I have never mapped a car before I am converting to boost monkeys which is mega squirt but having mixed answers on if it's worth learning your self it will have a base map for my spec I'm gunna make a set of det cans is it worth learning n having ago?

 

It might be worth learning it, unless you blow up the engine in a big way.
Do you have tools to help you understand what you do?
Things like a gas analyzer, knock detection kit and a rolling road or engine bench?

 

No det cans laptop and a forged engine

 

I just didn't know how easy it was?

 

I'd say if you can afford to loose your engine give it a go, if not leave it to the professionals

 

Oh right I just thought the idea of the boost monkeys one is self mapping?

 

I've got a freshly built zetec turbo engine that I've decided to map myself with an OFAM ecu.
I'm reading as much as I can and watching videos to help understand whats involved.
You will need a wideband gauge to monitor afr's and det cans.
I'm planning on making my own det cans out of good quality ear defenders.
I'm looking at fitting the AEM failsafe wideband gauge which can act as a boost and AFR gauge.
You can set up a max and min AFR you want to run an if the engine runs lean or rich outwith the parameters you have set, it puts puts out a negative trigger which can be used to cut boost until a safe AFR is reached.
So in other words will save your engine

Will hopefully be in a position to start mapping early next year, so if you haven't decided by then I'll let you know how I get on!

Grant

 

Also, plan is to hopefully get it up and running on base map, then work on getting it running safe & smoothly at idle and cruise the gradually increase boost whilst closely monitoring afr and for det.

Grant

 

Need a afr guage really next on the list lol

 

erm, how long have you got and have you access to lots of cheap fuel?
honestly understanding the details of engine management will take a very long time and cost a fortune in fuel to get it anywhere close.
i'd see a pro to get the initial mapping done, then tweak it yourself afterwards, but save the original file.
i have been there and done that, getting a map on a car is easy, but getting all the basics done like starting fuel, timing, warm up enrichments, cold advance, accelerator additives, decel fuel cuts, boost control if wanted, pwm idle control, scaling map tables properly instead of just going linear.

i'm not saying don't bother, but is very involved.

 

I converted my ST Escort to Megasquirt, and with the tunerstudio software, autotune function and a tremendous amount of support on the net you should be fine. Read as much as you can find, start off slow and be conservative...get a good AFR gauge.

 

Recommended any good ones? I need a lamba sensor putting in

 

AEM wideband afr gauge did the job just fine for me.

 

Yea AEM seems to be the one that integrates well with tunerstudio, although I've gotten my Innovate LC-1 to work well for me.

 

That is not the idea no, it's just plug and play after market management for Ford EFI looms, all after market management is designed to be easily mapped if you know how to map.
It literally takes a good couple of years of learning to be competent IMO, hours of research, speaking to those with experience and of course time spent actually doing it!
If you do want to try it yourself the must be prepared to lose an engine, it can happen easily if you make a small mistake whilst still learning.

 

Keep your eyes out for this sight over bournmouth soon

 

add to the list, VEMS wideband, although more costly than the others but never failed in five years use, didn't even destroy a sensor and i did have a spare i popped in to ensure this was the case.
also used an innovate mtx for a short time to, simple to setup and use, pretty much pop in and go with that one, but also can log etc.

 

Cheers gadget lol! Maybe I'll get it mapped

 

Get Rob to map it bud he knows his stuff my zetec turbo was unreal after he finished mapping it

 

When running ofab and you switch it to boost monkeys
Ecu
Do you still have to run the little map sensor surpressure at all

 

Lol thats ace! Made me laugh

 

I wouldnt trust myself mapping a car! i would rather just pay someone to do it but if i had the time, knowledge and spare engine i would maybe give it a go! good luck with whatever you decide mate

 

Just gunna get it running on base map n get it to Karlos it rob

 

The most sensible thing you have said so far. You dont say to your Mrs/Kids ive got a good set of pliers lets dispense with going to the dentists im sure it cant be that hard to learn. Im always shocked that people think they can pick up straight what takes years to do properly.

 

Still got to learn somewhere tho eh?
I know I wont pick it up straight away and become a pro, I'm not that stupid.
But even the pros had to learn the basics at some point.
I'll give it my best shot on a spare block and if I really can't get my head round it, I'll get it mapped by a pro.

Grant