EFI Test Bench

EagleMark · Post by **EagleMark** » Fri Dec 17, 2010 11:26 am

I have seen a test bench that was sold by a guy on ThirdGen and a picture of one on the Home page here at TunerPro.

Anyone know where to get one?

Post by **robertisaar** » Fri Dec 17, 2010 8:12 pm

i was actually considering building one myself for a long time... but it depends on what ECM you want to play with... the older ones that only used a single crank sensor and no cam sensor were generally easy to deal with, just have to play with a 555 to adjust RPM, that kind of stuff...

for the newer PCMs, the ones that use multiple crank sensor signals, and cam sensors, that's a much bigger PITA, RBob of TGO proposed using a PIC since 555s are inherently less stable.

EagleMark · Post by **EagleMark** » Sat Dec 18, 2010 3:33 am

I guess you need to be an electronics guy to know what a 555 and PIC are... right now I am useing a TBI intake, vacuum pump and a drill to run the distributor. I can check my rewired JY harness this way, they run at 1300 RPM and if all is well no codes are set. But that it about it's limit.

Post by **robertisaar** » Sat Dec 18, 2010 6:46 am

another thought occurs... the megasquirt crowd has their "stimulator" to test MS ECMs... i have to wonder if you could adapt it to a GM ECM easily.

EagleMark · Post by **EagleMark** » Sat Dec 18, 2010 7:52 am

I have been thinking the same thing. But havn't found time to look into it... all I do right now is TBI, TPI and MPFI. Just starting to play with the 16197427 as well...

Six_Shooter · Post by **Six_Shooter** » Sun Dec 19, 2010 12:54 pm

I am using a Jim Stim for my test bench and have been for a few years now.

Here are a few pictures:

I was comparing some things between a log I had on my laptop and testing using my PC:

Here is a close up, early on, before I got the dual monitors and cleaned up the Jim Stim a bit.

Since taking the above pictures I have made a few harnesses for different ECMs, that plug into the 36 pin plug on the Jim STim and have added a 25 Pin connector as well, for some things that the JIM Stim doesn't have connections for, like the ALDL, VSS (to be added) and a few other circuits that are not coming to me right now.

There's a few circuits I want to add to it, that I just haven't had time to build yet. Hopefully I'll get some time over the "holidays", to at least start the additions.

EagleMark · Post by **EagleMark** » Sun Dec 19, 2010 2:57 pm

WOW!!

You sir are haveing to much fun! Thanks for the information I am ordering a JimStim model.

Six_Shooter · Post by **Six_Shooter** » Sun Dec 19, 2010 5:28 pm

Haha, not as much as I'd like...

Being back in school now limits my time quite a bit.

When I get a chance I'll take some pictures of my harnesses and how I have them laid out. It makes switching between different ECMs quite easy. I still need to it this all into a case or enclosure of some sort.

BTW, I ordered my JimStim from diyautotune.com

EagleMark · Post by **EagleMark** » Sat Dec 25, 2010 8:13 am

Well I recived my JimStim in the mail yesterday. Now I need to find time to play!

I can see it would be handy to have spare ECM conectors with pigtails. Any other tips or tricks?

Six_Shooter · Post by **Six_Shooter** » Sat Dec 25, 2010 11:39 am

Give me a few days to take some pictures of my work in progress set up and that may give you some more ideas.

You'll likely find that the pots become less responsive or plainly fail over time. I have some better quality pots to replace mine, but haven't got around to that yet, that'll happen when I install it in a case too. lol

I'll be assembling some additional circuits for VSS and a couple others that I can't think of off hand right now.

rts91tsi · Post by **rts91tsi** » Tue Dec 20, 2011 12:12 pm

EagleMark wrote:WOW!!

You sir are haveing to much fun! Thanks for the information I am ordering a JimStim model.

I agree! This is the type of simulator I have been searching for to make a test bench setup. Thanks!

EagleMark · Post by **EagleMark** » Tue Dec 20, 2011 3:37 pm

Well I did the JimStim thing and built it into an old ECM box, you can see it running an ECM in this picture. It was helpful but what I really like is the other setup with intake manifold, I can rewire and build an entire system on the bench, drill running distributor, vacuum pump on Map system runing off AutoPro Emulator and recording data on laptop. This way I know all is done right, all parts check out OK, bin is set to turn off things not on conversion engine like EGR etc... no codes set. before I even install it on a car. Saves a ton of time!

http://www.gearhead-efi.com/Fuel-Inject ... 1320981960

rts91tsi · Post by **rts91tsi** » Wed Dec 21, 2011 5:49 am

Pretty nice setup you have there!

It is awesome that such a tool exists and can facilitate a wide array of platforms, as well as its ability to aid in building custom setups!

I definitely have the necessary spare connectors and such, and even have a spare ECU case for an enclosure. More than likely, I will be using the wheel simulator to mimic the CAS from my 4g63 engine. That is provided I don't run into any of the issues that were brought to my attention, about doing so.

EagleMark · Post by **EagleMark** » Wed Dec 21, 2011 7:57 am

Back when the pioneers were trying to figure out what was in the ECM that control the modules unit and sensors the simulator was a necessity. Here's a picture of one made for GM ECM, no longer available. this one is on TunerPro author page:
http://tunerpro.net/

Here's the picture of the simulator
http://tunerpro.net/images/TestBench.jpg

I had learned a lot by using the JimStim with same added stuff to run GM ECM. But found it really was not needed anymore... but having a full system set up I can make a change in ECM and see what it does to data from system. Or make a change in ECM and see what it does to data from system. Or remove a part of system, or add a part to system, or try parts from other systems and see if they can be adjusted etc... for me it's a tool, not sure most people would need it if they only want to do their one car...

Anyway I do have way to much fun with this stuff! My wife complained a few years ago that I spend to much time with it, learning it, doing it... I then told here it is better than me going back to drinking because I was bored! She never once has complained again, but I also made sure to spend more time with her!

JP86SS · Post by **JP86SS** » Wed Dec 28, 2011 6:44 pm

You're hooked now so here's more fuel for the fire.
There are some diagrams and such for the items I built my bench from.
http://www.thirdgen.org/techboard/diy-p ... calcs.html
Pretty sure thats the link with the 555 stuff too.