DIY Mapping, I5 experience

[Audiboys4]

Ok, I am well aware that i might have opened a can of worms here, since most mappers hold their experience with tuning engines as a government secret.

Anyways, my thought when posting this thread, was that we might share our experience on what really works on these engines, in general of course. I am well aware that there are allot of parameters varying here, but I`m just curious on how people proceed when they start out.

-How do you proceed when working out your ignition maps ? What works out, how does the engine respond ?
-What equipment do you find useful when tuning ?
-AFR numbers ?
-EGT numbers ?
-Spool up ? Drive ability..
-Logs

This thread is not meant to be a how to, just experience on how you guys to your tuning from start to finish.

Hope someone will share their experience, and lets have good discussions without being rude, I`ve seen that happening in here

[prj]

These questions are basic and are the same for every internal combustion engine. The I5 is not somehow special.

EGT wise, try not to ever exceed 1000 deg pre-turbo is all I can say.
Fueling, timing and boost should be picked to match said goal. There is no "magic right number", every engine is different.

MBT is always knock limited on these when pushing any sort of boost, in the areas where it's not knock limited you need a steady state dyno to find the sweet spot. Impossible to get right without.
I've mapped close to a couple hundred of these now, and it's always different.

[Audiboys4]

So whats equipment do you use for knock detection ? Considering this page, looks ok.... http://www.phormula.co.uk/Default.aspx

[DJones]

In the good old days when i did a little mapping, nothing serious, i used and old vauxhall knock sensor bolted it on the side of the block and connected my oscilloscope to it and watched for any irregular spikes.... some use stethoscopes but never really got on with that.

Was all a bit basic but it taught me the rough basics..

[prj]

So whats equipment do you use for knock detection ? Considering this page, loos ok.... http://www.phormula.co.uk/Default.aspx

Those are waste of time IMO.
I use an electronic amplifier and a "cemented" microphone connected to the engine block, so it only picks up the vibrations going through the engine.
There is nothing better for it really

I should record sometime what knock on an I5 sounds like.
For any electronics to be any good you need the appropriate knock window (so it needs hall pickup and so on), else all you see is just noise.
Basically as you change ignition advance the sound of the engine also changes, and you will not be able to tell that well if it's knock or if it's because the engine note changed ...
But with your ears you can hear it perfectly every time if you are used to it.

[Audiboys4]

Those are waste of time IMO.
I use an electronic amplifier and a "cemented" microphone connected to the engine block, so it only picks up the vibrations going through the engine.
There is nothing better for it really

I should record sometime what knock on an I5 sounds like.
For any electronics to be any good you need the appropriate knock window (so it needs hall pickup and so on), else all you see is just noise.
Basically as you change ignition advance the sound of the engine also changes, and you will not be able to tell that well if it's knock or if it's because the engine note changed ...
But with your ears you can hear it perfectly every time if you are used to it.

So the units with audio output is no good either ? Would be nice to have found a prefabricated kit to listen with

[prj]

So the units with audio output is no good either ? Would be nice to have found a prefabricated kit to listen with

All you need is a condenser mic and a microphone amp...
If you want to pay 1000 EUR for something that cost 50 EUR to make, be my guest

[Audiboys4]

All you need is a condenser mic and a microphone amp...
If you want to pay 1000 EUR for something that cost 50 EUR to make, be my guest

Much of the point of making this thread was to share experience in such a manner, so lets not spend money on overcharged stuff Im a big fan of finding cost effective solutions, but quality and performance to

[prj]

Much of the point of making this thread was to share experience in such a manner, so lets not spend money on overcharged stuff Im a big fan of finding cost effective solutions, but quality and performance to

Cool, let me make you one of those kits, put a sticker on it, and you can buy it for 500 EUR.
Deal? It's more expensive, so surely it has better quality

[4WheelDrifter]

Cool, let me make you one of those kits, put a sticker on it, and you can buy it for 500 EUR.
Deal? It's more expensive, so surely it has better quality

Well, I am often told, "You get what you pay for."

[Audiboys4]

Cool, let me make you one of those kits, put a sticker on it, and you can buy it for 500 EUR.
Deal? It's more expensive, so surely it has better quality

Well, then I think i did not explain my self that well then ?

[prj]

As said, get a headphone amp (I use a motorcycle intercom), get a condenser mic, get some shielded mono wire, get an alligator clip, some JB weld... and you are basically done.

After that attach alligator clip that has mic embedded in JB weld for example on the bolt of one of the stock knock sensors, or some other spot where you can make firm contact with the engine block, and listen to the music.

[kamuto]

http://www.linkecu.com/products/Tuni.../g4-knockblock this one works very good

[GazzaG60]

link only works as good as its positioning and wiring.

as prj says.
fancy Christmas tree box

id have a quid by the time you see the knocklink light up and you step off the gas the damage is done.

[GazzaG60]

im a diy mapper. I learned from readings and books followed by experience.

I starts on Subaru's pre 97 classic shapes with the td05. and link ecu. that's the old link plus 8x8 tables up to the link G3.

my first experiences were that feedback from instruments is vital. I wont tune a car without egt and afr.

I find timing to be about as important as anything.

I prefer a separate EBC when tuning than the stock boost circuits. I can understand why this might be seen as not the best but I find it works well for me.