[V8] Chips and computers

[Samuel Mrowka]

Are either of you fellas able to make a write-up of how to correctly use the
4.2's computer in a 5-speed? As you guys mentioned, the current school of
thought uses the 3.6 computer and harness with the '92 engines. I think that
would be a HUGE benefit to the V8 community!

Personally, I've been running a 4.2 motor with a 3.6 harness and ECU like
several other listers. I'd be thrilled to learn how to correctly use the 4.2
harness and ECU though.

Samuel

Message: 6
Date: Fri, 17 Sep 2010 10:23:48 -0400
From: qshipq at aol.com
Subject: Re: [V8] Chips and computers
To: CavalloGT at gmail.com, V8 at audifans.com
Message-ID: <8CD248B13F72B97-CEC-F360 at Webmail-d112.sysops.aol.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"


 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)