Joe Blow

More new parts for the EFI system have arrived. Here you can see the new case complete with locking waterproof connector. I need to redesign the ECU board a little so that it fits in the case. That's the great thing with open source design, I can take the design and modify it for my application, as long as it is done in accordance with the license requirements.

The ultimate goal of this ECU build is to create an ECU that is professionally packaged, easy to install and deploy and includes the basic features needed to provide fuel and spark to one of my blown set ups. This means that the costs are minimised, which in turn means that I can pass the savings on to the end user, which opens up the possibility of using EFI to many people. Of course if people want to buy an $800 megasquirt or a $2000 Haltec they still have this option open to them.

Feature-wise the ECU will have the following

- Batch fire injection
- Wasted spark ignition
- Distributorless crank fired control
- Boost referenced ignition mapping
- Idle air control
- Acceleration enrichment
- Cold start enrichment
- Closed loop Lambda control
- Auto-tune capabilities

I also received the Idle air control valve and throttle position sensor. Finding the correct components to work with both the ECU and still fit the throttle body has taken a bit of time. Standardisation of components has been an important factor as these components need to work across a range of different ECUs. They also have to be reliable and robust enough to withstand the operating environment, plus not be so obscure that they are hard to come across.

At the moment I'm busy drafting the new ECU layout. This should hopefully be ready before Christmas.

Finally managed to get the ignition system finished off. Parts are on order for the first batch of units.

Added a bunch of features which should hopefully cater for most set ups.

Boost control
Inlet air temp compensation
Engine temperature compensation
Voltage dwell compensation
Rev-cut
Launch control (inc 2 step)
Tacho out
Water / meth injection trigger
Shift light

Fully mappable for RPM versus Boost / Vac
Bluetooth connectivity
Can be used with Tuner Studio / MSdroid / Shadowdash.

Supplied with ECU, loom, crank pulley, trigger kit, coil pack and plug leads - basically everything you need to replace your dizzy

AU$650 + Shipping

Been busy putting some kits together over the weekend. Made up a bunch of throttle wheels, welded up a bunch of stands, made up a couple of the EFI manifolds and took a bunch of photos for the new Web Store.

I'm in the process of updating the web site which includes adding in some new products and listing all of the existing parts that I sell. There's still a heap of work to do as it goes live at the end of the week.

Also negotiating with a few suppliers to bring you some new options. Hopefully everything is going to come together by the end of the week.

Spent some more time making chokes this evening. Tonight I made up an arbor for holding the chokes in my small indexing head. This will allow me to machine the slots in the chokes for the accelerator pump nozzle and get them in the correct orientation. So guess what... Machining chokes is pretty much what I will be doing again tomorrow. Sounds like a chore but making up tools and jigs is a very rewarding part of the process. It exercises the brain - trying to figure out the best way to do something and then you have to put it into practice and work out how to make it. The end result is always rewarding.

Picked up some water jet cutting this week, a new batch of tensioner arms - just need to set aside some time to machine them and surface finish them. Spent most of the weekend welding up parts for new orders, also invested some time in making up a new tool for squaring the manifold ends. I have been meaning to make it for a while now but as it involved a fair time investment I've been putting it off. It probably took me a day all-up but now the manifolds are a lot quicker to make and a lot more consistent finish as well. Unfortunately there's no photos as that's all classified secret-squirrel stuff. #workingsmarter

I've been talking with the Australian supplier for 123ignition about developing a custom distributor specifically programmed to work with our supercharger kits. The 123ignition distributors feature fully programmable ignition curve and an integrated MAP sensor to measure boost and provide ignition retard under boost conditions. The distributors will be supplied pre-loaded with a custom advanced curve developed on the dyno tailored for the supercharger, allowing the end user to simply install, set the timing and forget.

Discussions are underway, hopefully we can get a functioning unit ready for sale soon. Add this to our custom camshaft currently in development and we have the potential to make some serious power.