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RTz

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Posts posted by RTz

  1. Plenum style manifolds have the potential to be...

     

    Less expensive.

    Lighter.

    Use the plenum as a tuned spring (resonance chamber).

    Easier to get 'clean' air.

     

     

    ITB's have the potential to be...

     

    More responsive.

    Easier to 'get right' (less variables).

    Sound GREAT :wink:

     

     

     

    Ron Tyler also built a very nice one, but the end result on the dyno wasn't very spectacular. I don't know if that was the plenum's fault or the rest of the engine or what.

     

    Jon may very well be right about my plenum. I suspect part of it is the combination... aggressive manifold and head, mated to a low comp. engine with a very mild cam and mild exhaust. The peak number isn't there. In defense, I will say its one of the sweetest running engines to come out of the shop. The dyno isn't telling the whole story... and never does.

  2. This is the first of several articles aimed at aiding the installation of a Wolf3D EMS. Its not intended to be ‘all encompassing’. Rather, a simple guide to get things jump-started. I will add/update as time permits.

     

    What are the Minimum Sensor Requirements?

     

    For a fuel only system, you will need a minimum of...

     

    RPM sensor (trigger)

    Load sensor

    Water temp. sensor (WT)

     

     

     

    With those three sensors, you can successfully run any typical gas engine. Later I’ll cover adding supplemental sensors to achieve a better overall package.

     

    Summarizing the Three Sensors...

     

     

    WT (Water Temp.)... The primary function of this sensor is to aid in cold running. When the engine is ‘cold started’, a richer than normal mixture is needed for best operation. As the engine warms up, fuel can (and should be) reduced. Its a bit like an electronic version of the choke.

     

    RPM... A common name for this sensor is ‘trigger’. Trigger’s can be very simple, or very complex. This is an entire topic on its own and outside this articles scope (I’ll cover some basic triggers in another installment). A fuel only system is simple enough to require only a very rudimentary trigger. For example, the stock Datsun electronic ignition distributor contains a VR sensor (Variable Reluctor), with six teeth. This trigger can only tell the ECU when a cylinder is approaching, but not which cylinder. This type of trigger would only allow batch-fired injection (and distributor based ignition).

     

    Load... There are a number of ways to determine load. The three most common are...

     

    MAP

    AlphaN

    MAF

     

    Briefly....

     

    MAP (Manifold Absolute Pressure)... is most commonly used and is sometimes referred to as ‘speed density’. It measures the pressure in the manifold to determine load... high pressure=high load. Its advantages are simplicity and accuracy under most conditions, with a natural tendency toward altitude and barometric pressure compensation. Its biggest drawback is its inability to compensate for modifications or engine wear. In summary, anything that changes the airflow of an engine under any given condition without a corresponding change in manifold pressure causes an inaccuracy. Note: a 3-bar MAP sensor is built into Wolf's ECU.

     

    AlphaN... uses a throttle position sensor (TPS) to determine load. Like MAP, it has no ability to compensate for modifications or engine wear. Additionally, there is no barometric pressure compensation. You may want to add a barometric pressure sensor to compensate for altitude and barometric changes. Another pitfall is that pure AlphaN will not work with a turbocharged engine. A TPS is unable to distinguish the difference between 2 psi or 20. AlphaN’s advantage is with aggressively cammed NA engines (making around 10” vac. or less). In short, most hot cammed engines vacuum signal is unstable at idle. With a MAP based system, this causes erratic cell movement at low rpm/light load (i.e. idle), within the fuel map (see footnote for a sample fuel map).

     

    MAF (Mass Air Flow)... uses a thin piece of heated wire. As air moves across the wire, the wire cools. This in turn, lowers the resistance of the wire. The ECU uses the resistance to calculate the mass of the air drawn into the engine. MAF is one of the most accurate methods currently available. Its primary drawbacks are cost and installation complexity.

     

     

     

    Footnotes:

     

    Highly Recommended Sensors... I mentioned earlier you can add sensors to enhance the overall performance. The two that should be highest on your list should be a TPS and IAT.

     

    A TPS, optional on MAP/MAF based systems, is capable of doing a number of things, but its most valuable function is acceleration enrichment. The MAP/MAF sensor can serve the same purpose, but its a little slower responding, so achieving crisp throttle response is a bit more challenging. There are a number of other TPS benefits such as fuel cut, flood clear, data acquisition, and auxiliary activation... we’ll get to those later.

     

    The IAT (Intake Air Temp.)... As the temperature of air increases, its density decreases. We want to match the volume of fuel to the mass of air, not its volume. The IAT is part of the means to compensate for air density changes.

     

    Ignition Timing Control... For a system that includes ignition timing control, the above mentioned list meets the minimum requirements for a distributor based system. If you want to run a multi-coil ignition, a more advanced trigger will be necessary.

     

    Fuel Map... The fuel map is a 3 dimensional graph expressed as numbers (as is the timing map). Across the top, you have RPM (in 125 rpm increments). On the left are load bands (in approx. 7% increments). The numbers in the cell’s are injector pulse-widths (‘on time’ in milliseconds)....

     

    FuelMap.jpg

     

     

     

    Same map, in graphical form....

     

     

     

    FuelMap3D.jpg

  3. I wonder why there isnt big forums and stuff with these people posting.

     

    I suspect its because they're too busy working :wink:

     

    As Braap mentioned we 'crashed' the GEARS show. I had obligated myself to a head gasket replacement so wasn't able to spend much time there. I think we were there total 1 1/4 hr... could've spent ALL day there.

     

    Anyhow, a couple more pictures for the archives....

     

     

    Jim Moyer's stunning 1/16th scale Chev. V8....

     

     

    JimMoyer.jpg

     

     

    Profile adjacent a AA battery...

     

     

    JimMoyerC.jpg

     

     

    Spark plug and valve cover adjacent a AA battery...

     

     

    JimMoyerB.jpg

     

     

    Running (notice the blurred alternator belt)...

     

     

    JimMoyerD.jpg

     

     

     

    IC heaven...

     

     

    RowA.jpg

     

     

    RowB.jpg

     

     

     

    Misc...

     

     

    Prop.jpg

     

    PartsA.jpg

  4. Any suggestions on an EMS for my setup? In my other thread in the non-tech forum some suggested Wolf but that is $2K.

     

     

    When visiting Wolf's website, you must click the American flag to see US dollars. The current exchange rate puts the system substantially under $2K, and I also offer a discount to donating members of HybridZ.

  5. i guess you are the man to talk to about my EMS dillemma

     

    I'm not much of a piggyback fan. That's not intended to be derogatory, they just don't normally fit my needs.

     

    I think they're great if you are happy overall with the current tune, but just want to massage a couple area's. They're generally affordable and easy to install/use.

     

    Standalones are an entirely different level of control. I don't have time for a novel tonite so start with this... it'll keep you busy for a bit... http://forums.hybridz.org/showthread.php?t=119404&highlight=ECU

     

    Hey Ron correct me if I'm wrong, but this might help in his search

     

    Peak and hold = Low impedance

    Saturated = High impedance

     

    Correct. Any EMS designed to drive P&H will also drive saturated, but not the contrary.

  6. doesn't the wolf have a 2 bar internal map sensor?

     

     

    3 Bar... one bar below atmospheric and two above. For a maximum of 30 psi. Note: You may use any available external MAP sensor.

     

     

    Where did you get your base map?

     

    I'll provide you with one.

     

     

    I have been looking for a wolf tuning forum to no avail.

     

    I approached Wolf on this topic several weeks ago. It may happen, but it wont be tomorrow. I'm expecting Superdan to create a Wolf specific forum on HZ, which will be a start. Meantime, its you and me, Baby :wink:

  7. So is there the option of running AFR and VE, or is it just injector time.

     

    'Pulse width tuning' sounds a little complicated initially, but I have yet to find someone whom has tried that style of tuning and not appreciate it. Its easier than it sounds, makes complete logical sense, and you know where you stand, at all times, without question. Its the only way I'm interested in tuning these day's

     

    'AFR tuning' is pure marketing, in my opinion. With currently technology, its not capable of working sufficiently for anything other than a course tune. Root causes are the response rate of the O2, the distance from the O2 from the chamber, and the processor's ability to sample/adjust/sample/adjust. By the time its calculated and applied the correction, you're no longer where you were.

     

     

    Now if I can just figure out how to get the Wolf3D out of the cardboard box it came in, I'll be on my way...(j/k)

     

    I'll loan you a sawzall? :D

  8. [/i]would it make sense to just remake an entire harness rather than use the plugin that Wolf has for the RB26? I mean using their standard plug in harness and rewiring most of the connectors and whatnot?

     

    There are pro's and con's to both choices.

     

    Briefly...

     

    I'm sure Bo will concur, a custom harness (universal-fit) is time consuming. If you want a tidy, reliable system, for years to come, be prepared... it takes time. I've never spent less than 100 hours installing any EMS. However, as you mentioned, your understanding of the system will be be incomparable... I assure you.

     

    A 'direct-fit', has the potential to have your car running well in a handful of hours. Outside the lack of personal accomplishment (ask Bo about this :wink:) and system understanding, the biggest drawback I see is age. That is to say, the under hood temps of a Nisssan DET(T) are typically high and this takes a toll on the OE harness. They are getting old enough now that it needs to be considered.

     

    There are innumerable small items as well, such as a small monetary hit with a direct-fit (around $100), along with a potentially better fit to your Z with a universal-fit, etc, etc.

  9. So what does the optical wheel look like on the distributor, 6 slits and a HOLE?

     

    Correct...

     

    OpticalTrigger.jpg

     

     

    The hole has no timing influence and its position is non-critical. It simply needs to fall within a 'window'. When Wolf sees the 'dual-pulse', it knows that slit is cyl. one. Engine position is calculated from the leading edges of the slits.

  10. When it was unplugged (zero vacuum) it went to 36-38. So this is normal then?

     

    Yes.

     

     

    As long as it is correct when under a load is important?

     

    Yes... sort of... based on your description, your fuel pressure is pretty high with the vacuum line attached. This *implies* that your engine is not making much vacuum.

     

    At this point, I'd recommend buying a cheap vacuum gauge and letting us know what your idle vacuum reads.

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