Need help getting a laptop to connect with my EBL.
Evidently I need an older laptop in order to communicate with the EBL. Windows 8 doesn't seem to have the capability to slow the bit rate down to 8/bps or whatever, from what I can tell.
I've spent over $3000 at a local tuner trying to get the EBL tuned, but still don't have it quite right. Is there anyone in the Hartford area that can hook me up? I'll buy an old laptop, if I need to, and pay you for helping me get it hooked to my car and show me how to use the "what's up" display and some minor tuning stuff.
I just bought an L31 to replace my L03 and plan on putting a big cam in it with a Victor Jr intake (possibly the 2V). I'm currently running a Paxton 5-7 psi set up with Edelbrock headers and an SLP exhaust.
Really need to be able to dial back the timing for the L31 and REFUSE to deal with the local tuner I've used in the past. ECM tuning is the only thing I'm weak on when it comes to cars, even though I managed to load a program into my and my friends 94 LT1 wagons from PCMforless.
If I can't get this tuning stuff worked out I'll have to throw all the money I've spent down the drain and just go back to a carburetor.

 

The What's Up Display (WUD) runs on WIN8 with no comm issues. That laptop likely doesn't have a serial port, so it requires the use of an FTDI chip based USB to Serial adapter cable.

Note that the L31 engine is going to require higher spark timing then the L03 engine. There is a calibration included with the EBL that has the GM truck L31 SA tables in it.

If the MAP sensor hasn't been changed out for a 2-bar unit, it should be. This way the EBL Flash ECM is boost aware.

RBob.

 

I changed the MAP to a 2 Bar already.

I borrowed a buddy's cable last time, maybe that one didn't have an FTDI chip in it and that's why it didn't work?

I'll order the FTDI chip cable.

You're saying the L31 needs more spark advance than an L03?

 

> You're saying the L31 needs more spark advance than an L03?

Yes, the L03 heads are swirl port and require very low spark advance. Otherwise they ping like crazy.

RBob.

 

Here's what I found for an FTDI USB to Serial cable.

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_no...UART+interface

Where does the 6 pin blade connector attach? The EBL has a phone line coming out of it.

 

This is the one to get:

5Ft. USB 2.0 to Serial (9-pin) DB-9 RS-232 Adapter for Win 7/8, Mac, Redhat Linux, Android
by AYAGROUP

Product Features
... FTDI FT232R USB UART Chipset (Genuine FTDI IC ... serial interface ..

The phone cord from the EBL Flash ECM plugs into the supplied RJ11/DB9 adapter. The USB to serial cable plugs into the adapter and then int the laptop.

RBob.

 

Thanks, it's been ordered.

Now I have to find your adapter.........sorry for being so pathetic.

 

I had Win 8.1 on my laptop and it worked fine with my EBL / WUD...

 

I used an older laptop and never had any issues connecting to the EBL box. When I tried to use a newer computer with Windows 7, I had to slow the data transfer rate (?) way down and even then the connection was spotty. Went back to using the old laptop and no problems at all. I bought my serial USB adapter cable from Rbob.

 

Good info thanks. I was thinking about getting an old laptop just for tuning my car and possibly using it as my instrument panel permanently. I've deleted my dash, HVAC, etc so I need some way of keeping an eye on the vitals. Anyone done this? Like maybe mounting a tablet somewhere and using the WUD as your instruments instead of gauges?

 

The only tablets that will run the WUD are going to be true windows based tablets like the surface 3 that has a full install of windows 8. The ones running Android or windows 8 rt will not run it since the WUD is not designed for mobile use. Trust me, I've tried everything I can think of to get it to work on my android tablet and have had no success. I did write a thread for running the EBL software on mac and linux based computers though because I was successful at getting that to work. However, mobile devices are a bit different since they don't have the same kind of processor as a computer in most cases so they don't transfer data in the same way.

 

Hmm.........bummer. Maybe I'll find an old laptop and mount it to my firewall as the instrument panel. That should get some looks, haha.

 

If you drive it on the street you should check the local laws. Some states would actually charge you with distracted driving no matter what you're using it for. It sounds crazy but believe it or not I know of two cases where people have been given a ticket for distracted driving just for stopping at a drive thru to get a burger. Anything the cop could think is taking your attention from the road is enough for them to ticket with distracted driving. I would recommend putting a dash back in and using the laptop either on the passenger seat or passenger floorboard once you get the ve session started or to check data periodically. Still not the safest option if you're paying attention to it while driving but less obvious than having it mounted on the firewall or in some other manner. Ultimately it's your call and as cool as it would be I'd hate to see anyone get a ticket over something so stupid.

 

Crisis is over!! I'm connected!!

How do you close this thread?

 

Thanks for your concern about getting a ticket. Maybe if I separated the screen from the rest of the laptop? Is that even possible with the ribbon connection? Wait a minute, cops have laptops in their cars.

 

Yes it's possible to separate the screen from the laptop but really not worth it. It would cost a bit more than I would say necessary. As for cops having laptops, yes, yes they do. However, they're not SUPPOSED to use them while driving. It happens though and unfortunately since they have the badge they can puff out their chest if they so choose and say that they're different because they were trained. Trust me, I know from first hand that cops are the first ones to break the laws because they're the least likely to get in trouble. Just because they go 90mph in a 65mph zone doesn't mean you should. More than likely it would end up in an argument and take too much time arguing to prove your point. Better off avoiding the situation if you can.