CAS

[beatrod]

Iv looked and maybe im asking the wrong question... One, what years are the CAS for the distributor compatible with? 84? Two, someone has a microsquirt with LS coils close to me, and i was wondering if someone knew if i could stay with the tfi module at first or if i would need the CAS? Any help is appreciated! Thanks

[Stinger]

It's compatible with the distributors that use the "normal" style rotor, not the big "umbrella" style rotor.

I'm not sure what you're asking regarding TFI/CAS. What ECU? What coils? Basically, what are you trying to do that you're wondering if you can run TFI or not with?

[beatrod]

I can get a MS3x with chevy LS coils. I just found out he says its got crank and cam angle sensors and mount brackets or something like that on the block he has. So if thats true, no need for the CAS on distributor. If not, than im thinking the kit will work with what i have(cant remember right).. Which would solve any problem. Now my question is, MS3X is what the PIMPxs runs, correct? The PIMP is just in a mustang friendly package right? Hooks to the factory harness and all that. But harness aside, same hardware and software on the actual ecm, correct?

[Stinger]

Your first message said Microsquirt, second said MS3x. These are different products (and the Microsquirt is not MS3, it's MS2) so please verify which one you're looking at.

A PiMPx and PiMPxs shares one of the boards with any MS3x based ECU (the small board). The larger board we use is exclusive to our ECU's. The features should be similar, just lacking the support we offer, the plug and play features (both to the stock harness and our coil on plug harnesses and such), and a lack of base tunes available.

[beatrod]

Yea i had noticed. I miss spoke on the first, its and ms3x (megasquirt).. So it has the same capabilities but i wont be able to get help through you guys... Thats a bummer.. Thing is cheap enough to be tempting but no so cheap i would consider it bad. So let me ask this then, if i get it and use the same software (tuner studio) to do tuning, the tables wont be alike and interchangable? I can convert from what you guys would just be able to download so to speak, into a version usable on the ms3 alone? If it has the same functions, and has its harness already, uses the same software im pretty sure... The programing setups would be different and i would be out the $500 i spent on the replacement harness i already have working.. But it wouldnt be the same basics as far as the programs?

[Stinger]

Some tables "can" be interchangeable but not the whole tunes, and the tables are only interchangeable if all of the settings that effect those tables are the same (which isn't likely). Tunes aren't interchangeable because different hardware is used so the settings for the hardware is also different. Tunerstudio would be used for both as that's what all Megasquirt based ECU's use.

[beatrod]

Oh ok. See i guess my impressions were that regardless of the hardware, if the programming that tells it what to do is the same and they have the same functions, that the operating system would operate the same.. Regardless of what board its telling what to do or what that board needs to do to make it happen. Like if you have two pc's with the same hardware and software but different processors.. I would think they would do the same things as far as what your seeing just the background happenings would take a different route. Guess thats why im not a computer guy😂 thanks stinger! Last question.. Would you happen to know if the board that the PIMP shares is the only board present in the MS3X? And if so, would i be able to send that to you guys and have it put into a PIMP (with the other board of course) and about what something like that would cost?

[beatrod]

Perhaps i explained that poorly.. I was thinking that the MS3 board was the one doing the work (deciding what would do what and how), and that the other board in the PIMP was more or less a conduit for the MS3 board to send and receive its information from the engine. Thats not the case?

[wesk]

That is the case, but settings depend on hardware. What I would call the "tune" is effectively the same, but there are many settings that are part of the tune that are affected by hardware.

The product we sell is a plug and play compatible with EECIV ford wiring. Other products (whethere MS3x, or any of the other MS3 based standalones like EFI Source Goldbox or DIY MS3Pro) will require you to make a harness.

[beatrod]

So settings would be different due to wiring changes from one platform to another.. But the tables themselves for fuel and timing and such, would be delt with the same ways. Gotcha. Would you guys be able to and what might the price be to use a provided MS3X or whatever it is, and put it in the PIMP with your board?

[wesk]

I genuinely have no idea what you are asking.

If you go the MS3x rought, you are required to learn what it is, how to use it, how to configure it for your ignition system, and how to install it, and how to wire it. A fuel and timing table at that point is trivial.

I have certainly done this, but by definition a MS3x requires you to be self supporting. If you are not it does not make financial sense. If someone came to me and wanted me to tune a MS3x they wired and installed, it starts at 500$ minimum. If they actually did a good job on install, I may charge them less when finished.

[Stinger]

There is no advantage to doing that. The MS3 board you're wanting to harvest from it almost certainly costs less than the product you're looking to buy used (and is likely not useable anyways because we use a "special" version of the MS3 board), and the ignition harness it is being sold with would no longer work with it (wrong connector(s) and such).

[beatrod]

Wesk, i was asking if the fuel/ignition table values would be the same as thats what the engine wants.. The percentages and idle and sensors and such. If the setting in tunerstudio were set to what was needed, then it would be functionally the same i would think. As long as its giving the motor what it needs.. Im new to tuning for sure!!! But am definitely not scared to learn new things. I have a decent grasp on the things an engine needs and wants.. Keep fuel and timing in line and i can learn the details as i go.. I would much rather have a pimp! But in order to have a similar setup i would end up paying more than three times the money. Just a broke guy trying to have fun lol and Stinger, i knew the harness wouldnt work but the factory/replacment harness i already have would.. I figure worst case senerio, i snap a rod or burn a hole in the piston.. Rods are plentiful, i have a few sets of pistons, and i run CNC mills so i have the tools needed to measure new bearings and rings and such. Again, im just a broke guy tryna scab together some good times

[Stinger]

Unfortunately this is one of those situations where we can't easily explain things because you're not familiar enough with Megasquirt or our ECU to understand what we're saying.

[beatrod]

I will agree that 100%! Lol i have been reading up on the settings, what they do, how it effects the engine in real life, and the correlation between them all through the tunerstudio software. Things get pretty hairy if you change one and dont account for the others it seems. Trust me, im not happy to be having to go this route either... But atleast by then end, il be able to understand what actually goes into tuning an ecu not just the simple bits. I was wondering though... The "lower timing cover", the metal one that bolts to the block not the platic belt cover. The one that holds the crank angle sensor. Will those interchange between the 84's and the 95+'s? Im not seeing why they wouldnt on those ones as long as i recenter around the crank for the seal. And is there a way or a special bracket already being made for the cam angle sensor beings as thats the oil pump on the years that got those sensors and i kind of doubt the aux shaft housing or whatever has the holes or the place to drill and tap for them.. I have little brackets that someone made up, but i want something with a more accurate location for the sensors. Anybody make those that you know of?