993 conversion - ECU drive block reprogram - what are the latest options?
 

I'm contemplating a 993 engine conversion and trying to nail down my own budget (minimizing costs along the way). Is there any new information here OR are Patrick MS and Timmons the only options?
I have an email out to Steve Wong to see if he's offering this service.

Also, do I need to run a chip with a Euro brain?

Thanks a bunch!

Doug

Todd Knighton of Protomotive re-programs the Motronic ECU's for all models of the 911/964/993/996 etc...

Merv,
Any idea of price? Thanks for the tip!

Doug

Do you have the engine already? If not, get a '95 or a 96+ euro vram, they dont have it.

I do not have the engine. Can I just use an earlier ECU? This engine is a 97 v-ram. I guess maybe I don't understand what the drive block is....Please help me understand.

Thanks for your reply!

Doug

Doug:

Drive Block is the Porsche moniker for the Immobilizer. This is part of the car's alarm that prevents the car from being started-stolen.

Unless the engine you buy doesn't have that feature (some '95's do not; all USA Varioram ones do), you'll need to have someone disable that in software so the engine will start.

FWIW, I can disable the Drive Block as well. :)

Steve,
Thanks for the clarification! I assume since we are talking about changes in software (do you have to re-burn firmware) that the process is something you can estimate the cost for?

What is the difference between working on the ECU of a Euro version vs. USA version? Does that make a big difference?

Thank you,

Doug

Doug:

Yessir, the ECU's chip must be removed and reflashed with different software to disable the Immobilizer. We get $ 995 for that as its the same amount of work as the performance programming.

Differences between US and Euro ECU's depend on the year. Most of the differences lie in software such as OBD-II parameters.

Steve,
Thanks for clarifying! If I start with a 96 Euro V-ram, does $995 include remapping of fuel and ignition curves, as well as disabling the drive block?

OR is it necessary to disable the drive block?
The ECU must be reflashed to change the fuel maps and ignition curves, too, right?

Thanks,

Doug

Doug:

My suggestion is to start with a '97 or '98 motor. There are major ECU differences between 96's and later ones that make these MUCH MUCH more difficult (expensive) to modify.

The $ 995 includes remapping services as well as disabling the Drive Block on these '97-'98 ECU's,....:)

If you don't disable the drive block, then you'll need the Immobilizer module, remote controller, and harness from the donor car to start the thing.

Yessir, anything you do to these ECU's requires reflashing the ECU.

Steve,
Thanks again for the advice! Will a 97 or 98 ECU control a 96 engine? Are the harnesses and sensors identical?

Hope I'm not encroaching on your generosity with all of these questions!

Doug

Yessir, a '97 or '98 ECU will work on any '96 engine provided that the Immobilizer is disabled,...:)

Everything else is identical.

Steve,
Thanks for clarifying - this is incredibly helpful information!
I've also learned that: OBDII and non-OBDII harnesses and therefore DMEs have different pin configurations, too. So the OBDII and non-OBDII DMEs are not interchangeable, either. Is that correct?

Finally, is the US market the only one using OBDII in '96 to '98? For example, would cars destined for other countries have had OBDII compliant brains?

Finally, I do have an OBDII tester for my other cars which is pretty helpful. If I did end up with a 97 to 98 ECU and had the driveblock disabled, as well as the fuel / spark cars remapped, would my tester actually work? Maybe there is some small value in that.

Again, your generosity in sharing informatoin is something I very much appreciate!

Doug

If you have a diagnostic port wired into the harness, your tester will work. I believe Patrick Motorsports' ad for their '96-'98 wiring harness adaptor insinuates that it includes a diagnostic port these days.

Rob,
That makes sense - your thread shed some additional light. Nice install!

Doug

Hi Doug:

OBD-I and OBD-II harnesses are different. The former uses a 55-pin ECU connector and the latter has an 88-pin ECU connector. That makes these ECU's non-interchangable.

The US market got ODB-II from '96-onward. The rest of the world gradually received the same thing.

If you have an OBD-II engine setup, its very simple to add the diagnostic port connector so you can use any generic OBD-II tool to read and reset any codes.

hallo
wouldnt it be cheaper and easier to change the Harness and ECU from OBD 2 to OBD 1 ?
harald

Harald,
Based on yours and Steve's comments, it seems like converting to the OBDi harness and computer is the way to go, if it can be done for less $$$. The engine and sensors are the same, seems like. Steve Wong told me something similar.

Doug

Personally, I'd rather have the OBD-II setup for its monitoring and diagnosis features.

I've found it to be quite useful,...:)

Steve - aren't there negatives to the OBD II??

I don't have a personal intest (being a carb-using knuckle-dragger myself), but from an academic standpoint, I'm interested...