ECUs and Tuning Discuss Engine Management, Tuning, & Programming

Choice between PC-pro or an standalone ECU

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Old 08-15-2011 | 03:58 PM
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Default Choice between PC-pro or an standalone ECU

Hi (First of all that my first post in a forum) my name is Patrick i live in Montreal,Canada so my first language is not english!!

I bought my best friend father 2000 Miata SE that he had bought new in 2000.
With the year he add many upgrade to his car.He sell me the car because it was a money pit for him ( all his mods where install in speed shop and garage).

I Bought the car without knowing that it was broke as it was. Short story i had to pull out the engine and disassemble it completely and send it to a machine shop.

Right now the block just came from the machine shop because one wrist pin of a forged piston pass through the c-clip and mark the cylinder.

I'm in the process of reassembling the engine (the block was built with new forged wiseco pistons and forged eagle rods with a compression ratio of 8.5 to 9 as stated by wiseco, arp stud and arp rod bolt.

I will re-install every mod already made :

Flyin'Miata turbo GT-2560 with intercooler
3" down-pipe and all the way back
aluminium koyo radiator 37mm
act clutch
wideband O2
walbro 255 lt/hr fuel pump


The car as a PC-Pro powercard already install and the ajustable timing wheel for static timing modification....

After many hours of reading in many forum i'm a bit confuse of what to do next when i will firering the new engine.....

I'm planning to stay in the range of 8psi and running 91 octane gas....

I tough the miata 99+ could already retard the timing because it had the knock sensor....( maybe the forced induction is to much for the ecu)

The PC-Pro power card was bought from fast forward in march 2008. I think they change the firmware many time since 2008 but i don't know how i could update my card because i don't find a usb plug on it (only an un-know type of plug).

Do you think that because the motor is low compression (8.5-9) could save me from detonation with regular 10 deg advance timing.


Should i keep the Powercard and by a PC timing card to be safe with detonation?

Should i buy a megaskirt III (for average 700$) and change injector to upgrade for 200hp ?????

What do you guys think and recommend me....

It will be a day to day car..So i would like that it run smootly...
Old 08-15-2011 | 04:18 PM
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I would have to recommend the MegaSquirt standalone.

Even though you plan on running only 8-9 psi, the standalone is still the better choice. The Power Cards are not designed very well (band aid) and after using band aids previously, I would NEVER go back to uses them or any variant of them.

If you want smooth power delivery, a good tune on a stand alone is like nothing else. Night and day difference between the stand alone and a band aid setup. I know this from personal experience and I'm sure others will come in and say the exact same thing.

Good luck. Don't be worried about your English, you made a great post for a first post. Post some pictures of your car and turbo setup if you have the time later.
Old 08-15-2011 | 05:08 PM
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Thank you for your fast response

The thing is that i have drive the car for only 30 miles to diagnose the piston problem so i don't know howthe car was acting with the PC-CARD and timing wheel before...

I't just because i tend to think that when were not in boost the original ecu would work better then a stand alone ( a/c alternator power steering..)

But i'm a newbie so i will take advise from other...

Do you think that i could get a base file for a Miata NB to start with for a megaskirt III..

And witch megaskirt would you recommend PNP II or III.

Thank.
Old 08-15-2011 | 05:44 PM
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Don't think there is a PNP III. I'd suggest a locally built MSI, cheaper than the DIYPNP, but then again not by much, either one is $500-650 all said and done.
Old 08-15-2011 | 05:52 PM
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+1 on the MegaSquirt, don't touch the powercards. That Fast Forward card will be setup for a supercharger, and I'm pretty sure its never going to run well with your turbo.

It sounds like you have everything pulled apart at the moment. My recommendation, If you can, would be to not drive it. Save some cash until you can afford proper management, then put it together and have fun. If you have to drive it, put it back to naturally aspirated (do not re-install the turbo.) Its not going to be fun, but it should be relatively safe. If you absolutely have to drive it and must re-install the turbo (if you don't have the stock parts) I would recommend wiring the waste gate OPEN so it does not build boost. Again, it won't be fun, but chances are it will not explode.

We have the same car, so I understand the pain in the ECU department, but it will be worth it. Take a look at DIYAutoTune and the MS2 based DIYPNP Nippon Denso 76pin Unassembled Kit and you can build one yourself for some savings. They even have a helpful guide to help you get started. If you don't feel you can build this beast yourself, there are several guys on this forum who offer it as a service.

Good luck with the build, keep us all in the loop!

Last edited by EO2K; 08-15-2011 at 05:53 PM. Reason: removed wbo2 comment, missed that OP has one already
Old 08-16-2011 | 02:10 PM
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Guy on my local Miata forum is selling a 99-00 MS2, $350

http://norcalroadsters.com/forum/vie...p?f=11&t=12112

I can't vouch for the seller or the unit, but they are out there.
Old 08-16-2011 | 04:31 PM
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Thank EO2K i think that i will go with a pnp.

Does a pnp megasquirt is already configure to control a/c, IAC, ABS and could we find table to start with.

Do you guys no the Adaptonic ecu made for the miata ?http://boundaryengineering.com/drupal/node/124
Old 08-16-2011 | 04:34 PM
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Originally Posted by EO2K
I can't vouch for the seller or the unit, but they are out there.

Cool, now what do you do about a harness?
Old 08-16-2011 | 06:23 PM
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Originally Posted by Braineack
Cool, now what do you do about a harness?
Linked in his FS thread on NCR:
http://www.norcalroadsters.com/forum...130025#p129677
OcularTrauma wrote:
Nice... thanks for the pics. I assume it still has the 99/00 'pnp' harness, external voltage regulator w/pigtail and IAT? I also assume it has a case, lol. I've seen plenty of pics of the build, but never a housing.
Doboy wrote:
yea, its everything you listed except the IAT. yes it does have the case. all i did to it was open it up to browsed. yea, im in the area around tech3 so just let me know when ur available. ill pm you my number aswell
This particular MS2 has quite the legacy here on MT:
https://www.miataturbo.net/miata-parts-sale-trade-5/99-00-megasquirt-ii-%24350-shipped-56824/
https://www.miataturbo.net/miata-parts-sale-trade-5/99-00-megasquirt-ii-standalone-37658/
https://www.miataturbo.net/miata-parts-sale-trade-5/megasquirt-2-built-stand-alone-99-600-a-28728/

So yes, it has a harness. All I was saying is they ARE out there.

patane: PM Brainy here and see if you can get him to build you a DIYPNP Megasquirt. That's what I did, no complaints. I just need to get some time to install and tune the thing
Old 08-17-2011 | 01:31 AM
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To EO2K i just read the 29 page from the group buy for the DIYPNP Megasquirt could you tell me more about it please.

Does it came from Brainy or reverent (Dimitris) ?
Old 08-17-2011 | 02:47 AM
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Reverant was doing a group buy at one point, but it was long closed by the time I found his thread. I tried to kick a few tires and get enough commitments to get some sort of volume to help defer the price of shipping (he is in Greece) and try to get a break on the price per unit, but I could never get enough people together at the same time to make it happen, so I gave up.

Braineack was nice enough to answer one of my PM's so I had him build one for me. I can solder but I'm not convinced my skillz are up to the task quite yet.
Old 08-17-2011 | 08:57 AM
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EO2K, do you know in witch thread i could find review of people who had a bought a diypnp enhance from them?
Old 08-17-2011 | 09:13 AM
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A few reviews:

https://www.miataturbo.net/showpost....&postcount=577
https://www.miataturbo.net/showpost....&postcount=116

That is all I can remember right now.
Old 08-25-2011 | 10:12 AM
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Thank you guys the stand alone ecu is in command.....That what i had in mind before asking...I was afraid about the tuning but as another thing you could learn it..
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