computer

[rangerowner]

i own a 93 ranger and i am currently working on a 94 2.3 motor to put in it and i have look at a couple of things on here and it says that i would have to get a computer and wiring harness of a 95 or newer and i was wondering if really had to because of to many little things going wrong without tuning it in with the computer

[AJ_Fritz]

you can tune your computer, or you can rewire it for an LA- and run the vain air meter. i wouldnt convert to the obd2 stuff unless you were really proficient with wiring. its pricey and there are way better options for the same amount of work/money.

you would be doing double the work and money with 95 and newer electronics. first you'd rewire the entire engine harness then spend atleast 800 bucks to be able to tune it. youd still have to tune it, and sink another 300 for a wide band o2 setup so you could tune it.

after all that your still stuck with a stock ecu. you'd be better off investing in a megasquirt or other stand alone.

or you could LA3-LA2-LB3-8UA it, rewire a little and your up and running with 300 hp. stuck with a stock ecu but it runs good. later you can retune it with a J3 chip and bam you can do whatever you want with the stock electronics.

or you could get your setup all together, trailer it someplace to have your stock ecu chipped, and have it dyno tuned.

its all money and time. there is no cheap way. dig deep, ask yourself what you are willing to do and what is going to be fun. then pay to have everything else done. if you just want to drive it start looking for a builder.

i liked this post so much i sticky'd it!

[salating]

as far as tuning goes the j3 is the way go to on an older ecu

its cheap but you have to learn how to tune, i picked up on it fairly quickly

i would use your stock setup, just get a bigger maf and injectors

i could get you a base tune setup for your injector/maf combo then you can tune from there with a wideband

make changed to the maf curve based on the data you get from wideband and MAF volts

its pretty straight forward if you understand the concept

[Redneck86]

i liked this post so much i sticky'd it!
Eeeewwww :ack2:

Anywhoo back on topic. What are the advantages to running a mass-air versus VAM. Is it just the quality of the signal or what?

[muddpawz]

well hott dog!! thats the best explanation ive heard since i started tinkering with this little hobby of ours!!! THANKS!!

[Jesshwarren]

Eeeewwww :ack2:

Anywhoo back on topic. What are the advantages to running a mass-air versus VAM. Is it just the quality of the signal or what?

VAM restricts air flow, is not as accurate and will peg out at close to 18-20PSI of boost. Run a 90MM MAF you won't need to worry about a pegged meter below 500RWHP.

[AJ_Fritz]

the VAM pegs at about 150 hp. the computer just extrapolates from there using TPS and RPM to calculate higher load values.

[Redneck86]

Cool thats what I was wanting to know!

[xrsxtypes]

whats a "or you could LA3-LA2-LB3-8UA it, rewire a little and your up and running with 300 hp."

and what is a "the VAM pegs at about 150 hp"

[Soul]

LA3-LA2-LB3-8UA, factory computers used in ford turbo cars, Turbocoupe, merkur, svo mustang.
VAM = Vane Air Meter, measures air flow coming through it and sends it to the computer to calculate fuel.

[xrsxtypes]

my ranger is a 97, can i just program the computer? AJ Fritz said "you would be doing double the work and money with 95 and newer electronics" Is that swaping to obdII, or turboin all obII motors is double the money

[AJ_Fritz]

swapping to obd2 would be double the money and work. if you already have obd2 stick with it.

[nagelandy55]

So to expand on adams post, yes you can just tune your computer with either an SCT tuner or Sniper tuner.

[stedman]

Hmm..... good spot to post my question, What downloadable programs are compatatable with VISTA?? I'm getting a laptop with a router to play with in my shop.

[Jesshwarren]

SCT is compatatable with VISTA. We (JCWracing)are talking with SCT and we could be a SCT dealer within a week.

[muddpawz]

hope it works out jess!! congrats in advance of the deal goes through!

[shr00m1n]

does the VAM really peg out at 150hp?? stock SVOs ran 215hp with a VAM and stock TCs ran 200 hp with a VAM.

[salating]

no, they are very easy to max out but you can tune your ecu to the point after the vam maxes out

[88gt]

what does it take to convert the system to run with a maf verus the vam?

[salating]

a tune for said ecu setup for a maf and wideband that can datalog other 5v inputs

change some wiring and thats it

they tune away