Veloz Car Computer = Flux Capacitor?

[tdw28210]

Ok, so I am rooting around my recently purchased '85 FTL Targa. Low and behold I find this little item. A Veloz 911 "grade 2" chip.

Anyone know a thing about it. The interweb only speaks of the history of the firm. Veloz was started by some then 22 year old former Atari engineer from Sunnyvale.

Question 1: Is time travel possible after installing it?

Question 2: Where do I install it? I know it is an engine chip, but where is the ECM?

Question 3: If not time travel, then what is the benefit of installing it?

Question 4: Should I install it?

Sorry for the bad pic. Phone doesn't do macro shots well.

Thanks in advance.

[WPOZZZ]

You would need to remove the DME from under your driver's seat. Then open it up, probably split the two boards sandwiched by a ribbon, then swap out the eprom. It is a fairly easy thing to do, but I'm not sure about swapping them as I know nothing about that chip. Btw, if you want a chip with a track record, just get a Steve Wong chip. Better to be safe than sorry.

[cerealkiller93]

Veloz was actually the first people EVER to chip an ETA they decoded the motronic system and and made the first 327i kits. For $1000 you got the chip, a 272 cam, and dual valve springs, also got a new gauge face for your tach.

That thing might actually be worth something...


http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1499&dat=19890503&id=XW8aAAAAIBAJ&sjid=4CsEAAAAIBAJ&pg=4539,1808691
http://www.strictlyeta.net/articles/325is_2.jpg
http://www.strictlyeta.net/articles/325is_3.jpg <(-----look in the brown inserts-------)<

[Veloz]

I'm the Atari programmer who founded Veloz Car Computer.

A co-worker found an article on line and brought back a lot of fond memories of reverse engineering Motronic engine mgmt systems and FORD & GM ECM's. A quick Google search popped up this Forum.

The chip in question here was for 911's with a Bosch Motronic 1 ECM. The chip improved total spark advance from 29 degrees out to about 45 degrees if memory is correct. under wide open throttle, injector duration was slightly longer providing slightly more fuel.

It was shocking how little total advance Porsche engineers allowed for US spec cars at the time. An engineer from BMW told me the Germans had little faith in American refinery standards, and their performance engines needed protection from detonation due poor grade US fuel. The fact was, US fuel quality improved greatly in the mid 80's as Detroit shipped more and more fuel injection vehicles. Theory was almost any crud fuel could flow through a carb, but injection was different and negatively impacted by US gas.

Long story short, these chips were make from a rigorous reverse engineering using very expensive data loggers, prom emulators, and other equipment with the engine running on a SuperFlo 901 engine dyno.

This chip repeatedly demonstrated 1/2 second improvements in 0-60 runs, and up to 3/4 second quarter mile improvements. The 911 chip was no joke, car mags at the time verified our dyno and track testing with an accelerometer.

-David

[zelrik911]

Hi David
Welcome to the Forum

So what ya doing now?

Regards
Peter (retired '60s Programmer)

[jungspike]

David,

Thanks for your information. Interesting story--I'm sure it was exciting time.

Tim

[ant7]

Hi David,
Welcome to the forum, great story, i wonder how it compares to what Steve Wong has done with his chip. ???
Anthony.

Originally Posted by Veloz

I'm the Atari programmer who founded Veloz Car Computer.

A co-worker found an article on line and brought back a lot of fond memories of reverse engineering Motronic engine mgmt systems and FORD & GM ECM's. A quick Google search popped up this Forum.

The chip in question here was for 911's with a Bosch Motronic 1 ECM. The chip improved total spark advance from 29 degrees out to about 45 degrees if memory is correct. under wide open throttle, injector duration was slightly longer providing slightly more fuel.

It was shocking how little total advance Porsche engineers allowed for US spec cars at the time. An engineer from BMW told me the Germans had little faith in American refinery standards, and their performance engines needed protection from detonation due poor grade US fuel. The fact was, US fuel quality improved greatly in the mid 80's as Detroit shipped more and more fuel injection vehicles. Theory was almost any crud fuel could flow through a carb, but injection was different and negatively impacted by US gas.

Long story short, these chips were make from a rigorous reverse engineering using very expensive data loggers, prom emulators, and other equipment with the engine running on a SuperFlo 901 engine dyno.

This chip repeatedly demonstrated 1/2 second improvements in 0-60 runs, and up to 3/4 second quarter mile improvements. The 911 chip was no joke, car mags at the time verified our dyno and track testing with an accelerometer.

-David

[Veloz]

The whole effort was a fun and tons of great car stories and people along the way. It was also very hard work and long hours pioneering a new area which manufacturers prefer you not go (at least officially). :7)

Our practices where more through than others who were also working at this and followed. I cannot speak for todays products.

We would determine the embedded microprocessor, instruction rate of execution, and various code and data sections of the software.

The part throttle fuel and ignition data tables were each 2 dimensions and optimized for both mileage and more importantly smog. The Federal model FTP-75 emissions testing and similar California tests were very rigorous, but all at part throttle simulating common driving patterns. The slang for this test was "505" test, since if you passed the initial 505 seconds of the cold start test things looked generally positive. However it was a different game once the wide open throttle switch was activated, spark and fuel data values were pulled from a simple linear table of values. Conventional wisdom was a car spent 1-2% of it life at WOT and was unrealistic to smog test under extended WOT. This was way the chips were not detectable on smog tests, plus the products passed the new factory car tests we processed through bonded emissions test facilities in LA.

There were also sets of single byte variables we manipulated. The more critical of these for cars that came with our cams and valve springs was the rev limiter.

Changing the rev limiter takes more engineering thought than maybe realized. In many cases engines could wind beyond the capacity of the DME to complete calculations in time to open the injectors or activate ignition in the right cylinder or within the effective time window. Also a lot of the DME would have less than 16 bytes divided as steps to define spark advance at WOT and the higher the rev limit the less granularity is available to set optimum spark advance.

It's nice to see the chips still in use.

-David

[tdw28210]

Hey David,

I started this thread over 2 years ago and just saw your reply from this past May. As the others said, thanks for the info. I still have the chip in its box and show it off from time to time. Any chance you still have some documentation or marketing materials laying around? I would love to get my hands on either of those. Thanks again.

[WCN621]

Very old revived thread due to my discovery of a Veloz chip in my ‘84. I’m installing a Steve Wong chip and came upon the Veloz chip, apparently a collector’s item!

Can advise what the performance change is, when I get her back on the road this weekend.

[WCN621]

Moving to the Steve Wong chip was definitely an marked improvement from the Veloz. Don’t know what the performance was like with the Veloz chip in 1984 with it, but it was night and day right off the start with the SW. Acceleration improved, as also, my cold start up has not had the rough idle with near stalling since. Great choice to change!

[Matthew_VA]

Reviving this thread since I recently acquired an '84 Carrera and included in the items with the car was this...

manufactured by Veloz but "engineered and distributed by AutoThority, Inc."

Will have to pull the DME to see which chip was installed.