Engine management systems

[928_Trackie]

My uncle is looking into supercharging his S4 this winter and is hung up on the engine management. He plans on designing his own system and piecing it together (he likes a challenge!). Just wondering if anyone had any advise on where to look for an engine management system that is simple and effective and yet not overly expensive. Obviously the supercharger/turbo kits you can buy from some internet sites must be using some sort of piggy back system.. but from where?!

[Red Baron]

A piggy back is almost useless. Most FI cars out there are using the Sharktuner.

http://img.freecodesource.com/gallery/images/banners/prod_350_16393.gif

Sweet looking track car! Where is that?

[928_Trackie]

The Picture was taken at Mosprt Int. Raceway by a professional who likes to cartoon the images.. in Bowmanville On. Thats our home track with PCA UCR

[Fabio421]

As Abby said, with an S-4 there is no need to use an aftermarket engine management system. It's much cheaper and easier to have someone Shark Tune it. Where is the car located?

[928_Trackie]

Car is located near Toronto, Ontario.

[Barbapapa]

I use a Motec but look forward to using a SharkTuner one day.
It seems to allow quite a bit of control and is makes it more like a modern aftermarket ecu than a bandaid.
If you uncle still needs something fun to do he can keep busy repairing any broken connectors on the wiring harness!

[blau928]

Originally Posted by 928_Trackie

My uncle is looking into supercharging his S4 this winter and is hung up on the engine management. He plans on designing his own system and piecing it together (he likes a challenge!). Just wondering if anyone had any advise on where to look for an engine management system that is simple and effective and yet not overly expensive. Obviously the supercharger/turbo kits you can buy from some internet sites must be using some sort of piggy back system.. but from where?!

Why reinvent the electronics wheel if the Sharktuner from John Speake works so well for so little money..?

Unless your uncle is planning to control several sensors with the ECU, and depending on the supercharger system, he may be able to use the stock LH with a Sharktuner, and add an adjustable boost controller from HKS for a few bucks, and be done with it.

If he wants to go a little crazy, he could get a Motec like Mike did, and I am in process of doing to my car, but it's not cheap.

If he wants to get a bit more carried away, then he could get a stack dash, 64 channel data logger, transmitter to a laptop with real time synch, and you could sit in the pit, and monitor lotsa stuff for him, and help out with track duty... Even more expensive.....

For a budget minded deal, hands down, Sharktune the stock LH, and maybe get an HKS EVC. Also get a few gauges and a datalogger like the Innovate 32 so you know what's going on in the motor, and have a reference of what works VS what does not....

Just my $0.02, hope it helps,

[lizard928s]

Blau,

There is a lot that the sharktuner is unable to do.

That said, for the price of a sharktuner you can have a full standalone system with distributorless ignition.

[hans14914]

Vems

[928_Trackie]

thanks for all your input guys. Its still an on-going debate.. buy a system and be able to modify with any changes.. or have someone shark-tune it and pay high labor rates? I'm guessing by the tI'me he pays someone to fine tune the engine, he could have bought a system. If he buys a system, are they easy enough to understand and modify yourself safely? I'm starting to think buying a system and having the software to modify and change is starting to win the debate!!

too bad this situation doesn't happen more often! keep the opinions coming!
thanks

[Barbapapa]

You could use a Sharktuner yourself.

Whatever you'll get budget some money for tuning it on a chassis dyno. Several hours on a chassis dyno=months of driving, logging and changing things on the street or track. It may even be worth it to find a good local dyno guy and ask what sytems he has experience with before you decide.

If you enjoy a juicy project that's more labor than $ intensive and a huge user community to draw on, Megasquirt is always a good idea.

VEMS is like what you'll wish Megasquirt was but doesn't have following. It's a tough choice, it's tempting to recommend VEMS but honestly you might get more satisfaction if you go with MS for a first time project.

[Danglerb]

First choice sharktune, second choice a slightly more modern system off some other production vehicle that has similar tuner support, Ford or Chevy maybe.

[blau928]

Originally Posted by lizard928s

Blau,

There is a lot that the sharktuner is unable to do.

That said, for the price of a sharktuner you can have a full standalone system with distributorless ignition.

Hi Lizard,

I am well aware that the Sharktuner is limiting in several ways. (For my custom motor application, I have a Motec M8.)

However, a Sharktuner could be rented, and used to calibrate the LH with EZK on a dyno, and get pretty good results.

Going to a standalone will require a new harness, or tapping into the existing harness, and should be done by a pro with proper connectors and crimping hardware, or it will get pretty frustrating unless one has the time and patience to do it right. In addition, a scratch calibration will have to be built unless you can get a good base calibration for free.

In either case, a bit of time will need to be spent calibrating on a dyno, then datalogging and driving the car, then comparing results to the dyno parameters to see what is different and why. (Or just pay someone to do all this for you.. not cheap)

Anyway, I am just suggesting that for some who are first timers, it may be easier to start with Sharktuning the LH/EZK setup. If in that application, they run into a wall due to limitation of ECU/Ignition functionality, then go to stand alone.

Just my opinion.. Either way, I wish trackie luck..!

Cheers