Firebird and Camaro PROMinator - Page 3 - DIY PROM - Third Generation F-Body Message Boards

chevy8ford · 09-09-2003, 02:02 PM

great idea guys, also new to promming but i was wondering would this work with the 747? Sorry for the newb question, but this may be coming at the perfect time for my 88 tbi firebird and some upcoming tuning issues.

THanks,
Mike

MrBill · 09-09-2003, 02:17 PM

Yes, it will work with the 747.

iansane · 09-09-2003, 11:54 PM

So what's the projected release date for this miracle? Buying a burner and chips would be a huge waste of money since this thing would be so easy...

Ken73 · 09-11-2003, 06:15 AM

We're trying to work all the bugs out before we release it. We've worked a bunch out, and gone through a major redesign already. I'm hoping to have a new prototype within a month? After it's tested and working, we'll be working on producing them.

iansane · 09-11-2003, 03:00 PM

Thought about letting people preorder?

87Formula391S/C · 09-11-2003, 03:09 PM

knows he'll be ordering two ...... LOL:hail:

TPl383 · 09-12-2003, 04:13 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by iansane
Thought about letting people preorder?

my thought exactally.... Id pre-pay to get in line.

Im keeping my eyes on this one..... and saving both pages befor this thred disapiers like the c4 and c5 brakes 2 did.

iceman02 · 09-14-2003, 10:14 PM

Sounds bad*ss! I'll be keeping tabs on this thread and checking it every several days, too! I need to start programming soon and this looks really promising to a newbie like me.

Ken73 · 09-15-2003, 11:55 PM

Let us get through the prototyping stage of the new version, and we'll consider taking pre-orders. The new version is smaller, and will also be the "Pro" version everyone's been asking for. (Tune-on-the-fly.) We'll still be offering the "standard" version for a lower cost, however.

We just want to test it repeatedly before we release it.

chevy8ford · 09-16-2003, 12:22 AM

awesome, can't wait guys keep up the good work thousands of camaros and firebirds eagerly await your finished product...no pressure

scorp508 · 09-17-2003, 01:44 PM

Forgive me if I missed this, but is this compatible with Tunercat Realtime edition?

Ken73 · 09-17-2003, 09:12 PM

Scorp, we're still building the prototype, so once we get that built and working, we'll probably talk to TunerCat about supporting it.

I'm not sure how the Romulator works, but with our system you'll make your changes, then have a seperate "save/upload" button to send the changes to the Prominator. You'll be able to do this while driving, at least with the Pro version you will.

scorp508 · 09-17-2003, 09:41 PM

Ken, to the best of my knowledge that is how the romulator also works. You can make the changes while driving. I'll be watching this.

resinlake · 09-20-2003, 09:49 PM

*wets his pants* ok first I saw... doing 4th gen interior dash in a third gen, so now I wont do a fabbed fiberglass dash afterall, and and.... now this??? ahh! *wets his pants* ok man... tune on the go? I thought I was dreamn, and you must both be sandmen right?? guess Ill get use for this laptop afterall... so its just, plug her in, run the program, upload the bin to the chip through your setup, unplug from notebook, and badaboom, Ive got my tuned car. I like I like, or I can do realtime tuning while the cars on, ever nicer, I'll go that route more expensive, but better to do it right the first time, count me in guys, you rock!, let me know when you are finished pleeease. Your awesome, my project is starting really really soon, 85 camaro, 26,000 original miles, yepp, this would be a nice add on!

kevinz85 · 09-23-2003, 09:19 PM

I am way new to this but would this better for the beginer?Will this work for th 16198262? :hail:

Colt · 09-25-2003, 01:05 PM

This is very interesting.

Hey guys, take it easy on all the questions. Let them do all the prototyping. And when the project is just about finished then fire away with all the questions. But, I'm sure by that point they will have some sort of FAQ sheet make up already.

resinlake · 09-25-2003, 10:08 PM

Ive noticed that some of these questions have helped them think out some options though and improve on their awesome, awesome, *** given talent that has inspired them to.... change editing as we know it

:hail:

:lala:

Colt · 09-25-2003, 10:23 PM

Resinlake, that's a good point.

MrBill · 09-25-2003, 11:50 PM

The thought is appreciated Colt, but resinlake is right. Much of the redesign is based on feeback from asking questions. I certainly don't mind answering what I can when I can, and I know Ken doesn't either.

resinlake...I wish the knowledge was ***given. Not until about 6 years of night classes to earn a BS in engineering (which I only finished a few months ago!) and the past 10 years learning the hard way (letting the smoke out on the job) have I been able to do this kind of stuff. It was a very long hard road (not to mention expensive!), but well worth it. Anyway, thanks for the compliment.

Kevin, unfortunately I am not as intimately familiar with a lot of different ECM models as others, but it should fit just fine in most any C3 or P4 ECM that uses an EPROM anywhere between 16K and 4M. Maybe Craig (or another) could answer whether it will fit better than I.

Bill

Coqpit · 09-28-2003, 09:38 PM

This is one of the best ideas I have seen for the third gen f-body. I can't wait to get my hands on one

One thing I suggest is to try and get a patent on this product so some big company (or anyone for that matter) won't dupe it and charge triple for it. Keep up the creative thinking guys

Dave

vexter · 09-29-2003, 03:05 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Coqpit
This is one of the best ideas I have seen for the third gen f-body. I can't wait to get my hands on one One thing I suggest is to try and get a patent on this product so some big company (or anyone for that matter) won't dupe it and charge triple for it. Keep up the creative thinking guys

Dave

The patent process is long and costly. Going that route could well force these guys to charge triple for it... at least until they recouped their $$$. Also, if these guys are charging $250 for the Prominator Pro, it doesn't make sense for someone else to produce it and charge $750. Who would you buy yours from?

I do agree that this is going to be a godsend for thirdgen enthusiasts.

va454ss · 09-29-2003, 04:06 AM

I'm interested in this for the 16147060 PCM.

Will it eventually be available for this app?

I'm holding off getting any tuning equipment to see how this works or even if it will work in my app.

lavamadness · 09-29-2003, 07:12 PM

If I'm not mistaken.. with the Romulator, you can change stuff on the fly, but they recommend that when you're done you burn a proper chip and put that in. Is this going to be the case with the PROMinator? Or can you just set it up once and leave it?

Ken73 · 09-29-2003, 09:07 PM

Actually we *have* looked into patents, and we probably will at least get a "patent pending" status on it. It doesn't cost a lot to do that, and it won't be a cost we'd have to pass off to our customers.

As for the 16147060 PCM, what EPROM/EEPROM does it use? As long as it uses a PROM/EPROM/EEPROM, the Prominator should be able to replace it.

The Prominator differs from the Romulator in that the Prominator *is a permanent replacement* - you do not need to purchase a chip burner, nor chips, nor an eraser. The Prominator totally eliminates the need for any of that equipment. Buy one, solder it in place, program it, then forget about it. The idea was to bring the total investment of PROM burning down, AND to introduce in-car tuning as well; all in one package.

lavamadness · 09-29-2003, 09:17 PM

That's what I had thought, but the alternative popped into my head and wanted know for sure.

Like va454ss, I'm holding off on buying prom equipment to see how this pans out.

Will it be possible to do the bank switching like Craig Moates has on his site? I like the idea of being able ot just turn a dial and get a performance tune, economy tune, emissions tune, valet tune, etc etc.

iroctpis · 09-29-2003, 09:43 PM

im ready to buy a pro version when you are!

va454ss · 09-30-2003, 02:16 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Ken73

As for the 16147060 PCM, what EPROM/EEPROM does it use? As long as it uses a PROM/EPROM/EEPROM, the Prominator should be able to replace it.

27C256

jfreeman74 · 10-01-2003, 10:42 PM

So, once again.... When is this going to be for sale?

MrBill · 10-01-2003, 11:34 PM

Quote:

Will it be possible to do the bank switching like Craig Moates has on his site? I like the idea of being able ot just turn a dial and get a performance tune, economy tune, emissions tune, valet tune, etc etc.

Yes, you will be able to store and select from multiple BIN images (that's not what I call bank-switching though). This will be selectable via software instead of a knob or switch.

va454ss: yes it will directly replace a 27C256

Some problems with PCB fab pushed us back a bit, but I'm spending every spare minute I can scrounge on finishing up the logic and software development.

It's gettin' close...I can feel it.

I'm somewhat motivated too...my Vette still has a stock ECM in it...and that just won't do!

Colt · 10-01-2003, 11:52 PM

Good things take time.

Tom

Teeleton · 10-01-2003, 11:58 PM

:hail:

I'd heard rumor that this was in the works, but I had no idea it was so close to production! And righ