Sometimes you read something that strikes home. I think from time to time I will quote what an individual here has said. I am going to start off with Grumpy ....

The above statement couldn't be more true. Learning how to program your own PROMs will save you money and frustration. It only takes about $200 to start programming your own PROMs. Why pay $300 for a custom PROM? Just dive in and invest time in learning, experimenting, and playing around. You will be much much much more satisfied in the long run. Keep one thing in mind ....

A custom PROM is not a custom PROM unless the programmer worked on YOUR car do derive the BIN.

Also keep in mind that if you learn to do it yourself then YOU can make future changes yourself with almost ZERO downtime, ZERO cash outlay, and you KNOW it will work the way that you want it to.

Tim


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TRAXION's 1990 IROC-Z
Best Time = 12.244 @ 112.51mph (1.778 60' / 7.819@88.32mph in the 1/8)
All Natural. No Force. No Drugs. Stock Bottom End. Stock Body Panels.
Gunning for NA 11's after installing Hooker LT Headers and reducing weight.
-=ICON Motorsports=-
Moderator: PROM board at thirdgen.org

 

Welllllllllllllll. HOW DO YOU DO IT??? i am interested in learning. HOW DO YOU LEARN. you and many others all say the best way to do it is to do it yourself. tell me how!
please

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Rick
90 Camaro RS 305 TBI
400 on the way!!

 

Traxion, I have read your article several times on PROM programming part 1. I am starting to think I should try it but in your article you mention that TBI computers
only monitor 4 functions while TPI computers
monitor something like 20.(assuming I got that right) Well, I gotta ask,
will I be limited by my TBI 8746 ECM when it comes to doing my own chips? I wonder if its worth it to spend the time and money to do my own chip if I will be severly limited by my ECM? What do you think??
Thanks.....bob


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91 camaro RS convert
t-5
open element air cleaner
TBI spacer
Flowmaster muffler
3.42 Torsen posi

 

rs, im not trax but, no you arent really at a disadvantage. THe only disadvantage is in the ALDL frame rate to your laptop if you have one. I dont own a laptop and ive been doing chips with just hand held tools to tell me how im doing. I actually think everyone should try it you get a real good feel for it after awhile that you would have never gotten using a laptop (and im sure people will disagree)
You might want to swap to a 7747 ecm however, thats the truck tbi and its been hacked to peices. As for monitoring only 4 functions im not sure what you mean but if you mean what is displayed in the aldl diagnostic link, there is far more than 4 things.
if you have your heart set on the neat data features of the later model ecms, then just be patient. There are some people working on a type of scan tool for release later this year for the 7747 that plugs right into your ecm and blows the ALDL away in every way


Pablo

 

Black Beauty:
Have you read the introduction to PROM programming in the Tech Article section?

rsilver:
Curious .... I believe that you misinterpreted the article. From the article...

This means that the TBI computer will display only 4 data points. I am not indicating that the TBI computer will only display 4 functions. The TBI computer will display MANY functions but will do it at a slower rate as compared to the 8192 baud 165/730 ECMs.

Tim

------------------
TRAXION's 1990 IROC-Z
Best Time = 12.244 @ 112.51mph (1.778 60' / 7.819@88.32mph in the 1/8)
All Natural. No Force. No Drugs. Stock Bottom End. Stock Body Panels.
Gunning for NA 11's after installing Hooker LT Headers and reducing weight.
-=ICON Motorsports=-
Moderator: PROM board at thirdgen.org

 

Pablo,

Can this mystical scan tool you are speaking of that plugs into a 7747 ecm be used as an emulator??? I believe that emulators would save so much time and money spent for us. I have yet to start programming yet but I am understanding more and more. And from what I understant emulators are the way to go. Do you happen to know of anyone who may have a schematic avaiable??? That would be really nice.

thanks,
Lars

 

THats a possible option for it I heard, but doesnt currently have the capability. The thing plugs right into the ecm internally if you look in there youll see an edge like what your sound blaster card has to go into your motherboard.
So, from what i heard, an emulator feature has been discussed but I dont know if they are working on it or not, and like i said I heard all the plans, etc would be released in december and I imagine that if an emulator function was to be added that would be some time after

 

Try reading tuning tips at the FTP DIY_EFI
You can only write about so much of it, you have to just do it. Start slowly and just tinker with things a little.
Just getting in there and seeing what the various functions do and how the ecm responds, ie chang ethe VE 2-5% and see what the BLs do.
Emulators are way over most folks heads cause they are too easy to use. To do tuning right means taking notes, and DOCUMENTING trends, then you can grasp what the engine is telling you. I've seen exactly one emulator that is good for gmecms and it's not released yet, and it will be a while yet.
EFI is no more difficult then CORRECTLY reading plugs. It takes years to get clear on the finer points. And this is if you do alot of them, as in work at a garage or better yet where there is a dyno, and get t work in the booth. Was a time I could tell you the brand of gas from the plugs, read enough and you recognize the hues and tints from additive packages.
To be really effective with EFI means just being disciplined...

 

pablo and traxion, thanks for your input.
its a big help, but of course I got a few more questions.
pablo, what is the advantage to swapping to the 7747 ecm? the fact that it has been "hacked to pieces" how does that help?

traxion, thanks for clearing that up. I will read it again and am headed to FTP DIY_EFI
to see if I can learn more.....bob




------------------
91 camaro RS convert
t-5
open element air cleaner
TBI spacer
Flowmaster muffler
3.42 Torsen posi