Got some tasty things in the pipeline:

Toyota coils from a 2005 Corolla:



Adaptronic Select full standalone, new model with built-in alternator control, so it doesn't require the original ECU for anything:

 

Sube'd

 

Not many updates, I have received the plugs and pins to make the Toyota COP loom so I'll write about that when I get to it. I've also been trying to accurately measure the sensors for my Adaptronic install.

I gave the car a wash and took a few pics of how it looks now with the later model lights and bar, plus the 6UL wheels:



I'm trying to keep a "nothing to see here" appearance.

 

A few updates...

I went to an MX-5 detailing day and I have to say the car came up way better than expected:







Went to Queensland Raceway on Monday for a club track day. I only managed two laps for the day due to mechanical issues, however one of them was a 65, can't really complain!



The issue was the alternator tensioning bolt, but without it I had no alternator or water pump. Jason and Jeff from MX-5 Plus stole bits from their race car at the end of the day to get me home, absolute champions!

Also, I've been working on my COP loom:

 

That paint does really look great in the sun. I rarely see that color on NBs and never that clean. It definitely fits the "under the radar" theme.

 

Added a flex joint to hopefully help with the loose stud issue:



The midpipe is mild steel, so it probably doesn't help having the air conditioning drain dump straight onto it (see rubber hose at top of pic):



Can you guys think of anything to slow the rust? Some kind of special coating?

 

I kept having clearance issues with the chunky (and excessively long) SE/MSM exhaust tip. I'm otherwise happy with the tone and volume, so the solution was a 2.5" mandrel bend and then some straight pipe. No need for fancy tips here:

 

I've been working on my Adaptronic install by measuring the thermistors and scrounging together as much info as I can to get a head start on a basemap.

Here are some more bits related to the install:



I have also measured both the thermistor and the resistor inside my oil temp gauge so I can share the sensor with the Adaptronic. I will have fuel pressure, oil pressure and oil temp going in (via an Innovate SSI-4) for both logging and also alerting if things are out of spec.

 

Awesome build thread with top notch parts. Subbd.

 

Getting pretty close to putting the Adaptronic in now:



It's a plug and play unit but I'm using an extension harness to hook up the boost control solenoid and the 'Boost 1' input switch for different wastegate settings. This is overkill, but I had the harness sitting around anyway. If you're not using an extension like this and you don't want to make irreversible changes to your car you can easily pop out individual pins with a jewelers screwdriver then push in your own wire.

The device in the heat shrink on the left is a Bluetooth module to use the 'Adaptive Tuner' Android phone/tablet program. For laptop connectivity I will use the USB port, it's worth mentioning that you can power enough of the ECU via USB to allow a laptop connection and to change settings!

Cheers

 

I'm using an Innovate MTX-L wideband controller, the controller is integrated into the gauge so I had to put it somewhere:



At least this keeps it out of sight but I can open the glovebox and easily see it if desired.

The mount was included with one of my other gauges, I just cut off the back of the mount to make it fit as the MTX-L is deeper.

 

The Adaptronic is in and it started perfectly first time!



I borrowed a friend's timing map and did some rough calculations to get a starting fuel map. For now I'm still running on the yellow Denso RX-8 injectors but I will be fitting the ID725s shortly. I also need to work on some brackets for mounting the ECU so it can't move around.

One cool feature on these Select models is a 3.5mm jack to plug in some headphones to listen to the knock sensor!

I didn't have to give up much glove box real estate in the end with the wideband and dual cigarette lighter socket fitted:



I've driven the car a few times in the Rapid Learn mode for it to dial in the fuel map a bit, but the high load stuff will be done on the dyno.

 

I've added a thermistor to the front of the head so I can compare temps between the front/back. Another bonus is being able to see the thermostat open, it looks pretty cool on a graph:

 

Been playing around with Adaptive Tuner for Android. It's a pretty neat app, and it's open source so you can make changes if you want. I have made some minor changes to add the AUX-T to the logged channels and also have it display on the Adaptive Monitor tab:





As previously mentioned, I'm using the $12 Bluetooth module mentioned on mrpham's blog:

 

That's pretty neat. Man, the whole world is going bluetooth/phone operated gauges/data acquisition.........I'm starting to feel old logging with a laptop like a prehistoric peasant

 

Despite also feeling old, I remember when people soldered in RS232 to USB adapters inside MS and everyone thought that was the hot ticket....

 

Yeah it's pretty handy. This ECU has USB and two serial ports. The Bluetooth dongle is plugged into one of the serial ports and the laptop goes straight in via USB.

The phone is handy for logging and keeping an eye on things, but I wouldn't retire that laptop any time soon!

Cheers

 

Played around with a Protege 36-1 trigger wheel, it has much more resolution than the standard NB trigger wheel:



I put both wheels on the scanner to work out exact angles of each. Being a 36 tooth wheel it is obvious the teeth are at 10 degree intervals but the ECU looks at the trailing edge of the tooth so you need to take into account the tooth width.

Also I picked up an 'Audiosonic HD Action Camera' from Kmart for AUD$49. It has a 120 degree lens and records in MJPG - 30fps @ 720p. The stream is using AVI as the container.

I plan to use the camera in potentially sacrificial places (recording suspension movement for example).

Here's my first test video, it's not bad for the money:

 

Picked up some second hand BC shocks (full set but only rears pictured here):



Rears are now in, fronts to follow:



The spring rates are 8/6, the Teins were 6/5. No idea what to expect from the change but time will tell!

 

I had BC shocks with 8/6 springs and they were way too soft. Now I have 10/7