Just to get this out of the way ahead of time, i'm not interested in hearing about Megasquirt or Hydra in this particular situation, and nobody is going to change my mind. 
I'm also focusing on "real" standalones, so Xede also isn't an option.
What else has anyone here used, and what were your experiences?
The mechanic doing the swap on my 'rolla says AEM EMS is far easier to set up than MS...that's all I got.
I heard carbs and distributors have been done before. 
Control relays for everything else...
Four flat-slides and an MSD and a country boy can survive?
http://www.motoiq.com/magazine_articles/id/2640/aem--infinity-programmable-engine-management-system-for-racecars.aspx
Sky_Render wrote: http://www.motoiq.com/magazine_articles/id/2640/aem--infinity-programmable-engine-management-system-for-racecars.aspx
Heh, yeah.... Infinity looks AWESOME!!!
But I suppose i should have gone into more detail. This is a car that currently makes about 180whp, should make about 250-270whp, and will never make more than 350whp at any point in its stay with me. (And that's only if the motor blows and i feel like building a block.)
There's nothing special about this.
Was looking at AEM EMS4, Haltech Sprint 500, or maybe Haltech Platinum Sport 1000 like what's in my Escort.
Don't know if i'm really missing anything else.
Everything my community uses are still utilizing the factory ECU, so I'm no help.
I've also heard good things about the AEM EMS-4.
You already have a relationship with Ludwig, and you're already running a Haltech on the Escort, right? That relationship and the support that comes with it would go a long way toward making the decision for me.
Powar wrote: You already have a relationship with Ludwig, and you're already running a Haltech on the Escort, right? That relationship and the support that comes with it would go a long way toward making the decision for me.
He does AEM, Haltech, and Syvecs, though. Knowing Chris, i don't think he'd push me hard in either of the directions.
He's who i'm wanting to go through for this stuff ASSuming i work this the way i want to. The E36 M3ty part is that i don't have the time and money (and i don't think he has the time) to swap standalones by the time i leave for a 3-week long wedding trip in this car. So i suppose there's no real rush in the end.
The Manic Miata runs an "Obiwan" Link setup with an AEM WB02. The PO tried a Hydra and couldn't get it to idle for crap, and it ran very rich, so he reverted to the Link. The Link is NLA new, but you can hand-program it via a little handheld that comes with it if you find a used one. The car still runs a little rich, but it idles like a champ.
Duke wrote: The Manic Miata runs an "Obiwan" Link setup with an AEM WB02. The PO tried a Hydra and couldn't get it to idle for crap, and it ran very rich, so he reverted to the Link. The Link is NLA new, but you can hand-program it via a little handheld that comes with it if you find a used one. The car still runs a little rich, but it idles like a champ.
There's actually a new Link EMS out there that looks pretty interesting, too. 
I'm not entirely sure it's an option in this case, as i don't know anyone local that supports it, but i always thought the old ones with the hand-held unit were really neat.
I've seen a couple "permanent" installs of the tuning unit over on ClubRoadster. Very cool.
In reply to Swank Force One:
Define "real". What are the features you are looking for?
I have an old school Link Mk1 (that I purchased in 1998) that works as advertised. So far no issues.
http://trackspeedengineering.com/product_info.php/products_id/158
RandyS wrote: In reply to Swank Force One: Define "real". What are the features you are looking for? I have an old school Link Mk1 (that I purchased in 1998) that works as advertised. So far no issues.
Removes stock ECU completely. (I don't have the stock ECU anyways, so any sort of piggyback or parallel setup is out of the question.)
Beyond that, i don't really care. I'd just as soon remove the stupid ECU-controlled alternator as try to "tune" an alternator map, so i don't need that capability.
It's really just a "normal" boring BP that one day might make a whopping 350whp. (maybe.) I don't think there's anything special necessary about it. Pretty much any entry level EMS would handle it.
z31maniac wrote: http://trackspeedengineering.com/product_info.php/products_id/158
Ah hah... that answers that question. I wasn't sure if there was a PNP variant yet.
The next question is whether or not i can get that kindof money out of selling my current EMS.
Yeah, i've looked at those, but even when I swap to a 99+ engine I don't ever see going turbo, so I'm just going to go with a custom built MS3x and call it good.
I can get one sent to my front door ready to go for $730 shipped.
The MS3X is more powerful than the EMS4 anyways. So even if you did go turbo in the end, it's arguably a better choice.
I just don't have anyone local that will support Megasquirt, and that's a requirement in my case, not just a want.
Adaptronic:
http://adaptronic.com.au/products/selectpnp.html
No PNP Miata experience, but PNP was seamless on RB25DET and an RX8 Turbo, and works fine on a 1.8T Corrado (not PNP).
Tech support is fantastic (by email).
But if you've got a tuner you know and trust, take his advice. All the ECUs do the same thing anyways, some with more bells and whistles than others.
Swank Force One wrote: The E36 M3ty part is that i don't have the time and money (and i don't think he has the time) to swap standalones by the time i leave for a 3-week long wedding trip in this car. So i suppose there's no real rush in the end.
dude. rent a car. srsly. is your bride going to be OK with pushing the car at any point during that three weeks? you should be using all your energy berkeleying, not working on your car.
AngryCorvair wrote:Swank Force One wrote: The E36 M3ty part is that i don't have the time and money (and i don't think he has the time) to swap standalones by the time i leave for a 3-week long wedding trip in this car. So i suppose there's no real rush in the end.dude. rent a car. srsly. is your bride going to be OK with pushing the car at any point during that three weeks? you should be using all your energy berkeleying, not working on your car.
That's why i'm not swapping standalones before the wedding trip. And also why i'll never be the one tuning this car in the first place. She drives it more often than i do. I don't want that phone call of "It's running like crap" or "it broke." (Though i already get the "it's running like crap" call everytime she drives it.)
Swank Force One wrote: And also why i'll never be the one tuning this car in the first place. She drives it more often than i do. I don't want that phone call of "It's running like crap" or "it broke." (Though i already get the "it's running like crap" call everytime she drives it.)
I don't think you'll get that level of reliability with a standalone aftermarket ECU, no matter who tunes it. Well, not unless you want her to call the tuner directly when it breaks. :)
codrus wrote:Swank Force One wrote: And also why i'll never be the one tuning this car in the first place. She drives it more often than i do. I don't want that phone call of "It's running like crap" or "it broke." (Though i already get the "it's running like crap" call everytime she drives it.)I don't think you'll get that level of reliability with a standalone aftermarket ECU, no matter who tunes it. Well, not unless you want her to call the tuner directly when it breaks. :)
Well, she knows it'll never drive 100% perfect and OEM-like. (Though in the case of an MSM, probably not a bad thing.)
I'm just saying that if i tuned it myself, chances are MUCH higher of getting stranded or it running like crap.
I'd take a look at the Performance Electronics PE3.
unevolved wrote: I'd take a look at the Performance Electronics PE3.
Have you used it? I've never heard of it... Took a quick glance through their website, downloading the manual now.
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