S2-13BT

Hi, after some advice on ECU selection.

I'm a noob, so basically want to make I don't miss something.

I have a S4 that I'm going to use for some trackdays only, no street. I'd like to stick to a tight budget.

I still have the stock harness, but it's completely removed from the car, and being a track car I don't need to keep any emissions equipment etc, so figured it's best to go wire in.

I assume the e440d is the perfect choice? Being a noob though, I want to make sure I'm not going to run out of inputs or outputs, and be limited at some point by something I didn't know at the time.

The car will essentially be pretty basic. I'm thinking of running IGN-1a's if I can find a well priced source in Aus. Also the FFE trigger kit, cause it looks cool. Will likely be on E85 at some point with ID1300s or similar all around.

I'll start with some simple instrumentation and when funds allow move to something like a Dash2 with logging.

Anyone see any issues with this plan?? All pretty straight forward from what I can figure.

Thanks!!

MarkG

Hi mate,

If you don't see yourself wanting / using flex fuel and or traction control, then instead of the 440, I would recommend that you use the cut down e420d Select ECU instead - https://www.adaptronic.com.au/product/e420d/

Cheers.

S2-13BT

Hi Mark, thanks for the reply.

I had actually been thinking about those two things. I guess I don't need flex fuel, because the car is likely to be run on United E85 which in my experience is very consistent with it's ethanol content (I run it in my SG Forester daily, even now in cold Canberra winter!). And I don't have provision for wheel speed sensors (base model '86 JDM import) to make traction control work, and considering it's a budget racer, I'm not likely to add wheel sensors any time soon...

I think that's some good advice. Might look into the 420 instead.

Thanks.

S2-13BT

Oh, what are the typical use cases for the digital inputs.

With the 420 having 4 and the 440 having 8, am I eventually going to get frustrated because I can't input something I want (that I just haven't thought of yet)??

MarkG

The most common use for digital inputs are for idle ups for A/C, electrical loads, power steering etc.

Other uses I can think of are: MAP1 / MAP2 select, launch control switch, multilevel boost etc

Monkman33

iTrader: (28)

I would still use a flex fuel sensor. In the event of a bad batch of E85. Unless you are testing the fuel you are putting in beforehand.

S2-13BT

That would work out at a very expensive option. I see exactly where you're coming from though. An engine rebuild is obviously more expensive.

There's a reasonably large group of people reporting back on the fuel from a particular supplier in Aus, that shows a trend of consistent high Ethanol content. I've been running it in my Forester (although I'm back on PULP atm), with no issues, so I think it should be OK. It's no different to tuning for 93 and getting a bad batch at 91 or something.

This particular supplier doesn't do a winter blend either with lower ethanol to assist with cold starts... Ask me how I know!!

There's a chance, I'll buy from the barrel anyway, because racecar!! I'd instantly go to this, but I'm not sure how quickly I'll go through the barrel and obviously don't want E85 sitting around going stale. I haven't yet looked into buying smaller quantities at a time from performance workshops etc.