Fully custom engine management? Possible?

[Shadow92_22]

Wanting to get super custom engine management...I'm a computer programmer, fluent in Basic, VB, C/C++. I'm pretty good with electronics systems and my oldest brother is a muscle car guy. He likes to convert older cars to electronicly controlled fuel/ignition management. I was thinking of combining my computer/electronics know-how with his engine tuning capabilities and writing my own software to control my engine when i collect the parts to convert from TBI to Turbo. Anybody think it would be possible?

I was thinking some hardcore precision in the fuel and ignition management systems...I have all kinds of position, temp, rotation, presure/vac sensors that can be hooked to a 100mhz programmable controller and plugged into my laptop with a serial, usb, or firewire connection, dont think i would need anything above a serial connection...how many mhz are the performance computers for our engines?

Post some replies as to whether u think it could be humanly possible or not...i mean its worth a try...the worst that could happen is it wont run at all lol

[altered7151]

This would probably be right up your alley! Megasquirt

[Shadow92_22]

I was lookin at it...but i have just about every electronic valve and sensor i think i would need in a box in my basement. (I used to be an electonics guru before i got into programming.) I was just throwing the idea out there to get some opinions and I'm always up for a challenge.

Maybe I'll try it on a smaller less important engine that doesn't have to get me around all the time...

[Shadow92_22]

So maybe its not really feasible? I'm sure it couldn't be nearly as much programming as the rewrite i did to windows explorer (100,000+ lines of code, 2 years)

[altered7151]

Anything is possible, if you understand how all the fuel and timing maps work and how to get the info from the sensors go for it. Maybe a good way to start is to check out the CHem group on yahoo to learn how the stock computer work and how to reprogram it. I wish I had you electronic expertise, I have the mechanical ability but I'm trying to learn the electronics side of everything.

[Shadow92_22]

Yah the only really difficult problem I see in doing this would be programming the open-loop part of the system so the car would start and run when the engine is cold. I mean it would take me a while to program and set up all the electronics. I could build an engine mockup in my basement to test out the crank/cam sensors depending on how I decide to to it. Have alot more thought on how to do it. Thanks for the info about the yahoo groups. I'm going to check that out here in a bit.

[Shadow92_22]

Lol...I'ma tard...I searched through the groups for a while and can't find the one u were talking about. Do you have the web addy for it?
Thanks in advance.
Brad

[Frank]

Or you can check out Versatile Engine Management Systems... We are still ramping up so our documentation isnt as good right now, however it is still a fully functional unit. I am currently revamping the unorganized site (not my fault) and right the manual.

The unit is Genboard V.3 ECU. It is a fully customizable efi and ignition computer that uses a RISC based Atmel Mega128 processor. To keep this thread simple it supports dual wideband O2 channels with heater support, dual EGT inputs, knock sensor, datalogging, up to 8 cylinders with full sequential injeciton or 16 cylinders with partial sequential injection. It will support same number 8 cylinders ignition in an individaul coil setup or 16 cylinder injection in a wastespark coil setup. It will also support regular distributor or distributorless ignition and the Ford EDIS setup. Many other outputs support cooling fans, rpm activated switches, boost controllers, etc; you just have to setup the code. We are also setting up different tuning softwares to support multiple OS platforms, etc. Also working with this is a LCD and a PS2 keyboard.


Frank

[D-Cal]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shadow92_22 Yah the only really difficult problem I see in doing this would be programming the open-loop part of the system so the car would start and run when the engine is cold. I mean it would take me a while to program and set up all the electronics. I could build an engine mockup in my basement to test out the crank/cam sensors depending on how I decide to to it. Have alot more thought on how to do it. Thanks for the info about the yahoo groups. I'm going to check that out here in a bit.

We're doing lots of ECM work here:
http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/D-Cal/

I think a "from scratch" ECM system would be a blast to do, if you had the time to develop it.

Also, new open source non-copyright OS software for the stock units would be a great boon too.

Derek