Help with tuning?

[countylinegarage]

I have found one of the best tools to use for someone to understand the changes made to a tune/BIN is to use an EPROM emulator, like an Ostrich 2.0 or AutoProm, which it sounds like you didn't buy.

The old method of datalog, modify bin, burn, swap EPROMs does work, it takes a lot longer and can be more difficult to get right, because you can't immediately see the result from the change and the change may be so subtle that it's difficult to tell if you're going in the right direction or not, and so you may make a bigger change than needed on the next iteration, which then may make the engine run poorly and think that you went the wrong way, changing the tune again, but the wrong way and you can get into a lot of back and forth and frustration. So, basically if you use the burn n swap method, you need to have patience and pay real close attention to what the datalog says and what your other senses tell you as well. That last part is the reason I don't do remote tuning or mail order tunes. I've tuned some cars where the numbers on the screen would have led me the wrong way, using my other senses, feel, smell sight, etc, have been my greatest asset when it comes to getting a tune right.

Using an EPROM emulator speeds up the process quite a lot and you can see the changes immediately as you make the changes and know whether it's in the right direction or not. It really helped me to understand what changes did what back when I first started learning.

I see. The reason I went in this direction is because support from moates suggested it may take a month or so to learn (and that this way was a little less expensive) and getting a tune written for me might be the better direction even if it means sending the data I log to someone over email and exchanging back and forth. I guess I should have just bit the bullet and bought the AutoProm. I guess Ill either end up spending that extra money (yikes) or Ill have to find someone to walk me through this method at least until I am pretty comfortable I'm not going to break anything. Any suggestions are welcome. I watched the video from Dave but unfortunately that website the guy uses to find a close bin to his mods isn't functioning and seems pretty dead.

[dave w]

I watched the video from Dave but unfortunately that website the guy uses to find a close bin to his mods isn't functioning and seems pretty dead.

Gearhead-efi has a library of TunerPro RT files for your TBI system. The Youtube link was basic overview of TunerPro RT.

Goal #1 --- Post a data log.

Ask questions, we all started out like you wanting to understand EFI. It's still an engine, but with a computer.

dave w

[countylinegarage]

Gearhead-efi has a library of TunerPro RT files for your TBI system. The Youtube link was basic overview of TunerPro RT.

Goal #1 --- Post a data log.

Ask questions, we all started out like you wanting to understand EFI. It's still an engine, but with a computer.

dave w

Sounds good! Sorry too wasnt trying to be crappy about it I appreciate all you guys help! Just trying to figure out the options as well as what I can do myself or what I will have to get help with. I'm going to probably ride around with the laptop plugged in to get some numbers this afternoon.

[countylinegarage]

I found my bin file which i made wayyyy more complicated than i needed to. However i cant find the "xdf" to data log with tunerpro since that website is funktified. Where do i find that information. EDIT I did find the files and I chose one and its in the tunerprort software im now having issues with getting my aldl cord to show for whatever reason. I followed the instructions moates put out and the software says the cord should be working but it then wont initialize. instead it says hardware not found.

[Six_Shooter]

I have an Ostrich or 2 I'm thinking about parting with. I have several, and don't use OBD1 GM ECMs on as many of my vehicles anymore, most have or will have Megasquirt, one will stick with the GM ECU, since it's mostly stock, and doesn't make sense to swap it to a Megasquirt, so I don't need as many emulators.

It's going to take you a lot longer than a month to learn, I've been doing this for about 15 years and still learn new things often. ;) I'm not saying that to discourage you, I'm just saying that the idea that a month to learn what you need is a bit unrealistic. Don't get me wrong, you'll learn a LOT when you jump in, and it WILL be overwhelming sometimes, but as long as you are patient and willing to learn, you'll be fine. Also, there's no such thing as a "perfect tune", you can get a tune very very good, but it'll never be perfect under all conditions, so don't get too worried when you get to a point where you seem to be changing the same cells or values back and forth between two settings. That just means that you're really close and need to leave it at some setting and live with the slightly not perfect numbers that you might be seeing. The goal is to have a good running engine, that runs smoothly, pulls smoothly and makes the power it should, while using the least amount of fuel possible to achieve this an not overheat at the same time. It's a balancing act, and will take some time.

You don't need an XDF to datalog, you need an ADX.

The XDF is, for all intents and purposes, the road map to the BIN file and puts the hex in the BIN file into easy to read numbers and functions.

The ADX is what deciphers the datastream from the ALDL port.

[countylinegarage]

Ah I see. I updated that post just a second ago if you have any suggestions for that aldl datalogging issue or would that be because of my attempting to use the xdf in the software in place of the adx?

[Six_Shooter]

Ah I see. I updated that post just a second ago if you have any suggestions for that aldl datalogging issue or would that be because of my attempting to use the xdf in the software in place of the adx?

Ignore the hardware not found error, that's for emulation devices, like the Ostrich 2.0 and AutoProm.

You need to go into preferences and set everything for the cable in there.

Yes, you need to use an ADX to datalog, like I said the XDF is to look at the BIN, one can not be used in place of the other.

[countylinegarage]

So I finally got to log a bit of data of me driving around by my house out in the country and here's what I ended up with. I knew I was getting around 11 mpg so wasn't surprised there yikes! I'm assuming that's the cam and heads I put on disagreeing with the computer. I hope its something I can tune out if not I guess Ill learn to live with it.

IMG_4637.jpg

IMG_4636.jpg

[countylinegarage]

IMG_4638.jpgIMG_4639.jpgIMG_4641.jpg
Here's a few more.

Seems to me ive seen some of the graphs from other users and they look relatively smooth while mine look all jumpy and my advance jumps like crazy on idle.

[countylinegarage]

Thats what they were saying over at moates basically just that learning the beginnings would take that long to actually get writing tunes myself. In regards to the XDF ADX Is that why im having issues getting my aldl to work?

[dave w]

Here's the gearhead-efi link for TunerPro RT files, 1995 Pickup with 4L60E: http://www.gearhead-efi.com/Fuel-Inj...Information-0D

Here's the gearhead-efi link for TunerPro RT files, 1995 Pickup with 4L80E: http://www.gearhead-efi.com/Fuel-Inj...Information-31

dave w