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Megasquirt Users

Discussion in 'Early CJ5 and CJ6 Tech' started by Leathernek, Mar 20, 2013.

  1. Mar 20, 2013
    Leathernek

    Leathernek Member

    Northwest Georgia
    Joined:
    Mar 19, 2012
    Messages:
    110
    hey guys,

    I was reading some REALLY old posts from '05 and was wondering if y'all are still having good luck with the megasquirt systems. I haven't seen a post on it recently and didn't know if there was something better/cheaper on the market now or not. Anyways I was just entertaining the idea of fuel injection on my F134 and I was wondering how ya'lls set up was holding up.
     
  2. Mar 20, 2013
    timgr

    timgr We stand on the shoulders of giants. 2022 Sponsor

    Medford Mass USA
    Joined:
    Aug 10, 2003
    Messages:
    23,596
    I've been collecting parts to Megasquirt my CJ-6. Have not bought the board yet.

    I don't think there have been many changes since 2005. There is a V3.0 board that includes some design improvements, and there is a GPIO board that can control an automatic transmission, among other functions.

    If you go to DIY Auto Tune, there are some newer products there, like their PNP (plug n' play) packages. In the Megasquirt universe, there is a lot to look at and learn.

    I think the only viable alternative to Megasquirt is to hack a GM ECM and use the GM components. Possibly you could get the whole system from a 151 cid S-10 with TBI and hack that. On the 134, it would probably run and drive without any modifications. But you'd need to tune it. The main issue with the GM ECMs is they are tuned by burning a new ePROM, so you need a PROM reader to do anything. But the GM ECM has some features that you may want that the Megasquirt does not, like limp-home mode (LHM). LHM lets the engine keep running even if the sensors go bad, but you're still dependent on the computer working. Some say that the GM ECM coding is more sophisticated than the Megasquirt .. don't know. Certainly the Megasquirt is the more tunable of the two.

    There are lots of other proprietary ECMs out there, but I believe that they are all black boxes compared to the GM ECM or Megasquirt. Ford briefly had a TBI system, but it's supposedly a nightmare compared to the GM ECM. The AMC Jeep 150 had a TBI system for a while, which would likely work on a 134, but you'd have to dig to learn enough about it to customize it to the F134. Again, it would probably run if you plopped it down on the 134, but it would not be optimal.

    What do you want to do for the F134? Just fuel? Spark control? You want cheap or easy?
     
    Last edited: Mar 20, 2013
  3. Mar 20, 2013
    Leathernek

    Leathernek Member

    Northwest Georgia
    Joined:
    Mar 19, 2012
    Messages:
    110
    [FONT=Trebuchet, Trebuchet MS]Cheap and easy! lol. I'm just kicking around ways to make my Jeep as efficient and updated as possible. Cost is definitely [/FONT][FONT=Trebuchet, Trebuchet MS]a concern now, as I have almost gone broke restoring the jeep to stock in order to get it on the road. I eventually plan to upgrade the fuel delivery as well as the steering and the brakes. I wish that there was a list of what vehicles are good to source upgrades from (ie disc brake axles, EFI, steering boxes, etc) for us newbies who don't know all that stuff yet!
    [/FONT]
     
  4. Mar 20, 2013
    willys59cj5

    willys59cj5 Sponsor

    Gilroy, CA
    Joined:
    Jun 1, 2005
    Messages:
    660
    I installed megasquirt around 2005 on my 225. It still works great, once it was tuned pretty well, I never touched it again. Very dependable IMO. Just as Tim points out, there is a large learning curve. I do get better gas mileage with FI.
     
  5. Mar 20, 2013
    hudsonhawk

    hudsonhawk Well-Known Member

    North Texas...
    Joined:
    Feb 4, 2005
    Messages:
    1,937
    I ran mine for 5 years before I parted out the CJ. I sold the complete system to a guy in South Carolina who was going to fuel inject his YJ.
     
  6. Mar 20, 2013
    John151

    John151 Sponsor

    Lake Geneva, WI
    Joined:
    Mar 9, 2013
    Messages:
    67
    I installed a Megasquirt on my Miata - does that count?
     
  7. Mar 20, 2013
    45es

    45es Active Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Naches, WA
    Joined:
    Mar 31, 2007
    Messages:
    1,103
    I have used both MegaSquirt and GM's ODB 1 ecm's on projects. In each case there have been advantages to using either system. There is quite a learning curve if you have never tuned an engine before. With MegaSquirt once your basic tune is established you can use TunerStudio MS to dial in the ecm. With a GM ODB 1 system things are a little more complex but there is help to learn and tune the ecm. Tim mentioned possibly using a system from an S-10. Another option would be a 1227748 ecm which can be found in '90-91 Sunbird, Cavalier. It is a throttle body efi system designed and built to control thier 2.2L engine which is the same size as your motor.
     
  8. Mar 21, 2013
    givemethewillys

    givemethewillys Been here since sparky ran it. 2022 Sponsor

    New Kent, VA
    Joined:
    Jun 21, 2005
    Messages:
    1,998
    This question is directed to John151 but it's also a general question about megasquirt. Why would you add megasquirt to a miata? It already has FI, I have a 1991 and was wondering what the benefit would be? And for the F-head, is the only real benefit dependability? Are there any power or fuel consumption gains to be made with adding it?
     
  9. Mar 21, 2013
    John151

    John151 Sponsor

    Lake Geneva, WI
    Joined:
    Mar 9, 2013
    Messages:
    67
    I added the MegaSquirt for better engine management as part of a project where I added a turbo. The OEM ECU does not have the proper programming to handle forced induction or to compensate for the larger injectors we installed. After adding a high flow fuel pump, high flow fuel rail, larger injectors (from an RX8 ), high flow cylinder head, Garrett T2554 turbo set to 12 lbs of boost, and the MeqaSquirt, the HP at the rear wheels more than doubled (105 to 225). The car is now fast, fun and reliable (no issues after 30K miles on boost).

    Modifications such as turbocharging, supercharging, and adding a MeqaSquirt are quite common in the Miata community. Most people add a MegaSquirt as part of a Forced Induction project, but many will do so just to get a better tune, more HP, or just for the fun of it.

    There are also several other ECU options, such as AEM and Adaptronic. Megasquirt is the least expensive solution, but by no means the best or the only.

    Regarding adding a MeqaSquirt to an F-head motor - I am sure there are lots of efficiency and HP gains to be made, especially if you increased the compression ratio. I can not speak to reliability as I am not well versed with the F-head, nor am I a motor expert, but I would expect that with a proper tune, there would be no issues. However, with an improper tune, no engine will be reliable.
     
  10. Mar 21, 2013
    Eaallred

    Eaallred Member

    West Valley City, UT
    Joined:
    Oct 9, 2008
    Messages:
    188
  11. Mar 22, 2013
    Bob-The-CJ

    Bob-The-CJ Member

    Italy, Texas
    Joined:
    Nov 6, 2012
    Messages:
    386
    I do not have one on my CJ but I know someone who does. He used mostly stuff off a S10 as mentioned. He has had it on for about a year and half. His engine is also a Fhead. On his Jeep it did not make huge changes to performance but it did make it run much better and his mileage went up a few mpg. I suppose he might have made a few more hp but you can't tell. Problem with the Fhead is not its HP, nor is it the wind resistance - it is the weight of the moving internals, with high friction and a long stroke.

    We got an Fhead making 121 hp at 3200 RPM and the Jeep it was on still felt slow. Bottom line is you can't make the fhead run like a modern engine and so long as that engine is in your Jeep won't run like a modern car. I am not saying it should, just pointing out it won't. It has been tried.

    We even put a turbo charger on the above mentioned engine and the Jeep was still not that great, and yes it did destroy that little engine in about 2000 miles of use.

    My advice is rebuilt a Carter carb and use it, they work, they are simple and it is a more pure experience.
     
  12. Apr 3, 2013
    termin8ed

    termin8ed I didn't do it Staff Member

    Mason, MI
    Joined:
    Dec 22, 2002
    Messages:
    4,418
    The Fhead just isn't designed for higher rpm's. Redline is around 3000 rpms if I remember right. Just too long of a stroke...

    I was searching around to put the megasquirt on my dauntless. Still may. Think I'll give the carb one more try this spring before I do that though. I think the biggest expense besides the kit is the wide band O2 you need to fine tune the engine.

    The nice thing I liked about the megasquirt is you can buy parts as you go and get ready for it. No one big chunk of change to drop on a complete kit.
     
  13. Apr 3, 2013
    willys59cj5

    willys59cj5 Sponsor

    Gilroy, CA
    Joined:
    Jun 1, 2005
    Messages:
    660
    It will cost a grand before all is said and done........
     
  14. Apr 3, 2013
    John151

    John151 Sponsor

    Lake Geneva, WI
    Joined:
    Mar 9, 2013
    Messages:
    67
    Are you thinking fuel only or fuel and spark? I bet with some tuning on the spark you could realize a noticeable improvement in economy, power, and drivability.
     
  15. Apr 3, 2013
    termin8ed

    termin8ed I didn't do it Staff Member

    Mason, MI
    Joined:
    Dec 22, 2002
    Messages:
    4,418
    One thing that rally wakes up the fhead is the pertronics ignition. Should be less than $100 unless its gone up since I got mine.
     
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