden computer, have a look at the website.

have you spoken to an engineer yet about the swap?

for emissions he will most likely say factory computer only.

rewrite the memcal.

I run the HSV comp in my RR.

I have had the memcal redone, delete the requirement for the body module.

Mine was a manual crate engine so no auto issues.

Howard instruments sorted the speed sensor and speedo correction.

MIchael.

Go factory - there are no shortage of reprogramming options available.

Don't underestimate the time required ( and $$$ ) to tune an aftermarket ECU.

If you want plug and play - factory.

This place won't give you much info but look to the import sites.

Motec, Wolf3D, PowerFC.

All are 3rd party programable ECUs for EFI engines.

The Motec units have 3 different types

1st is a basic fuel map and spark manager - good for V4/6.

The 2nd is more for V6/8 higher preformance and able to change maps on the fly etc, I think this one has some basic recording on it.

the 3rd is more for the racing or drags, handles changing of maps on the fly, muliple banks of injectors and sparkplugs, each can run to their own fuel/spark mapping , also records data for looking at on laptops etc.



Wolf3d, are more piggy back type boxen, these can sometimes be a bitch to program and get right.

PowerFC is used on supras and skylines a lot.

There are other boxes as well, and you can also chip the ECU as well, thus keeping the standard ECU but fixes up the fuel map a bit better.

Motec and Wolf3d are Asutralian if that means anything to you.

If your using a vn to vp 5L u can use a haltec E6GMX ecu. Plugs straight into factory ecu plugs. Factory ecu verses after market no comparison. A good tuner will get 30hp extra and it won`t cost the earth to tune.

have a look on ebay there are heaps of dit dits there you might get what you want fot cheap. be careful of some chips as they might get you more power but they will flog out your engine

i'm just about sold on the haltec E6GMX ecu. Tuning won't be a prob as one of my mates is right into that.

Basically i buy the 5lt regardless of being auto or manual or vs/vr or vp/vn then plug in the haultec and everything should work with a bit of fine tuning to the standard "map" (engine will still be standard at this stage except for exhaust).

i like that idea

Be careful, E6GMX only plugs into the early 5L harness eg. VN, VP and early VR with 32 & 24 pin ECU plugs

Save your coin and use the delco

alright using the delco if i go for a earlier model (VP) i won't need the body control module or the memcal, but what about putting an auto v8 onto the manual patrol box?

do i need to get the memcal and specify for a manual ??

Unless you are planning a turbo and wastegate control or some other ECU controllled device beyond a fan and fuel pupm the Delco will make the same power as the Haltech if tuned

Joel

Steve_GQ wrote:alright using the delco if i go for a earlier model (VP) i won't need the body control module or the memcal, but what about putting an auto v8 onto the manual patrol box?

do i need to get the memcal and specify for a manual ??

95% sure you can stll use an auto ECU with the manual.

99% sure you can use auto delco ecu if going manual. The prob most guys come across is when they go from manual to auto and fit the electronic auto.

A quick look on the street commodores forum (assuming I can mention it here) under the power play section should answer the ecu questions.

Most agree the delco is a good bit of gear and while most tuners now specialise in software tuning on the gen3's they arent that hard to get good power out of.

You will have to use a manual computer for delco if you go later than VN. Part numbers are 1227808 or 1613082. Go the Delco except for high end aftermarket its a lot more progammable. Only have drama when 2 bar or more boost run but it is able to be worked around.

VN VP have a non-electronic transmission and share thier ECU with the auto and Manual, refered to as a Delco 808 by the part number suffix. This computer can also be found in Camiras and Astras (N13 Pulsar) of the same vintage)
VR and VS manual, not including VS series 3 use an updated version of the same computer that has a better tune file, it is a 256k not 128k memcal, and has some additional hardware to output OBD2 type data on the diagnostic outlet which is a different shape.
I have updated these ECU's on turbo vehicles as there are more tuning points or load cells in the latter ECU, the loom is fundamentally the same from VN to VS manual aside from the diagnostic port.
I tune these ECU's real time with hardware that emulates the memcal and then re-burn the factory memcal unlike Kalmaker that requires you to purchase a memcal from them.
They also retro-fit well I have fitted a number to 6 cylinder Patrols, 4.5 and turbos, 351 clevo's 350 chevs and more.

Peninsula Performance

Joel