[V8] Chips and computers

[qshipq at aol.com]

 Good post!  I too have used the autobox motronic in a 5speed car.  WRT the 4.2 auto v manual...  Many have said the 3.6 motronic has 'better' timing tables in it.  That's really not the case looking at the code IMO.  Cavallo hit the nail on the head, as 'without' the shift input from the trans ecu, the 4.2 motronic will retard timing.  The 4.2 also uses a potentiometer for the throttle instead of the 3.6 WOT switch.  This also affects tabling in the 4.2 ecu.  IME, both issues are easily addressed, as well as the revised idle issue on the 4.2 motronic.

Self proclaimed 'gurus' also make me chuckle.  There are very few folks that seem to understand the differences between the 3.6 motronic ecus and the benefits of the 4.2 motronic ecu.  There was a lot of chatter speaking to rewiring 4.2 5 speed engine conversion with the 3.6 harness a couple years ago on the QW forums.  A hack that 'can' work, never did understand doing all that retrofit work, as the 4.2 motronic is a better box IMO/E

Scott J
The "other" disbeliever in self proclaimed gurus
92 v8 4.2 ABT chipped


-----Original Message-----
From: Professor GT gmail <CavalloGT at gmail.com>
To: V8 at audifans.com <V8 at audifans.com>
Sent: Thu, Sep 16, 2010 8:47 pm
Subject: Re: [V8] Chips and computers


I ditto Allan's experience. My 1991 factory 5-speed runs fine with a stock 
automatic ECU. I swapped the original ecu with one from an automatic car for 
test purposes and never switched it back as I noticed no difference.

I've been told the 1992 models change all the rules, as the 4.2L engine controls 
look for the trans data and if its not there will retard ignition timing. Makes 
sense, but I have not verified this yet. Should be pretty easy to prove out.

I'm about to begin swapping a 4.2 from a 1992 automatic into my 1991 5-speed, 
and will wring-out all those types of issues at that time. 

Unfortunately, like many other things on the web, there's way too many folks who 
post unverified information, and when passed from person to person, this 
mis-information seems to become "Urban Legend".

As a factory rep/field engineer/training instructor for various car companies 
for the past 28 years, I have amassed quite a large knowledge-base. I do not 
mention this to brag or boast, but to relate that my experience has proven that 
many folks latch on to half-truths just because what they hear "sounds good". 
They don't bother to check things out, and many times don't have the bandwidth 
to know fact from fiction anyway. That's not their fault, but just a 
manifestation of ignorance.

I don't mean to preach to the choir, but there are self-professed 
"Legends-in-their-own-Minds" lurking in these parts, and I just hate to see 
folks being led astray by the unscrupulos among us.

The key is to dig for the facts, and quite amusingly, the more you educate 
yourself, the more you find that there are lots of folks that really don't 
understand. I run across this on a daily basis I'm my classes (I currently teach 
automotive/heavy equipment), and it's a true pleasure to see the satisfaction 
that arises when the lights of educative  illumination shine through, once a 
student really understands how things work.

The moral of the story I guess, is beware of the wolves out there who can steer 
you wrong and/or take advantage of you.  Check, double check, and triple-check 
things before diving in.

Again, there are "listers" out there who are just waiting for fresh meat, so be 
sure to check out what you are being told before trusting others. 

Being relatively new to the forum, I just recently had a negative experience 
with someone who thought I was naive enough to fall for the crap he was 
peddling.

If you have any questions as to the validity of what someone is telling you, 
it's not too difficult to sort things out, using all the various means available 
to us these days.

Sorry for all the pontification, but I was lucky enough to see through the 
manure being flung around, and I hope that this note will give folks pause to be 
on guard, so as not to be taken in by the wolves!

I will always strive to help in whatever ways I can, with a positive influence, 
but at the same time it's my responsibility to call a spade a spade.

 I'm a gearhead and that's my passion. Nothing jazzes me more than sharing my 
passion for all things automotive, and constantly honing my skills. In the 
process, if we can help to educate, and at the same time weed out the wolves, 
more power to us, as we've done a good job!

Thanks,

ProfessorGT
(Sent from my iPhone4)
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