Post by 86mgm on Feb 12, 2023 1:53:15 GMT -5
Hello,
I am the owner of a 1986 Mercury Grand Marquis that I am slowly working towards modifying. My eventual goal is to make something kinda like an 80’s version of a Marauder, but while retaining most of the 80’s “luxury” vibe that I like so much.
My plans are eventually to swap in a different engine, probably an Explorer 5.0 with the H.O. firing order. However. I am currently rocking the original LoPo 5.0 and have been struggling with the symptoms of capacitor failure in the factory ECU. Now while I could replace the capacitors, and I probably will in the meantime due to money being tight, I have been looking for a suitable replacement. And while a remanufactured ECU might fit the bill, it would have to be changed again in the future when I install the other engine.
Plus all of the factory ECUs, whether for my car’s current engine or an H.O., are 30+ years old at this point and, while I am a lover of vintage electronics, I would prefer to replace a part this critical to my car’s function with new, quality hardware.
This brings me to my questions:
The main reason I am even asking is because I see no reason to spend money on a factory ECU, only to replace it again down the road, if the PiMPxs can run my engine in its current state; and then with a different tune, handle the engine I intend to build in the future. Plus I admit, I am kinda curious to see if it can be done, and if a custom tuned LoPo is in any way better than a stock one, be it in power or economy.
Thank you,
Scott Williams
I am the owner of a 1986 Mercury Grand Marquis that I am slowly working towards modifying. My eventual goal is to make something kinda like an 80’s version of a Marauder, but while retaining most of the 80’s “luxury” vibe that I like so much.
My plans are eventually to swap in a different engine, probably an Explorer 5.0 with the H.O. firing order. However. I am currently rocking the original LoPo 5.0 and have been struggling with the symptoms of capacitor failure in the factory ECU. Now while I could replace the capacitors, and I probably will in the meantime due to money being tight, I have been looking for a suitable replacement. And while a remanufactured ECU might fit the bill, it would have to be changed again in the future when I install the other engine.
Plus all of the factory ECUs, whether for my car’s current engine or an H.O., are 30+ years old at this point and, while I am a lover of vintage electronics, I would prefer to replace a part this critical to my car’s function with new, quality hardware.
This brings me to my questions:
- Can the PiMPxs run a LoPo 5.0?
- If it can, would this allow me to make some small, bolt-on, modifications to the current engine? Things that could be transferred to an H.O. based engine in the future, such as headers or and Explorer intake.
- Would anyone be able to offer turning advice since it seems that no one has run the PiMPxs, or any MegaSquirt based ECU, on a LoPo before?
The main reason I am even asking is because I see no reason to spend money on a factory ECU, only to replace it again down the road, if the PiMPxs can run my engine in its current state; and then with a different tune, handle the engine I intend to build in the future. Plus I admit, I am kinda curious to see if it can be done, and if a custom tuned LoPo is in any way better than a stock one, be it in power or economy.
Thank you,
Scott Williams