FW: Electramotive TEC II Fuel Injection - HELP !!!! & me/mine/mods

Tue Mar 3 18:16:54 GMT 1998

You got a killer deal Michael.  That IS a bargain.

That whole software thing is such a joke ...  It works, but I could write   
better software
in my sleep.  I can't believe they charge so much for their stupid   
licenses - that's the major drawback of Electromotive in my opinion.

Now regarding your questions -

1.  I have had absolutely NO problems with this system from the day I put   
it together.
Tuning it initially is easy; just a few calculations will get you going.   
 Fine tuning is
more difficult and will take some time.  The key is to figure out EXACTLY   
what A/F
ratio you want to run for 64 points on a MAP vs RPM scale and then use   
the VE
table to correct for non-linearities in your engine.  The problem I have   
with this is that
I'm pretty much a layman when it comes to engine A/F ratios - I don't   
know per se
what an engine should be doing at all the given MAP/RPM values.   
 Bascially I stuck
to the configuration it arrived with and changed little from there.   
 Leaner at high vaccum,
high RMP (cruise) and a bit rich towards WOT (elementary, yes, but that's   
all I really
know.)  I run a max advance of about 40 degrees at the high end (Big   
Block Chevy V8
seems to be ok with this) and an initial advance of 8 degrees.  The TEC   
will always
start the engine with 0 degrees advance, or whatever mechanical advance   
that you've
set by changing the crank trigger position.

2.  Yes, I did make my own harness and Yes it was a pain in the ass.   
 However, I took
my time, soldered each and every connection, used two layers of heat   
shrink around
each solder joint, and verified every connection individually with an   
ohmmeter.  I did this
painstakingly because my injector loom, among other portions of the   
harness, sits in
the lifter valley of my single-plenum intake.  Every time I wash the   
vehicle I pound this
area with high-pressure hot, soapy water and every time I have NO problem   
starting the
vehicle afterwards.  So this extra time putting it together has payed off   
immensely.
The portion of the loom which attaches to the TEC-II unit (the screw-down   
terminals)
is critical.  Tin the ends of each wire about 1/4" and make sure you   
torque down the
terminals securely.  I haven't figured out a way to make these connectors   
pretty just
yet, but I was thinking about covering the whole thing with RTV someday.   
 Unfortunately,
this would make it unserviceable.

3.  The Blend software should make life easier for you, since it sounds   
like you're
going to run one helluva cam - idle quality can be adjusted by justing   
TPS AND MAP
for situations like yours where there will be little vaccum at idle and   
MAP readings
may be erratic.  I used GM type 2 (late model Camaro) sensors and   
everything just
hooked right up.  An el-cheapo 3-wire O2 sensor ($35 US) will work just   
fine and I
think you can use a wide-range sensor if you can afford it.  I believe   
it's software-
selectable.

4.  You consider ~50psi a "fair" whack of boost?  I've gotta see this   
thing when you
get it running!  BTW, I live right at the foot of Pikes Peak so I'm privy   
to the amazing
vehicles that run the Hill Climb each year.  Most years they'll have a   
show featuring
the cars before the race.  Personally, I'll stick to riding my dirt bike   
SLOWLY up the
hill <grin>.

Good luck dude!

 Dave
 ----------
From:  Michael Bachmann
Sent:  Monday, March 02, 1998 10:46 PM
To:  'diy_efi at efi332.eng.ohio-state.edu'
Subject:  RE: Electramotive TEC II Fuel Injection - HELP !!!! &   
me/mine/mods

Hiya Dave,
Just completed the deal for US$460 !!!! Bargain.  I got a lot of info   
from the web site.  A surprise was that they said that due to the type of   
software that is with this particular serial no., (PAFZ Blend I think) I   
was required to pay Electromotive US$495 to transfer the licence to my   
name.  As if !!!!

Have you had any problems etc. with your system ?  How hard was it for   
you to make your loom/harness (if you did ?).  Thanks for your help

By the way, the 3S-GE engine is the one that is used in the two litre MR2   
's and Celicas, both in N/A and turbo forms.  With a bit of Rod Millen   
magic and a fair wack of boost (~ 50 psi), power is up around 900 and   
reliable too !  Just look at Pike's Peak !!

Michael Bachmann       L..!..K..?..J

Michael Bachmann
Senior Technical Officer    E-mail mib at afts.com.au
Australian Flight Test Services Pty Ltd  tel (+61 8) 8262 6998
Innovation House West    fax (+61 8) 8343 8888
Technology Park    World Wide Web: http://www.afts.com.au
The Levels  SA 5095
AUSTRALIA

 -----Original Message-----
From: Atkinson, David [SMTP:DATKINSO at COSMPDGATE.CO.SYMBIOS.COM]
Sent: Monday, 23 February 1998 7:45
To: 'diy_efi at coulomb.eng.ohio-state.edu'
Subject: FW: Electramotive TEC II Fuel Injection - HELP !!!! &   
me/mine/mods

Hi guys (and gals).  I'm using the TEC II right now on a daily driver
454.  Nothing radical on/in the engine, just a street truck.  I've had
great results with this unit - it is easily tunable and the performance   

is good.

You can set it up for batch or phased sequential injection, it uses a
Motronic (60-2) crank-mounted trigger, and is well made.  The only issue   

you may have is that the spark is generated by individual coil packs (one   

coil for 2 companion cylinders on a V-8 engine).  For a street engine
with a mild cam this is quite acceptable, but if you have a radical cam   

with a lot of overlap you may run into some trouble.  I'm not sure what   

effect the waste spark (on the exhaust stroke of the companion cyliner)   

would have in this situation, if any.  Of course if this is a 4-cylinder   

engine then this is of no concern to you!  (I have no idea what a 3S-GE   

engine is).

$470 is a killer deal - I'm sure you could sell it for that much if you   

didn't like it.  Give it a try!

BTW, their WWW site is:  www.electromotive-inc.com

Hope this helps!

 Dave
 ----------
From:  Michael Bachmann
Sent:  Thursday, February 19, 1998 3:07 PM
To:  'diy efi'
Subject:  Electramotive TEC II Fuel Injection - HELP !!!! & me/mine/mods

Hi everyone,
In Australia (Oz), we know little about Electramotive FI (except that the   

Factory Racing Nissans used it), and I am building a race car that I need   

an EFI system for.  There is a guy selling a TEC II system that is
complete except for harness and injectors, the system is new, for ~ AUS   

$700 (US $470).

Any ideas/hints/tips with this system, is it good ?, what is the approx   

price in USA ?, and does Electramotive have a web site ?

All help will be appreciated.

Also, here is a list of my project details (the car will be used for
circuit racing)

 Body -  1977 RA-28 Liftback
 Engine : 3S-GE, retro fitted with turbo pistons, rod bolts and flywheel   

bolts
Turbo : Garrett T0-4, A/R - 0.60, unknown ex. Trim at the moment (Class   

rules dictate the fitment of a 36mm restrictor within 50 mm of the
compressor blades.  SHIT !!!!!!)
 Intercooler : Ex Nissan DR30 Group A Skyline (core is 17" x 21" x 3"
thick)
 Gearbox : W55 Supra
Diff : Currently measuring up a post '86 Tarago (same 7.5" centre as
Hilux 4WD but with 4 stud axles and same mounting method as Celica)
Rear Brakes : 242 Volvo Discs with Commodore front calipers
Front Brakes : 12" x 1.1" Lockheed drilled discs with 'large' 4 spot
Alcon calipers

Cheers

Michael Bachmann       :-(..!..:-|..?..:-)

Michael Bachmann
Senior Technical Officer    E-mail mib at afts.com.au
Australian Flight Test Services Pty Ltd  tel (+61 8) 8262 6998
Innovation House West    fax (+61 8) 8343 8888
Technology Park    World Wide Web: http://www.afts.com.au
The Levels  SA 5095
AUSTRALIA