VX ecotec into race car

[O_man_ra23]

G'day all,

I've just purchased a VX to swap the ecotec into my dirt circuit car to replace the VR Buick with shagged 4HDD tranny. I've ordered an envious customs ALDL cable. I want to delete the key and BCM, remove any associated faults and ECU locking code as a starting point. Later I'll take it to the local dyno tuner for 98RON open exhaust tuning, but will need to adjust the transmission based on how it goes at the track.

From the FAQ and other searches, I need to get flashtool and the tunerpro plugin. From there, has anybody played with these and deleted the above mentioned bits? Is there a topic on how this was done? I'm not new to tuning, but have only worked with aftermarket systems. I'll have the motor still in the donor car for about a week, so would like to resolve most of this before removal. I won't be running the commodore dash either.

Any assistance with what I haven't been able to find in the FAQ etc is much appreciated.

[VL400]

To get it to run in the VR you need to disable VATS. The low speed fan setup will also need changing but can be done later.

Use the flashtool to get cal, Tunerpro to edit (XDF here .. https://pcmhacking.net/forums/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=5) and flashtool to write cal when done.

Flashtool download here, read the info about flash PCMs first though .. https://pcmhacking.net/forums/viewt ... p?f=3&t=82

[O_man_ra23]

Car is actually a 1977 Celica, just has a VR motor presently.

My radiator has a single fan which is run off a dash switch, as is the fuel pump.

Thanks for the info thus far, I guess once the cable turns up I'll have more of a play and will have more pointed questions

[Dazza92VP]

Why not just jam the Ecotec in there and keep the vr wiring loom and ecu and run the Ecotec off that? That way you have basically no wiring to do again and it gives you the 424ecu which you can use 11p with

[O_man_ra23]

VR loom I have is for a 4HDD box (which has dead 1st and 2nd) so not compatible with the later boxes.

Wiring isn't a problem, and the VR loom has been tampered with by previous owners so would rather start with a fresh loom.

[vlad01]

I'd just stick with the VR engine, they have more potential than the ecotec as long you are willing to spend the cash.

[O_man_ra23]

Not spending cash. VR donk leaks like a sieve and the box is dead. Cheaper to buy a VX and transfer everything over. The car weighs stuff all so don't need big power to be competitive. Really can't see a stock VR motor being better than a stock VX motor, and aside from open pipes, pod filter and some tuning tweaks, nothing would get done to either. No point in even raising the rev limit. If I ever think I need more power I'll put a stock LS1 in.

[vlad01]

Don't underestimate the older engines. stock for stock the pre ecotec engines are far more durable. You don't have have much room to play with on the ecotec before the pistons disintegrate or the heads crack if they haven't already. They are very sensitive to knock damage unless you spend cash to install decent pistons.

[Dazza92VP]

The 424 will run the later model transmissions but looses only the tcc pwm. But if someone else has had ago at the wirining loom I can totally under stand wanting to rewire and make something more reliable that you know

[O_man_ra23]

Ok, I've uploaded the BIN from the PCM twice to make sure I got it right. Did a compare between the two in TunerPro, and there are differences. One is in the Calibration Identification parameter, the rest are in unidentified items.

Is this normal?