[tcb] Re: Mega squirt

  • From: "Chuck Blue" <sukchew@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
  • To: "Dan Martin" <danandkatrinamartin@xxxxxxx>
  • Date: Fri, 12 May 2006 15:25:34 -0500

Well, I don't know anything about computers,fuel injection systems,or building 
circuit boards.I don't type either so everything is an adventure.I was still 
able to build the V2.2 megasquirt FI controller and make it work.It's not 
rocket science.You just have to be able to read and follow directions.It's also 
nice if you are able to solder.If you don't know how many cylinders your engine 
has you probably shouldn't attempt the build
  What type of fuel injection system is mark running?I assume it is on a air 
cooled engine but I don't know.If some one would contact me with all of the 
information I might have some suggestions.Megasquirt can be put on anything 
that has a gas engine and be made to run.
 Does the engine have electronic FI now or is it a cis system.inquiring minds 
want to know? If it has elect.injectors the installation is much easier.If you 
want to use the squirt to controll Ignition that is also possible .I didn't 
want to attempt that because I wanted it to be as simple as possible.I went 
strictly by the book because it didn't require as much decision making as to 
which part might be substituted. All of the needed components are discussed in 
detail.
  When I built mine there wasn't any phone numbers to call so I had to learn to 
sorta use the computer to get information.It's still slow and an adventure.  
http://www.bgsoflex.com/megasquirt.html or http://www.msefi.com/  both have 
lots of information read everything that you can find.If anyone is serious 
about building a system print everything and start a book.Everything that you 
need to know is available on their web sites and forums.
  If marks FI system has been in use for 22 years it probably is not to bad of 
a system.It may just need someone to do a little stroking in the right spots 
sensors and things need to be checked along with connections and wiring and 
such.
Here are a couple of numbers where I can be contacted 903 221 0434 (temp 
number)or 903 312 5257 cell numbers.If I have to do this via a list you might 
as well set it on fire because it will never get done.
 If I knew what the symptoms were and what kind of engine we are discussing I 
might be able to give a little more information.Regardless as to what Denis 
might think, I am not a mechanic but I do know quite a bit about cars,having 
worked around cars, engines and mechanics most of my life.
  I'll be glad to help out If I can.
Man, all this typing ain't fuckin easy.
ole blue
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Dan Martin 
  To: Chuck Blue 
  Sent: Friday, May 12, 2006 11:20 AM
  Subject: Fwd: Mega squirt


  Hi Chuck!
  Mark is continuing to have problems with his stock FI.
  I forwarded him these mails I got on the type 2 list.
  We (he,I and another friend of his) are thinking maybe mega squirt could be a 
solution.
  What do you think?
  Can you provide us with some good places to look on the net?
  Thanks!



  Begin forwarded message:


    From: Mark Sawyer <mechmark@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
    Date: May 10, 2006 1:48:51 PM CDT
    To: Dan Martin <danandkatrinamartin@xxxxxxx>
    Subject: Re: Mega squirt


    Not a word from Chuck or anybody else about fuel injection. I was doing 
some testing the other night and thing that I have a bad temp sensor. I would 
still like to invest in a system that would be more reliable than a 22 year old 
and outdated injection. I just don't know enough about computers to even know 
where to start. I am going to go get my spare engine out of the store room this 
weekend and start getting ready it ready to install. I think the engine that is 
in the vanagon now is starting to knock a little more than it use to, or I 
could just be getting paranoid. 

    Dan Martin <danandkatrinamartin@xxxxxxx> wrote: 
      Have you heard anything from Chuck? 
      Denis and I also know the Dave Bolen listed in these e mail from the 
type2 list.
      Dave is in the VW club Denis is in now, he lives in Fayetteville, Ar..
      I know not a lot of hope for hands on help but I think you and Mark and I 
could pull it off with Dave and Chucks help.
      See what you think and I will see if we can figure some way to commucate.
      I may foeward this to them to get their opinions soon.



      Begin forwarded message:


        From: Gundesens <gundesen@xxxxxxx>
        Date: May 7, 2006 3:28:12 PM CDT
        To: type2@xxxxxxxxx
        Subject: [T2] Megasquirt on 82 Vanagon


        Hello list,  I am making slow progress installing a new Megasquirt 
injection system on the bus and could use a leg up from the guys who have done 
this on the same engine.
        I am using MS-II, V3.0 board, fuel only until I get everything running 
well, then ignition control as well.
        I cannot get it to idle, and only runs when I advance the ignition a 
lot.
        I would love to get your .msq and VE tables if you have arrived at a 
tuning set-up that you are happy with.  Are you running the original low 
impedance injectors? with PWM or resistors?


        Thanks very much. I will take this off list now, I just wanted to 
contact the VW guys on megasquirt as directly as I could.


        GG
        '82 California Vanagon
        Calgary, Alberta


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      Begin forwarded message:


        From: "Dave C. Bolen" <dbolen@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
        Date: May 8, 2006 11:17:02 AM CDT
        To: andy <andy@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
        Cc: type2@xxxxxxxxx
        Subject: Re: [T2] Megasquirt on 82 Vanagon


        Ok,


        So here is what I sent back this morning....not megasquirt V3, but an 
        earlier version....with pics...in a camper.


        Ed's site is still up and should provide you with the numbers you need.


        Compare pressures and injectors and go from there.


        Great pics also!


        http://tbone2091.tripod.com/megasquirt/


        Cheers, dave




        -- 
        -------------------------------------------------------------------
        "I'm more interested in getting it right, than being right"....dave




        On Mon, 8 May 2006, andy wrote:


              Actually, can we kinda keep this a little on-the-list?




            I'd like to follow this as well. While I have no need to mess with 
the FI in
            the Guac, it's something I've always been interested in.


          Me too.


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      Begin forwarded message:


        From: "Dave C. Bolen" <dbolen@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
        Date: May 8, 2006 2:59:06 PM CDT
        To: DurocShark <durocshark@xxxxxxxxx>
        Cc: andy <andy@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>, type2@xxxxxxxxx
        Subject: Re: [T2] Megasquirt on 82 Vanagon


        Don,


        Let's see if I can remember....


        Depends on how far you want to take it....


        No AFM box.(lose the intake restriction.) MS uses a throttle position 
        sensor.
        No stock ECU box.  Use MS ECU


        No double relay.  Use MS Relay package.


        If you want, you can loose the resistors for the injectors....although
        it may be a more robust system if you leave them.


        Lose the stock temperature sensor.  Use the GM replacement in the air 
        stream.


        I may have missed something along the way.


        The good/bad news.......


        You have complete contol over the ECU, which means you can program
        pretty much everything....the bad news is the same....you can do harm 
to 
        your engine by programming it to not inject enough gas at high speed.
        Of course, you can do that with a carb as well if you try....




        Go here to learn more.


        http://www.megasquirt.info/index.html




        Cheers, dave
        -- 
        -------------------------------------------------------------------
        "I'm more interested in getting it right, than being right"....dave




        On Mon, 8 May 2006, DurocShark wrote:






            http://tbone2091.tripod.com/megasquirt/




         That is beautiful. Absolutely beautiful.


         Now, what is the benefit for a stock configuration to using MS as 
opposed to
         the stock computer?


          --
          Don
          The Guacamole Bus
          http://www.donimages.com/guac


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      Begin forwarded message:


        From: George Lyle <glyle@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
        Date: May 8, 2006 4:35:19 PM CDT
        To: "Dave C. Bolen" <dbolen@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
        Cc: DurocShark <durocshark@xxxxxxxxx>, andy <andy@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>, 
type2@xxxxxxxxx
        Subject: Re: [T2] Megasquirt on 82 Vanagon


        On Mon, 8 May 2006, Dave C. Bolen wrote:


          Go here to learn more.


          http://www.megasquirt.info/index.html


        Another alternative for those who have less time and more money:


        http://www.sdsefi.com


        I think that Jake Raby is using the SDS unit on his type 4 engines.


        Lots of info, including complete manuals, on that site.


        George


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      Begin forwarded message:


        From: Gundesens <gundesen@xxxxxxx>
        Date: May 8, 2006 10:29:28 PM CDT
        To: type2@xxxxxxxxx
        Subject: [T2] Re: Megasquirt on 82 Vanagon


        Thanks for the interest. I will eventually get pictures and a story up 
on my website.
        Benefits to me:
        Well, my existing stock setup was giving me a new problem to deal with 
every couple of months. This was attributable to 24 year old wiring being heat 
damaged so it snapped instead of flexed when bent.  Also the ECU was flaky, 
verified by swapping with a federal ECU which ran poorly, but had different 
issues than the original California one.  I just recently opened up the Cal. 
ECU and was surprised by the amount of corrosion which had crept inside it, but 
no surprise it was flaky after seeing that.  By the way, I was going to try and 
salvage and use the injector resistors which I thought were built into the ECU 
(not external on this model), but could not find them.  Perhaps Bosch used some 
sort of pulse width modulation (PWM) to control the current on the stock unit?  
The resistors should be big and obvious if they were part of the circuit.
        Right, back to the benefits...  I would have had to rebuild the wiring 
harness almost from scratch to do it right (no-one supplies rebuilt FI 
harnesses AFAIK), and find another old ECU which worked reliably (or paid the 
big bucks for the rebuild if available).  The alternative I chose was the 
Megasquirt.
        Advantages:
        - have the fun of building it (sort of like the fun of building a model 
airplane kit, but more of it)
        - Learn something about fuel injection and engine tuning in fair depth
        - simplify the whole system hardware-wise >> eliminate the AFM, 
coldstart valve, thermotime switch, double relay, decel valve. I also got rid 
of the digital ignition set-up except for my hall-effect distributor.
        - Gain a new modern fuel injection system which is totally user 
programmable (or self-tuning to an extent), for at least as good as like-new 
performance. I had just rebuilt the engine, it now has ~750 miles on it.
        - The current Megasquirt version WILL control ignition advance as well, 
but I need to get the fuel right before going there.


        Stock components:
        - fuel injectors
        - air filter and housing
        - temp-II sensor
        - oxygen sensor (Cal. Vanagon)
        - distributor (so far - will remove the centrifugal and vac advance 
mechanisms when I let Megasquirt control the spark)


        Custom or modified:
        - interface flange/tube between the S-tube and the air filter housing
        - added a GM intake air temp sensor in the air filter housing
        - modified a throttle body from a 914 to accept a Bosch potentiometer 
type throttle position sensor (TPS) - std Volvo 850 part. I couldn't use the 
original TB because the shaft did not extend out the bottom for the needed TPS.
        - put in an MSD ignition system, wires and a zero ohm distributor rotor 
(hey Richard! Niehoff WA307 - it has the narrow contact nose, but zero ohms 
without modification ~ $7)
        - added a new 'double relay' set-up for main power and fuel
        - added an add'l fuse panel to handle the MSD, fuel pump, injectors, 
megasquirt, and main power (term. 30)


        That's the story so far.


        GG
        '82 Calif Vanagon Westy - going Megasquirt
        Calgary, Alberta






        -


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