I've read the stickies, but many of them end about 3 years ago. It is unclear what is currently available for purchase today.

I'd like to know what is the top choice for a flash based- tune on the car - leave in place solution among you guys.

I am ready to get started!

 

It would all depend on you application?? Pretty much everything that is on this site still seems to be available and easy to use. I have just got into tuning myself and I only started out simple with a Moates burn1 and chip adapter. I think that the osterich is my next move so that i can do in car programing. The ebl seems to be the choice for tbi stuff and tpi has a few good choices as well. Let us know what your running and what you want to do and Im sure someone will give you the right info. Just my thoughts, hope this helps

 

I've got a 1990 305 TPI 5speed Formula.

I'd like to tune the car initially to pass inspection without cats in TX, simply because I bought the car that way. It has a stock cam, 1.6 rockers, Tri-y headers, K&N intake, TPIS runners.

Next year I plan to drop in a 355, ported Al heads, CC305 cam and then tune for that.

 

I'd say not a WHOLE lot has changed, at least not for TPI guys like me. Lots of new stuff for all the OBDII folks out there I spose since 2003.

I'm still rockin' Moates G1 adapters & Tunercat like it was 199.. something.

The only thing I've changed is I'm using an Ostrich now, better than burning & swapping ROM's and I don't have to dig around for the ECU all the time.

 

Well I read through the forum last night.

And it looks like there are 4 competing platforms that allow tuning and then saving to a non-volatile memory.

Prominator, Ostrich, NVSRAM, and Autoprom.

The Autoprom allows to you to tune and then save to a flash chip which you then plug into the ECM is my understaning. The other 3 are tune and leave it solutions. Am I pretty much on target here?

I think Ostrich and Prominator are almost identical. Tune-save to flash-leave on the car. I like that.

 

im my opinion the Autoprom USB version is the best choice from the reading ive done. I bought it and after a few problems on my part i got it working perfectly. read chips/burn chips... ok cool. datalog through the autoprom to the computer using TunerproRT... ok cooler. emulate a chip using the autoprom and ribbon cable, making chages right then and there, while also still datalogging... sweeet . I really like TunerproRT and how well it works with the Autoprom.

but lets say you already have an ALDL cable and can already burn PROMs, the Ostrich would fill in the gap if you wanted to emulate.

 

You didn't state which injection system you are interested in. That can have an affect on what to use.

However, there is now a 5th option: the EBL Flash.

This is similar to the current EBL setup (now called the EBL Classic), in that it comes with the What's Up Display, cable, ECU/XDF files, and documentation.

The big difference: there is an on-board Flash chip for the calibration. It is updated via the What's Up Display with the same cable as used for data logging. A truely integrated operation. With 8 banks of flash the user can set up various calibrations and seamlessly switch between them.

And. . . There is a port conversion option available (inexpensive at that). This conversion sets the injector firing rate for a batch fire port system. For 6 or 8 cylinder use.

Currently used in the '92 the EBL Flash ECM is up under the dash, installed just like the general intended. Only one skinny cable is exiting from under the dash. This one cable is used for datalogging and re-flashing the BIN.

There isn't anything on the web site yet, but will be in the near future.

RBob.

 

So this EBL Flash with the port conversion option will be able to do a TPI car? If so that's a system I'd be interested in.

 

Yes, it will run a TPI setup. The port conversion has the injectors firing once per revolution. Along with the BIN having a port small PW offset table and async TPS AE.


You mentioned a TPI car, but not whether it is SD or MAF or a conversion. If currently a MAF setup with a '165 it will need to have a MAP sensor added and the MAF will not be used. Some re-pinning of the connectors will be required.

If the current ECM is a '7730 as a SD setup, the connectors will need to be re-pinned to match the EBL ECM. And, since the VSS buffer and knock filter is internal on the '7730, an external 4-out buffer and knock filter need to be wired in. This is easy to do and the parts are readily available.

If you are doing a conversion into another vehicle, then starting with a TBI harness can be the easiest. Just change the injector connector section out to 8 port style connectors. And everything else drops into place.

RBob.

 

Hey Bob

What's the ETA for EBL flash? I am still putting finishing touches on my SD 7747 based conversion and probably 2 weekends from firing it up.

//RF

 

I'm not sure why my sig isn't showing up, but I have a 1990 Formula TPI speed density 5spd T5.

So I'm guessing that's the 7730 ECM.

It seems that using the EBL system would require some mods to use on TPI. So I think I'd rather go plug-and-play with one of the first 4 I listed.

 

July 1st is the 'official' release date. However, it is currently available.

RBob.
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Understandable, not having to do wiring changes does make a difference. As it is a '90 you are correct with the ECM. And the $8D code is decent stuff. Solid and well hac'd.

RBob.

 

Bob's a bit of a modest guy, the EBL is MUCH MUCH more than just a emulator (ostrich, autoprom, prominator). The EBL uses Bob's own custom code that is very advanced and has several features that blow any stock ECM out of the water. In my personal opinion it puts a lot of the 1600$ aftermarket ecm's to shame.

Do some research on the EBL, it's well worth looking into.

 

i take it by no cats you mean empty cats, because there is a visual part to the test, they look to see if they are on the car, if not you fail.

you can tune to pass without cats on a stock or mild motor, it can be a bear sometimes if you don't have access to a 5 gas.
i don't know how wild you can get with a build before keeping it clean without cats becomes a problem.

to get your sig to show, when you make a new thread or make a reply, look in "Additional Options" & find "Miscellaneous Options" & check "Show your signature"
if its still not showing, you may need to reset it in your user control panel.