L-series touring wagon ECU & EA82T

sven · Post by **sven** » Tue May 22, 2007 11:43 am

Am starting again...have purchased a '85 Touring Wagon with the MPFI motor as a base

I've heard that the ECU can control an EA82T with a few mods - anyone done this? Any tips would be welcomed

thanks

Sven

stamp_licker · Post by **stamp_licker** » Tue May 22, 2007 1:07 pm

yes it can .Your 85 ecu would be the 3plug type which just requires one pin to be grounded to switch the designation to turbo.The loom just plugs into the turbo engine loom.

YouTube · Post by **El_Freddo** » Tue May 22, 2007 1:51 pm

can this change be done to the 4 pin ECU, or is it a little more difficult?

steptoe · Post by **steptoe** » Tue May 22, 2007 2:00 pm

adda boy Steve, there really must be sumptin' about the old L's. I'll be watchin' your build closely, hopin' you share it with us all.

Gannon · Post by **Gannon** » Tue May 22, 2007 4:20 pm

El_Freddo wrote:can this change be done to the 4 pin ECU, or is it a little more difficult?

From what i have read, the NA ecu is different to the turbo one.
They will both plug in and run the car, but the turbo one has a built in knock sensor, wastegate controller and apparently different fuel/spark maps.

I will be getting mine going soon so i will find out

YouTube · Post by **El_Freddo** » Tue May 22, 2007 4:30 pm

Suparoo wrote:From what i have read, the NA ecu is different to the turbo one.
They will both plug in and run the car, but the turbo one has a built in knock sensor, wastegate controller and apparently different fuel/spark maps.

I will be getting mine going soon so i will find out

So how'd they do the 3 plug to run the turbo by grounding a pin but didn't do the same for the 4 plug (which i thought was an improvement over the 3 plug ECU).

Or does it not run the turbo very well?

Your running the 4 plug ECU yeah? Dunno if i'll ever fit a turbo but i'd be nice to know that it would be easier than a whole loom replacement job...

Cheers

sven · Post by **sven** » Tue May 22, 2007 5:13 pm

Now i remember a campfire discussion re: MPFI ECUs running turbos, and yes, the knock sensor and wastegate were considered an issue, but there was much debate...don't think it was resolved before an arguement on welding diffs flared up.

...and thanks jono, yes will keep a log of the progress - guess the best spot is member's rides?

Gannon · Post by **Gannon** » Tue May 22, 2007 5:54 pm

El_Freddo wrote:So how'd they do the 3 plug to run the turbo by grounding a pin but didn't do the same for the 4 plug (which i thought was an improvement over the 3 plug ECU).

Or does it not run the turbo very well?

Your running the 4 plug ECU yeah? Dunno if i'll ever fit a turbo but i'd be nice to know that it would be easier than a whole loom replacement job...

Cheers

As far as i know, if you have a 3 plug NA car, ground a pin on the ecu and connect the knock control unit between the disty and the loom (3 plug turbo's had an external knock control unit) and change one of the vacc sensors to a boost sensor, you will have a factory turbo setup.

As far as the 4 plug types, the NA ecu should run fine with a turbo motor, just bypass the vac lines to the WGDS. No one actually knows if there is a difference in the fuel maps, the only way to find out would be to throw it on a dyno and compare A/F ratios and hp output between the two.

I am using the 88 mpfi touring wagon loom (4plug) to run my turbo motor, i have just added the wires for the knock control and WGDS and will use the vortex ecu. If that fails, i will just use the NA ecu and watch my A/F values

BlackMale · Post by **BlackMale** » Tue May 22, 2007 6:19 pm

The easiest answer is yes it can be done. How would I know I hear you ask?

My Tourer is currently running off MPFI ECU and she goes as hard as it did in RX form and I do not have the knock sensor wired up as there was no need.

Initially it was thought that this would be an issue however it is not.

YouTube · Post by **El_Freddo** » Tue May 22, 2007 6:49 pm

Suparoo wrote:As far as the 4 plug types, the NA ecu should run fine with a turbo motor, just bypass the vac lines to the WGDS. No one actually knows if there is a difference in the fuel maps, the only way to find out would be to throw it on a dyno and compare A/F ratios and hp output between the two.

I am using the 88 mpfi touring wagon loom (4plug) to run my turbo motor, i have just added the wires for the knock control and WGDS and will use the vortex ecu. If that fails, i will just use the NA ecu and watch my A/F values

Suparoo, are you using a turbo engine or just turbo'n a standard MPFI with low boost?

Well, this could be fun in a few years for me (its not that i'm not old enough, just not rich enough and there's a few things i want to do to my car first).

Is there some wiring involved with the waste gate management? I thought this all ran off the vacuum lines (but i know squat about turbos and have only ever driven one in a just-off-the-showroom-floor 2004 WRX and bugger me it was exhilirating...)

And i've got an '88 wagon run by a '91 loom from a wagon, can't remember if it was a tourer or not but anyway... (useless info for you)

How do you watch the air/fuel values?

BlackMale wrote: The easiest answer is yes it can be done. How would I know I hear you ask?

My Tourer is currently running off MPFI ECU and she goes as hard as it did in RX form and I do not have the knock sensor wired up as there was no need.

Initially it was thought that this would be an issue however it is not.

I take it you mean that your running a standard MPFI ECU in your tourer with the same engine from the RX running a turbo ECU?

I wondered how the MPFI setup ran without the knock sensor due to reading every where that the knock sensor is a system requirement... but found that only the turbo motors had them (go figure).

I'll leave it off here, i feel like i've well and truely hi-jacked sven's thread (sorry mate - and i hope to see your next L up and running soon)

Cheers

stamp_licker · Post by **stamp_licker** » Tue May 22, 2007 7:05 pm

the 3 plugs ecu turbo to n/a are the same.I ran a 4 plug n/a ecu on a ea82T had to swap the n/a dist and throtle body to the turbo motor,Yarney's is done this way.Also have a 4plug turbo ecu out of a late rx any one wants it make us a offer.

steptoe · Post by **steptoe** » Wed May 23, 2007 9:37 am

and Blackmale, can ya complete the picture ..you successfully using 3 plug or 4 plug ECU?

BlackMale · Post by **BlackMale** » Wed May 23, 2007 10:20 am

Yer sorry 3 plug MPFI ECU running 82T. And like Postie have an RX ECU/loom if you want to make an offer (they're expensive lil buggers as well).

discopotato03 · Post by **discopotato03** » Wed May 23, 2007 10:34 am

Yes I am interested , exactly how much of the engine control electrics do you have ie sensors/TB/Dizzy/MAF AFM etc ?

To be truthful I'm not sure which system would better suit my needs . I have a feeling that the earlier "3 plug" system would be easier to push with larger injectors than the MAF system - you have a degree of adjustment with gate type AFM's and signal voltages .

Cheers A .

Gannon · Post by **Gannon** » Wed May 23, 2007 5:55 pm

I am going to be running a ea82t out of a vortex using the wiring loom out of a touring wagon (but any mpfi ea82 will do)
I have added a wire for the WGDS and the knock sensor.

The WGDS is a wastegate duty solenoid which adjusts boost pressure to compensate for different altitudes and atmospheric air pressures. Normally the wastegate is connected directly to the compressor outlet but some models came with the wgds. it can be disconnected and the wastegate can be connected to the compressor outlet.

You watch the air/fuel ratios with a meter or gauge (like a boost gauge but with LEDs instead of a needle) that just connects to your o2 sensor.

mattw · Post by **mattw** » Wed May 23, 2007 10:36 pm

I've had mine running on the std 4 pin MPFI ecu for a few years now, without drama. My A/F ratios haven't caused any concern, but I do believe the mapping isn't ideal, having driven a few 4 pin, hotwire AFM RX's to compare with. Mine is totally flat under 2-2500 rpm, the real ones had far better low down response. I've got a turbs ecu, but haven't done anything with it yet (I feel inspired to play)

discopotato03 · Post by **discopotato03** » Fri May 25, 2007 10:12 am

I was back at that you pull it wrecker yesterday and walked out with the 89 wagons sea of fuel rails and pipework/CAS dizzy and the throttlebody .
I think next time I'll get the two temperature sensors and the manifolds loom(which unplugs unlike my 86 RX) and possibly inner loom and ECU . If anyone has a late RX ECU I'm definately interested or a late Vortex EA82T ECU .

The optical CAS is just like a late Nissan FJ20 one . A god sent for anyone wanting to go aftermarket ECU or even a stand alone ignition computer from say Haltech . Having evil thoughts about Liberty twin double ended coils ...
Actually if you could mimic an EJ20/22 CAS signal/injector size maybe an EJ ECU could even run one . Then a Rex Apexi PFC and then and ....

BlackMale · Post by **BlackMale** » Fri May 25, 2007 10:40 am

discopotato03 wrote: If anyone has a late RX ECU I'm definately interested or a late Vortex EA82T ECU .

BlackMale wrote: And like Postie have an RX ECU/loom if you want to make an offer (they're expensive lil buggers as well).

Send me a PM if your interested.

stamp_licker · Post by **stamp_licker** » Fri May 25, 2007 12:45 pm

I have a 4plug rx ecu .yes it is for sale ,offer me a price.

subanator · Post by **subanator** » Sat May 26, 2007 12:18 am

El_Freddo wrote:can this change be done to the 4 pin ECU, or is it a little more difficult?

No problem if you have Jap import engine and ECU. Mine was done this way.