JLee's 1991 Toyota MR2 Turbo build thread

[jlee]

Can't wait to see where you're at once you get the ECU and injectors. I call shens on that pic though, the sky is grey not blue, from December to May. :'(

It used to be, then I realized I was living on the wrong side of the country. :awe:

 

[jlee]

Status:

SARD 800cc injectors are here
ECU has arrived at ATS, but they haven't had a chance to look at it yet
Apexi S-AFC II will be on the way shortly to clean up fuel trim once the new ECU is in with the 800s
I need a new wideband (my Innovate decided to crap out on me)
Interior refresh will be coming as funds allow

 

[alkalinetaupehat]

How do I get an invite to one of those cruises?

 

[jlee]

How do I get an invite to one of those cruises?

Step 1) Live within driving distance
Step 2) Ask
Step 3) ...
Step 4) Profit!

 

[jlee]

Just got off the phone with ATS (again). They had another customer with the same problem I had and it was fixed by replacing the aftermarket spark plug wires with OEM.

One of the videos I sent ATS showed a Code 51, which wasn't in the Toyota manual until 1993 (I'm running 91-92 ECU). Code 51 has to do with the knock sensor circuit, which the ROM tune daughter board uses to communicate with the ECU somehow. Aaron explained a lot of the details but I don't remember or understand them all, but basically the aftermarket parts are fast enough to work in/around the OEM ECU through this circuit. Turns out aftermarket plug wires can cause interference that OEM wires do not -- causing wonkiness in the electrical system, and hence a stutter in the engine when the ECU goes omgwtfbbq.

This actually makes sense - when I installed brand new plugs, I ran for 60-80mi without a hitch. New plugs spark easily...but when they weren't perfectly new anymore, the coil had to send a little more power to fire the spark...and the plug wires weren't capable of running that without emitting any interference.

That's the theory, anyway. OEM Toyota wires and my ROM tune will be coming back to me shortly (as well as 1200cc top feed injectors for summer/fall, when I will get a top feed fuel rail, GSC 268 cams, ATS Racing adjustable cam gears, and a Megasquirt II plug and play EMS). :awe:

 

[JCH13]

:thumbsup:

:thumbsup::thumbsup:For MSPNP! Finally you'll join the wicked cool guys :awe:

 

[FuzzyDunlop]

MSPNP. I researched the crap outa this last summer. I lost all my links though, when my puter harddrive fried. Do you have any experience with it?

I was planing to install it in my silver MR2 this spring but got side tracked with the MK1.5

 

[jlee]

MSPNP. I researched the crap outa this last summer. I lost all my links though, when my puter harddrive fried. Do you have any experience with it?

I was planing to install it in my silver MR2 this spring but got side tracked with the MK1.5

JCH13's turbo Miata is running a Megasquirt system.

www.diyautotune.com is where I'll be getting mine (when it's released).

 

[FuzzyDunlop]

JCH13's turbo Miata is running a Megasquirt system.

www.diyautotune.com is where I'll be getting mine (when it's released).

It looks like fun. Complicated but fun.
I bought mine from Mulry at MR2OC. SO I know its a running system. He was using it in a track car and fried his engine because he was revving up to 11.000rpm which prevented the rings from getting oil properly - or somethign like that.
I wont be revving that high.

 

[JCH13]

I love the MS, the possibilities are endless...

Launch control
Flat-foot shift control
Anti-lag control
Meth/water/NOS staging and injection
Shift light control
Custom hard and soft rev-limits (someone else driving car? burn a quick low-rpm rev limit!)
Custom fan temp control
Multiple custom fuel and spark maps
Boost-cut limiter

I can go on...

 

[manimal]

I love the MS, the possibilities are endless...

Launch control
Flat-foot shift control
Anti-lag control
Meth/water/NOS staging and injection
Shift light control
Custom hard and soft rev-limits (someone else driving car? burn a quick low-rpm rev limit!)
Custom fan temp control
Multiple custom fuel and spark maps
Boost-cut limiter

I can go on...

dude I just mega squirted all over my screen

 

[JCH13]

dude I just mega squirted all over my screen

Pro-tip: megasquirt.info is about the ECU, megasquirt.com is not about the ECU. LFMF.

:awe:

 

[FuzzyDunlop]

I love the MS, the possibilities are endless...

Launch control
Flat-foot shift control
Anti-lag control
Meth/water/NOS staging and injection
Shift light control
Custom hard and soft rev-limits (someone else driving car? burn a quick low-rpm rev limit!)
Custom fan temp control
Multiple custom fuel and spark maps
Boost-cut limiter

I can go on...

how was the learning curve (although I may be talking to the wrong guy about it because you are a genius)? Was it tricky to get used to? ever accidently cause damage somehow?

 

[JCH13]

how was the learning curve (although I may be talking to the wrong guy about it because you are a genius)? Was it tricky to get used to? ever accidently cause damage somehow?

I read, and then re-read, and then re-read all of the documentation before I got started, specifically what options in MegaTune (now Tuner Studio) did what. The menus sometimes are confusing, but if you read the documentation it all makes sense. There are pretty good help files for every main option window, and even some of the obscure ones. It didn't take TOO long to learn what everything does, but there are some subtle things.

Tuning fuel and spark maps are super easy, they're even color-coded.

There is an option to go through every active option in a single instance to double-check and make sure you didn't miss anything.

Having said that, this was back before the days of PNP mind you, so I had to fill out every little detail from scratch. First I got timing 180deg out, so instead of an engine I had a flame thrower (awesome, but doesn't run too well :sneaky. I've backfired engines and blown up weakly-made intake manifold (a cast stock one would be fine I think). I've totally messed up spark and gotten a whole exhaust manifold, turbo hot-side, and DP bright orange. Never really screwed up fuel (i.e. way too lean) that is pretty hard to do if you're even a little bit cautious.

I guess that's a long-winded way of saying "you can mess up really bad, but most engines are pretty tolerant" especially if you're just getting things fired up. Again, PNP takes 99% of the hassle out of it, and the new tuner studio will auto-tune fuel maps very well.

 

[FuzzyDunlop]

I read, and then re-read, and then re-read all of the documentation before I got started, specifically what options in MegaTune (now Tuner Studio) did what. The menus sometimes are confusing, but if you read the documentation it all makes sense. There are pretty good help files for every main option window, and even some of the obscure ones. It didn't take TOO long to learn what everything does, but there are some subtle things.

Tuning fuel and spark maps are super easy, they're even color-coded.

There is an option to go through every active option in a single instance to double-check and make sure you didn't miss anything.

Having said that, this was back before the days of PNP mind you, so I had to fill out every little detail from scratch. First I got timing 180deg out, so instead of an engine I had a flame thrower (awesome, but doesn't run too well :sneaky. I've backfired engines and blown up weakly-made intake manifold (a cast stock one would be fine I think). I've totally messed up spark and gotten a whole exhaust manifold, turbo hot-side, and DP bright orange. Never really screwed up fuel (i.e. way too lean) that is pretty hard to do if you're even a little bit cautious.

I guess that's a long-winded way of saying "you can mess up really bad, but most engines are pretty tolerant" especially if you're just getting things fired up. Again, PNP takes 99% of the hassle out of it, and the new tuner studio will auto-tune fuel maps very well.

whaaaaat?! It didnt give you a "DANGER TO MANIFOLD!" warning for this?? lol

 

[JCH13]

whaaaaat?! It didnt give you a "DANGER TO MANIFOLD!" warning for this?? lol

:awe: rofl

It was on a race car... the plenum blew off the runners, the restricter blew off the plenum, the throttle body blew off the restricter, the filter blew off the throttle body, and the plenum went from a shape you might describe as "box-like" to one you'd describe as "football-like". The MAP and IAT sensors also blew out and were dangling by their respective wires.

Good times with starter fluid...

 

[JCH13]

dude I just mega squirted all over my screen

E30 325i MS PNP.

Just, you know, in case...

 

[jlee]

Goodies arrived from ATS Racing - new OEM plug wires, my ROM tune, and 1200cc top feed injectors for future use. :sneaky:

SARD 800cc injectors (top) vs 540cc injectors (stock is 440cc):

Throttle body removed to access fuel rail:

Partially reassembled after injector swap:

To hopefully solve the stuttering problem, new OEM Toyota plug wires. They don't come cheap ($88), but if it fixes my problem it's well worth it:

Back together:

Safety measures, in case something goes horribly wrong:

First start!

It ran a bit rich at first, but after a few minutes settled in to ~15:1 AFR, which is great. Ideally I'd idle/cruise at 17:1 with E85, but that'll happen once I get a proper standalone ECU.

20-22psi is now safely within reach! I am limited to 15psi on 91 octane gas (280whp). I made 328whp at 21psi, so this'll be about a 50whp jump from before.

 

[jlee]

Wash/wax this morning. I should wax it again this week, and repeat every two months until I get a garage.

 

[exdeath]

You cant use "PSHHHH" with a recirc valve, let alone no externally venting BOV.




PS get a scrub brush and some tire shine :awe:

 

[FuzzyDunlop]

eagerly awaiting video of 20PSI pull.

 

[jlee]

eagerly awaiting video of 20PSI pull.

Haha, me too. I need to go over my intercooler piping again - I think I have a boost leak that wasn't present at 13psi.

I also ordered a one piece hot pipe from RacerX Fabrication - bigger diameter than stock, looks a lot better, and eliminates a coupling/two clamps.

 

[5150MyU]

Dirty tires!

 

[jlee]

Haha, me too. I need to go over my intercooler piping again - I think I have a boost leak that wasn't present at 13psi.

I also ordered a one piece hot pipe from RacerX Fabrication - bigger diameter than stock, looks a lot better, and eliminates a coupling/two clamps.

Seems it wasn't a boost leak - I have oil in my boost control solenoid which was causing all sorts of hell. It may be time for a PCV catch can.

RacerX hot pipe next to stock assembly:

Old stuff removed:

 

[jlee]

Back together!

I found a split in the vacuum line going from the compressor housing to the boost control solenoid, which may have contributed to the bucking issues I was having when using the boost controller. I also cleaned the solenoid with electronic-safe cleaner, so hopefully any motor oil is gone now.