Electronic Throttle Body

[vx220]

Hi all,

My first post... please be gentle
I have an Opel Speedster/Vauxhall VX220 which has the GM 2.2L Ecotec engine. The ECU is totally not user friendly and bugs the hell out of me when it comes to setting it up for engine modifications. I am considering dumping it and plugging in a MegaSquirt, thats if its possible.

First question I have is: can any version of MegaSquirt handle an electronic throttle body? Not all Ecotec have them but the Z22SE version here in the Speedster does.

Second: Has anybody successfully replaced the ECU on an 2.2L Ecotec? I don't mind dumping the factory HT coils so I guess this would make it easier.

Thanks,
Steve

[78Spit1500Fed]

First question I have is: can any version of MegaSquirt handle an electronic throttle body? Not all Ecotec have them but the Z22SE version here in the Speedster does.

No version of MS that I'm aware of is capable of driving an electronic throtle body. (I'm assuming you're talking about the "drive by wire" type systems?)

-Brian

[mattuUK]

z22se? that's the ally engine with the head turned the "worng" way (in vauxhall terms), right?

my suggestion would be to either get a TB that is not drive by wire (earlier engine), or go straight to something like jenvey throttlebodies .

either way will work fine.

as for the ignition: you could use the standard coilpack. they are triggered by a 5V square wave signal. at least the big finned-block type ones are. not sure about the newer style ones that look a bit like coil on plug; but they are likely to be triggered the same way.

or, you could go with an EDIS coilpack (or similar) an trigger that with some VB921's.

regards

Mat

[vx220]

(I'm assuming you're talking about the "drive by wire" type systems?)

Correct. Don't fancy pulling it out though. Would of thought it be there, drive by wire is not new.

[vx220]

z22se? that's the ally engine with the head turned the "worng" way (in vauxhall terms), right?

my suggestion would be to either get a TB that is not drive by wire (earlier engine), or go straight to something like jenvey throttlebodies .

Thanks Matt, will have a think. Yup, its the backward engine ok. The jenvey throttle bodies look great Though feeding off the hot air in the engine bay wouldn't be a good idea. Are these TB's hooked up to an intake/filter system?

[78Spit1500Fed]

Correct. Don't fancy pulling it out though. Would of thought it be there, drive by wire is not new.

No, not new, but extremely dangerous if done incorrectly! I have to assume 3 things about this feature not being integrated into MS:

1. Liability. If someone's engine dies, no big deal. If someone's engine goes full throttle in rush hour traffic, very big deal!

2. The plethora of different systems out there is staggering. It would be very difficult to make a system flexible enough to satisfy all OEM configurations.

3. No one doing development is interested. Sure, it's cool. Sure, it's high-tech and someone will do it eventually... It's just so much more complicated that it's not worth the effort in most cases.

[jsmcortina]

As Brian says, implementing drive by wire is far from trivial and very dangerous if you get it wrong.
Ever heard of the right hand drive Ford Explorer that suddenly takes off on its own in traffic? That has to be a drive by wire code bug.

Aside from not having the desire to code for it or risk the liability of it, who has the time to develop it?

James

[vx220]

OK, i understand. Will look at the schemas for the Z22SE and see whats involved in replacing the ECU. Not too hot on timing and spark functions so need to figure this out. The car is pretty basic, no electrical frills so it should be do-able.

Oh! anybody worked with an inlet manifold for Weber side draught carbs?

[mattuUK]

the technicalities of the z22se engine are quite different to the old style c20xe & later engines. however, you might fin a TB that fits the inlet manifold on a rather late z20xe or x20xe(l) engine.
apart from that, individual TB's are way cool! the basic design of the engine is very good; the front facing TB's could be fed air through some form of scoop if you are particularly worried about underbonnet temperatures.
personally, I would not bother about the inlet manifold for webers. as a rule of thumb, it is somewhat cheaper so get the correct TB's. by the time you have the manifold + bought a pair of dcoe style TB's, it has actually cost you more.
alternatively, if you are handy with various bits and pieces, why not make your own manifold and fit some motorcycle TB's?
http://msefi.com/viewtopic.php?t=6627 - probably not for the faint hearted...

regards

Mat