Hi,

I'm going to make an attempt at modifying my own chip and just want to make sure I'm on the right track.

I have a pre-87 MAF system. I'm assuming that I'm using a 165 ECM and code. My engine is somewhat modified, so to get it running the last few months I had a chip burned for me while I moved around. I need to richen the fuel map and give it more 'pump shot' as well.

I'm pretty sure the modified memcal was reprogrammed onto the stock GM chip.

From my readings and understanding, in order to rip the bin from the current chip and program new chips I'll need the following equipment from moates.net:

Burn1: For programming chips
C1 Atmel AT29C256 Chip: I'll get a couple of these to swap around.
HDR1: For reading the stock chip with modifed memcal

And of course a copy of tuner pro to modify the bin once I get it downloaded. I'll also need an ecm definition file. Which one do I need? Is there *anything* else that I'll need? Anything at all?

I'm currently in the Nor Cal Bay area if anybody can lend some hands on experience.

Thanks,

-HD

 

I would not assume anything. Here is a good article on DIY PROM (it's 1 MB, so give it some time to load). The chart on the second page has a good breakdown of ECM and masks by year. And of course, the ECU definition is mask specific. If it is a 165, you may have a $6E mask which is listed as 89'; whereas 87'- 88' and 86' have two different masks. So it could be one of three.

You will also need an adapter to piggy-back with your original MEMCAL. I used Moates' GP1 for the convenience of the little lever that makes removing flash chips easier. But it will not let you close the lid, so permanently you can use a G1 (or just get the G1 to begin with). The GP1 comes with two 27SF512 chips.

Here it is installed in my 7727 ECM:



If you want to datalog, you will also need an CABL1 and ALDU1 USB converter.

Good luck, Ed.

 

If you get the GP1 like I did, remember it comes with two 27SF512 flash chips. These chips hold 64Kb, and your 7165 bin is only 16Kb. Therefore, the 27SF512 chip will hold four of your 7165 bins (whichever mask you have).

Knowing this, when you save the new bin, you must specify the start address, otherwise the data will not be saved in the correct location. I learned this the hard way

Here is the quote from Moates' site regarding 27SF512 chips:
"Works fine with 1227165, 1227730, and other similar ECMs. If your car normally takes a 27C128, 27C256, or 27C512, these should work for you. Just adjust the 'Start of Device' value when programming. (For 27C128 original, set to C000 hex. For 27C256 original, set to 8000 hex.)"

Also, when you read your existing MEMCAL with the HDR1, be sure to specify a 27C128 (read only) so that it will save the bin as 16Kb on your hard drive.

Good luck, Ed

 

Dude, if you can front $175 I would forget the burner and chips and go with a Moetes Ostrich. Tune in real time while sitting in the car instead of swapping chips every ten minutes.

 

I thought about getting an emulator of some kind, but I still need the equipment to extract the modified bin from the stock memcal so I have a decent starting point.

I didn't know I needed a piggyback adapter though, I thought these eeprom chips would replace the stock one in the original socket.

So before I place my order, I need this equipment, correct?

Burn1
G1 adapter
HDR1
AT29C256 chips.

I'm already datalogging through aldl with a serial cable and winaldl, so I won't have to get the usb converters.

Anything else?

Why does the new chip need to piggyback the stock chip? Why can't it be installed in the original socket?

-HD

 

If you have not already done so, read the article I linked above. Click here for a higher resolution copy. It is 3MB, so give it some time to load.

Your new flash chips will not just pop in place of the original EPROM located on the MEMCAL. The MEMCAL has other vital functions and the "piggy-back" adapter allows the new chip to bypass the original EPROM, yet retain the other stuff.

Click on the thumbnails to enlarge:


In the second picture above, you can see the original EPROM in the MEMCAL (brown chip). If you look closely in the fourth picture, you can see the original MEMCAL (without the blue cover) slipped in horizontal inside the ECM. The piggy-back adapter (G1 or GP1) simply pops in place of the original MEMCAL.

Your hardware list looks correct. If you have any doubts, send an inquiry at www.moates.net . Craig is very good about timely responses.

Good luck, Ed

 

As for the question about "piggyback adapter". You need one so that you can pull a chip with the switch of a little lever. If you want to wedge it out with a screwdriver everytime, your asking for trouble.

 

wow, I didn't know chevy Hipo did an article on DIY prom tuning. Decent article for a magazine guy writing it.