It's been just over a week since my first start under FreeEMS. During that time I've been researching transmission options and decided that modifying the existing setup is the best idea.
The big issue: what happens if I don't stay in Kansas? Most States require a yearly ECU check and drive the vehicle around to do a brake test. No proper tagging = huge fine and and possible impoundment if not resolved. For now that's not an issue, but I want to keep these things (no diags and custom transmission control) in mind so I can keep this vehicle on the road without incident. That FUD aside, I do want this beast to run FreeEMS and be both a daily driver and offroad capable, so onward an upward.
I've also been getting the right tools to finish wiring up the overhead roof and reverse/bed lights.
Most importantly, I've been getting things together to install the wideband O2 sensor:
A while back I bought a kit from Aeroforce Technology to add a wideband in my Solstice and connect to the existing Interceptor gauges. However, it'll live a better life in the truck. The sensor's a Bosch LS 17025 and the kit comes with quality wiring and a calibration controlbox. It also came with a bung for the downpipe and I've got a new powerdrill and steel hole saw to give that home. As for the welder, it's time to make some calls--at worst, there's a tool rental place down the road, but I've only got 110V at the wall--so perhaps I can just pay a shop to let me do the work under supervision; at best, I'll find someone around with a welder and some spare time that will give me a few minutes with it. Long term, I'll buy a MIG & bottle off of Craigslist and find a dedicated 220V line somewhere. Hate being uncertain about this, but that's one of the pitfalls of being in a new town and multiple trips coming up out of town ($$$).
The goal is to have W02 in by midday Sunday and the lights wired up before the end of the week.
As far as FreeEMS goes, Fred calculated some values--absent of the W02 sensor--for a genuinely smooth idle:
Fred wrote:Basically you can make your engine idle a LOT smoother by ramping your VE down in the idle zones for constant fueling. Right now it's riding up and down a slope having physical feedback with which AFRs the engine likes more. Not too important what they are, just that they don't change. You can optimise what they are late with a good wideband but you can do the math now and get the VE table nicer.
What i'm about to suggest is going to be wrong, but...you can work on other bits later. Leave VE at 50 at 45kPa, change VE axis to be 50kPa from 60 currently, change VE from 50 to 45% at new 50kPa zones.
Make that tune change tomorrow and run it again, I bet you it's smoother. You could also raise fueling to 55% at 200RPM.
Malcom2073 gave me an overview of these changes through the eyes of EMStudio, but I'm going to hold off on the last suggestion until I can get another log. My last logs were after the vehicle sat for nearly a week and underwent numerous timing cranks. I'd like to get a good log within a day of driving it around and on a full charge.
Other good things that happened: Fred gave a
smashing presentation at a ReaktorWarsaw meeting on the history and purpose of FreeEMS and a handful of us were able to coordinate travel plans to meet up soon. Good times ahead!
-Jeff
