Fiid's Project Progress Thead., The Legend of Narparu Options

[fiid]

No offense taken at all. The car is a complete trainwreck in terms of wiring. As soon as everything is running right I'll start worrying about that, welding the trunk back in (turns out I can have a more or less complete rear trunk (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/smile.gif) and paint.

Need to get the GT flares on as well at some point. Many miles left to travel.

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/lol2.gif)

[fiid]

Latest News:

I picked up an oscilloscope on craigslist about a week ago which has been really useful. Firstly - I found out that my idle air control was jammed at full open because I bolted a power transistor directly to the case of the megasquirt - grounding out a connection that wasn't supposed to be grounded. After a bit more work - the idle air is working perfectly - it will sit there at almost exactly 800RPM once it's warmed up. I still have a bit more tuning work to do to get the startup value correct, but it's looking pretty good at this point.

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I discovered that I had the megasquirt configured incorrectly for the ignition module. This meant that my timing was stuck at 10o BTDC. I think this was the cause of the misfire - basically - the mixture was burning too late and spoiling all the fun.

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All this came together last night when I spent some time to clean up some of my wiring (it's not perfect yet, but I removed about 5-10 feet of excess wire which was just sitting in a crowsnest, so it's looking a lot neater.

I fired it up, and took it for a spin and had a really nice experience - asides from being a little loud (perpetuated by the almost total lack of sound deadening material and no engine lid) the car ran really well and pulled strong once I got it up to like 2krpm and hard on the gas. I took it up to 5k and it was running nicely. My redline should be at 7k (I think I'm going to split an eardrum.

Me = Happy.

The 911 suspension on the front end is working really nicely too (thanks to Steve/ShogunEagle). Brakes are a lot stronger thanks to new rotors and pads front and rear, and removal of the stock prop valve. I have an
A-caliper front end on the car, and the rear is stock 5-lug.

I also cut a radiator hole in the front bumper and got some weldable expanded steel (almost matches the engine lid) to go in there.

I'll post some pics when I take some more.

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/smilie_pokal.gif) (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/smilie_pokal.gif) (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/smilie_pokal.gif) (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/smilie_pokal.gif)

[eric914]

I am proceeding on a similar route as you. I have a EJ20G single turbo motor that I intend to Squirt. Would you mind sharing your fuel and spark maps and how you chose to implement COP? Any insight would be helpful. I will be tackling this after the holiday season is over.

[fiid]

QUOTE (eric914 @ Nov 16 2005, 10:42 AM)

I am proceeding on a similar route as you. I have a EJ20G single turbo motor that I intend to Squirt. Would you mind sharing your fuel and spark maps and how you chose to implement COP? Any insight would be helpful. I will be tackling this after the holiday season is over.

You're welcome to all the info I have, but my maps really aren't very developed yet. I'm currently running the car on 87 (bad decision - I'm changing to premium as soon as I use up the current tank), and really haven't spent all that much time tuning the thing.

I'm running a ford EDIS module for spark - seems to work really well - I am using the ford coilpack and plug wires. It's a wasted spark setup, instead of Coil on plug. I do have a set of coils for COP but they don't have ignitors, so it will take extra electronics to get that going.

[jsteele22]

Sounds fun ! I'm curious about what "redline" means. I always thought it was just a limit set by the strength of the engine components - go above redline and somethings gonna break. Do you mean the RPM where the engine is at max power ?

BTW, those power transistors with the heat sink connected to a non-ground terminal are a pain. If it is running hot, you can buy (from Digikey, fer example) a thin pad to electrically insulate the transistor from a grounded heat sink. Do a search for "heat sink pad", and (I assume) TO-220 size. Under a buck, and if it keeps the transistor from burning out once, probably worth it.

[fiid]

I've read in a couple of places that the stock redline on this engine is 7k, but I've never seen a USDM subaru with a 7k redline, so I figured I might set the rev limiter a little lower (6500) just to keep the engine running a little longer. It's taken me so long to get this far I don't really want to break it (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/smile.gif).

Anyone know what the redline on the WRX is?

I need to mount the transistor properly at some point, but it doesn't get even warm right now. It's on a plastic stand-off post that is double sided stickytaped to the PCB. Now I talk about it - I instantly regret my decision to do that. (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/dry.gif)

[jsteele22]

QUOTE (fiid @ Nov 17 2005, 02:27 PM)

I need to mount the transistor properly at some point, but it doesn't get even warm right now. It's on a plastic stand-off post that is double sided stickytaped to the PCB. Now I talk about it - I instantly regret my decision to do that. (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/dry.gif)

Actually, I realized after I posted that if the transistor is only for driving the IAC, it probably wouldn't get that hot. But ya never know....

[fiid]

Hey all,

Jeff Keyser came over today and we did some tweaking and fixed some little annoyances with the car...

1. We spent some time just tweaking the idle, and trying to get the mixture and Idle Air Control functioning properly.

2. We fiex the lsatch for the rear trunklid. My Latch has never worked right, but now it does actually hold the lid down, so it doesn't bang when I go over bumps anymore.

3. We mounted the front bumper with cutout and mesh welded in. It looks pretty nice... I'm quite happy.

We then went for a bit of a spin. Jeff was able to iron out a bunch of issues with the fuel map and we discovered that even though I am only running 6psi boost - it's still wickedly quick.

The next problem I have is that my 205s on 7s don't fit under the rear fenders and rub a little bit during cornering. Time to fit those GT flares (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/smile.gif)

So.... fast..... (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/smilie_pokal.gif) (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/smilie_pokal.gif) (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/smilie_pokal.gif) (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/smilie_pokal.gif) (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif) (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif) (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif) (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif)

[fiid]

Oh - I also realised it's a daft idea to run the car on 87 octane, so I put in some octane booster. I expect to be running it on premium from now on.

[banksyinoz]

the sti conversion ive posted pics of has an 8k redline/limmiter stock its an 04 so the wrx would mostlikely be 6.5-7k

[mightyohm]

I had a great time at Fiid's yesterday. For anyone who has never seen it, Megasquirt is COOL. His engine purrs at idle and really moves on the throttle, and it's not anywhere close to being tuned yet, plus he has it dialed down to 6 psi max boost!!! His car makes me think dirty thoughts about putting my own car on the chopping block for a JDM Subie conversion with Megasquirt... (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/idea.gif) The best part is, it still sounds vaugely like a 914, but without all clacking valves! I was really impressed with Fiid's mastery of the fuel injection on that car and his custom turbo plumbing and cooling system. Hopefully some of the local guys will get to see it at the next breakfast! (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/cool.gif)

[fiid]

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif) Thanks Jeff!

It's awesome to have a little more experience with engines around. I don't really know crap about fuel mixtures or what the sounds, smells and look of spark plugs ought to be. I've spent most of my time futzing with cars trying to fix broken things and not on tuning.

I'm totally stoked to get my boost level up. The stock WRX runs at 13-15psi boost, so I've got a long ways to go; and theres going to be a lot of power once that gets lit up (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/beer.gif)

I'm going to have scads of family around for thanksgiving but should be wrenching the weekend after - trying to get the car ready to head down to the Brunch at iHop.

[DNHunt]

Fiid

That sounds great. When you get to tuning the AF mixture look into the new Autotune feature in Megatune. I have't tried it yet but the comments sound encouraging. You're going to have a rocket. (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/smilie_pokal.gif)

Dave

[fiid]

WHOA!!! That is TOO COOL. Definately going to give that a try!!!

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif) (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif) Thanks for the link Dave!!

[jsteele22]

Hey fiid,

This is really exciting to watch. I'm (still....) waiting for my EJ25 to come, and I've been reading up on MegaSquirt. Sounds like you've got plenty of eyes over your shoulder, but I just wanted to mention something -- sorry if this is way too obvious. Be VERY careful about detonation (pinging). Although MegaSquirt has an input for a knock sensor, the latest code that I've looked at doesn't actually do anything with it. So if you raise boost and start pinging, MS won't do anything to stop it. Since this can easily destroy your engine, you might want to hold off on raising the boost until you gain more experience getting the lower pressure part of the map dialed in. Especially if you test out AutoTune (which does sound totally cool, BTW.)

Man, you've come a looong way on this build. Have an awesome ride.

(the other) Jeff

[fiid]

I'm running the Megasquirt-N-Spark Extra codebase. The knock sensor setup is adjustable, and we (JeffK and I) think that we haven't actually had any detonation yet, despite the sensor picking it up. We're showing a logged 2 degree retard on the first knock followed by extra retard degrees for subsequent knocks; I'm reasonably sure it is working right since that's the described behaviour for the code.

Thanks for bringing this up though - I definately don't want to do any damage to this engine, and it's something I'm acutely aware (and scared of). I'm thinking some dyno time is going to be necessary to make sure the whole range of the map is running right and in the safe zone.

[jsteele22]

Cool. I won't worry any more. I was looking at MegaSquirt-II, and I gather it doesn't have as much built into it yet as the older code. You just had me a bit concerned when you said "I don't really know crap about fuel mixtures" follwed by "I'm totally stoked to get my boost level up."


BTW, how is that Suby in terms of turbo lag ? I drive a '97 Saab 900 SE turbo, and it's awesome on the highway (and two-lane country roads...) but I'm a little disappointed in my normal stoplight-to-stoplight driving. Do you get decent acceleration from a standstill to, say, 20 MPH ?

[fiid]

QUOTE (jsteele22 @ Nov 22 2005, 09:51 AM)

QUOTE

Cool.  I won't worry any more.  I was looking at MegaSquirt-II, and I gather it doesn't have as much built into it yet as the older code.  You just had me a bit concerned when you said "I don't really know crap about fuel mixtures" follwed by "I'm totally stoked to get my boost level up."

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/laugh.gif) Yeah - I get what you mean... that does sound dumb. (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif) What I meant was: I don't trust myself to smell mixture or hear pining since I think I could miss it easily - so I rely on my LC1 and on knock sensors and the like.

One of the Megasquirt people suggested overadvancing the ignition at idle to create pinging and using that to tune the knock sensor (and perhaps my ear (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/smile.gif) ).

QUOTE

BTW, how is that Suby in terms of turbo lag ?  I drive a '97 Saab 900 SE turbo, and it's awesome on the highway (and two-lane country roads...) but I'm a little disappointed in my normal stoplight-to-stoplight driving.  Do you get decent acceleration from a standstill to, say, 20 MPH ?

It's not a rocket ship from pull off just yet. There are some things I can do to improve that I think - I have this enormous rice exhaust that has a 1.5"" insert in the muffler which is removable. If I take it out it horks my tuning since there isn't enough flow for the oxygen sensor - it gets too much fresh air at low revs. But I think the turbo spools more quickly without the backpressure.

I'm also kind of happy about this though since it means that I get the revs up a bit before the real power comes which is likely to be the saving grace for my 901 transmission. Once the boost does kick in, the thing just takes off.

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/w00t.gif) (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/driving.gif)

[lapuwali]

I certainly hope you drive this thing to the breakfast. I've been really looking forward to seeing it.

[jsteele22]

QUOTE (fiid @ Nov 22 2005, 12:09 PM)

[ I'm also kind of happy about this though since it means that I get the revs up a bit before the real power comes which is likely to be the saving grace for my 901 transmission. Once the boost does kick in, the thing just takes off.

Yeah, that part is pretty cool. Takes a little getting used to when you start from rest and accelerate around a wide corner. Wish I could make it to that breakfast...