Help needed.
S2000 engine/car build.
I realise I am going to need a programmable ecu so that’s not the issue.
The issue is do I treat my build like the s2000 track boys who replace standard ecu with plug in programmable ecu, and use all stock s2000 loom and
sensors as they are tuning a factory built car and just adapted to make it fit my build or do I get stack dash with programmable ecu and struggle to
wire it all. Is there actually a ecu that just plugs in as a programmable replacement to the standard ecu.
I couldn’t give a monkeys as to how the dash looks and won’t have time to look at it when it matters so a high pressure oil light switch and light
would probably do me, but I will need a programmable ecu to get the best from my engine as hand built exhaust, lightened flywheel and eventually itb’s
among other mods.
All advice gratefully received and thanks in advance.
i would personally want to know oil temps,exact oil pressure, afr and fuel pressure for hillclimbs and sprints. fuel surge can cause lift off
oversteer symptoms if not sety up right,which is pretty dangerous in a 300 bhp short wheelbase car. id ratehr spend a few hondred extra than risk
engine damage or worse,.
but im sure you could run stock dash,loom and aem ecu as a lot of the s2000 guys seem to.
[Edited on 23/10/12 by daniel mason]
I have kept the Ford ECU because it retains the VVT (truly variable) capability and can be upgraded to give more performace from my now tuned engine.
The down side is considerable the amount of crap in a modern wiring loom for things you will never use means you have to seperate the loom into
useful and non. The time it took was enourmous and the comlexity great and I still had to do my own loom for the rest as it is a mid engine build.
There are about 100 pins on a Ford ECU, admitadly not all are used but you have to do your homework. The only other up side is cost saving worth
having and considerable.
If yo have the money go for OEM ECU and importantly with an engine wiring loom. Not all OEM ECU's have one available from the supplier of the
ECU! Put aside a budget of £2500 including rolling road testing.
I am not sure if your proposed engine has a modern ECU but if it has it probably can be re-chiped. In the end the performance can be the same, just
add time.
^^ S2000's ECU's are really fussy about getting signals from all kinds of pointless sensors all over the car so its not an easy one to play
with 
there are a couple of places in the states that mod the stock ECU for a price to make it less dependant on these extra sensors, but most folk just
seem to fit an aftermarket ECU (omex, emerals etc...)
besides is F20C's V-tec actually varible like the sigma VVT ? I thought it was just a switchable cam profile....
quote:
Originally posted by mcerd1
besides is F20C's V-tec actually varible like the sigma VVT ? I thought it was just a switchable cam profile....
Why do you need to run an aftermarket ecu? Most of the people over here who do that end up with a more fussy car to drive and little to no extra
power.
I run the stock engine with the stock ecu. I had to use the stock key & cylinder so that the immobilizer wasn't an issue, but someone over
there showed us how to disable that so many have just disabled it or gotten a JDM ecu which doesn't have the immobilizer.
You'll be running much sooner and with less trouble downline if you just use the stock ecu. You can run the Apexi piggyback and pick up a few
HP, but few is the operative word.
Talk to the Ultralite guys that's what they run.
Cheers for help.
I agree about wanting to keep it all standard and think it would be quicker and easier to do that, but as I intend to put itb’s on the car and would
like to be able to control the v-tec solenoid as it will probably be able to come in at lower revs as my build will be much lighter than stock s2000
also I will have a non-standard exhaust and that may require mapping ????????very confusing.!!!!!
Cheers for now..................
Didn't realize you were running ITBs. That means all bets are off on the stock ECU.
Exhaust usually won't require a remap because the stock exhaust is so efficient in the first place. Short of open pipes it just won't lean
it out enough to be an issue.
I beleve omex, emerald and a few of the others can activate the v-tec at whatever engine speed you like
the current emerald ones can even control the 'Cam Phasers' (i.e. proper VVT rather than V-tec)
http://www.emeraldm3d.com/k6
[Edited on 25/10/2012 by mcerd1]
Thanks for all the help. I know a chap who builds rally cars and his own engine and car looms so going to run it by him.
I will be building my car with my standard 2007 s2000 engine, but also picked up my donor s2000 engine for the 2.4 stroker build on Tuesday so got
some spare engine parts for sale like a sump and baffle plate, cams and head maybe. I am after a Honda Acura NSX crankshaft if anyone’s got a spare
one kicking around, but no rush for this.
Thanks again Andrew.
[Edited on 25/10/12 by unijacko67]