Boosting the Mirage

[blacksheep-1]

that sounds like it has a lot of possibilities...even for an old guy like me, how do you program it, and I assume it has defaults, if it doesn't get an input.*

[Loren]

that sounds like it has a lot of possibilities...even for an old guy like me, how do you program it, and I assume it has defaults, if it doesn't get an input.*

The possibilities are endless.

It connects via serial cable (or USB... or Bluetooth if you want to get fancy) to your laptop, and there's a software package called Tuner Studio that works with it. The software is quite cheap at like $70 compared to most other tuning software that's well into the hundreds.

You program it to do what you want it to do. It's not going to run without some key inputs. Like, if you lost your tach input or had no means of reading airflow, it just plain wouldn't work. It would limp along without any of the temperature inputs and things like that and just assume whatever the default temperature is (probably something like 75 degrees).

For instance, though... let's say you were using a MAP sensor as one of your key inputs to indicate manifold pressure, which is related to airflow. You've got the ECU all tuned so that it's running fine throughout the RPM and load range. Then you break the vacuum line to the MAP sensor. Now the MAP sensor reads atmospheric pressure, same as it would when you're at WOT. If you're at idle with a closed throttle, and the ECU thinks you're at WOT... it's going to dump way too much fuel and stall the engine instantly. To a lesser extreme, if you just had a vacuum leak in that MAP signal hose... now the ECU won't see the full vacuum of the engine. So, if you're idling at, say 35 kPa... the ECU might see 45 kPa (less vacuum = more absolute pressure), and the ECU would deliver more fuel because it thinks you're in a light cruise at 45 kPa, and it would make it run rich at idle.

So, no... no real "defaults", you get to make your own mistakes. But, lots of bells and whistles depending on which Megasquirt you go with. The early ones (Megasquirt I and Megasquirt II) are pretty basic without a lot of frills. The newer ones (particularly the MS3x) can do almost anything a modern factory ECU can do... even trigger a CEL if an input is out of range.

That said, if you're doing a Megasquirt installation using common hardware (say, you're doing MS on a Miata... or you're doing a Mustang using standard Mustang electronics), it's pretty easy to find a "base tune" from someone else who has done the same thing and at least gotten it running. Then you can use their settings to get your engine at least started and running... and go from there.

If you're down for some reading, I'd start here with the MS3x Version 3.57 manual. I think that's your best bet for starting with MS because it is the most "plug and play" of all of them and has the most features without getting into the expensive "pro" models. For around $700, you get a fully functional ECU that will work with damn near anything WITHOUT requiring any electronic hardware modifications. Just wire it up, set up the software, and you're off and running!

[Loren]

Flip-flop-flip-flop



Driving to Dunnellon yesterday, I was thinking. Short of going full race-car and making the Mirage even lower, stiffer and wider... and making it unstreetable... I'm never going to trust this car. I've already made it more uncomfortable on the street than I want it to be. And I just can't drive it 100%. I know that the fundamental physics are always working against me. The car is top-heavy and wants to turn turtle. I will never trust this car, these thoughts are always in my head.

Couple that with the fact that every time I see one of those new Fiat 124 Spyders on the street, my heart skips a beat.

But, then I drove the Dunnellon course, and finished like 9th out of 42 in the Mirage. Damn, it's a fun little car to drive sometimes! But, I also drove Andrew's Integra... with a bunch more power. (and was .8 seconds faster on the same course, and could be driven with gusto) And that was fun, too!

Flip-flop-flip... flop

I'm not going to do the supercharger. I'm going to keep the Mirage through the end of the season in July. Then it's time for something else. I don't know what yet. I need to drive some cars. Some of the S5 machines that I've considered... the Veloster Turbo, the Elantra GT Sport. But, also the ND Miata... and the Fiat 124. I try not to introduce a lot of vanity into my car choices, but some cars just speak to me. The Spitfire has always been that way. The Z4 was another one. And now the Fiata. Maybe it's time to get back into a sports car?

[Native]

Good call.
The sports car beckons...

[aw614]

I am really curious about the fiata, no one seems to be campaigning them. I really wanted a friend to buy one or to test drive it as a weekend cruiser, but she ended up with a bmw 3 series convertible

But they have this presence on the road that is noticeable vs the nd miata, I think its the extra 5.5 in of length, but I liked the proportions of it

[twistedwankel]

An old SCCA guy traded in his Abarth and bought one last year. He dumps cars often. Trailers it to events so low miles. Oh and he's a slow old driver so it's still nice. It's snow white for what that's worth. 2 years of depreciation all ready.