Megasquirt or SDS and what to do about Ignition

[fortknox82]

Ok so i think ive settled in on deciding whether or not to get an SDS or the Megasquirt setup. Im guessing one is just as bad as the other since you have to tune everything from scratch. And i can buy the megasquirt preassembled so i dont have to go thru that soldering nightmare. What do you guys think and what are the differences.

But more importantly i just want to see if i am correct in assuming this. Lets say i did put on an engine management system that controls ONLY my fuel (tryin to stay cost effective). Technically, the car should still start and run on the existing ignition system in the car without having to make any modifications, right? The way im looking at it is as long as it gets fuel the spark is always there so why wouldnt it?

[mopar2ya]

The SDS controls spark and fuel, has some data logging capability. Its more advanced in its features than megasquirt. You need a system that will control both spark and fuel so you can properly tune a car, if you trying to be cheap, just get a cal from a TD vendor. The SDS also has base maps for you to start from, and its pretty simple to program, it just takes some time. Heres some features of SDS....

MAP sensors (1,2 and 3 Bar)
Knock sensors
Oxygen sensors (1 and 4 wire)
Fuel pump relays
Fast idle solenoids
Injectors
Fuel pumps
LED mixture meters
RPM switch
TPS
Electric fan switch relays
Supercharger switch relays
Air conditioning solenoids
15,000 rpm software
Backlit LCD programmer

We do sell SDS, so if you decide which way your going we'd be glad to help you out.

[fortknox82]

Well let me tell you what im working on. Im going to be purchasing an 89 - 95 2.5L 4cyl 5spd dakota. This is not going to be a race truck but i do want it to make considerable power and be able to run mid 12s consistently. I figure with the RWD platform that shouldnt be much of an issue.

The only reason i say SDS or MS is just b/c both of these companies offer a fuel injection only platform. Which means that i wont have to mess with any of the stock wiring harness in the truck. And thats why i asked can i just run an SDS EFI only setup or the Megasquirt and use the existing spark control???

I did not know that SDS had base maps to work with. Is the tuning much easier on the SDS than the MS??

[ShelbyGLHS592]

The SDS is a standalone system. You will not use any of the factory sensors or computers. You will have to fabricate a bracket for the crank sensor. You will need an FSM to connect the wiring. Since the voltage regulator is in the factory computers, you will need to wire in a voltage regulator.

SDS is very easy to use. It's pretty easy to install too. There are a few of us on here that could get you started on a fuel map. I'm sure you know their webstie (www.sdsefi.com). Go there and read about it. They have tons of information there. They can explain it much better than I can.

[Martin]

Sorry about not emailing you back yet Fortknox82 but for converting TBI over to MPI I am thinking about just useing a custom programed turbo computer. That way you can just add a few more wires to your tbi wiring harnes and plug it in and go. I was thinking about Megasquirt 2 but it has no way to control the turbo.

[Heavytank2]

First off, what ignition are you running? Is it a EDIS? Dizzy?


Your simplistic dizzy (think chevy) doesn't need a computer. But if your talking EDIS, then you'll need a 36-1 trigger-wheel and a way of mounting it with either system. There is a few sellers lingering around here for them.

Standard turbo dodge dizzys according to Una (via PM) should work if you find the contact that gives out 1 pulse per ignition event.

Also you could go piggyback for simplicity.

Give your injectors over to MSquirt (example) and take all the sensors it requires and put them in their required spots while leaving ALL stock sensors to the stock computer to control ignition. That way it can control timing, cooling fans, all that good stuff while the MS controls the injectors off its own tables.

Am I right in guessing your going to swap TD parts on to the dodge 2.5? (same engine?)

In that case, just plug in all the TD parts (duh) including a stock computer. Then you can use an additional injector setup with MS using bosses from SDSEFI.com you just basically Tee off your fuel line to feed them. So when you are overboosting/using larger turbo (diode trick) the MS' map sensor will still be working in order for you to control that injector. Once you get the hang of it you can move onto full control.

[fortknox82]

Yeah after a lot of posts and looking at a lot of wiring diagrams i think that im prolly going to go with using the MS for just controling fuel. But leaving the rest of the harness and computer intact to run the ignition, fans, a/c, etc.

Ill make sure i document everything.

[Heavytank2]

Cool. It'd help other MS-curious TD'ers .

I can't wait till I order my MS... going need it eventually.

[fiat22turbo]

MSII has some knock montioring and it controls and MAPs ignition out of the box. Using the Ford EDIS DIS solutoin, you ditch that POS factory distributor and potentially gain some reliability.

MSII is still in development, so I'd stay with the older version, which has a bunch of add-on pieces available for it (MegaJolt, MSnEDIS, PDA data logging, buil-in LCD screens for datalogging/monitoring, etc)

Stefan