2nd Generation Specific (1986-1992) 1986-1992 Discussion including performance modifications and technical support sections.

Megasquirt on S4 T2

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jan 15, 2003 | 08:02 PM
  #1  
nonameo's Avatar
Thread Starter
**-P I drive a miata.
Tenured Member 05 Years
 
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 1,600
Likes: 0
From: albany, GA
Megasquirt on S4 T2

first off, has anyone ever done this one??

I was thinking about getting an SAFC... but **** for the 2nd gen one that can be almost 250 dollars if you get a good deal...

I am already good with computers and have a little bit of C++ programming experience... though its done in assembler I don't think picking it up would be too terrible.

If I can do the megasquirt for 250 or less, it would be more flexible and would allow me to add larger than 720cc injectors later on If I decided to try and make more power than I already have planned ( 230-240 then 260-275 bhp later on this year)

I will have an assload of time on my hands this summer too... so building it is no problem timewise, and car being down shouldn't be either... I have other rides I can take to work...

So does this sound like a good summer project or what?
Reply
Old Jan 15, 2003 | 10:59 PM
  #2  
Bridgeported's Avatar
Rotary Enthusiast
Tenured Member 05 Years
 
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 1,021
Likes: 2
From: -
I think it could work. It's at least worth a try. The megasquirt system sells for $120 as far as I know. Add in the necessary map sensors and few other things and it will probably notch it up to the $225-$250 mark.

Someone had posted about doing this, but I don't think there were many replies or comments since it's a relatively unkown system - especially with rotaries. Try a search and see if you find the thread.

From what I hear, the system is easy enough to assemble that anyone with basic electrical/mechanical knowledge can do it themselves, so you should have no trouble.

Go for it and tell us the results! Be carefull though and don't pop your motor.
Reply
Old Jan 15, 2003 | 11:36 PM
  #3  
Scott 89t2's Avatar
SOLD THE RX-7!
Tenured Member 10 Years
 
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 7,451
Likes: 0
From: Vancouver, BC, Canada
but it only controls fuel not spark... you'd have to rig up a distrubiter or something... maybe a GSL SE one?? but you'd have no timming retard under boost.
Reply
Old Jan 16, 2003 | 12:00 AM
  #4  
mazdaspeed7's Avatar
mad scientist
Tenured Member 10 Years
 
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 2,665
Likes: 2
From: Savannah, GA
Why not use the stock ECU for timing? Thats how I plan on doing it.
Reply
Old Jan 16, 2003 | 12:35 AM
  #5  
Scott 89t2's Avatar
SOLD THE RX-7!
Tenured Member 10 Years
 
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 7,451
Likes: 0
From: Vancouver, BC, Canada
will that work without having any of the fuel stuff hooked up?..

you'd need 2 sets of sensors then right for each ecu?

you'd probably still need the AFM? which would suck.
Reply
Old Jan 16, 2003 | 02:06 AM
  #6  
Jimmy325i's Avatar
No longer cares
Tenured Member 05 Years
 
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 1,345
Likes: 0
From: just a bit north of your business
Wouldn't an aftermarket ignition box work to remove the spark management from the ecu?
Reply
Old Jan 16, 2003 | 02:14 AM
  #7  
donalson's Avatar
Junior Member
Tenured Member 10 Years
 
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 11
Likes: 0
From: Panama city, FL
they are working on an ignition system called mega-jolt right now... i haven't looked but lately but it shoudl be due out any time.

mark
Reply
Old Jan 16, 2003 | 03:33 AM
  #8  
Bridgeported's Avatar
Rotary Enthusiast
Tenured Member 05 Years
 
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 1,021
Likes: 2
From: -
The megasquirt uses a Map sensor set up, not a crappy *** AFM.
Reply
Old Jan 16, 2003 | 06:04 AM
  #9  
donalson's Avatar
Junior Member
Tenured Member 10 Years
 
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 11
Likes: 0
From: Panama city, FL
Originally posted by Bridgeported
The megasquirt uses a Map sensor set up, not a crappy *** AFM.
yup and it's on-board... but if you use the stock system for ignition you can't get rid of the AFM AFM's suck... why did they have to decide they needed to be used

mark
Reply
Old Jan 16, 2003 | 08:46 AM
  #10  
renns's Avatar
Rotary Enthusiast
Tenured Member 20 Years
 
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 1,022
Likes: 4
From: Ontario, Canada
Re: Megasquirt on S4 T2

Originally posted by nonameo
first off, has anyone ever done this one??
I'm running that setup on an 86 n/a. It took a bit of work to get it all sorted out, but it is running very nice now. I am running staged injection, very similar to the stock setup.

You will need to figure out the ignition side. I have the stock ECU still in place running the ignition, and it appears to advance properly in spite of losing the afm and tps signal. You would need to do a bit of testing on your T2 setup to verify, as timing would be much more critical under boost... There was a discussion a week or so back about what ecu inputs affect ignition timing, but there was no consensus.

I was thinking about getting an SAFC... but **** for the 2nd gen one that can be almost 250 dollars if you get a good deal...
The last group buy price was $110 for the MS. You get a circuit board, bag of parts, programmed ECU, and enclosure. You can use your existing sensors, although you may want to swap the tps for a full-span version.

I am already good with computers and have a little bit of C++ programming experience... though its done in assembler I don't think picking it up would be too terrible.
The programming is done, unless you want to start adding your own code, which is what some builders are doing now: boost control, water injection, electric fan control, closed loop idle control, variable target afr using wideband for feedback... Many users installing these units are not programming or electronics experts.

I will have an assload of time on my hands this summer too... so building it is no problem timewise, and car being down shouldn't be either... I have other rides I can take to work... So does this sound like a good summer project or what?
Sounds like a great project to me. You have to build the thing, install it, and configure and test all operating parameters. Don't expect plug-n-play, but in the end you'll have full control over fuel, and a thorough knowledge of how the system operates.

Roger

Last edited by renns; Jan 16, 2003 at 08:48 AM.
Reply
Old Jan 16, 2003 | 12:31 PM
  #11  
jacobcartmill's Avatar
just dont care.
Tenured Member 20 Years
iTrader: (6)
 
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 9,387
Likes: 4
From: Nashville, TN
what is mega squirt?
Reply
Old Jan 16, 2003 | 04:02 PM
  #12  
renns's Avatar
Rotary Enthusiast
Tenured Member 20 Years
 
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 1,022
Likes: 4
From: Ontario, Canada
http://members.shaw.ca/megasquirt/MS%20FAQ.htm
Reply
Old Jan 16, 2003 | 04:17 PM
  #13  
SonicRaT's Avatar
Super Raterhater
Tenured Member: 20 Years
iTrader: (6)
 
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 10,630
Likes: 3
From: NY, MA, MI, OR, TX, and now LA or AZ!
When is the next group buy? I've been wanting to get it on it for a while but I always miss them!
Reply
Old Jan 16, 2003 | 05:03 PM
  #14  
Bridgeported's Avatar
Rotary Enthusiast
Tenured Member 05 Years
 
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 1,021
Likes: 2
From: -
Here is the Megasquirt homepage for those interested in more info:
http://www.bgsoflex.com/megasquirt.html

The last group buy (the second one) closed in early December. I think they usually have one in about May-July and another in like Oct-Dec but I could be wrong.

There is a Megasquirt discussion group on Yahoo forums a lot of people go on.
My roomate goes on it because he is going to get a Megasquirt for his BMW 318i when the next group buy comes up.
Reply
Old Jan 16, 2003 | 07:13 PM
  #15  
nonameo's Avatar
Thread Starter
**-P I drive a miata.
Tenured Member 05 Years
 
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 1,600
Likes: 0
From: albany, GA
Hrmm... Instead of a summer project, what do you guys think about me doing this for my Senior project? I have till the end of the year (may-june) to make it work. think it is do-able?
Reply
Old Jan 17, 2003 | 07:02 AM
  #16  
hugues's Avatar
Why am I here ?
Tenured Member 05 Years
 
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 671
Likes: 0
From: Boston, MA
Sounds like a great project, NONAMEO

Should not be too difficult, I think, and the possibilities seem endless. Nice.

hugues -
Reply
Old Jan 17, 2003 | 07:34 AM
  #17  
Roy James's Avatar
My cars louder than yours
Tenured Member 15 Years
 
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 1,969
Likes: 0
From: Augusta, GA
Im in on the group buy whenever you guys are. I im so ready to rid myself of this POS stock ECU and so on. Doesnt megasquirt make an ignition controller add-on as well? Not sure, Thanks
Reply
Old Jan 17, 2003 | 07:52 AM
  #18  
hugues's Avatar
Why am I here ?
Tenured Member 05 Years
 
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 671
Likes: 0
From: Boston, MA
They are working on an ignition system that would be completely seperate from the fuel management system but it's not available yet according to the web page.

BTW, they rely on GM sensors, so there is some extra work if you use the stock ones.

and it's MAP-based (no AFM)

Hugues -
Reply
Old Jan 17, 2003 | 08:29 AM
  #19  
hugues's Avatar
Why am I here ?
Tenured Member 05 Years
 
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 671
Likes: 0
From: Boston, MA
Their newest version can handle turbo apps up to ~20 psi. The older one could not but you can upgrade the soft.
So, it's pretty much all there right out off the box (I should say kit) for TII.

Hugues -
Reply
Old Jan 17, 2003 | 09:20 AM
  #20  
SaabGuy's Avatar
Rotary Freak
Tenured Member: 20 Years
 
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 1,515
Likes: 1
From: Atlanta, GA
Is staged fuel injection involved in this sytem???

How about ignition???

Has anyone done this system?
Reply
Old Jan 17, 2003 | 09:31 AM
  #21  
hugues's Avatar
Why am I here ?
Tenured Member 05 Years
 
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 671
Likes: 0
From: Boston, MA
Saabguy:

Take a moment to read the FAQ at

megasquirt

it should answer your Q's

Note that this link was already provided by BRIDGEPORTED

Hugues -
Reply
Old Jan 17, 2003 | 09:51 AM
  #22  
SonicRaT's Avatar
Super Raterhater
Tenured Member: 20 Years
iTrader: (6)
 
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 10,630
Likes: 3
From: NY, MA, MI, OR, TX, and now LA or AZ!
I wish they didn't take so long between their group buys. We should talk them into opening a group buy just for us rx7 guys
Reply
Old Jan 17, 2003 | 10:06 AM
  #23  
hugues's Avatar
Why am I here ?
Tenured Member 05 Years
 
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 671
Likes: 0
From: Boston, MA
I guess that, if you're in a hurry and electronically enclined, you could make the board yourself and get the components via some online electronics retailer.

although it would be a shame to bypass those guys and not giving them a little bit of dough through the group buy.

Hugues-

Last edited by hugues; Jan 17, 2003 at 10:10 AM.
Reply
Old Jan 17, 2003 | 10:15 AM
  #24  
SonicRaT's Avatar
Super Raterhater
Tenured Member: 20 Years
iTrader: (6)
 
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 10,630
Likes: 3
From: NY, MA, MI, OR, TX, and now LA or AZ!
the problem there is programming the eproms! And rens, can you send me your config from your 86? I want to stick it on my 87 and it'd be a good plcae to start looking how you have yours setup!

Last edited by SonicRaT; Jan 17, 2003 at 10:29 AM.
Reply
Old Jan 17, 2003 | 10:22 AM
  #25  
hugues's Avatar
Why am I here ?
Tenured Member 05 Years
 
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 671
Likes: 0
From: Boston, MA
the problem there is there is programming the eproms!
Right on, sonicRat. Forgot about that. Thanks for the reminder.

Hugues-
Reply



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 11:42 AM.