Megasquirt- A must with F.I?

[touringsport]

Hi all,
im considering starting a turbo project on my m20 2.5. Think i've got all the hard components organised (and the money too pay for such goods ).
Being more mechanically minded than electrically so, am not sure about how to sort the fuelling/spark.
Is a system like megasquirt actually required? I'm only planning to run low boost, cos im only looking for around 220 odd HP. - I struggle to restrain myself with 170! Would a ecu "chip" of some kind do the job? I'm already using the zone wild chip, i assume this wont be up to the job?
I'll be running the "ebay" kit, with the manifold strenghtened by a friend of mine who works in a fab. workshop
Any help would be mucho apprecienda!
cheers

[maxfield]

To get the correct spark/fueling for optimum performance then Megasquirt is needed.

[Ant]

you could use a rising rate fuel regulator to achieve the goals , but that will only sort the fuelling side, the ignition will need a major retard at approx 4K to prevent detonation and blown headgaskets.

MS will do all thats required here, no issue , dont try and skrimp £Â£Ã‚£ @ the last hurdle dude, power is nothing without control, and with the ECU( OE) being unable to "see" the boost pressure, you run the risk of un-doing all the hard work you've put in so far.

in true BBC style, "other ECU's are available" - sorted

[BadDave]

To get the correct spark/fueling for optimum performance then Megasquirt is needed.

What young Jamie should has said was,
A Standalone management system will be required.

Instead of just saying Megasquirt is needed

People buy/use Megasquirt coz it's cheap to buy and easy to build yourself if your reasonably handy with a soldering iron and can read a wiring diagram.

There are other more capable standalone engine management systems available.

It's just down to what exactly your looking for from the system

Boost control?
Switchable boost?
Launch control?
Traction control?
Ability to switch between maps on the "fly"
ETC
ETC

For example DTA/MBE/Gotech/Haltech/Omex/Motec/Autronic/Pectel/Emerald
These are usually more expensive than a built up"off the shelf" megasquirt unit.
they do incorporate most/all the features listed above

For a no frills Ecu, then Megasquirt should suffice.

[touringsport]

Thanks for the quick replies!
Not looking for anything too complicated, i'm a great believer in the simple solution is normally the best.
Looking forward to spinning the wheels! might have to change back to a large case diff tho.....

[Ritchie]

you could use a rising rate fuel regulator to achieve the goals , but that will only sort the fuelling side, the ignition will need a major retard at approx 4K to prevent detonation and blown headgaskets.

MS will do all thats required here, no issue , dont try and skrimp £Â£Ã‚£ @ the last hurdle dude, power is nothing without control, and with the ECU( OE) being unable to "see" the boost pressure, you run the risk of un-doing all the hard work you've put in so far.

in true BBC style, "other ECU's are available" - sorted

Ant, I am considering copying Toby Unnas setup (minus the M5 throttle bodies) on my M30. I realise its not a perfect setup by all means but its good bang for buck. How much roughly would it be for an assembled megasquirt ECU and associated wiring?

Sorry for the thread hijack.

[gareth]

WILL have to change back to a large case diff tho.....

corrected as necessary!

if you have a small case diff, you may do what mine did at santa pod... catastrophic faulure from a 1500rpm launch!
that's with a bog standard M30 which will be a similar-ish power / torque level to you i assume

[BristolBulldog]

if your running low psi (5>6) you should be able to jsut use a decent rrfpg such as the cartech's.

not sure on the 2.5 though, these are higher compression than the m30, so maybe detonation is an issue?

[Toby_Unna]

if your running low psi (5>6) you should be able to jsut use a decent rrfpg such as the cartech's.

you probably can, but given the extremely reasonable cost of MS you'd be daft to do so because unless you get a custom remap to suit it the RRFPR setup will never work perfectly, whereas the MS is pretty much guaranteed to once Ant's had an hour or two mapping it

Ritchie, I got my kit from here

http://www.diyautotune.com/catalog/mega ... 0b2a123520

assembled MS1 V3 (the one you want) is $330 plus post plus import charges. wiring loom is $65

[e30_Turbo]

IMO if you do go with teh RRFPR and stock management, within weeks you'll be wanting more boost and will need the control that a standalone gives.

I too built my own MSV3 from a kit and it's just the best thing to have when messing about with turbo's etc.

I'm not preaching "ms is the best" just get some control, you'll need it when you want more!! ( and you will )

Mark.

[Colonel Sanders]

more more more......
just do it, you know you want to.
it will prob save you money in the long run havin more control...

[touringsport]

LOL, too true rossle, im just kidding myself i think! No-ones ever happy with the power they have- I went from a 1.3 mk1 golf to a 325i, and im already looking for more power!
Its all good fun innit?

[Colonel Sanders]

now thats the spirit!!!

[Ritchie]

if your running low psi (5>6) you should be able to jsut use a decent rrfpg such as the cartech's.

you probably can, but given the extremely reasonable cost of MS you'd be daft to do so because unless you get a custom remap to suit it the RRFPR setup will never work perfectly, whereas the MS is pretty much guaranteed to once Ant's had an hour or two mapping it

Ritchie, I got my kit from here

http://www.diyautotune.com/catalog/mega ... 0b2a123520

assembled MS1 V3 (the one you want) is $330 plus post plus import charges. wiring loom is $65

Thanks Toby. No doubt ill be in touch with you to pick your brain.