The Turbo Super Duty Build. (Page 19/63)
StuGood AUG 23, 06:35 PM
Wow, you've made a lot of progress since last I visited this thread! Impressive pictures, thanks for posting and best of luck getting it all together, Nate!

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FastIndyFiero AUG 31, 03:41 AM
I now have basically all the measurements I need for my tranny spacer plate, .75" thick. Pretty much just have to take it to the machine shop and have it made.

I also picked up a MegaSquirt II, with a V3.0 PCB. It will be controlling ignition through dual timing maps, MSD Pro-Billet distributer and MSD 6AL, all of which I have sitting right here. Depending on what progress is made on the software and crank position decoding, I might run coil-on-plug just for the hell of it. I think I'm going to pick up 4 more fuel injectors too...

At this point, parts accumulation is getting pretty old. I'm ready for the actual build. I've put in some emails for estimates on a header, but no word back yet. Packaging of the turbo and related components is going to be the challenging part (yes, maybe even fun by my standards). Very little of the wiring, sensors, or other electrical components should be visible. The IC looks like it's going to get tossed in the trunk.

Nate

FastIndyFiero SEP 13, 05:28 AM
Well, it's nearly 4:30 AM, and I'm still up -though I'm not quite sure why- so I'll do a quick update. (No pics, it's just the same old stuff)

Work progresses well on my MS unit (I've been testing as I go, everything is okay). My head is disassembled ("wait a second", you say, "wasn't this supposed to be forward progress?!?!" ) , as it will be sent off this week for coatings.

One of the big things I've been putting some time into is researching some small form factor PC's. I've put together a couple of desktop PC's that run very well, but have no experience with some of the problems associated with a vehicle-based computer. Right now, the plan is a simple/fast unit, most likely not interfacing with any audio or media. I've got a different tune to listen to . Excluding the ECM, minimal system integration. I want to be able to run Windows XP, and have a 7" or so touchscreen that when not in some other use, will display analog-style gauges from my ECM. Right now, a physical link between the ECM and PC won't even be becessary, as the ECM will support Bluetooth (yes, that means when I'm tuning it with a laptop or this PC I will not be screwing around with any cables, hehehe). I want very fast boot times, so I'm thinking flash memory here. I need only fit Windows, my tuning program, and a couple of my tuning files.

One of the main needs propogating this project is the ability to re-map and re-tune inside of the car, and the ability to permanently store different tunes so I don't have to change 193 different air-fuel/ignition bins and checkboxes when I decide to throw in a couple gallons of race fuel and go autocrossing or to the strip. Nitromethane, anyone? Ok, ok, no nitro. But I guess the focus is flexibility.

The last issue is cost...this is one of the few things I can cut some corners on, and still do "right". I don't need the latest and greatest to get done what I need to get done. I have a budget to work with and simply have to get some other engine work and things done, otherwise I'll have a nice, small paperweight of a PC.

SO...Anybody have suggestions of a good foundation for this system? I would appreciate any insights...

Next pics I post will be either of a finished Megasquirt or a ceramic coated head.
More later,
Nate

NY_FIERO SEP 13, 04:09 PM
OMG a car that runs on windows.. look out for the Blue screen of death
(I realize your car will run on the ecm)
(I'm kidding) I think its pretty a cool Idea...
Fixer Up SEP 14, 11:43 AM
Dell makes a full bore PC that is about 3 and half inches thick, 6 inches wide and 10 inches long. I have installed a few of them under desks and they don't take up hardly any room at all. Sorry I can't provide a model number, but they run about a grand for the basic PC. It maybe out of your price range and building your own might be the prefered path. Hardware if you build it is fairly cheap, Software is the major cost. Your doing fantastic things here, wish I could see it in person.
Kohburn SEP 14, 04:03 PM
these are expensive but just an example of what you can find in the "book pc" market - basicly what you need http://www.thebookpc.com/index.php/cPath/68_33?OVRAW=book%20pc&OVKEY=book%20pc&OVMTC=standard
CaddyRob SEP 14, 05:42 PM
I use a shuttle XPC and it works great, the sum of the parts could probley fit in the space behind the center console.. just take it out of the case. I got mine for 350 bucks plus the chip and memory and video card(since I didnt want to use the onboard) used a hard drive I already had, for less then a grand
FastIndyFiero SEP 14, 06:13 PM
Things I can eliminate:
Optical drive
Graphics card
HDD (maybe...2GB on a card is looking pretty good)
Excessive RAM (256MB will do)

I can load XP Pro for free, and the software that I will be using is free also. Will probably just plug a bluetooth adapter into the PC and leave it there, and one on the ECM as well. Keep the ideas coming...

Nate

FastIndyFiero SEP 22, 12:55 PM
Out with the old:

blech!

In with the new:

Yay! This one even works.

Next pics will be of my head after ceramic coating.

axshun17 SEP 26, 02:28 PM
Check out the ITX form factor for your motherboard. There are some that are like 6"x6" and have about everything onboard. If you stick with a HD and stick in a little LCD and controls you could store music and other diagnostic software things like that on it. A laptop hard drive is small you could probably build something that would fit in the normal radio location. I've read a lot of these forums and to mod your brakes and add a rear anti sway plus weld in spacers instead of the bushings on your cradle mounts would cost you less than $400 and the power you will be pushing, it sounds like these things will be a necessity. Read that Agee (guy) or something like that brake mod what he says only cost like $200. If you live in Indy maybe when it gets done I can see you run it I'm about an hour north on 65 and just getting started myself on my Fiero projects.