Gauging interest for PnP Megasquirt solution, MS anyone? Options

[JamesM]

For my most recent Megasquirt install i went a different route and had some mini-MS boards produced. It did not make a lot of sense to just have one PCB printed so needless to say i have more then a few empty boards laying around. Now i am trying to decide if it is worth my time and money to build these boards out and sell them as a plug n play solution for d-jet cars.

For those who don't know, mini-ms is electronically compatible with megasquirt 2.2 however the components are arranged tighter on the board and it integrates the relay board all on a form factor smaller then the original MS. My first couple of installs i used a standard megasquirt 2.2 with relay board and DB-37 cable but the mini-ms seemed like the better way to go so that is what i am playing with now.

The setup i a running right now looks almost stock, the mini-ms is enclosed completely in a gutted d-jet brain and plugs directly into the d-jet harness. the only difference from stock is a MAP line running to the brain and the 2 injector ground wires being run back as well. You have to look close to tell its not stock, however i have a feeling i could make it even more stealth by hiding the MAP sensor in an old MPS in order to get rid of the vac line to the ECU. I just have not cared enough to cut up an MPS yet.

The great part about this system is it makes troubleshooting way easier and eliminates the need for stock trigger points, MPS. ECU, decell valve, and cold start injector, though they can all be left in place if desired in order to appear stock. It also allows for cool things if you desire like closed loop operation with a wideband O2 sensor, spark control, rev limiters, traction control, and a bunch of other stuff depending on how far you want to take it. It can be tuned around just about anything, so its great if you want to change cams or go bigger on your motor and still look stock.

So is there any interest out there for this sort of thing or should i just dump the empty boards on ebay or something?

[Gint]

So is there any interest out there for this sort of thing or should i just dump the empty boards on ebay or something?

Sure.

• Price?
• Instructions for the average DIY'er?
• Support? Not just stock but varying configurations and complexity.

[JamesM]

So is there any interest out there for this sort of thing or should i just dump the empty boards on ebay or something?

Sure.

• Price?
• Instructions for the average DIY'er?
• Support? Not just stock but varying configurations and complexity.

Price, if i decied to sell them is still to be determined and i dont want to quote anything to soon. There are a lot of factors I am still looking into, one of the bigger ones being...the level of support offered.

Support, I would need to do some testing with an average user to get an idea of the level of support that would be needed for most users, this is partly why a price has yet to be determined as i dont know exactly how much time each customer would require. Ideally I am designing the setup to be as easy as possible but until i have a test customer do an install i wont know for sure.

Support for varying configurations, for a stock d-jet replacement there should only be 2 different configurations, 1.7 and 2.0, and the only real difference between the two as far as MS is concerned is the constants and fuel map. this would be setup before being shipped but could be easily changed later. Ideally i would like to build a collection of fuel maps for common engine configs 1911, 2056, different cams etc, to ease installation there, but that might take some time.

Support for various hardware mods/add ons/upgrades. I already have a small list of things i will include documentation/support on that go beyond a basic d-jet replacement. Some of them i even highly recomend, like a wideband 02 sensor... I think everyone should have one of those anyways reguardless of the fuel system they use. Come to think of it I might even add all the connections you need to install an LC-1 right on the ECU to simplify and clean up the installation of one. there will be documentation and support for a few other common mods that i already have. I am undecided if i will personally support ignition control, the system will be set up for it however anyone that wants to do it may be on their own. System complexity goes up real fast when you thow ignition into the mix and thats getting pretty far from plug and play. Also with ignition control there is a much greater chance of someone frying their motor. I do run it on my autox car and i love it but i would rather not have the liability involved with setting it up on someone elses car, especally if i did not personally install it.


First things first though, I have a background working in hardware/software QA for computer peripherals. At this point it is in my nature to try and find everyway a product could fail or a customer could break something. That being said, before i ever sell one of these I want a bit of time to beat the crap out of it. I have ran for years on a standard MS, but as this is a different board layout I really want to put it through it paces. My current plan is to first install the testing design into my autox car and race it this summer. If the hardware survives autocrossing in august in Utah I will consider it good enough to in the 1.7 car i am building for my wife. I figure if it is relaiable in a car for her good chance it will be for everyone else. Then it goes on a road trip to cali for long distance testing and low altitude fuel map work. Once that is done then i will find a test customer and see how it goes.

If i am to have a product go out under my name, it is going to be as bullet proof and idiot proof as i can get it.

[velum]

Hi James!

Anything new about your PnP MegaSquirt solution? I have a '73 914-4 2.0L and I would be interested. Also, are you thinking of providing a solution that would allow to get rid of the distributor? I heard all this can be done electronically. And what about injectors, do you use stock injection valves, or do you recommend swapping them for modern ones?

Cheers!

JF