What Hardware Do I Need to Get Started?

This is one of the most frequent questions we see in our Moates.net support inbox. The answer, of course, depends highly on a few factors:

• What make, model, and year of vehicle?
• What Engine is in it (e.g. TPI, TBI)?
• What ECM or PCM is in it?
• What do you want to do (burn chips, emulate, datalog, or all three)?

The last question above is probably the most relevant in terms of making a decision regarding what to buy. Many people just becoming interested in EFI (electronic fuel injection) tuning don't have a clear picture of the basic tuning hardware categories. We're going to answer this question for each vehicle make Moates.net supports.

General Motors (Chevrolet, Pontiac, Buick, Olds, GMC)

Datalogging

The basic feedback mechanism for determining what and how much to tune is datalogging. A datalogging interface is a piece of electronics that translates the signals from your vehicle's computer into data that your laptop or PC can read.

Datalogging allows you to monitor and record (depending on the software you choose to use) real-time vehicle and engine parameters, such as RPM, speed, fuel trim, spark position, etc. This data is pretty much required in order to have a chance at successfully tuning.

Moates.net offers datalogging interfaces for GM OBDI ('85-'95 vehicles) and Honda.

Chip Burning

The least expensive tool for EFI tuning is the chip burner. The disadvantage to chip burning is iteration time during the burning process. Chips need to be burned, installed, and the results checked until a desired tune is achieved.

For most applications that accept chips, Moates.net offers the BURN1 (Flash & Burn) and 27SF512 EEPROMs.

Emulation

Moates.net offers 2 emulators, the Ostrich 2 and the AutoProm.

All Three?!

What if you want to do all three? If you're a GM owner and your vehicle accepts chips, the AutoProm can do all three - emulate, burn chips, and datalog. It also includes a license for TunerPro RT, which works with nearly all GM OBDI vehicles, EEPROMs to get you started (27SF512), and a GM OBDI cable.

Adapters

In order to plug in a new chip, as well as to interface the emulator chip header, you'll need an adapter for your car's computer. If you buy an emulator or chip burner, you'll also need an adapter. Some adapters, like the G2, are solder-in, while others, like the G1 and G3, can be easily removed and moved to another vehicle.

If your vehicle uses a calpak (a.k.a. memcal) and you wish to read the stock chip with the BURN1 (or any burner/reader), then you'll need an HDR1. Use of the HDR1 is optional, since most stock binaries are available on the Internet. Also note that if your vehicle uses a calpak, your vehicle is compatible with both the G1 and G3 adapters (the G3 is a switching version of the G1).

The GM Compatibility Table

This table is abbreviated. If you don't see your application here, please email us.

* Socket Booster (S_BOOSTER) required for Ostrich 2 emulation and TBI ECMs

An example answer to the question, "What do I need to get started," assuming the customer owns an '87 Firebird TPI

The table above shows what Moates.net hardware is compatible with this vehicle. The cheapest route is to get a G1 adapter, BURN1, and a couple 27SF512s. You'll absolutely need an ALDL interface, so go for the ALDU1 + CABL1 combo. If you plan on doing a lot of tuning, an emulator is a wise, but optional, choice (Ostrich 2). You can just go with the emulator and avoid the BURN1 and 27SF512s altogether (the vehicle can run on the emulator full-time), but getting a chip burner is often a good idea so that you can burn a backup chip (backup chips are highly recommended). Remember, if you plan to do anything more than datalog, you'll need an adapter regardless of whether you choose emulation or chip burning.

If you plan on doing a lot of tuning, especially if you run a shop or work on a lot of friends' cars, then you can get an APU1 and a G1 and be done with it. That will include everything you need to tune the majority of GM OBDI vehicles.

Ford

Datalogging

Moates.net does not offer any datalogging products for Ford at this time. Commercially available scanners can be used to gather real-time engine parameters.

Chip Burning & Adapters

Ford works a bit differently than GM in that it doesn't use EPROMs. To interface with your Ford vehicle, you need at least 3 pieces of hardware: F3, F2A, and BURN1. If you wish to read your stock binary from the computer (i.e. if it doesn't exist on the Internet in the various libraries), then you'll also need the F2E in addition.

Emulation

If you wish to make realtime changes using an emulator such as the Ostrich 2, you'll need a FORDEMU in addition to the hardware specified above in "Chip Burning"

Honda

To be continued...

MJM October 5, 2007