spike

Almost completed our 2 year project.. and I am a little concerned that we may blow the motor... our setup:

Del Sol w/ stock JDM B18B1
Equal Length tubular mani
T3/T4E 60 trim with .63 ar
2 1/2" downpipe with 3" exhaust

Tuning with Uberdata
LM-1 Wideband

Should make pretty decent power.. we have everything necessary (fuel, 3bar, etc) to run ~15 psi, but my concern is how to gauge timing... I don't want to just add timing til she blows. Since there is no knock sensor, and we don't an EGT, how can we do this?

I was hoping we could figure out the equation to calculate Torque by datalogging load and speed, but haven't been able to find the correct equation. I know this can be done because I have a GTI 1.8t and with the VAG-COM (datalogging program) you can do a torque and HP curve with it.

Thanks for ideas.

adseguy

I think you're talking about a g-force meter in conjunction with revs and weight and such. Altough Precise, readings won't be accurate. The only way to do 100% perfect timing is on a dyno.

A good tuner can get you within 85-90% of a perfect dyno tune on the street. First, get some new plugs and get your ears unwaxed. Start with a good step retard which you should find out on your own because otherwise you really shouldn't try this . Do a pull and check your plugs CORRECTLY. I mean you should know exactly how to read a spark plug for everything...it tells you a lot (search if you don't know). Add a degree or degree and a half of timing and do a pull and check plugs again. Keep doing this until detonation is heard or the plugs tell you that the timing is excessive (this should happen first). Once achieved you should pull away a degree and a half for safety reasons and you should be pretty close to a perfect tune. Again only try this if you know what sounds you are looking for and what timing exactly does to the spark plug and power. Use all senses you have to help you with this. This is time consuming to do it this way, but it saves you out of $100 for dyno tuning

spike

Thanks.. will do some serious reading up on plugs hopefully with pictures.

Andrea

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by adseguy &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">A good tuner can get you within 85-90% of a perfect dyno tune on the street. First, get some new plugs and get your ears unwaxed. Start with a good step retard which you should find out on your own because otherwise you really shouldn't try this . Do a pull and check your plugs CORRECTLY. I mean you should know exactly how to read a spark plug for everything...it tells you a lot (search if you don't know). Add a degree or degree and a half of timing and do a pull and check plugs again. Keep doing this until detonation is heard or the plugs tell you that the timing is excessive (this should happen first).</TD></TR></TABLE>

I hope that if you do this you shut the car down immediately at the end of the WOT pull and not at idle; otherwise, the burn on the plugs is only going to be indicative of the last state the engine was in.

adseguy

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Andrea &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

I hope that if you do this you shut the car down immediately at the end of the WOT pull and not at idle; otherwise, the burn on the plugs is only going to be indicative of the last state the engine was in. </TD></TR></TABLE>

100% correct. There's a few other things that I didn't mention, but like I said this should be read up on.

Treblarefils

Just set the distributor to stock timing and verify that it is..Then in uberdata run like 1 degree of retard per lb of boost should be ok.

spike

Thanks for the thoughts guys. A 3rd pull at WOT has to be up around 90mph .. that's something else to shut off your motor at that speed and lose power steering. Ahh well i'm game.

Andrea

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by spike &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Thanks for the thoughts guys. A 3rd pull at WOT has to be up around 90mph .. that's something else to shut off your motor at that speed and lose power steering. Ahh well i'm game.</TD></TR></TABLE>

All the more reason why I suggest getting on a dyno to do it. But then again, I have a dyno at my disposal

adseguy

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Treblarefils &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Just set the distributor to stock timing and verify that it is..Then in uberdata run like 1 degree of retard per lb of boost should be ok.</TD></TR></TABLE>

What's funny and most people don't know this is that running 1 degree per lb is actually to little timing. It's really on the limit of dangerously high EGT's. depending on how much you boost this can be bad. I suggest .8/PSI for up to 10PSI and you will see more power and still be safe.

boosted k20

good info. i usually do a step retard in uberdata. from like 1-3 psi take away 0.25*

3-5 take .5*, 5-8 take .65-.75*, 8- 10 psi take away .8* per degree. anything after 10 psi i take away .9*

Treblarefils

I am running mine at .75 per lb. and am running 7 psi of boost.