Computer Controls-Simplified?
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 172
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Computer Controls-Simplified?
Can anyone help me to improve performace by giving me the skinny on the computer in my '85? I've got an '85, 406 c.i. S"Ram, 219 cam,AFR heads,headers, 4+3 trans., chip by Ski. What can I do (computerwise) to improve or tune for better 1/4 mile trips? I'm ignorant of the scanners,tuning devices, etc. that everyone talks about. Simply need to know if anything should be done "from where I'm currently at". Thanks in advance, Jack
Advanced
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 63
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From: Elgin Minnesota
datalog
Do some datalogging, put it on the dyno, send all info to Ski he will get you dialed in. He did a great job on mine, car has never been so responsive, and he did a great job configuring my 4+3 to work the way I wanted.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 786
Likes: 31
Cruise-In II Veteran
This is a good primer on "How to do it and why":
http://www.thirdgen.org/newdesign/tech/promintro.shtml
http://www.thirdgen.org/newdesign/tech/promintro.shtml
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 8,596
Likes: 19
From: Portland Oregon
The problem with dataloging that old 870 ECM is that the ECM has a very slow datastream which means that by the time he gets down the quartermile he is still receiving the data from the 60 ft mark. I know I am exaggerating a little here but it is very slow. In my opinion he would do better by tuning the car on a chassis dyno under controlled conditions with some good external instrumentation connected to the car. A good tuner with a emulator on a chassis dyno can easily dial that car in. In case you don't know what a emulator is, it is a device that plugs into the ECM where the prom resides. It takes the place of the prom and holds the prom image. When connect to the ECM the operator can make live changes during a tuning session. Once he beleives that he has a good image (tune), the file is saved and a prom is programmed, which is then installed back into the ECM.
