ECU upgrade???? trickflow top end kit

[bluestripes]

Hi All

this is my first post after reading heap and heaps of informative stuff.. though I need some help with ECU

My situation is... Owned the AU1 V8 Ute ( not XR8 ) for the last tens years with the only minor mods being pacer extractors and CAI.

Though recently a blown head gasket cooked my engine, so I've gone out and brought the trickflow 'track heat' top end kit... with the stage 1 cam. Holley 70mm TB and a 75mm Pro M MAF... which is currenlty being rebuilt on a stock 302 short engine from Eagle. ( will possibly upgrade to a dart 363 within the following months) ... I ve also considering a T5z Ford racing box from summit... with an added chunky bit for the diff... but i still need to further research whether the T5z will blot straight on.

Though my problem now is the ECU or chip... so some advice would be really welcome... so i can get the old girl up and running.

A/ would putting an ECU from an AU11 XR8, solve my performance problems or would there be difficults between the smartsheild and smartlock systems.

B/ DO i use a piggy back chip and are any of these flash tunes any good?

C/ Or - do i just reset my ECU and drive it hard to reprogram it.

cheers

[bluestripes]

basically - I plan to project this ute... using the T3 pursuit as a marker... this is will be my first project, enjoying the process... just need to get the basic ECU sorted so i can open the engine right up. Guy at the wreckers said I am best buying a Universal ECU. Can anybody point me in the right direction.

[fasty73]

Not sure mate but I will be watching this thread with interest.

[CRAIGAU3220]

Sounds like a good little power upgrade. In short you will have to get it retuned for sure..... A flash tuner along with a custom tune will do the job just fine.

The T5Z from summit wont fit because the input shaft for yank application is different length when comparing to our T5 and not to mention the AU extension housing is longer also...........Hypothetically if they did fit and you went and bought the trans from Summit and you already have a manual trans in your ute you would have blown some serious coin as they are basically the same spec as our AU V8 box.

[bluestripes]

thanks for tune feedback...

re gear box... Im really keen on dropping a Dart 363 under the hood, though I m afraid I would just blown the T5, even though I am only wanting my ute as a daily driver.

Any advice on suitable gearbox? TKO 600 looks good though a driveline guy here said its a $8k conversion. I know Mal wood charge around that for T56.

Any pointer on which way to go???

Finally - Driveline guy said T5 boxes can handle alot - do you think they would handle the 363... I m mean, im not going to drag it or anything - just my toy!!

[CRAIGAU3220]

I don't think the TKO fit in the AU trans tunnel so if you want a box that is capable of living a long and happy life the Mal Wood T56 six speed conversion is about your only option. If you can afford to go 363 and a T56 straight up it would be the way to go, if not a T5 behind the 363 wont break the first time you squeeze the throttle but it will break.

[cedric]

my thought is by the time you build 363 and t56 plus tune,plus ,plus you will spend between 25-30g. 20g buys you a low km 250 pursuit and you get the stroker a tremic3650 and all the good bits (diff,interior,seats,stereo,bodykit,sushpension,et c,etc) AND it will always be worth good money and in my opinion will be one of the future classics

[Herrod Motorsport]

you will just need to have it flash tuned with a SCT/Herrod tuner using an X cal 3

[bluestripes]

Your reasoning is sound... and the $8k box conversion may put me off the project.... but this old ute and I have history!
Original owner was the leading forman of a construction site, who got sent to prison for toking guns... the second owner was the owner of the construction site... very rich guy, seriously - eight car plus garage of mainly germans, who loved this ute for the torque and low profile... than along came me. At that time I was fresh out of art school with barely $100 bucks to my name.
Story goes, Rich guy sees my Art in a shop window, buys some, wants more - meets me and uptrades the ute for Art.
Good story hey!!!

[fasty73]

You must be an awesome artist!! Show us some.

[bluestripes]

Originally Posted by cedric

my thought is by the time you build 363 and t56 plus tune,plus ,plus you will spend between 25-30g. 20g buys you a low km 250 pursuit and you get the stroker a tremic3650 and all the good bits (diff,interior,seats,stereo,bodykit,sushpension,et c,etc) AND it will always be worth good money and in my opinion will be one of the future classics

Personally I’m liking the challenge of building my own.

From what I’ve read the 250 Pursuit was destined to be a T series, though due to dealership pressure – the 250 Pursuit was pushed back down into the XR8 ranks
and as history has it – Tickford where retired.

So that’s the space in which I want this build to take place and the question I need to ask myself is – What would have Tickford done if the were given the green light to bring the 250 pursuit through… and the most obvious answer is – Well it wouldn’t have the XR8 front end.

Anyways – we all know, its easy building cars in your mind – though it’s a completely different story in real life.

Areas of concern.

A/ 24 lt per 100km… surely you can get better economy than that.

B/ $8k for T56 conversion… I want to see if you can do it cheaper with a TKO 600

C/ From what I ve read the tailshaft was the weakness in the 250 Pursuit … maybe 10yrs of ford evolution has resolved that issue.

[Cam]

My 2 cents..

I run a chiptorque chip in my car - Had it for mannny years. Never had any problems with it, although finding someone to tune a XCAL flash tuner will be easier.. Personally, if I were you I'd look seriously at the moates gear, plenty of guys in the states running these with very serious combos..http://support.moates.net/2010/11/30...ates-hardware/

My fuel economy is on about 20L/100 at the moment - Probably 60% of driving is considered "cruising", so not stop start...Although I am running a high stalled auto which will make a difference to economy...

FYI - My combo is 347 stroker, baby cam, trickflow street heat manifold, VIC JNR heads, 2800 stall, Maffless tune.. Makes a lazy 300rwhp@5100rpm and 590nm@2800rpm - Combo was put together to be ready for boost (i.e. keep rpm down)

Good luck with it, be sure to keep us updated!

[bluestripes]

Originally Posted by Cam

My 2 cents..

I run a chiptorque chip in my car - Had it for mannny years. Never had any problems with it, although finding someone to tune a XCAL flash tuner will be easier.. Personally, if I were you I'd look seriously at the moates gear, plenty of guys in the states running these with very serious combos..http://support.moates.net/2010/11/30...ates-hardware/

My fuel economy is on about 20L/100 at the moment - Probably 60% of driving is considered "cruising", so not stop start...Although I am running a high stalled auto which will make a difference to economy...

FYI - My combo is 347 stroker, baby cam, trickflow street heat manifold, VIC JNR heads, 2800 stall, Maffless tune.. Makes a lazy 300rwhp@5100rpm and 590nm@2800rpm - Combo was put together to be ready for boost (i.e. keep rpm down)

Good luck with it, be sure to keep us updated!

thanks for the heads up on moates... will check it put.

Like your combo - what sort of box are you running???

Just now searching online - I guy brought in a combo kit for the TK0 500...Landed in Australia it cost him $4,400. Kit was for a mustang though it fitted up OK.

thread link http://www.xfalcon.com/forum/archive...p/t-35084.html

[Cam]

thanks mate, only running a BTR 4sp auto that has been built. And the stallie..

I love manuals, but considering future plans I cant justify spending the $$$$$ to go slower down the 1/4, and be more prone to driveline breakages..

If I were looking for a manual, I'd spend the 6k and put a dog gearset in a T5.. http://www.ppgearbox.com.au/files/pp...ruary%2009.pdf

[crakrz]

For DIY tuning, with the ability of on the fly adjustments, and full control of future adjustments, you can't go past Moates Quarterhorse. If you can't be bothered and just want it professionally tuned and then leave it, then SCT is your best bet.

[bluestripes]

Originally Posted by crakrz

For DIY tuning, with the ability of on the fly adjustments, and full control of future adjustments, you can't go past Moates Quarterhorse. If you can't be bothered and just want it professionally tuned and then leave it, then SCT is your best bet.

Moates Quarterhorse looks good - just starting more informed reads. Also, I am placing an order for a Dart 363 stroker from fordstrokers... which is a 3 mth delivery time. SO in the meantime I will be running the trickflow top end with stoke 302 short engine.

I am I right in assuming any tuning gear i buy now for my current 'pony engine' will be suited for the Dart when it arrives???

[FGII-XR6]

series 1 is not compatible with a series 2 ECU. you are best going with a flash tune

[bluestripes]

Originally Posted by au3xr6

series 1 is not compatible with a series 2 ECU. you are best going with a flash tune

You site the serenity pray - are you in the firm.???

Re ECU - when the stroker arrives, I probably go universal and start form scratch.... I mean, how hard can it be, its only a computer and there a lots of smart guys out there, busting with knowledge.

[bluestripes]

for me its really early days, though I took these photos as the start of a build thread at a later date. Just need to understand the forum website a little better.

[bluestripes]

she's not much too look at - but she's 100% mine.

[crakrz]

She should get up and "crack" with that combo.

[b2tf]

Originally Posted by bluestripes

she's not much too look at - but she's 100% mine.

Leave it that way. Sleeper! Do you still have the standard manifold? I am chasing the upper half of one.

[bluestripes]

Originally Posted by b2tf

Leave it that way. Sleeper! Do you still have the standard manifold? I am chasing the upper half of one.

Still got all the bits, GT40 Heads, Upper and lower manifold, 24lb ford injectors, standard ford TB and MAF. I think the mechanic snapped a bolt in the lower manifold... but i am not too worried about that as yet... more focused on whats going on than what coming off.

I m talking to fordstrokers in the states about the 363 Dart... which is a 3 month build time. My only concern is that my Trickflow top end kit may be to small for the 363, as I've only got the 170 cylinder heads. Just waiting for a reply.

For now - Im keeping all the bits, for when the stroker arrives, I will basically have a complete engine in spares

Also - Ive gone off and brought a BA front end for the brake upgrade... this forum has been so informative. Really grateful for everyones posts

[bluestripes]

Originally Posted by b2tf

Leave it that way. Sleeper! Do you still have the standard manifold? I am chasing the upper half of one.

Re upper manifold - ETW Wreckers on the Central Coast NSW had a couple the other day. (02) 4351 2222 is their number.