1974 Datsun 260Z, RB25DET, MS1/E
Posted: Mon Oct 01, 2007 12:25 am
First and foremost, I want to thank Bruce, Al, Eric, Phil, Lance, James, Ken, Glen, and all of the other talented and intelligent people from the forums and community, including the foundations started in the DIY-EFI and EFI332 days so many years ago (I've been a very long-term lurker!)
Being able to fuel inject a motor like an RB25DET with an open-source community developed engine management system is a dream come true. To be in the car, logging, tuning, and living the reality of such a successful group project is, in one word, electrifying! I see the completion of this project as another victory for the whole Megasquirt community! Enough victory celebration and champagne, let's get on with some details of the car and MS...
Car's Owner : Ray S.
MS build and install = Robert F.
1974 Datsun 260Z with a Nissan RB25DET controlled by MS1/E-029v
The JDM motor set came "complete" with a slightly fubar'd wiring harness and the incorrect stock ECU. I was contracted to "solve the problems and make it all work" - I made a new CAS wheel, rewired everything, and set the car up with a nice Megasquirt system. The car won 1st place in the "Modified Z-Car" class at the 2007 All Nissan meet in Vancouver. Yay! All that fiddle-farting to keep the wiring and installation clean, neat, and tidy paid off in the end!
About the MS stuff (that's what you really want to know about, isn't it?)
MS DETAILS...
V3.0 MS basic kit from Glen's Garage, running MS1/E-029v code.
IGNITION : Six VB921s running the stock COP ignition coils - keeps the install very clean. The VBs are wired to Spark A, B, & C in pseudo wasted spark mode. I did this because I wanted to have knock detection and ignition retard capability... (see next blurb on knock sensing for more details). We suffered from a nasty ignition miss near the torque peak when running 0.038" plug gaps, but when we dropped the plug gaps down to 0.032", all the ignition problems cleared up nicely.
KNOCK SENSING : The Spark_F/Knock_In pin can be used as either the Spark_F output, or as the Knock_In line, but not both! If you want to use knock sensing features, you can't use 6-channel ignition!!! The RB25DET has two knock sensors, so I used a pair of Boris' nice little KnockSenseMS boxes. (note - the knock-induced ignition retard isn't completely implemented yet - our street tuning sessions have been rained out by Vancouver weather!)
VARIABLE CAM TIMING : The variable cam timing solenoid is driven by a TIP120 on Output2 (X5 / JS3). I set the solenoid for 4500rom and 200rpm hysteresis. This might be wrong, but it is a starting point for now. If anyone knows what the "correct" VCT rpm setting should be, please let me know.
BOOST CONTROL : The boost control solenoid is driven by a TIP120 on output ___ ??? (not implemented just yet - more bugs to sort out elsewhere)
IDLE CONTROL : The idle air solenoid is driven by a TIP120
on output ___ ??? (not implemented just yet - more bugs to sort out elsewhere)
FAN CONTROL : The fan relay is driven by one of the 2N2222s used for one of the original LED outputs.
TACH OUTPUT : The tach is driven by a 2N5551 installed in one of the transistor spots for the original LED outputs. I used the higher voltage transistor in case I had to install an external choke. I didn't need any choke, so the 2N2222 would have been fine.
CAS SENSOR : The biggest stumbling block for the install was the CAS sensor - I made a new proprietary CAS opto interruptor wheel for the RB25DET, and it works great! If there is any demand for these wheels, I might have some more made, then offer them to the community for a modest/fair price - it's good for karma!
After a few initial teething issues, everything is running like a charm. I haven't set up the parameters for the boost control yet, nor the parameters for idle control. The rainy weather seems to have come to Vancouver, so that might have to wait until next year...
Post questions if you'd like...
I will try to post some pictures of the car elsewhere and link them here.
Being able to fuel inject a motor like an RB25DET with an open-source community developed engine management system is a dream come true. To be in the car, logging, tuning, and living the reality of such a successful group project is, in one word, electrifying! I see the completion of this project as another victory for the whole Megasquirt community! Enough victory celebration and champagne, let's get on with some details of the car and MS...
Car's Owner : Ray S.
MS build and install = Robert F.
1974 Datsun 260Z with a Nissan RB25DET controlled by MS1/E-029v
The JDM motor set came "complete" with a slightly fubar'd wiring harness and the incorrect stock ECU. I was contracted to "solve the problems and make it all work" - I made a new CAS wheel, rewired everything, and set the car up with a nice Megasquirt system. The car won 1st place in the "Modified Z-Car" class at the 2007 All Nissan meet in Vancouver. Yay! All that fiddle-farting to keep the wiring and installation clean, neat, and tidy paid off in the end!
About the MS stuff (that's what you really want to know about, isn't it?)
MS DETAILS...
V3.0 MS basic kit from Glen's Garage, running MS1/E-029v code.
IGNITION : Six VB921s running the stock COP ignition coils - keeps the install very clean. The VBs are wired to Spark A, B, & C in pseudo wasted spark mode. I did this because I wanted to have knock detection and ignition retard capability... (see next blurb on knock sensing for more details). We suffered from a nasty ignition miss near the torque peak when running 0.038" plug gaps, but when we dropped the plug gaps down to 0.032", all the ignition problems cleared up nicely.
KNOCK SENSING : The Spark_F/Knock_In pin can be used as either the Spark_F output, or as the Knock_In line, but not both! If you want to use knock sensing features, you can't use 6-channel ignition!!! The RB25DET has two knock sensors, so I used a pair of Boris' nice little KnockSenseMS boxes. (note - the knock-induced ignition retard isn't completely implemented yet - our street tuning sessions have been rained out by Vancouver weather!)
VARIABLE CAM TIMING : The variable cam timing solenoid is driven by a TIP120 on Output2 (X5 / JS3). I set the solenoid for 4500rom and 200rpm hysteresis. This might be wrong, but it is a starting point for now. If anyone knows what the "correct" VCT rpm setting should be, please let me know.
BOOST CONTROL : The boost control solenoid is driven by a TIP120 on output ___ ??? (not implemented just yet - more bugs to sort out elsewhere)
IDLE CONTROL : The idle air solenoid is driven by a TIP120
on output ___ ??? (not implemented just yet - more bugs to sort out elsewhere)
FAN CONTROL : The fan relay is driven by one of the 2N2222s used for one of the original LED outputs.
TACH OUTPUT : The tach is driven by a 2N5551 installed in one of the transistor spots for the original LED outputs. I used the higher voltage transistor in case I had to install an external choke. I didn't need any choke, so the 2N2222 would have been fine.
CAS SENSOR : The biggest stumbling block for the install was the CAS sensor - I made a new proprietary CAS opto interruptor wheel for the RB25DET, and it works great! If there is any demand for these wheels, I might have some more made, then offer them to the community for a modest/fair price - it's good for karma!
After a few initial teething issues, everything is running like a charm. I haven't set up the parameters for the boost control yet, nor the parameters for idle control. The rainy weather seems to have come to Vancouver, so that might have to wait until next year...
Post questions if you'd like...
I will try to post some pictures of the car elsewhere and link them here.