Turbo ECM upgrades

[weelyweels]

(wrc) Does any one know the right way upgrading the stock ecm on a 1st gen LX?? I an getting so sputtering at low RPM/no boost... but when the boost comes on it seems to straighten out and take off. So does any one know of a reprogrammer/chip for the protege or if i should get a gtx ecm from japan or junked 323 awd turbo??(wrc)

 

[weelyweels]

I am also looking for a good gasket set copper or something that would be good for boost aplications. does anyone know where i could find some of this stuff???

 

[elscotto80]

Find a GTX ecu, works great. Plugs right into the harness you have. You have to wire in a knock sensor in addition to the new ecu. I do think that corksport can re-flash your stock one to GTX specs, but it is cheaper to buy a true GTX.

 

[weelyweels]

What is there for advanced tunning for that gtx ecm?? have you ever found anything on good gasket kit for the 1.8?? i called summit racing and they offer a copper head gasket for the 1.8 for about $54 and it is my understanding that the n/a 1.8 does not have knock sensor and i right?? i also have heard that the knock sensor is some thing that does not need to be hooked up.... (2.3 turbo ford doesn't need it)
thanks
weelyweels

Find a GTX ecu, works great. Plugs right into the harness you have. You have to wire in a knock sensor in addition to the new ecu. I do think that corksport can re-flash your stock one to GTX specs, but it is cheaper to buy a true GTX.

 

[BFMRGTX]

Get a Cometic head gasket for the 1.8l Miata, it's the same block as the ones put in the GTX (1.6 GTX block is essentially the same as the 1.6 Miata block, same with the 1.8's between the GTX and Miata). They're the best out there. You'll have to shop around for the right price, though.

From my understanding, the knock controller is integrated into the ecu for the 1.8 GTX.

The 2.3l Ford engine is a completely different animal if you're talking about the engine I think you are talking about. I believe it was designed in either the UK or Germany for the Ford Capri/Ford Sierra cars, if I'm not mistaken. Or... are you talking about that engine? *shrugs*

 

[weelyweels]

yeah thats the same ford 2.3 turbo that was use in the Merkur(spellcheck), SVO mustang, Turbocoupe T-bird.... and what i have read about the knock sensor on it is that you just need to unplug it because it is too sensitive. so back to the mazda why do you think that i should go with the cometic h/g and not the copper one..... i have not found any cometic heag gaskets for the 1.8. do you know where i should try looking??
thanks!!
weels

 

[BFMRGTX]

www.raceeng.com has the Cometic MLS gasket for the Miata. You can ask them for the particulars. The gasket probably isn't listed on the website, so you'll have to call them and they'll fill you in on price and availability. I know that the gasket is metal, but I do not know the composition.

 

[weelyweels]

do you know where i could find a gtx ecm... the closest thing to that i can find is capri turbo 1.6 have you ever heard of anyone using that ecm?? are the plugs and stuff the same?? does that have a knock sensor??
thanks for the help,
keith

 

[BFMRGTX]

do you know where i could find a gtx ecm... the closest thing to that i can find is capri turbo 1.6 have you ever heard of anyone using that ecm?? are the plugs and stuff the same?? does that have a knock sensor??
thanks for the help,
keith

The Capri ECU is different than the GTX ECU.
Not by much, but enough that it makes it difficult to just swap ECUs and drive away. It has always been my impression that:
GTX ecu = GTX sensors and wire harness.

Capri XR2 ecu = XR2 sensors and wire harness.

I know of several people that are running full, XR2 swaps in their GTX's, and then there's people running XR2 electronics - Miata block - BPT tranny et al.

Your best bet would be to contact Dan at Reich Racing. They are located in Canada, and they know the GTX and XR2 ECUs inside and out. They also reflash the chip with their own software.

http://www.reichracing.on.ca/

They sometimes are a little slow to answer their emails, but I do see them on the other mazda forums from time to time.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/323gtx/messages

^^^^^^^
Will probably find a stock, used ECU on here.

http://mazda323performance.com/forum

^^^^^^^
and probably here too.

 

[weelyweels]

i was looking on some wedsite that searched salvage yard's inventory for a gtx ecm and it brough up a Merk Capri 1.6t ecm and said that it was interchangeable.. i'm not saying that you are wrong... just trying to figger this out..

 

[BFMRGTX]

No worries! That's why I didn't want to say "I am 100% certain" , because I'm not. This is just what I've heard over the last 8 or so years on the yahoo forum.

But from my understanding, you're running the 1.8l engine, yes? Sorry, I was getting off-topic and discussing the B6T.

Keep your eyes peeled at all the Mazda sites, ebay (even the UK and Austrailian flavors), and craigslist and hope you don't get out bid.

If all else fails, you can shell out the extra cash and get one from Corksport.

 

[weelyweels]

Yeah i have the 1.8 dohc.... i have already emailed corksport and they said that they are on back order and it would be a while before i could get my hands on one!! it sucks dont it!! cause like 6 months ago they were on ebay all the time but know that i want to buy one i cant find one!!!

 

[BFMRGTX]

I know a person in Oakland that has BPT parts. What I don't know is what parts he wants to sell. I believe he's been trying to offload a ceramic coated manifold and turbo. I don't know if he's got a harness and ECU, but I'll find out.

 

[weelyweels]

That would be awsome!! cause man this search for an new ecm is driving me crazy!! can i get you to find out if he also has injectors?? oh and that reminds me do you know if the fuel pressure regulator is the same on the bpt and the bp?
thanks alot!!
keith

 

[elscotto80]

You cannot re-flash our ECUs. Try getting a GTX one for some kind of fuel managment system.

 

[BFMRGTX]

I know that 1.6's FPR differs from N/A to Turbo. The Turbo'd B6T's FPR is Rising-Rate. I can only assume that this is the case with the 1.8's, but I honestly do not know.

I'll send him an email today, and ask.