Hi Guys. Sorry in advance for the long post. I am leaving on vacation with my Mega Manual, and Accel manual in hand, and hope to fire up the slant again for the first time in 6 months when I return. Since much has changed since I shut it down last, this is kind of like starting over. Any formulas out there for getting a fresh application to at least fire the first time, and then keep it running until it warms up.? Here is what is different:

1.Re-routed gas line, to put regulator after fuel rail.
2. Reconficugred inter cooler tubes to be bigger, and free of former restrictions. Put blow off valve outside of main flow.
3. Started over with new base line ECU configuration from Eli at Accel, who determined old fuel map was way too rich.
4. Reconfigured ground to bring ground strap from battery in trunk directly to engine block.
5. Installed extended tip NGK spark plugs.
6. Unwrapped harness, and checked every single wire for grounds, unwanted connections, or breaks. Determined everything is hooked up where it should be.
7. Ordered and installed software tuning upgrade to make it possible to change every single tunable variable in the ECU.


I have read, and will continue to read both the Mega Manual, which has good basic advice, and the ACcel manual. BUT, because it started the first time and ran for 20 minutes and then died(long term), I am now "once burned, twice shy." I am nervous about starting this now.

It would be helpful to receive any tips or words of encouragement that might come to mind. I have Eli's basic spark and fuel map installed, but know that it might not even fire without fooling with it, and am not sure what I would fiddle with first if it does not fire. Mega Manual says it is typical for it to take 5 minutes to find the right combination to get it to light up the first time, but it does not say what to fiddle with first.

Any advice on what static timing to start with? I can lock this at any place I want. What timing is most likely to fire in a cold slant? Is 15 advanced too much? Is 10 advanced enough to drive around on. It was Matt who suggested getting it running and drivable with a static timing.

When I first fired it up with the Mega Squirt, Lou was here(Dart270), and he manned the computer. At first it hardly ran, but after about 5 minutes of warm up, and tuning in the driveway he had it running pretty nicely. Then we drove for about 30 minutes while he fiddled with the lap top some more, and it got even better. I took it from there after he left town, but the thing is, I don't know what the heck he did in those first critical five minutes. It was magic as far as I was concerned. I am leaving on the 18th, and returning on the 26th. I expect to be able to check the internet along the way. Thanks for any help you might offer.

Sam

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Hey Sam,

Sounds like you have made a lot of progress! I basically followed my nose and the MegaManual for initial startup tips. I'll see if I can think of anything else. I would start with 15 deg initial advance, which should run OK across all RPMs/loads. There should be something like Req_fuel in the ACCEL files that you can run up and down to get it running, then that will become too rich as the car warms up, which is probably what you saw before. Try putting 120% on the 60 deg F warmup enrichment setting and scaling that down to 100% at 150 deg F to start with.

Dang, I will actually be in Mechanicsburg, PA, not far from you, next weekend (21-22) for regional rugby playoffs. Too bad I will miss you. Hope we can hook up this summer. I blew the V motor up at VIR last wkend, so the new motor needs to go together/in!

Lou

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