Aftermarket Ignition Systems

[Jimbo1965]

I have seen a couple of aftermarket ignition systems for the Ford 5.0 engine.
There is a Megasquirt MSPNP 2 Plug N Play Kit EEC4A8 and also a Anderson Ford Motorsport PMS IV system.
Both of these are fully tuneable, beyond the little piggy-back chips that just advance the ignition and enrich the mixture a bit.
Sounds like the piggy back chips might be a waste of money from past Forum feedback.
I would love to hear any input on either of these systems (or any other) for that matter.
(Keeping in mind the use of the vehicle is 100% street use only).
Thanks for reading my post!

James

[skullandbones]

Hi James,

I can understand your caution in regard to tunable computers. I waited a long time to make that decision. My A9L PCM worked well as long as I had it. It gets you going and streetable. However, they just don't have the flexibility to go to the next level. You can adjust basic timing, regulate fuel rail pressure, and get some performance from the "piggyback" chips. At some point, that's it.

Finally, I decided to go with one that has MS2 technology, is plug and play, and is completely tunable with Tuner Studio. I must admit, I waited until a couple of guys on this forum (Frankeski was one) and some others on the FFcars forum who had induction systems like I'm interested in. So it was a slow process. This specific one I'm using is PiMP. It fits in a stock looking EEC-IV box and therefore plugs right in to my harness. I had to install a wide band AFR sensor/gauge. It allowed me to dispense with the Mass Flow Sensor and the BAP. It has one internal. The system runs on a combination of speed density/TPS. The surprising thing about this system for me was after I had it running, it was only a matter of a few tuning hours before it was running as good as it was before I changed computers. I still haven't done WOT launches and some of the weirder driving scenarios that you don't always do like slow unloaded revs thru the gears. BTW: most of the tuning is done by the Tuner Studio algorithms on the VE fuel table in "live tune". It helps if you preload the cells in the table with slight to moderately rich values (load% vs rpms) so the tuner can lean the values out as it hits those cells. If you leave them lean, it takes more time and sessions for the computer to adjust to your perfect AFR. It's also safer to do it that way so you won't run into too lean detonation cases. I finally just loosened up a little and got more aggressive so the tune improved faster. You still have to go back in and smooth out some of the transitions from left to right and bottom to top on the table. There are 3D versions of the tables if you work that way better. On the ignition table, one was provided in my base tune that was more than just an estimate. The guy had raced his Mustang for two years tweeking the ignition during that time. His setup was very similar to what I have. I just had to take a couple of degrees of timing out of the whole table since I can not find 93 octane gas around here. There are many other parameters that you can adjust but many of them you can just use as initially set up. The coolest thing is when you make a change like injector size or types of TB (I'm going from a 75 mm TB to 8 52mm ITBs). If I had a dyno tune, more than likely it would be another trip and time on the dyno. I also will be changing to DIS after that so this computer supports that system and many others. This system is probably very similar to the first you mentioned since it is based on MS2.
Good luck,

WEK.

[mikeinatlanta]

I have decided to go with the MS3 pro. It has allowed me to go with a distributorless multi coil system along with all of its advantages. I recommend talking to Wayne at VCP. His prices are competitive and service is unbeatable. Most around here can say what we did, but Wayne is one of the best at helping you decide what is best for you.

[Bob Cowan]

Either one of these systems will work for you, do everything you want it to, and make the same power. Tuning will be roughly the same, too.

The hardware for both of these systems is pretty much plug and play. They're different, but neither of them will be more difficult than the other.

Anderson (and others) make a point of "no laptop needed" for tuning. But then they include some sort of key pad or screen for tuning. That's just a cheap very limited laptop. So don't let that fool you. Personally, I like a laptop.

I chose to use the Megasquirt for both of my cars. I like the flexability and expansion capabilities.

One thing I like about the MS3 is that it can use a CAN port for communication with other devices. I plugged mine into an electronic dash and data logger, and they actually talk to each other! I' always surprised when technology works the way it's supposed to. :)