O.K., I'm pretty sure I have a handle on setting flags and the other easy stuff when burning (similar to OBD-II in those respects that I already have some experience in). My question is:

Where should I start on tuning for the longer duration cam and a few other light induction mods I've got installed? Is there such a thing as VE tables (volumetric efficiency) in these things? Or should I start on the MAF tables? Is there a table to modify the injector pulse width directly against load calculations? I'm just having trouble getting all of the programming accronyms down since hardly any of it seems to be the same as what I've learned on OBD-II Ford stuff...

I'm going to get my feet wet this weekend and would like a place to start. Wish me luck!

 

Digger, you have more problems here than you can poke a burnt stick at

You are not getting answers because you haven't got a handle on how your EFI parameters are structured yet. This is every newbie's problem and we can all sympathise. You shouldn't "start on the MAF tables" or anything else until you've got a little idea at least of what is likely to happen when you change something.

I'd suggest that you start by locating the correct ECU or TDF file for your BIN (depending on what editor you're using) and looking for the location of the tables in there. Then ask some more questions after you've looked yourself to see whether "there such a thing as VE tables (volumetric efficiency) in these things".

John

 

That's just it, when I open the programmer up, there's all kinds of information that would mean something to someone who had done some programming with these types of ECU's before. Not only is the Ford vs. GM terminology different, but I've only worked on Ford OBD-II stuff before through TwEECer and the like... Many functions are the same, i.e changing the MAF transfer function rate, the injector pulse width, or turning on/off flags or static values...

The question about VE tables pertains directly to the cam that I've got in the car. The longer duration changes the VE of the engine in low revs enough that it's easier to start there with a blanket statement about the engine before fooling with MAF or fuel tables... The same work can be done through the VE tables with only a few changes as you could do in the MAF or fuel trim tables, but the entire MAF or fuel table would have to be rebuilt in order to reflect those same changes.

Is there any one place that you can find the acronyms for these series ECM's? For instance, searching for "BLM" brings up tons of information... if you know what a BLM is in the first place...

I know how to tune a carbed engine, I know how to tune an OBD-II Ford engine... The terminology is holding me back from tuning this TPI engine and I've done nothing but search since day one...

 

Brad, you are in that "funny phaze" where you do have knowledge but having to learn the "buzzwords". In some respects, it would be easier if you "forgot" all the other things you've learnt for a while.

I will assumbe you read the "intro article" https://www.thirdgen.org/newdesign/tech/promintro.shtml

The next recommendation is to start reading many of the "older posts" from two years ago starting with the oldest. Given your previous knowledge, you should be able to skim through it very quickly.

Lastly, the ECMs used on 3rd Gen F-bodies were either MAF or SD (VE Tables) - not until the 4th Gens did GM use BOTH MAF & SD.

So there are no VE tables with MAF cars, and only VE tables for SD cars. You car is a MAF car with a $32 calibration. There use to be very little info on that calibration, but there is a lot more today.

Even as early as last year, most guys would have recommended dumping the $32 calibration and switching to the $6E calibration due to the knowledge of the $6E. It's a very easy conversion.

But now, wiith more knowledge of the $32, this is not necessary, though a some guys still prefer the $6E. I say, try both and determine which you prefer better.

 

Ben Watson wrote a pretty good book on tuning and modifing TPI engines/systems. In his book he covers quite a bit of the Jargon and such. Also he has some good pictures of scans done with Diacom and explains some of what is being shown in those pictures. A really good book for someone who knows cars but might be new to TPI.

 

Thanks guys.

I didn't get very far this weekend due to the high winds we had making it a pure joy to work on cars. At least I got a few .bin files to start with before I have to mess with pulling the 'puter out of the car. Hopefully I'll get time to throw the first burn in sometime this week to make sure my burner/OS feel good together, let alone be able to actually tune the car.