View Full Version : TerminatorX with SBF
LateApex
04-22-2022, 03:51 PM
If anyone on this forum is using a Holley TerminatorX paired with a Small Block Ford engine, I'd be very interested in chatting about Holley firmware and ECU settings.
Thx!
I'm still waiting for my Terminator X ECU to ship from Holley. Answers to your question will depend on several factors. What type of intake and injection do you have? What type of ignition/distributor are you using? I got a detailed setup procedure with my Inglese injection system, but most of the setup is based on the specific injectors and sensors used as well as the use of a Dual Sync distributor and CDI ignition box.
Dave
LateApex
04-22-2022, 09:19 PM
Hi Dave -
I chose to to purchase a Fox-body version of the TerminatorX (p/n 550-937F), as I was on indefinite back-order for the generic (p/n 550-937). The Fox-body version differs in a couple of ways, being (at least so far) the length of the harness (due to ECU placement under the PS seat), and wiring for a two-wire, PCM-based IAC. I have modified the harness to accept the 4-wire IAC integrated into Inglese's intake manifold. Modifying the output configuration in the code for the basic differences in the IAC is on my to-do list.
The first step advocated by Jim is upgrading firmware for the Terminator X. It is not yet clear to me what the base firmware for the the -937F looks like; how it differs at all from the generic 937. What I am considering doing is creating a baseline global file for the eight-stack induction system, at least with the specifics of the Weber-style SBF system Jim has provided me. Jim does not have such a file, and also thought such a file might be useful for his customers. I'll find out shortly what the 937F global file looks like (when I download it from the hand-held), but thought I'd ask this forum if someone had done something similar here already. Specifically, I am wondering how the shipped 937F firmware differs from the 937.
Thanx for responding. Any insights here muchly appreciated !
... Bob
You're way ahead of me. The last date I got from Jim when he looked up the PO for me was today, 4/22/22, but Holley missed the last date of 3/18/22, so we'll see what happens. With any luck, it may actually ship, and I can get these stacks on my car.
I'm not sure if you've looked at the Holley site for their Terminator X software revision log.
https://documents.holley.com/techlibrary_terminatorxrevisionlogv2.4.pdf
This warning may be important depending on the version of your hardware:
Terminator X V2 Software is not compatible with Terminator X V1 ECU Firmware. To use V2 software with a V1 ECU, the ECU
and handheld MUST be updated to V2 Firmware. Opening a Terminator X V1 calibration with Terminator X V2 software, will
update the calibration from V1 to V2. A V2 calibration cannot be loaded into a V1 ECU. A Terminator X V1 calibration cannot
be used in a Terminator X ECU with V2 Firmware.
The 3.5” TSLCD can be used to update the ECU & the Calibration from V1 to V2 when using Handheld Firmware V2 Build 50
(tslcd35-terx.2.0.50.fwu) or later.
Any Terminator X or Terminator X Max ECU can be updated to use V2 Firmware.
LateApex
04-24-2022, 10:31 AM
Understood. This is why the [almost] first step is doing a firmware upgrade, (else the TerminatorX software cannot be used to ease any configuration changes.)
There is a Holley video on the upgrade process. "Almost" means that the first step is really to capture logs and pre-existing files on the ECU (using the handheld), BEFORE applying the firmware update to the handheld and subsequently to the ECU. Let's call this a safety net, as the Terminator X Software offers the capability to compare two global files side by side, and I have fat-fingered firmware updates and configuration changes in the past.
b.t.x.: Current f/w version is 2.80.
More to follow, I am sure :-)
So I've been poking around trying to find more info on alternatives to the Holley 550-937 kit that seems to be on indefinite back order. The 550-936 kit consists of all the same parts except for the specific injector harness. Both the 550-936 and 550-937 include harnesses for EV1 injectors. Jim Inglese's setup uses EV6 injectors, which requires a 558-212 injector harness and you don't use the one in the kit anyway.
The 550-937F kit has a completely different engine and ignition harness than the two universal kits.
Jim is going to confirm my findings with Holley, and if I'm right, I will order a 550-936 that appears to be in stock from a few places.
Dave
Jim just confirmed with Holley that the only difference in the 550-936 and the 550-937 kits is the injector harness.
https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=165924&d=1650937417
The 936 comes with a GM/Chrylser harness and the 937 comes with a Ford harness. Like I said above, both are for EV1 vs. EV6 injectors, so you wouldn't use the one in the kit anyway. You need the 558-212 injector harness (Ford EV6) for Jim's stacks. I was able to order the 550-936 kit from Summit Racing and it will ship today! Jim is refunding the cost from my order.
Dave
I took a look at the main engine harness wiring schematics for the 936/7 and 937F and here are where I see differences:
IAC connector (2 vs. 4 wire)
TPS connector (different pin out)
CAN connector (2 vs. 4 wire)
P1A connector (just pin A1 for coil wire)
Dave
LateApex
04-26-2022, 09:17 AM
Good info Dave.
Which Eight Stack did you get from Jim? Was it the Weber-style or the modern stacks? (Mine is the Weber style)
With the pairing of stacks in the Weber-style (and the common ground ...) , one injector in each pair has a single wire; the other has two wires.
With the build I received from Jim, there were a number of connector modifications to make (and those parts were provided). These included IAC, TPS and MAP connectors. Note that the IAC for the 937F is indeed a two-wire (PCM) configuration, and the IAC attached to my manifold was a 4-wire knock-off of the Holley 543-105. I needed to add pins B1, B2, B8 and B9 to the ECU P1B connector to provide connection for IAC A Lo, IAC A Hi, IAC B Lo, IAC B Hi respectively, and fabricated a harness to the IAC Valve. Sure wish I had found out about the 936 option ;-) LOL.
Today, I plan to attach the handheld, power up the Terminator and grab the default global file that ships with the 937F. Note the 2 additional wires on the 937F CAN bus are switched 12V and ground. I assume this was a feature to allow the CAN buss to power other devices that might be attached to the buss - I expect no side effects here.
I am using the provided Injector harness to connect ECU and injectors. I believe this is electrically correct, but the staggered versus evenly-spaced connectors makes for a harness that is not "clean" from an appearance perspective. I've wrapped that cluster of wires in ballistic cloth, and it is now sitting nicely on top of the transmission to clean up the view.
The ignition harnesses are the same for the 937 and 937F. As my ignition is a Holley Dual Sync distributor paired with an MSD #6415 ignition controller, I believe I am set-up okay. Many variations of ignition configurations to consider.
I guess the proof will be in the pudding when I get the correct configuration parameters into the ECU, and fire this system up. Probably in the next 48 hours.
Crossing fingers now ....
I'm kind of late to this party, but I've got a 427 sitting on the dyno with a Borla 8 stack and Holley ECU. I initially ran the Terminator X and have a pretty good running global file if anyone wants a copy. We later switched to the Holley HP ecu simply because it has some features the owner wanted beyond what the Terminator X offered. He also has the original terminator X ECU (no harness) if anyone needs it. I'll have that engine on the dyno about another week.
Bob
LateApex
04-27-2022, 08:58 AM
That would be terrific Bob. I'll PM you with my contact info. Thanx!
CW_MI
11-15-2025, 01:57 PM
Reviving an old thread.
For those running the Terminator X, can this be used without an external ignition box ? I just helped a friend install a Sniper2 and the ECU controlled everything, nothing additional needed. I really wanted to go with the Terminator, but don't want to deal with the added complexity of another box to wire and try to hide. It was tough enough trying to hide the Sniper ECU in my friends coupe, much less, another ECU box.
If this is the case, maybe I will just go with a Sniper, or look more into the Edelbrock ProFlo , since I'd rather have multi port injection.
Reviving an old thread.
For those running the Terminator X, can this be used without an external ignition box ? I just helped a friend install a Sniper2 and the ECU controlled everything, nothing additional needed. I really wanted to go with the Terminator, but don't want to deal with the added complexity of another box to wire and try to hide. It was tough enough trying to hide the Sniper ECU in my friends coupe, much less, another ECU box.
If this is the case, maybe I will just go with a Sniper, or look more into the Edelbrock ProFlo , since I'd rather have multi port injection.
The Terminator X can be used with standard distributor and coil, but will not control timing in this setup. There are several configurations shown in the quick setup guide here: https://documents.holley.com/7d79323ce5796125537438c60ad1f59343582770.pdf
CW_MI
11-15-2025, 07:12 PM
The Terminator X can be used with standard distributor and coil, but will not control timing in this setup. There are several configurations shown in the quick setup guide here: https://documents.holley.com/7d79323ce5796125537438c60ad1f59343582770.pdf
If i use the Holley Hyper Spark distributor, without an ignition box, will it control the timing ?
If i use the Holley Hyper Spark distributor, without an ignition box, will it control the timing ?
According to Holley, the Hyper Spark distributor requires a Hyper Spark ignition box.
Doing a little more digging, I see Holley is offering what they call their Sniper EFI HyperSpark Ready-To-Run Distributors, which have a built-in coil driver and do not require the use of a separate ignition box, and it will control the timing.
https://www.holley.com/blog/post/sniper_efi_hyperspark_ready-to-run_distributors_add_timing_control_for_holley_efi _systems/
weendoggy
11-16-2025, 07:39 AM
...I really wanted to go with the Terminator, but don't want to deal with the added complexity of another box to wire and try to hide. It was tough enough trying to hide the Sniper ECU in my friends coupe, much less, another ECU box...
Since when did Holley make the Sniper (either one) a separate ECU?
CW_MI
11-16-2025, 09:59 AM
Since when did Holley make the Sniper (either one) a separate ECU?
First let me preface my reply with , I really know nothing about these systems, and am learning on the fly, hence all the questions.
Now, on my buddies Sniper 2 install, there was a module that he mounted under the dash. I assumed, and probably incorrectly so, that, that was the ECU. Now if you reply with the ECU is in the throttle body, and that module is an ignition module....then things are all starting to make sense.
First let me preface my reply with , I really know nothing about these systems, and am learning on the fly, hence all the questions.
Now, on my buddies Sniper 2 install, there was a module that he mounted under the dash. I assumed, and probably incorrectly so, that, that was the ECU. Now if you reply with the ECU is in the throttle body, and that module is an ignition module....then things are all starting to make sense.
Don't be afraid to keep asking questions. It certainly can get confusing, especially since Holley uses the same names (Sniper, Terminator, HyperSpark) for so many different parts!
weendoggy
11-16-2025, 03:05 PM
First let me preface my reply with , I really know nothing about these systems, and am learning on the fly, hence all the questions.
Now, on my buddies Sniper 2 install, there was a module that he mounted under the dash. I assumed, and probably incorrectly so, that, that was the ECU. Now if you reply with the ECU is in the throttle body, and that module is an ignition module....then things are all starting to make sense.
Well, he/you either put a Power Distribution box in and/or a Hyperspark or other CD box if it's controlling ignition. The Sniper itself, has it's ECU built into the front (Sniper 1) or side (Sniper 2) and doesn't necessarily need a CD box to run. A simple Ready-to-Run didstributor will work, but that gives you no timing control. As mentioned, you can run the Hyperspark Ready-to-Run and control timing via ECU without an "extra" box.
CW_MI
11-16-2025, 05:26 PM
Well, he/you either put a Power Distribution box in and/or a Hyperspark or other CD box if it's controlling ignition. The Sniper itself, has it's ECU built into the front (Sniper 1) or side (Sniper 2) and doesn't necessarily need a CD box to run. A simple Ready-to-Run didstributor will work, but that gives you no timing control. As mentioned, you can run the Hyperspark Ready-to-Run and control timing via ECU without an "extra" box.
Understood, now. Thanks.