Scottish Elises

I'm currently running a standard ECU and looking at options...

There are a couple of 160 heads out there... And others with 160+. I'm assuming I can't run my standard ECU with them so wondering what options are out there.

Is emerald still the way to go... Or gems etc?!

Cheers

Dave

Emerald is the known quantity, IMO. Cheaper than other options with 99% of the functionality - and all the functionality you really need for a K series.

With a fuel pressure regulator you'll be fine with the standard ECU up to 160 IMHO.

Agreed that if you must have an ECU then Emerald may well be the path of least resistance.

Cheers,
Robin

I'm guessing a 160 head plus go faster cams is definitely too much for the standard ECU then.

Just looking at options to get the car back running again... Nothing set in stone. Emeralds look pricey new so not sure it's worth the bother.

This should also probably be in Technical so feel free to move it mods. Posted from my phone earlier and didn't realise I was in General Chat.. (that's my excuse and I'm sticking to it!)

Done.

If it's a KR1 plus newman cams then I think Rog reckons it does OK on standard ECU plus a fuel pressure regulator, maybe with some restriction in the IACV air flow? Have you asked?

Cheers,
Robin

>>KR1 plus newman cams then I think Rog reckons it does OK

Rog's thoughts are that with a KR1, Newman Phase 2 cams, and 4-2-1 manifold/hiflo exhaust you are on the edge of what the MEMS 1.9 can handle. My engine (96 s1 1,6mpi) isn't properly timed yet but is on the hole handling all Rog's mods pretty well (after 1200 miles), its definitely overfueling and a little acceleration judder. I've signed up for the rolling road day at ecotune in September so I'll perhaps get a better idea about how well the engine is going then.

With an Emerald you will be able to get a base map that will get you 80-90% of the way which will mean less RR time to set it up. Like Shug said compared to the rest much cheapness and perfect for the K.

What did the PTP 165 kit use?

Hi Campbell,

I think it went something like:

They started off supplying some sort of EFi ECU and in later revisions they moved towards "sort it out yourself, but we'll give you a map for an Emerald".

Cheers,
Robin

DVA kits used an Emerald for anything over 155bhp, or 175bhp for the VVC.

In fact, the difference between the 155 and 160 kits seems to be the emerald and a bit more polishing, so DVA obviously feels 155 is around the limit of the standard ECU.

Without adding a fuel pressure regulator I think 155 could be the limit of safe fuelling. The MEMS uses open loop fuelling on full throttle/above 4K - so it has no "learning/O2 sensor" input in this range. If you increase fuelling by upping the pressure a tad then it will be fuelled OK and it will use O2 feedback on cruise to dial back the fuelling to a normal level. It's not perfect, but you save the money on the ECU at the expense of ~100GBP on a FPR (avoid ebay specials - get it from somewhere like EP/QED/...).

Actually if you're really pikey you can squeeze the spring in the standard regulator to increase pressure, but this requires some expertise to get right so I have never tried it.

Fuelling is proportional-ish to fuel pressure; so let's say the MEMS on 3.0bar can do 150BHP safely, then increase the pressure by 10% to 3.3bar will fuel for 165BHP - ish.

Cheers,
Robin

Rob Bell on from the mgf register got a set of 10-15 FPR's manufactured to 3.3bar. He's sending me one up when he gets back from holiday as I wanted to keep the car looking more stock, and wasn't sure where the best place to install the FPR. Robin, so if I run an emerald with a wideband lambda, I don't need the FPR, is that the case?

Thanks folks.. interesting reading.

Background here is that I have a standard head with Rog awaiting his KR1 magic, but he's struggling with so many people putting demands on him that I thought I'd see if there were other options out there that I could use as either a stop gap or permanent solution. Obviously it's impossible to have too much powerrrrrrrrrrr /clarkson.

Just thinking outside the box basically to see if there is an option I've not considered that might get my car back on the road a bit quicker, without sending Rog to an early grave with stress in the process!

You will probably still need the FPR because at stock fuel pressure you will run out of injector duty cycle. You will likely have to bump the pressure to get enough fuel through the stock injectors. When I did mine I used 330cc injectors and these ran out of cycle at 3 bar, ended up with 440cc injectors running 3 bar.