JayLo
Sir Boost-a-Lot
I know it?s been discussed from time to time on this board, but with the help of local MegaSquirt (MS from here on) guru Scott Clark (of 10-second blue Silverado fame), I?ll be Squirting my Syclone starting tonight. As the project progresses, I?ll post updates in this thread along with a complete parts list, any problems we encountered, and a detailed write-up with plenty of diagrams and pictures.
The parts list as of right now, really isn't too bad. I bought an original MS (not MS ?II) with the heavy duty version 3 guts, KnocksenseMS (needed if you want to use your knock sensor with MS, also has a nifty LED indicator), an MSD 6A (optional, but highly recommended by Scott Clark), Innovate LC-1 wideband (also optional, but helps immensely with tuning and makes a cheap narrowband AF gauge much more accurate) and the supporting Stewart Warner gauges (boost, trans. temp and AF ratio gauges).
Some background info for this MS install:
I am very anal-retentive.
Because of this, I want the install to look CLEAN. The MS box will be under the dash by the stock PCM (edit: we will install the MS behind the passenger seat). The stock PCM will be retained to: 1) prevent any false check engine lights, 2) control the IAC (I gotta have cold air in the summer), 3) essentially keep full functionality of the truck?s electronics and 4) allow me to revert back the stock electronics if necessary. Any wires cut (some will just be spliced) will be under the dash and have connectors soldiered to the ends to quickly and easily reconnect them for a ?stock chip? setup.
Some background info on my truck:
As of today, my truck is essentially stock, save for a deleted cat, manual boost controller (set to 15psi), Racetronix fuel pump kit and upgraded rear wheel cylinders/shoes (holy jeez, these work GREAT). Launching at 2-3psi, my best pass (sans the rear brake upgrade) so far has been a 13.56@98 with a 1.88 short time. During that pass, thanks to crappy rear brakes, I was essentially doing a rear wheel brakestand burnout while waiting for the Christmas tree. My truck will now hold more than 10psi at the line.
Down the road I want to run enough turbo (and supporting hardware) to get deep into the 11?s. The cool thing about the MS is that it will allow me to easily make tuning changes as my truck progresses (no more need to reflash your chip).
Potential Challenges:
GM HEI
Going into the MS install, Scott thinks controlling the GM HEI (4+2 wire for our trucks) will pose the biggest challenge for a SyTy install. He?s done GM HEI before (slightly different version of HEI) and says he has a few tricks up his sleeve for my truck. I want it to run tits with the HEI for now so anyone can easily switch their SyTy to MS.
I don?t know about you guys, but I do NOT like changing my cap and rotor. I simply hate having to get back there and the thought of doing that annually does not appeal to me whatsoever. Because of this, in the near future, he and I will work on a distributorless MS based ignition system (maybe a wasted spark system for simplicity) for SyTys, hopefully without having to swap to a different distributor.
IAC
As I stated earlier, I want to retain functionality of the IAC for my AC and cold start purposes. Scott thinks that if we keep the stock PCM connected to at least the TPS sensor, coolant sensor and IAC, it will do this without a hitch. If not, we have a few Plan Bs.
Knock Sensor
Scott likes to tune MS units so they are very safe timing wise. He is simply conservative enough that a knock sensor is not necessary. Though I do trust his tuning ability, I do not trust my lead foot. Because of this, we have opted for a KnocksenseMS unit. This little gizmo basically allows the MS to interact with the stock knock sensor and retain its functionality. It also shows via the MS software and/or a red LED when the truck is experiencing knock. I don?t think he?s done one of these yet, but he is confident it can be done.
Well, I know this is very long winded, but I am very pumped about this install. I?ve seen what MS can do on a 5000lb 10-second blue Silverado, 11-second stock long block turbo DSM and several other local cars. I sincerely hope I can put together a write-up (maybe even a webpage or two) thorough enough that any SyTy guy can go squirting with relative ease.
I want to give an initial thanks and credit to Scott Clark. He's a great guy and tuning wiz. None of this would happen without his expertise.
Hopefully I can provide more details tonight.
________
California Dispensary
The parts list as of right now, really isn't too bad. I bought an original MS (not MS ?II) with the heavy duty version 3 guts, KnocksenseMS (needed if you want to use your knock sensor with MS, also has a nifty LED indicator), an MSD 6A (optional, but highly recommended by Scott Clark), Innovate LC-1 wideband (also optional, but helps immensely with tuning and makes a cheap narrowband AF gauge much more accurate) and the supporting Stewart Warner gauges (boost, trans. temp and AF ratio gauges).
Some background info for this MS install:
I am very anal-retentive.
Because of this, I want the install to look CLEAN. The MS box will be under the dash by the stock PCM (edit: we will install the MS behind the passenger seat). The stock PCM will be retained to: 1) prevent any false check engine lights, 2) control the IAC (I gotta have cold air in the summer), 3) essentially keep full functionality of the truck?s electronics and 4) allow me to revert back the stock electronics if necessary. Any wires cut (some will just be spliced) will be under the dash and have connectors soldiered to the ends to quickly and easily reconnect them for a ?stock chip? setup.
Some background info on my truck:
As of today, my truck is essentially stock, save for a deleted cat, manual boost controller (set to 15psi), Racetronix fuel pump kit and upgraded rear wheel cylinders/shoes (holy jeez, these work GREAT). Launching at 2-3psi, my best pass (sans the rear brake upgrade) so far has been a 13.56@98 with a 1.88 short time. During that pass, thanks to crappy rear brakes, I was essentially doing a rear wheel brakestand burnout while waiting for the Christmas tree. My truck will now hold more than 10psi at the line.
Down the road I want to run enough turbo (and supporting hardware) to get deep into the 11?s. The cool thing about the MS is that it will allow me to easily make tuning changes as my truck progresses (no more need to reflash your chip).
Potential Challenges:
GM HEI
Going into the MS install, Scott thinks controlling the GM HEI (4+2 wire for our trucks) will pose the biggest challenge for a SyTy install. He?s done GM HEI before (slightly different version of HEI) and says he has a few tricks up his sleeve for my truck. I want it to run tits with the HEI for now so anyone can easily switch their SyTy to MS.
I don?t know about you guys, but I do NOT like changing my cap and rotor. I simply hate having to get back there and the thought of doing that annually does not appeal to me whatsoever. Because of this, in the near future, he and I will work on a distributorless MS based ignition system (maybe a wasted spark system for simplicity) for SyTys, hopefully without having to swap to a different distributor.
IAC
As I stated earlier, I want to retain functionality of the IAC for my AC and cold start purposes. Scott thinks that if we keep the stock PCM connected to at least the TPS sensor, coolant sensor and IAC, it will do this without a hitch. If not, we have a few Plan Bs.
Knock Sensor
Scott likes to tune MS units so they are very safe timing wise. He is simply conservative enough that a knock sensor is not necessary. Though I do trust his tuning ability, I do not trust my lead foot. Because of this, we have opted for a KnocksenseMS unit. This little gizmo basically allows the MS to interact with the stock knock sensor and retain its functionality. It also shows via the MS software and/or a red LED when the truck is experiencing knock. I don?t think he?s done one of these yet, but he is confident it can be done.
Well, I know this is very long winded, but I am very pumped about this install. I?ve seen what MS can do on a 5000lb 10-second blue Silverado, 11-second stock long block turbo DSM and several other local cars. I sincerely hope I can put together a write-up (maybe even a webpage or two) thorough enough that any SyTy guy can go squirting with relative ease.
I want to give an initial thanks and credit to Scott Clark. He's a great guy and tuning wiz. None of this would happen without his expertise.
Hopefully I can provide more details tonight.
________
California Dispensary
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