Aftermarket EFI
 

Anybody here running an aftermarket EFI system on your 12a? What brand/kind, pros/cons, etc.? I've heard that a Microtech is the way to go because it's adaptable to different sensors, whereas the Haltech has to use Haltech brand sensors, any other reasons to choose one over the other or what else would be a viable alternative? I just started another thread about my problems with my DCOE, but if I go this route I'll probably keep my one-piece intake manifold and run a DCOE-based throttle body. I've still got plenty of research to do before I buy anything, but I wanted to hear opinions from fellow rotary enthusiasts first. Thanks to all who post with any help, ideas, suggestions, or comments...

-Adam Collins

Go megasquirt. Simple, adjustable, open source, and you get to build it yourself. It's fun.

I run a Microtech. It was well packaged, easy to install and use once you get the hang of it. The car runs smoothly and makes good power. Not much else I can say really.

Megasquirt? I've heard the name mentioned on here but I'm not familiar with it. Got a link to any in-depth info on it? Thanks...

I've been leaning towards a Microtech, but I've still got a lot more research and comparing to do before I spend the $ on one. I'd like to see a few more options too that I'm not aware of. I've always been a carb guy until I recently started craving some sort of tunable FI system, after reading over this forum and realizing the benefits and pros of running fuel injection. Then again, this is my first rotary too...

I went with a MegaSquirt. I was aparantly the first person to get one running on a 20B. This was my very first EFI engine - never owned a car with EFI. I came from the world of carbs and only kind of knew how to tune them. This EFI stuff is beyond me at the moment.

When I get the 20B in the 1st gen and all the sensors hooked up, I'll revisit my lack of tuning skills and get it to run well enough to drive it around the block like last time. Then proceed from there.

The thing with megasquirt is that its so chaep at 250$ for the latest unit. There is a sub directory on this forum that dedicates itself to each brand of standalone. And its not like the megaquirt is short of options and features because its just as packed as the other one especially that MS2.

I checked out the MegaSquirt website and the MS really appeals to me, even more so than the Microtech. I don't know why I posted "on your 12a" in my original post-I must've been tired because I'll be using the EFI on a 13b. I've got an '84 SE's 6-port engine, but I want an agressive street port on 12a side housings with a matched turbo to suit. This forum has been extremely helpful with leading me in the right direction for my project, and as long as I keep working like I have been (56 hours/week, with a lot LESS sleep then I need) I'll have all the parts I need by this winter. I may not have the time to install them by then, but at least I'll have the parts!
I'm not exactly an expert solderer but I work with electronics. Most of my experience with soldering has been a headache for me. I'd most likely purchase a complete MSII V3.57 with the ignition control and coil drivers completely assembled if I were to go with a MegaSquirt. I'd like to find the basic software/program I'd start with from somebody that has a similar application. I'd like to see around 300HP with a boosted SE 4-port 13b (12a sides). With such a high compression ratio with stock rotors, I don't think I'd push over 10psi with ignition retarding and possibly water/methanol injection. Are there any other options for 13b compression ratios? Would older/early 4-port engines have lower compression ratios, and if so would they be interchangable with stock '84 and '85 SE 13b rotor housings? Could the "tub" on the stock rotors be machined a bit to lower the comp. ratio? What other options are available for those of us with pre-'86 boosted rotories? Thanks to all for your help and info!

-Adam Collins

Good to hear you're liking the Megasquirt. Just so you know, even if you buy the preassemble version, you will still need to modify a few things to make it work with a rotary.

As far as base maps, they are available in the megasquirt section.

Lastly about the compression, if you talk to Aaron Cake on this forum he will tell you it doesn't matter and he would rather use the high compression. But then again they all call him crazy. Personally I have been in his car and it is awesome and he is currently running around 10psi because its still not tuned properly, but he will be running about 20 by the time he's done. But either way if you still want low compression rotors, those came out of Turbo 2 cars. all the internal on the 13b are interchangeable no matter on the years.

Just happened accross this thread...

Right now I'm running 13 PSI from a GT4088R on the 9.4:1 rotors from the S4. Made 387 HP and 297 Ft-LBs of torque. Dyno runs and videos here:

https://www.rx7club.com/forum/showthread.php?t=684320

High boost will be fun. :)

Seems I've changed my mind on this matter more than I have my underwere lately. The deeper I've dove into this, the more the Haltech seems to shine. I've got tech support and dealers in my backyard, it has all the features I've been looking for in ONE box, and I believe it would actually SAVE me money in the long run with different engine arrangements/combinations. The higher cost seems justified to me for these reasons. I'm not gonna knock any system since I haven't used any yet, but all the signs I've stumbled upon lately have led me towards Haltech. I'm still open for any suggestions/comments/ideas since I haven't paid for the system yet, but my mind is all but made up. The biggest influence in this change of mind has been the local tech support. I'd rather pull up to a shop that's experienced with the EMS I'm running and within driving distance to set up and tune then have to spend hours online and on the phone trying to get the car started, know what I mean? Thank you guys for all your input, help, and information. It is sincerely appreciated...

-Adam Collins

ya tuning support is always great, but truthfully, programming them is all the same in the end, you plug in all the same values, you get the same readings, it just if you're not used to that specific software it will take you a little longer to browse through it to find all the features and stuff, atleast thats my 2 cents on it.