I guess this is my admittance to ignorance when it comes to the computer in my car and EFI tuning...

Is anyone in the area capable of burning PROMs and editing their own tune with any success? If so, would that individaul be willing to share their knowledge and expertise on the subject?

I would like to learn how to burn my own chips, edit the tune, and understand what the changes are doing in relation to engine operation and performance. I would also need an introduction to the equipment needed and where to find such toys in the local area...

My 87 TA had a transplant before I left Alaska and runs fairly well, but definately not anywhere where it should given the mods and engine installed. Engine still knocks under heavy accelleration, and the computer keeps pulling out timing to compensate. I would prefer not to have to keep making trips down to Cincinatti in vain attempts to have a shop down there make unsucessful burns with the promise of "we'll get it right next time you bring it back".

If anyone is willing to undertake such a burden it would be greatly appreciated to help this novice understand what the hell he needs to do to make it run right! Please drop me a PM or post here if ya'll can help or point me in a direction, I would sincerely appreciate it. Thanks in advance!

Tye

 

Heres a hint :-)

On the Prom board here, look at the mod there :-) lol

Anyhows as we tell all the newbies, start reading the long long sticky called "Tuning Guide" at the top. Once your done reading that, read it again :-)

Its alot to learn, but nothing impossible with a little thought and time into it. Also, if your not mechanically apt now, leanr the basics of the hows and why an engine works, once u understand that go read the "Guide" again.

Not saying it to be insulting, just dont know what your skills are. It serioulsy helps to have a true understanding of gearing/fuel/spark/weight/cam/compression before learning about tuning. It helps you out immensely when you understand how it works.

I have been trying to get some of the other NW IN/Chicago guys together for a sort of mini tuning pow wow, but we never get an real interest.

There would now be myself, you, dave, mike and Jim if we all could get a date setup to talk about things and do some demonstrations.

I dont know what you have as far as equipment yet, but I would recommend using TunerCat and getting yourself some blank chips and a burner. The emulator stuff is nice but you learn it better doing one thing at a time and dont miss things as easily.

later
Jeremy

 

No insults taken Jeremy, just to fill you in so you know - I built and installed the engine from the block up, chose the cam, piston heads, injectors, converter, did the math for the compression, etc. I also built my 81's 350 l98 with the LT1 intake and commander 950 ecm. It's not that I am mechanicly challenged, I am EFI challenged.... The only thing I lack for tools is a lift in my garage.

I have read your post and realized that you are the moderator there as well, hence the subtle hint on this board... If I can learn how this all works it may help me get the 81 up and running as well as I am having problems with the holley commander 950 software. I am not an electrical engineer, computer programmer, nor am I a math professor. I have limited paticence with "professional shops" who dont know their elbow from their *** hole. I have limited time and limited patience with myself when I screw up something repeatedly. I don't understand injector PW, MAP tables, spark tables & curves, the difference between .$8, .32, .32B, .42D and all that other jazz, and some of the other little details involved with EFI. I get the idea and principal, just not the application or the end result when certian parameters are changed.

I have 2 newer laptops capable of tuning, and spare PROMS. I need to know what emulator I need, cables, patches, software, ALDL connectors, etc. for MY application - not a generic one. I don't want to wase valuable time, effort, energy, and money testing through trial and error if there is someone I may have the ability to learn from, who is gracious enough to impart and share their knowledge. Thus, enabling me to program this thing right, rather than to part the SOB out due to sheer frustration. (my wife would like nothing more than to get these cars out of the garage)

I can set it all up and get it running, just not the fine tuning... Think Framer vs Finish Carpenter. Tuning takes skill, practice, patience, and experience. I would like to learn how this is accomplished and grow into the patience part when I know what I am doing without ruining my equipment or my toys. I have done enough of this in my life. (can you envision improper crank gear alignment with your timing set?)

I realize you probably get a lot of inquiries about tuning. I realize they may be stupid questions. Have some patience with folks, give them a chance to explain without assuming they are a overprivledged 16 year old with a hacksaw, leadfoot, and a wad of 100's burning a hole in their back pocket. You never know, folks who have questions and seek advice may very well be 30's with a family, **** enough to want to do it right in as few tries as possible, your neighbor, or they may clear you or your family's airplane for takeoff when they are not playing with their cars in the garage.

I don't have time to experiment. I want my car to be a daily driver. I want to do it right. I have, or can procure the needed equipment. I need advice, explination, and a walk through if you are kind enough to lend it. I'll supply the beer and gas, and will happily do all that I can for someone who is willing to do show some courtsey and spend a little time imparting their knowledge with those less educated.

Hope this clarifies my mechanical aptitude, background and experience a bit. Thanks for your reply!


Tye

 

Hey if you guys do get together for a prom burning pow wow, I would also be interested.

 

I'm up for a tuning semminar anytime, anywhere - I'll call in sick to attend if I have to! Set it up 3.8TransAm!

 

I am 100% there if we do it after I get back in begining of may. hey maybe we can do something at thirdgen fest like a tunning class. any thoughts?

 

lol

Tuning class might be a bit presumptive :-)

I know what I'm doing well enough, enough to teach others in a magic class, I dont think so lol. I'm pretty confident I can explain all the basics and what you would need and how to approach spark and fuel tuning, but the best end result for every car is to get it setup and find out what your exact combo likes.

But,

Does anyone here have some space, whether it be home or garage, that we could use and be free to camp out for a day?

I've tried getting a little something together before, but if we have more than like 5-6 people I'm not gonna have any real place to put them easily.

I would rather try something other than at ThirdGen Fest just so we can have our group and everyone can get their questions in and answered without having an extra 20 people around. Trust me, you put a lot of serious or people serioulsy interested in tuning in the same place and you get 5 different simulataneous conversations lol

I've never been a huge fan of the aftermarket stuff. I will admit its easier to setup and tune, if you consider that good enough. The factory stuff still destroys the aftermarket in features(unless u include NOS support, but if u learn code u can do that to). Besides learnign and picking apart the factory stuff can save u thousands of dollars rather than converting to aftermarket stuff.

Well,

Lets get something going here. I would heavily favor doing this and only including folks who tune or are serioulys interested in it(its not fun with 5 conversations going on,kinda why i would shy away from anything at thirdgen fest other than some lite demonstrations). I know of about 6 of us now on the board, so when can we all get together?

We need to figure out a when and a where?

If we get some ideas here I'll give it its own post and we can work it out from there.

I've long been trying to get kind of a round robin monthly or bi monthly group for tuners going here. (I have issues to and its nice to talk to others to see what they have done and tired on similiar issues)

We can do something this month, next mth or both, so if u miss one, u will have another oppurtunity to.

Also for those new to tuning, the "Tuning Guide" sticky that Rauscher and I have built on the PROM board is an awesome intor point with explanations of all the available software and existant tuning tools.

later
Jeremy

 

hey jer... if it ever gets warm ill gonna try and having something at my house again... prob a bbq type thing... could also user a few extra hands when i do my swap for 305tbi to 350tpi speed density.... . but if you want to do some prom stuff that would be ok with me... i know i would be intrested.. i mean i know some basics but would like some more insite into things myself...

i am thinkin towards the end of may or so ... once i get my engine paid for and get all of my parts within a few weeks im gonna sit down and get a date together....

just thought i would put the offer out there for ya...

 

I would happily host a get together at my home in Bolingbrook. It's not too hard to find, right off of Weber and I55. No one would have to go through the tolls or too far into Chicago and fight the traffic. Pretty accessable from the tristate 294, I80 & I88. Really easy to find my place once you are on I55, literally exit on Weber and go 3 stoplights north. I have a 2 car garage and plenty of parking along the street in the residental neighborhood. As long as we aren't doing burnouts or running open headers at midnight should be no problem. Perhaps next weekend if anyone is interested for those who can make the trip. Unfortuneately, after that I go on a shift rotation at work with mid week days off and my next opportunity for a weekend powwow would be in mid May.

I've plenty of space and tools, plus we can make use of the garage. Let me know what ya'll think - should be adequate for a small group of no more than probably 8+/- one or two.

 

I get home to the US in 2 months and I would love to go to the PROM with u guys :P . Count me in if it ever goes on (if it hasnt already).

 

I am interested. I don't have a clue how to burn but I am willing to learn and want my car to run better so if someone wants a car to experiment on I am your guy. Also have laptop with plenty of firepower.

 

A little late! this post was back in april Anyways... looks like it died. I should have my car up and running by the end of june so who is SERIOUS for July? I sure as hell am if my car is running.

 

Hey april wasnt that long ago, especially on the regional boards . Anyway I'll be back in Wisonsin on like August 10th or so and need a few days to recover from the jet lag... then another week to install all my new parts that will be waiting for me at my parents house. I'm planning to buy a programmer and stuff from craig on these forums so I'll be ready to muck around with my chip.

 

It never dies, yet nothing ever comes from it.

With me starting piepfitters apprenticeship next week, my sat for the next 6 mths are for the most part bye bye.

If I get some advance knowledge of what sat. I wont have school(hoping to next week) we can try and plan something. It would be that, or it would have to be a sunday instead.

Guess we could have it at my place. I'm broke, but if everyone wants to pitch in 5-10$ we could grill out and the like.

It would have to be pretty much if your here for tuning come, otherwise stay away, distractions will make us waste time.

I'll try and find out what I can do as soon as I can.

later
Jeremy