I'm a carb guy. My car was a stock LG4 with a 4bbl q-jet. I have made many modifications to it and now I think my timing curve is holding me back. I'm definately more of a mechanical guy, but I have written some software during the course of getting my engineering degree. My question is what equipment do I need to get started burning my own prom? I know that the impact of the computer on how my car runs is pretty limited. Will burning prom even be advantagous to me? I know that a chip is the only way to change my timing curve without getting rid of my computer controlled dizzy and carb. Any info you guys have as well as links to tools needed would be awesome. Thanks in advance Alright, so I read the sticky which I should have done in the first place. I couldn't find the pocket programmer that TRAXION was referring to. $150 sounds like a fair price to me, but the other programmers were more expensive than that. Is there anything on the market for that price anymore? I guess the most important question is "Can I program the prom from a carbed car?"

Anyone?

Head up to the tuning guide book sticky, chapter 5, CCC systems. There is a bunch of info on these ECMs. Will need a special adapter to use an EPROM in place of the stock PROM. The pinouts are different.

Also, look into what is available for EPROMs before purchasing a programmer. Most stuff today is flash based PROMs.

Yes, you can tune a carb'd ECM. Mostly spark advance and TCC lockup (if so equipped). Look at the ZZ4 CCC calibrations that have been posted for a better spark curve.

RBob.

RBob, thanks for the response. As far as the technology goes for the ECM in my car, I'm completely ignorant. I will ccheck out the sticky and then post back with any questions.

Thanks again
Nate

Alright, after reading all of that, I'm pretty well aware of how computer retarded I am. I guess it's time to really buckle down and learn this stuff. I'm pretty sure that I know how to make a cable to read my PROM from my ALDL outlet, except I don't think I have a laptop that is old enough to hook up to the cable. I downloaded the software that should decode the data from the ALDL. Beyond that, it seems like black magic to me at this point.

How do I get at the chip? What chips do I need? How do I get the chip out of my ECM? Once I get a chip to mess with and some software to read and write on, I will go from there I guess. Is there some light PROM for dummies type reading somewhere that can get me used to the language and give me some ideas what I'm getting into? I gotta tell you guys I'm feeling pretty confused after reading all this info. Thanks for any help you can offer. I'm gonna force myself to learn this stuff. Again, no info is below my current understanding, so offer up what you have.

Thanks'
Nate

hey im new to all of this(tuning) right along with you, only im working with a TBI

im completely ignorant to the LG4 computer, but if its anything like the L03's then once you get it out from under the dash there is a cover you can take off and your chip will be socketed to the daughter board

some advice from me would be just read, re read, and re read again every sticky at the top of this diy board, also check out Moates.net for your starting equipment(he has a device that lets you use an ALDL with newer laptops)

Moates also has a good support section on each product, and he will gladly answer any questions you have either on this board or through email

i decided to buy used burning equipment(Pocket programmer 2, and an older usb moates cable), moates products are a great place for beginners to start(or stay, as i like the chips and whatnot) before moving on to something that compares to the EBL(i think the ebl is just for TBI?)

anyways hope you get use to all of this, and the veteran tuners will help us all out like they have helped others

RBob, After reading the stickies I have realized that you have messed with these LG4 Computers and PROMs in the past. I'm still really fuzzy about what is different between my computer stuff and the efi stuff. Can I use the same equipment as far as programmers and chips as the efi guys? Can I use moates' ALDL to usb cables and conversion boxs? I guess what I'm really asking is how much of the information presented in the stickies is directly applicable to my situation? Thanks for the help.