Goodbye CIS-III, the Haltech IG5 is in!

[auditude at get.net]

On 1 Jul 2002 at 18:30, Marc Swanson wrote:
> >
> > I hear you, but the closest thing I could find is the
> > Link ECU at ~$800 and that will do individual coils on
> > a five cyl.
>
> sounds like a pretty cool ECU but I have yet to hear BTDT on it (which
> is why I went 034).  It will be cool to hear how Ken's luck on it turns
> out.
>
> > Try it out, but I have a you'll want to put the MC
> > ignition back.  Hopefully you still have your flywheel
> > with the timing pins?  I should have said that I would
> > have tried a MAC-11 if it didn't involve putting a pin
> > in the flywheel.
>
> nah, I have no desire to go back to the MAC ignition setup.  Even with
> all of the MAC 11 electronics in place you still need a set of pins
> driven into your cam to signal the fuel ECU as it expects one pulse per
> cam revolution per cylinder.  I didn't want to have to do that as it
> seemed a bit hackish to me.  Whatever setup I end up using will either
> use a set pins on the flywheel or the 5-window style of audi
> distributors for signaling (like used for CIS III).  I hear the linkplus
> is supposed to be able to deal with the Motronic style of ignition
> timing (one flywheel pin to indicate x degreese btdc cyl. #1, then the
> teeth on the flywheel and the single window distributor to keep things
> running) .. Ken, how are you coming along?

Hi Marc and everyone,

Well, I'm just waiting for the LinkPlus to be built/delivered.  My application/order has been placed on
"backorder" until further notice.  Time will tell if it is vaporware.

I don't know if I scared or pissed them off back when I was insisting on having it produced to use a
combination of stock crank/cam sensors so that the ignition/injection would be indexed by the crank and
not the cam, but they have basically put me on hold.  The latest of the conversations was that I would run
it with the stock sensors, but with only the stock rpm sensor and the hall sensor for indexing.

Initially, I wanted a circuit included (or incorporated by me) that would use the flywheel indexing pin, but
be supressed when the hall sensor is not also in phase indicating compression stroke.

Maybe they have changed their mind about honoring the sale price that I supposedly will get.  I've included
one of the last emails from the dealer at the bottom.  While I was in Cali buying the Coupe GT, I thought I
might stop by and check out their shop.

Since my 4kstq isn't together anyway, I'm not pressing the issue.  I'd rather have my order in the queue,
than cancel it and start over (at a higher price too).

As for the 4kstq getting together, no progress except that I bought a decent toolbox (joy!) and am getting
organized (shoulda done that before the 5kcstq clutch swap), and just tonite got the garage swamp cooler
working after replacing almost every(rusted)thing.  On the swamp, only the low speed works on the new
motor, so tomorrow I need to either adjust the pulley to a smaller diameter, or swap back in a 1/2hp from
the 3/4hp one.  Just in time for it to be ineffective in the monsoon season here hot AZ.

That's my current excuse on the 4kstq project, the ridiculous heat here.

However, I've been cleaning up the Coupe GT nicely.  Got a new fuel pump, other gauge cluster, vacuum
advance, door seal, taillight, steering wheel, shift knob, washer hose, and H2O sender.  And a thorough
vacuum job including removing the seats and lubing the tracks, and ripping out a remnant alarm harness.

It is becoming my daily driver and I may soon part with the 170k Saturn SL2.  Next in the Coupe is a set
of shorter springs, new bushings (oh yeah, I'm in the process of making a Huw-style bushing tool), and
Blausport 272 cam and other lifters.

I've been hanging out a bit with Q-lister Rob O-Brien, and it's been doing wonders for motivation.  Usually, I
just feel like some weirdo car-masochist with pie-in-the-sky ideas for what a cool car (fleet) should be.

Oh, and how's this for motivation.  I spoke to a guy that is a tech at the Audi dealer here, and his daily
driver is an '87 MC-1-converted '85 4ksq.  I haven't seen it yet, but I'm amazed at how small a world it
seems to be'coming.

On the 5kcstq front, I'm getting a set of Eibachs and Bilsteins.  Yay, the car is becoming the
quintessential q-list 5kcstq (~15psi Fuchs, euro's, sport int., ultranator, just need a single-pass ic)
Broken things include the rack with a slow leak (maybe I'll swap back in the previous ripped boot, but not
actually leaking(?) original one), and a potential a/c controller issue (may just block the heater core for the
season, as the failure seems to add heat to an otherwise working system).

It's parked until that gets addressed, with the exception of taking it out a couple nights recently for some
fun.  Btw, WRX's are pretty damn fast.  Probably about even or worse with me at 14/15psi , but he got the
jump on me so I don't know for sure.

Anyway, before I ramble on too much, I have nothing to report on the 4kstq project, except for
infrastructure improvements.  (Like finally finding the charger for my cordless drill!)

Later!

Ken

Here's the last email from the LinkPlus vendor:

------- Forwarded message follows -------
Date sent:      	Mon, 15 Apr 2002 09:48:36 -0700
From:           	Tariq Azhar <tariq at pformdevs.com>
Subject:        	RE: Costa Mesa
To:             	auditude at get.net
Send reply to:  	tariq at performancedevelopments.com
Keywords:

Ken,

The way things are going at Link I would expect it to be about 6 months or more.  We apologize for not
being able to get you an ECU with your specifications.  I would understand if you went elsewhere for a
solution.

Good Luck,
Tariq

-----Original Message-----
From: auditude at get.net [mailto:auditude at get.net]
Sent: Thursday, April 04, 2002 7:30 AM
To: tariq at performancedevelopments.com
Subject: RE: Costa Mesa

Hi Tariq,

Do you know a timeframe for my LinkPlus?  Should I be thinking 3 or 6
months, or a year?  Just trying to get an idea of what to expect.

I have come to the decision that in the meantime before the LinkPlus is ready, I will use the stock
injection for the (turbo) engine swap.

My primary concerns are that the LinkPlus eventually does get delivered, and for the quoted price.  I don't
mind waiting, but I would like to understand how long.

I'm curious about the large projects Link is doing, if it's something that could be shared.

Thanks Tariq!

Ken

On 3 Apr 2002 at 17:39, Tariq Azhar wrote:

> Hello Ken,
>
> I am doing good but it is very busy here.  We will not be open on the
> weekend. Also with regards to your Link Plus it will be on hold for
> a while.  Link USA and Link New Zealand have become very busy with
> larger projects.  Please email me if you have any questions.
>
> Thanks
> Tariq
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: auditude at get.net [mailto:auditude at get.net]
> Sent: Wednesday, April 03, 2002 12:42 PM
> To: Tariq at performancedevelopments.com
> Subject: Costa Mesa
>
>
> Hi Tariq,
>
> Ken in AZ here.  How's it going?
>
> I will be in Costa Mesa this weekend, will you guys be open?  It would
> be nice to stop by and visit the shop if possible and if there is
> anything to see.
>
> I don't think you are open, but let me know.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Ken
>
>



------- End of forwarded message -------