after playing around with my car this summer i thought i would give some chip tuning a whirl to the old winter beater. which is a 1991 4.3L astro, but i found out once i located the ecm it was a 16144288 with a 24 pin type chip and a memcal perminatly conected to the board. also was unable to locate a ecu file anywhere to even edit this chip and burn one

the question is can i replace this ecm with something else that is compatible.....mainly something with a 28 pin socket as i am using moates adapter and i am currently set up to use the flash proms.

what pin mods to the wireing harness would have to be done if there was a doner ecm that i could use?

 

That PCM uses the $A0 binary. We currently have 11 $A0 binaries available for download on the GMPCM website (see sig).
It is unlikely that you will find a winbin .ecu file for that application. Ecu file are not numerous, and they are typically incomplete and very inaccurate. They can, however, make a good starting point in the creation of a .pcm file.
If you would like an A0.pcm file, please contact me directly.

A good replacement PCM may be the 1227747 with the $42 binary. Not sure how involved the harness changes might be.

 

what is the difference between a ecm and a pcm file??

 

A PCM file uses a very advanced format. For example, it allows many thousands of items to be defined, notes for each item, real descriptions for option flags, and a categorized item display. This format provides the capability to "completely" map the data area of the binary.
So, rather than having someone decide which areas you should have access to for your tuning needs due to the limitations of their software, you can have total access to all data areas.

The DF.pcm file developed for the 16149396 PCM's 3.4 DOHC V6 with its electronic 4T60-E trans is a good example of this. This definition contains over 1,000 items, yet you can still quickly and easily locate a single item of interest for your tuning needs.

You can develop you own PCM files for free using the GMPCM Evaluation Edition Software, and even import a winbin .ecu file as a starting point if you wish.
We also have specialized software that can translate a fully commented disassembly into the PCM file format.

If you wish to explore this further, there is a link to our website in my signature.

 

mechanic.... i have been to your website and i have to admitt that i get a little overwhelmed when it comes to puter lingo....in other words it took me over a year to get ahold of the basic understanding to just burn chips for my 165 ecm and then it took me about a month before i actually got decent burns so computer stuff is hard for me to grasp.... if someone had a tutorial for dummies that would be a good starting point. i see where the likes of some very knowledgeable people on this board talk about source code and stuff and the advantages that it can have but i have not the slightest clue and understanding of it. i have tried to understand what it is all about but i just get lost in the lingo... i have read several articles but the light bulb has just not gone off. anyways back ato the point....trying myself to create a pcm file would be like asking me to perform brain surgury.....

anyways i think since this is just my winter beater i will just leave it well enough alone but thanks for your help.

 

I haven't researched the exact details you would need, but I KNOW a 1227747 will work in it's place (done it before!) The only thing is, I don't know for sure if there's a bin that's close enough to get ya going out there.

The situation I used it in was an engine swap in a 93 K-1500 truck. Original engine was a 4.3 with the 16144288 and it was replaced by a 92 350 with a 1227747. No wiring was changed from the 4.3 harness (other than knock sensor to the opposite side) and it ran perfect.

Good luck!

Oh, I'm headed over to the GMPCM web site right now!

 

I can cofirm a 1227747 will swap right in with no harness changes, swapped a 747 from an astro into my 1500 truck with no problems.

 

The 42.pcm file was just released today, so if you use the 1227747 with the $42 mask, you will probably be happy to here this. The 42.pcm file has over 400 items defined, making it quite close at this point to what we rate as a "production" PCM file.
Our production pcm files are considered to be among the most complete and accurate works available in the world.

 

Mechanic.... is there any limitations with the Evaluation version? Is it only good for a limited time and then need to upgrade to full version?

 

The evaluation edition software package has a 60 day license agreement, after which you would simply download and install the newer version of the evaluation edition if you wish to continue evaluation for another 60 days, etc.

There is no limit or requirements to register the software, and many use the evaluation edition just for its definition development, comparison capabilites, etc. In addtion, the $A1.pcm file that is included with the evaluation package can be used for tuning purposes, with no registration required.

There are also programs and contests that we offer, to provide for those who would rather contribute to the GMPCM project effort in ways other than software registration. You can find more details on this in the announcement's section of the GMPCM website's discussion forum.

 

If one wanted to do some tuning on 1227747 with the 42.pcm file, does that require registration of the software?

 

PCM files other than the $A1 included with the evaluation edition require a registered version of the software in order to export modified binary code. A small contribution to the GMPCM project is all that is required to obtain a registered version of the software, and this can be accomplished quite easily through the many methods we offer, including the various programs and contests that promote participation in the GMPCM project and DIY community efforts.

 

www.tunercat.com has a TDF file for the $a0 binarys. so if you just want to get it and start tunning then tunercat has you covered.