I was researching Megasquirt, and the associated inputs, outputs, and control systems. There is talk about the IAC Valve, and whether you are going to use it or not. IAC stands for Idle Air Control, and essentially it is a stepper motor driven valve that opens when the engine is idling. It prevents the engine from stalling when the throttle is closed.
There is a problem with this, if I am going to use ITBs, or individual throttle bodies. On the stock Zetec, there is one IACV, and one throttle body to match. When I go to the ITBs, I lose the simplicity of a single throttle.
The IAC should allow me to properly drive the engine, and not lose the efficiency of EFI. So I want to use it.
A quick search on Google, turned up this:
IACs and ITBs
It discusses where to place the openings, and provides a little bit of insight into the problem.
So here's the plan. Take the Zetec IACV, add in some air openings in the bottom of the Suzuki throttle bodies opposite the Suzuki injector ports (which will become the vacuum hook-ups), and hook these into the output of the IACV.
With some nice engine dressing, I should be able to make the whole thing look good too. The stock fuel rail running into the stock (Zetec) injectors, in the stock intake manifold ports. A little bit of cleaning up, and the stock system shouldn't look too bad. Add in the ITBs, and some nicely dressed vacuum lines, and some nicely dressed intake lines running underneath, and it should look downright fierce.
This solution allows me to use everything I need. Or so I hope.
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Sold theZX2
Yesterday, we took the ZX2 to the junk yard. I've got to say, the junk yards dudes have a pretty cool job. Drive around giant wrecking equipment, shoot the breeze with crazy people... If I am ever looking for a job, that's where I am going to start.
Anyway, of the $250 I spent to buy the donor car, I got back $120 just for the scrap metal. Now, I need to start selling off bits and pieces of the rest of the car. I still have the car seats that are promised to a guy at work, the dash cluster, the sun roof, and the driver's door.
If I can get the prices I am finding on E-bay, I should be able to pay for some of the bits and pieces I need to get this project really underway.
Anyway, of the $250 I spent to buy the donor car, I got back $120 just for the scrap metal. Now, I need to start selling off bits and pieces of the rest of the car. I still have the car seats that are promised to a guy at work, the dash cluster, the sun roof, and the driver's door.
If I can get the prices I am finding on E-bay, I should be able to pay for some of the bits and pieces I need to get this project really underway.
Sunday, February 14, 2010
So, the journey begins.
I found the donor car via craigslist, and went to pick it up. The engine was already out of the car, as from what I can tell the previous owner needed the transmission. This made my life significantly easier, since all I needed to do is get the car home and strip the engine.
I must tell you, the job of removing components from an engine is much easier with the engine sitting on the floor of your basement. After a couple quick wrench turns, a couple of moments what the hell this gizmo was and whether it was needed, the engine is now sitting, stripped down to the block.
Next step, is going to be cleaning up the block. There is a layer of paint on the engine to prevent it from rusting, and most of it is peeling off of the rust. I want to paint it to go with the car, but first I have to get the old paint off, and clean up the rust.
After this, it is going to be a long list of major projects. The original intake manifold may or may not fit, but I may not even use it anyway. I would rather use something more custom. The exhaust is going to be an off-the-shelf/custom job. Then a complete replacement of the engine management system using a system from MegaSquirt.
I found the donor car via craigslist, and went to pick it up. The engine was already out of the car, as from what I can tell the previous owner needed the transmission. This made my life significantly easier, since all I needed to do is get the car home and strip the engine.
I must tell you, the job of removing components from an engine is much easier with the engine sitting on the floor of your basement. After a couple quick wrench turns, a couple of moments what the hell this gizmo was and whether it was needed, the engine is now sitting, stripped down to the block.
Next step, is going to be cleaning up the block. There is a layer of paint on the engine to prevent it from rusting, and most of it is peeling off of the rust. I want to paint it to go with the car, but first I have to get the old paint off, and clean up the rust.
After this, it is going to be a long list of major projects. The original intake manifold may or may not fit, but I may not even use it anyway. I would rather use something more custom. The exhaust is going to be an off-the-shelf/custom job. Then a complete replacement of the engine management system using a system from MegaSquirt.
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