I know I'm super late to this thread, but I have useful inputs. I am another MegaSquirt success. I'm using MicroSquirt (cheaper/compact/less features of MS2) on my 2.2L. Here's what I know before I started:
1. People have done MS on their 2.2/2.5
2. Distributor/turbo HEP can't be used
3. 36-1 wheel needed to be added.
I looked thru crusty's thread, but I didn't follow a how-to. I use mostly the online MS manual for wiring and asked some questions and I used the online MS calculators to get my fuel and ignition tables.
http://www.turbo-mopar.com/forums/sh...of-megasquirt)
The most difficult part for me was to figure out 36-1 wheel and crank sensor. (My friend waterjet a 36-1 wheel ring that fits the common block crank pulley then welded them together. Wiring was surprisingly easy, so are the additional sensors/modules.
I was for stock electronics. It's cheap, it's there, and ready to be used. Then I maxed out ignition and not being able to run more than 22psi on E85. Once a while the tune changed itself (happened 4 times, tune goes 14% leaner all the sudden), and the final nail was turning on a/c means 12.5 air fuel ratio no matter how I tried to turned it out. No, it's not the MAP nor wideband as I have the same sensors and controller on MicroSquirt and they are perfectly fine. It was down to either wiring and the socketed LM, I put another sockeded LM in, same result. So, out with stock computers and out with the 30+ year old engine harness. In the process, I found out why my hazard light never work since I bought he car 10+ years ago. The wire was corroded inside the insulation! The car is a CA/AZ car too!Originally Posted by tryingbe
Agreed. Chrysler's no longer available 2.2/2.5 hall effect pickup sensor, often DOA aftermarket HEP sensor, its 30 year old wiring connector, distributor, plastic welded shutter wheel, single coil setup, push in pin lock, are all weak points in my opinion. I was happy to get rid of all of those parts.
When I set base ignition timing with the factory computer and HEP, timing will jump from 10 to 12 to 14 to 12 and never steady. After the switch to MicroSquirt, timing is dead on at whatever number I set it every time.
$1500 or so in Micrcosquirt related parts/service, I have all the parts/service in a spreadsheet.Originally Posted by contraption22
http://www.turbo-mopar.com/forums/sh...of-megasquirt)
Good thing you bought up gain and hard data.Originally Posted by acannell
With stock coil, distributor, 87 TII LM, stock knock sensor, MPtuner, Moates Ostrich and E85, I was limited to 22psi, any higher I have misfire at higher RPM, I think I had the plugs gapped at .023 at one point. I dyno tuned the car (adjust fuel and timing in MPtuner), at most my car made 290whp on E85.
This is the ignition table table, converted to MS 12x12 form.
With 420A coil, 36-1 wheel, MicroSquirt, BOSCH broadband knock sensor, lilknockmeter module, and E54. I currently only limited by the size of my injectors, I'm near 83% duty cycle near 7000rpm.
This is my 2nd try of tuning the ignition table, after tuning by listing for knocks.
I have no explanation of why the engine can run so much more timing without knocks.
Yes, I will dyno soon once my fuel is not the limit anymore. I'm bumping into 83% duty cycle at 24psi and 7000rpm. I'd like to get that duty cycle down so I can run more boost.
See above for my thought on distributor and HEP.Originally Posted by ShelGame
I used a device call lilknockmeter for knock control for my Microsquirt, it also works for MS2. See my review of lilknockmeter here. I have not issue with tach out on my microsquirt, I wire it straight to my 87-89 Dodge/LeBaron digital dash and it works correctly since day one.
MS3 can use an add on board.
The "self" tuning is actually not that great, it is very slow to react. I can tune faster if someone can drive for me. Logging is a huge plus. I can get so much data then analyze them.Originally Posted by contraption22
I separated then engine harness from the body harness. Label the wires I wanted to keep, and remove the LM harness, PM harness, and the harness goigo to the body connector at the drier side firewall. Wiring up MS is quite easy actually once you get over the fear of wiring.Originally Posted by acannell
My install cost is around $1500, if I have to do it over again, it probably be a hundred to hundreds dollar cheaper since I wouldn't order more stuff I don't need or order parts I couldn't use.Originally Posted by acannell
Minimum cost, that would be different for anyone. I didn't "need" the TPS, MAP, CTS, & etc connectors but I bought new anyways just to be safe. I didn't "need" a flex sensor, but flex sensor is nice. There is a two channel ignntion igniter I can buy instead of the more expensive quadspark... etc. So, it really depends.
Agree. If the person knows nil about the car in stock form, MS would not be a good choice. But for someone that can't diagnose or repair a car, he really shouldn't be modifying anything. Just leave it STOCK.Originally Posted by Vigo
I also agree that the dodge's software is great for its time, some of the 80's hardware is not ageing well. Broken connectors, cracked wire insulation, corroded wires inside its insulation, pins not making good contact, dying PM, no longer available HEP, etc...
Loop time!Originally Posted by acannell
Agreed, you have very good points.Originally Posted by Ondonti
In the last couple of months I discovered a bug in flex fuel sensor reading. All sensors have smoothed settings in MS, except for flex fuel, so flex fuel reading can swing wildly. If you have flex fuel auto correction on, you can easily damage your engine. No MS2 fix as of yet, most recent MS3 supposedly have it fixed, waiting for people to report back. How can this be overlooked so easily? I mean, smoothing for all other sensors are enabled!!
I might have found another bug regarding to knock sensor, but report it and waiting for support is.... sigh....
Given development for MS2 is dead and development for MS3 is slow. If you want MS, you would have to be content with what MS has to offer NOW and accept all its faults. Upgrade or changes can happen but it's a snail pace since MS development is not an open source and there are only three people actively working on it, on a volunteering bases.
Would I do MS again knowing all its fault and cost???
Absolutely. While MS has it's faults, it is still an huge improvement on stock, both software and hardware.