Syvecs/Life Racing computer thread. Time to start one.
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Joined: Aug 2007
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From: Camarillo, CA
Syvecs/Life Racing computer thread. Time to start one.
Glenn Price installing a Life Racing/Syvecs computer on my FC. Curious if any other rotary owners have enjoyed the success with this high tech computer. Commonly put on the Nissan GTR by AMS and Switzer. Looking to start a nice thread.
EB Turbo
We've done one Syvecs and are working on another. Love the system. Extremely flexible, great knock control, great traction control, etc., etc. Really no downsides or bugs in how it functions. Things like LAN network connection for instant datalog downloads are a very nice touch. The way they do PID was new to me and I really like it. The software is not as pretty and user friendly as the best on the market, but it is pretty intuitive and easy to navigate once you spend some time with it. IMO, there's nothing else that has the proven features of these systems in the price range.
The only downside that I ran into is that documentation is pretty sparse. The software help is helpful but the Life Racing roots are in top level motorsports and the system was originally intended to be used by trained engineer types and that is evident. That said, any questions I had were quickly handled by Syvecs staff through phone and email conversations. Some emails were exchanged on weekends and outside of their business hours in England. There forum is pretty helpful as well. We've now built a pretty solid info base of our own to support anyone looking to run one of the systems. Syvecs' support system is the main reason to source your hardware through them. As I understand it, Life may not be strongly interested in supporting anyone outside of a pro team directly. Syvecs not only does direct support, but has developed their own range of expanded items, such as the the I/O expander and bluetooth module. They've also expressed interest in writing custom CAN protocols.
In short, in my experience, it's a great system that does everything it says it will and does it very well. There are a good number of systems that spec sheet race pretty well but fail to deliver on actually having all the claimed features perform. Not so with Life Racing and Syvecs.
The only downside that I ran into is that documentation is pretty sparse. The software help is helpful but the Life Racing roots are in top level motorsports and the system was originally intended to be used by trained engineer types and that is evident. That said, any questions I had were quickly handled by Syvecs staff through phone and email conversations. Some emails were exchanged on weekends and outside of their business hours in England. There forum is pretty helpful as well. We've now built a pretty solid info base of our own to support anyone looking to run one of the systems. Syvecs' support system is the main reason to source your hardware through them. As I understand it, Life may not be strongly interested in supporting anyone outside of a pro team directly. Syvecs not only does direct support, but has developed their own range of expanded items, such as the the I/O expander and bluetooth module. They've also expressed interest in writing custom CAN protocols.
In short, in my experience, it's a great system that does everything it says it will and does it very well. There are a good number of systems that spec sheet race pretty well but fail to deliver on actually having all the claimed features perform. Not so with Life Racing and Syvecs.
We've done one Syvecs and are working on another. Love the system. Extremely flexible, great knock control, great traction control, etc., etc. Really no downsides or bugs in how it functions. Things like LAN network connection for instant datalog downloads are a very nice touch. The way they do PID was new to me and I really like it. The software is not as pretty and user friendly as the best on the market, but it is pretty intuitive and easy to navigate once you spend some time with it. IMO, there's nothing else that has the proven features of these systems in the price range.
The only downside that I ran into is that documentation is pretty sparse. The software help is helpful but the Life Racing roots are in top level motorsports and the system was originally intended to be used by trained engineer types and that is evident. That said, any questions I had were quickly handled by Syvecs staff through phone and email conversations. Some emails were exchanged on weekends and outside of their business hours in England. There forum is pretty helpful as well. We've now built a pretty solid info base of our own to support anyone looking to run one of the systems. Syvecs' support system is the main reason to source your hardware through them. As I understand it, Life may not be strongly interested in supporting anyone outside of a pro team directly. Syvecs not only does direct support, but has developed their own range of expanded items, such as the the I/O expander and bluetooth module. They've also expressed interest in writing custom CAN protocols.
In short, in my experience, it's a great system that does everything it says it will and does it very well. There are a good number of systems that spec sheet race pretty well but fail to deliver on actually having all the claimed features perform. Not so with Life Racing and Syvecs.
The only downside that I ran into is that documentation is pretty sparse. The software help is helpful but the Life Racing roots are in top level motorsports and the system was originally intended to be used by trained engineer types and that is evident. That said, any questions I had were quickly handled by Syvecs staff through phone and email conversations. Some emails were exchanged on weekends and outside of their business hours in England. There forum is pretty helpful as well. We've now built a pretty solid info base of our own to support anyone looking to run one of the systems. Syvecs' support system is the main reason to source your hardware through them. As I understand it, Life may not be strongly interested in supporting anyone outside of a pro team directly. Syvecs not only does direct support, but has developed their own range of expanded items, such as the the I/O expander and bluetooth module. They've also expressed interest in writing custom CAN protocols.
In short, in my experience, it's a great system that does everything it says it will and does it very well. There are a good number of systems that spec sheet race pretty well but fail to deliver on actually having all the claimed features perform. Not so with Life Racing and Syvecs.
What is different about the PID control?
EB Turbo
Some systems have those features but not for every PID function. Like AEM has 2D tables for O2 FB but they are against Engine Speed not Error and no high and low limits. Then the boost control only has single P and I control but it does have high and low limits. What is the price rang for the LifeRacing/Syvecs ECUs?
EB Turbo
The S6 starts at about $2200 with the connector kit. Only option is full knock control. Basic knock has standard crank windowing. Full knock has programmable windowing and can also be setup to auto advance timing up to a specified knock threshold passed your base ignition mapping. The S6 is a 8 inj x 6 ign ECU.
Prices go up from there for more I/O. DBW is not available on board the S6, but it is on the S8 and S12. That and DI drivers are about the only options. Traction control is standard and fully optioned on all models. The traction control is 12 position programmable. Has wet and dry settings and other nice features as well.
Again, the best part for me, so far, is the lack of bugs. No work arounds needed and it's all worked as its supposed to.
Prices go up from there for more I/O. DBW is not available on board the S6, but it is on the S8 and S12. That and DI drivers are about the only options. Traction control is standard and fully optioned on all models. The traction control is 12 position programmable. Has wet and dry settings and other nice features as well.
Again, the best part for me, so far, is the lack of bugs. No work arounds needed and it's all worked as its supposed to.
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I picked up a Life Racing (F88RS) ecu from Glenn as well. Mine hasn't been installed yet though, I've got to build the engine first and have a new harness made first.
I'll be using mine for a whole host of goodies that the PFC (my previous ecu) can't touch.
I'll be using mine for a whole host of goodies that the PFC (my previous ecu) can't touch.
Thread Starter
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Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 121
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From: Camarillo, CA
How far along are you with the harness? Hopefully close to install soon. Would love to be the first FC to use Life Racing/Syvecs ECU and post here. Going to have to check in with Glenn.
I'm in no real rush to have this finished, as hurrying leads to mistakes and I'd rather take it sloa to make sure EVERYTHING is done correctly from the get-go. If I'm breaking the car in by Thanksgiving I'll be happy
Thread Starter
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Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 121
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From: Camarillo, CA
Well, my rotors just arrived for machining/balancing at Chips Motorsports this week, and as soon as my stud removers arrive I'll pull the WP studs from my front iron and send the irons off to Chip for lapping/nitrating. When all that gets back I'll take a weekend to build my engine. Once my engine bay is put back together I'll tow it up to Brian (TitaniumTT) and he'll start on my harness and welding and all kinds of other fun goodies.
I'm in no real rush to have this finished, as hurrying leads to mistakes and I'd rather take it sloa to make sure EVERYTHING is done correctly from the get-go. If I'm breaking the car in by Thanksgiving I'll be happy
I'm in no real rush to have this finished, as hurrying leads to mistakes and I'd rather take it sloa to make sure EVERYTHING is done correctly from the get-go. If I'm breaking the car in by Thanksgiving I'll be happy
I'm setting clearance for the rotors this week, I hope to stack the motor this weekend, and I'll have the car towed up to Brian (TitaniumTT) in the beginning of December for wiring (possibly) welding, other goodies 
and I figure I'll have a date with Speed1 some time in January for dyno time.
Badass that Glenn will be able to get you sorted soon!! I can't wait to see how yours turns out. I've got a lot of faith in these new toys
and I figure I'll have a date with Speed1 some time in January for dyno time.Badass that Glenn will be able to get you sorted soon!! I can't wait to see how yours turns out. I've got a lot of faith in these new toys
Yeah, any of you guys having any luck? We should be doing another Syvecs in a couple months. So far our experience has been nothing but positive.
Per Ryan at Syvecs, they're working on some Syvecs only firmware that will greatly expand the potential of the ECU. As it is, the I/O is a bit limited by what is offered as preprogrammed options. The new firmware will allow I/O to be custom configured to do whatever you dream up. Which is similar to how the Haltech Elite and some of the newer ECUs are setup.
Per Ryan at Syvecs, they're working on some Syvecs only firmware that will greatly expand the potential of the ECU. As it is, the I/O is a bit limited by what is offered as preprogrammed options. The new firmware will allow I/O to be custom configured to do whatever you dream up. Which is similar to how the Haltech Elite and some of the newer ECUs are setup.
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