I finished my electric 6PI system today with the help of RotaryResurrection's writeup. It was pretty straight forward and it works. My air pump bracket broke awhile ago and I wanted to find something else that would work for the 6PI.

I used a modified 12vdc air compressor pump and my stock 6PI and VDI solenoids. It took an afternoon and I am happy that it works. I mounted the pump on my firewall though and it is pretty loud so I am gonna try to find another quiter pump, or maybe mount it farther away. Thanks again to RotaryResurrection for the help. I wish I would have read up on it earlier though because I didn't know that I dind't need an MSD (or similar) RPM switch to activate the pump for my S5.

 

Seems a bit redundant on an s5 wouldn't you think?...I bet you could easily find a good used bracket for cheap from a forum member (there are plenty of those guys who remove their pump because they think it's "ugly", or my all-time favorite, to "free up more hp").

 

I didn't want to get another bracket unless I could get a steel one. Those brackets are prone to failure and I like to be different and stubborn anyway.

 

I heard that you can use the air pump from the lumbar support system on 90's Ford trucks. They're quiet, and inexpensive.

 

Hadn't thought of that. Great idea. I have a friend that wants to go electric on his ports. Will try that.

 

Yeah I had read about using the lumbar pump. Now I have to go junkyarding and find one.

 

Good luck man. I used a Lincoln Mark VIII air-ride pump on my setup on my old s4 nonturbo, but it was just never reliable. Sometimes the actuator would stick, or the relay broke one time... I had it in for about 5000 miles and just said screw it and wired it open. I should have put the stock airpump back on and had that do it.

 

Sounds like you needed to run better relays, and clean the actuators.

 

I am happy with my setup and it works well so far. I had mine wired open previously and really wanted to fix that problem. I have noticed though that it seems to almost hit a wall right after the ports open at like ~3800 until the VDI opens at 5500 then it accelerates very well, very noticible. Any ideas on what that might be? I didn't feel that at all with everything wired open.

 

I like my cheap vacuum method, I think I spent like $20 max, but I didn't have and RPM switch, Megasquirt activated it. Best of all, there is fewer electric components to fail.

 

Well I just mounted the pump right behind the bumper and I can't hear it at all now. I jacked the rear end up and blocked the front then started it in first and then checked from the engine bay to see if the pump and actuators were working and they work fine. I am so happy with this system.

^^^^Please elaborate on the vacuum method and do you have an S4 or S5? P.S. I only spent ~$25.00, but I had the dc pump at home though.

 

It'd be interesting if you could show us how to use vacuum on actuators that normally use pressure to be operated. That's save a lot of expense on elect air pumps etc.

 

I did have a post a couple years back, but was argued with about it. Here is the old thread about it: https://www.rx7club.com/2nd-generation-specific-1986-1992-17/vacuum-6-ports-517463/ I feel it should be noted, I only ran the car with a switch for a little while, until the Megasquirt could be installed.

If you have any questions about it, feel free to ask in that thread, no need to thread jack this one.

 

Thread jack away. It's always good to have a lot of information in one thread.

 

Ok. I've never seen that idea before. I'll think about it. Thanks for the reply.

 

No problem, I'm always trying to think outside the box to advance the community; unfortunately this is the only thing I have come up with in 2 years