I am new to the EFI/TPI prom buring thing. I would like any information that anyone could give me that would be useful to me getting started (kinda jumping in with both feet and blind folded).

My project......67 Chevy Pickup w/ 1989 Iroc 5.7 (350ci) TPI motor (Speed PRO Cam - 222in 232ex @.050 and lift 484in 502ex w/comp cams roller rockers 1.52 and a 114 LSA). I have updated the wiring harness to a 90-92 Speed Density system and retrieved a computer 8262? (something like that).

I have purchased an Eprom Programmer "Pocket Programmer", Data Rase II, and soon a Emulator.

Question(s)......Now what? I have read some of the post over and over (including the post "new at this" posted below, and the others listed in that post), and looked at some of what I would be seeing on my computer screen. Okay, what do I do with it? How do I start making the mods to the programming on the Eprom?


Any help that can be offered would greatly be appreciated.

Thanks in advance



[This message has been edited by RDC (edited December 24, 2000).]

 

hmmmmmm. I think I have a .bin for that exact cam in a 383 with stock tuned port....I'll have a look...
-Carl

 

You have the hardware, but you didn't mention what Editor you have (or plan to have). An Editor allows you to change the .BIN file (TunerCat) without having to physically change the "Hex Code". There are a couple of Editors available, but after investigating, I chose Tuner Cat as being the easiest to work with.

You can get an evalution copy of Tuner Cat for 30 days at www.tunercat.com but it only works for the 747 ecm as they only give you the 42.tdf calibration file to play with. Also, you need a 747 BIN file for you to get the menus within TunerCat.

My suggestion is to just buy TunerCat (I think it is the best) and ask for the 6E.tdf (you get your choice of .tdf free when you purchase it). You have a 165 ecm and I believe that you need the 6E.tdf for TunerCat to work. There are BINs available for the 6E, or you can just read the EPROM (will need a $5.00 header to hook into the GM Memcal if you want to read directly into the Pocket Programmer).

TunerCat has a lot of nice features (if you take the time to read their HELP menu on how to Navigate/Use TunerCat). You get 2D and 3D graphs, and you can rotate the 3D graphs on any axis and make as large or small as you need. I find the graphs a great way to see something amiss...numbers in tables just don't stand out as clearly.

Also, you can edit a range/block of cells with tables by a variety of means..add/subract increments, by a factor...etc...In fact, you can click on a point on the graph and it will automatically adjust the table.

Lastly (and I love this one) you can compare two BINS and it will allow two views.. your base that you are comparing with.. and a compare view...showing all the differences between the two. I thought it was kind of slick when I realized how to work with it and manipulate.

I am also learning the actual hex code of the BINs as Tuner Cat can only modify those tables/constants that have been defined in the Tuner Cat calibration. Tuner Cat has a lot of the tables defined in my particular ecm's definition file (8D.TDF). But I am finding it doesn't have all...but then no one else does either. But it looks like TunerCat continuously upgrades their software as they become aware of things (or problems too).

I give TunerCat "2 thumbs up" as my Editor of preference. But there are other Editors that you may prefer (some free). Go to Traxion's Article and click on his links to the other Editors...but if you want to get the easiest ... get TunerCat... its $69.95.

And no, I do not receive a commission from Tuner Cat. I just think they have a great product.

 

I appreciate the response, and actually have been contemplating the Tuner Cat software. I was told though the 8D.tdf was the one I was supposed to use due to the change from 89 MAF setup to the 90-92 Speed Density setup w/V8 350ci (Clarification needed please).

Please keep the response coming as I will be spending long nights trying to figure / program with the new (to me) information that is received.

Thank you again.....

 

If you converted to Speed Density and swapped your ecm for the 730 (the SD computer than came in 90-92 SD F-bodies), then yes, you should get the 8d.tdf. There are public BINs available for the 8d.

 

Tunercat has been covered,, but the other option is GMEPro. It's about the same price, but you can run it on a old 386/486 which can be handy. I have an old 486/25 Black and white (insert word, cheap here), laptop that I run for Diacom, and various other scanners. So I can burn a chip on the road if I want. Only felt the need to do that a couple times, but I have the option. Also, can *look* at a chip in a remote area also.
So far there really aren't any really friendly, ie ecm specific emaulators that I know of. Hopefully that is to change soon.