OK, I want to get a stand alone EMS, what do I need?

[blade Z51]

I have a 92 Miata with a JRSC that makes around 9~10 p.s.i. For now it has a pretty basic (primitive?) fuel and timing set up. I'm running 1.8 injectors and a AFPR. For timing all I have is a 5 deg retarded setting.
Obviously, I could do better with a Mega Squirt (or some other stand alone or piggyback EMS). I would like to get a Mega Squirt and have the car tuned for optimum performance and safety. I don't know much about these things. Can some one explain to me exactly what I would need to add or modify in my car to use a Mega Squirt? Do I need to add more sensors or sensor outputs? if so what, where? Anything else that might be obvious to you but I do not know?

Thanks in advance!

[oldgrayfrog]

Megasquirt pnp, ($500), a GM Map sensor (allows you to lose that MAF) and pick up 10 whp. Wideband O2 sensor, a good header an open exhaust, an a source for cold air. Try and stay within the efficient range of your sc. M45s dont like much more than 8 psi, so only use either a crank or a nose pulley, not both. Beyond that and you have to intercool, nd with it idle droop. The MP62 can handle up to 12 psi but will need inter cooling, although BEGI has a reasonably priced cold side kit, if you already have an mp62 they will give you a pretty big credit toward the kit cost. On m45' the megasquirt iss fine, but so is the easier voodoo card, although you don't get to. Drop the MAF with that :)
good luck, and look over on Miataturbo.net, folks frequently sell their old sensors gauges and ecus for a third to half of retail.

[oldgrayfrog]

DrDrew got pretty handy with the Megasquirt tuning and was volunteering o help newb megasquirters learn along with him in a seminar sort of thing. Ben91 was so good at it, they gave him a job! Ask questions, but try and decide what your goals are for the car;
Daily Driver, track car? 160 whp? 200 whp? If you want much more than that, you should start looking towards turbos....

[Matt Cramer]

I have a 92 Miata with a JRSC that makes around 9~10 p.s.i. For now it has a pretty basic (primitive?) fuel and timing set up. I'm running 1.8 injectors and a AFPR. For timing all I have is a 5 deg retarded setting.
Obviously, I could do better with a Mega Squirt (or some other stand alone or piggyback EMS). I would like to get a Mega Squirt and have the car tuned for optimum performance and safety. I don't know much about these things.

MSPNP is the easiest one - just plugs in in place of the stock ECU.

Can some one explain to me exactly what I would need to add or modify in my car to use a Mega Squirt? Do I need to add more sensors or sensor outputs? if so what, where? Anything else that might be obvious to you but I do not know?

Thanks in advance!

I'd recommend a wideband O2 sensor system and an IAT sensor. Other than that, stock sensors are fine.

[blade Z51]

Sounds relatively simple. My blower is has the M45 housing but the screws inside have a different pitch from the standard M45 blowers, so it makes more boost just as it is.
My goals are not to get huge amounts of power, but to optimize the function of the engine with the blower I have. My guess is that with proper tuning I can pick up some power but also get better pickup and fuel efficiency from decent timing and fuel maps.
I don't think I'll intercool the blower anytime in the foreseeable future. It's too expensive and I rather use that money elsewhere. The GM Map sensor and wide band O2 sensor seem reasonable enough mods. After I get the clutch installed and get some cosmetic stuff done, I'll look into the ECU.

[iamdallas]

With the pnp, can we use only a wideband? That is... replace the current o2 with an lc-1 and have it communicate with the pnp? Or would it be easier to weld a new bung in my header?

Where's the best place for it?

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[Dr.Drew]

I welded a new bung in but only because I installed my WB a few weeks beforehand. But yeah, it's a must with any stand alone. You're going to want your WB after the header but not too far downstream or you run into issues with the readings being quite a bit behind real time and you'll have to compensate with software.

It will definitely be an improvement over band aids but before you dive in you should seriously consider whether or not you're ready or at least willing to learn how to tune. It took me over a year to tune to the point where I don't have to touch it (unless I just want to experiment) and there is a bit of a learning curve. It's quite rewarding and it gives you a ton of control but plug and play may not be the phrase I would have picked.

[iamdallas]

I welded a new bung in but only because I installed my WB a few weeks beforehand. But yeah, it's a must with any stand alone. You're going to want your WB after the header but not too far downstream or you run into issues with the readings being quite a bit behind real time and you'll have to compensate with software.

It will definitely be an improvement over band aids but before you dive in you should seriously consider whether or not you're ready or at least willing to learn how to tune. It took me over a year to tune to the point where I don't have to touch it (unless I just want to experiment) and there is a bit of a learning curve. It's quite rewarding and it gives you a ton of control but plug and play may not be the phrase I would have picked.

Can I not just remove the current o2 and screw in the wideband in the same bung? What additional tuning would that require?

My car only has 1 o2 sensor. It just seems cleaner and simple to me.



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[Dr.Drew]

You can definitely do that you'll just have to install the WB on the same day as the MS. No extra tuning, I have both of my stick O2's disconnected.

[iamdallas]

Awesome. That'll save me a trip to the exhaust shop. That was my only question, pre-buy.

Thanks, Drew! I will probably have some more for you in the future. :)

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[NA6R]

You can definitely do that you'll just have to install the WB on the same day as the MS. No extra tuning, I have both of my stick O2's disconnected.

Not if your using an Innovate WB. They have a narrow band signal output that can feed a stock EUC.

[miatasaint]

Not if your using an Innovate WB. They have a narrow band signal output that can feed a stock EUC.

This is true.

I have the LC1, it can also have a direct fit to the OE bung in your stock exhaust manifold.

[FooSchnickens]

This is true.

I have the LC1, it can also have a direct fit to the OE bung in your stock exhaust manifold.
I haven't seen a WB sensor that doesn't do that.

[miatasaint]

Just trying to add info for the OP..