Goodbye CIS-III, the Haltech IG5 is in!

[auditude at get.net]

Hi Carlos,

That's exactly the impression I initially got when I first read that email.  However, I'm still holding on, since
Tariq didn't write that (feel free to step out of line) until I asked for a timeframe estimate.  I'll re-evaluate
after six months from that email (Oct.), and/or when I've driven the MAC11 in the 4ksq and want more.

I figure if they advertise it as doing something, I'll call them on it.  If it ends up being B.S., then they
deserve any bad publicity they get from it.  I don't blame the vendor, but it may entirely be possible that
Link (manufacturer) themselves want me to go away.  I base this on my almost arguing with them (an
engineer through the vendor) that I didn't want to use a less-optimal firing-order indexing than stock (by
going to cam trigger alone).  But they market their products to do-it-yourselfers, and they asked me what
the stock trigger inputs were, rather than dictating to me what their system needed, so they should
expect some ignorance and/or different viewpoints/answers.

I have yet to find any 5 cylinder direct ignition and sequential injection capable systems out there anyway,
so I don't see much choice if those are to remain goals of mine.  Since I want to run a 20v head and have
no distributor, it'll be more bucks if I get something that requires one.  I'm also fairly impressed with the
tuning software and other features.

If anyone knows of any similar products, please let me know.  This LinkPlus has 8 injector drivers and coil
outputs, so 5 is possible and spec'ed.  Most other stuff out there has a max of 4 coil outputs.  One
possibility is the AEM wire-in version because I think it is supposed to handle a 10 cylinder.  It is pretty
expensive too.

On my side of the equation, my order is a sale for the vendor, and I'm sure they want to be able to charge
my account and get paid.  My working theory is that I'm on the back burner due to being one of the few
people that jumped on their introductory sale price, and that there are probably no economies of scale for
them to dedicate resources for my single order.  I was told that an order of 5 or more units might be
enough for them to customize the inputs to incorporate the trigger indexing setup I envisioned, but I think I
would need some technical help to fill in the gaps so I could just tell them exactly what signals to expect.
As an aside, I would like to know what it is they are working on, if if that's not just blowing smoke.

Another point of view is that we can ask and ask for stuff like this (5 cylinder apps) to be created, but my
committing myself by placing an actual order probably speaks louder than any pesky email inquiries
would otherwise.

They can take their time, and if they do come through then the product ought to be that much more
refined by that time.  Aren't I just so positive?  I wouldn't be so if I had already been charged and was
waiting.  Right now I've got the best of both worlds, no monetary outlay and a spot on the advanced notice
list for when the most promising I've found of engine management systems for a 5 cylinder actually has a
product.

In short, if they don't want to make it, then they can come out and say it.  I'll sit and wait for them to make
themselves look worse and worse.  It's not costing me anything, and actually it's not like I don't already
have my hands full.  The only way I'd back out/down is if I find a replacement and actually get it.  Since I'm
not there yet, no sense to take any action.  What a thorn in their side I may be! :-D

I'll be keeping y'all updated as I hear what's going on.  If there's anyone that specifically wants to know in
case they would get one if it isn't vaporware, then maybe let me know so I can forward that to them.  If
they thought it was more than a market of one, they might be inclined to do more than nothing about it.

Later,

Ken

On 3 Jul 2002 at 13:29, passat TS wrote:
>
> Ken,
> This is MHO, and I haven't see other communications, but it really
> looks like that Link want you to go away. Which is bad. They were on
> the short list for my project, but this type of service might take
> them out of the list.
> Good luck with your fleet,
> Carlos.
> ps. On the black humor side, "azar" means bad luck in other
> languages.
>
>
>
> >From: auditude at get.net
> >Reply-To: auditude at get.net
> >To: Marc Swanson
> >CC: Quattro list , gerard at poboxes.com
> >Subject: Re: Goodbye CIS-III, the Haltech IG5 is in!
> >Date: Wed, 3 Jul 2002 01:32:11 -0700
> >
> >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
> >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 -------
>
>
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