Tornado ECU chips (Mark Adams- RPI Engineering) ?

[tasi devil]

anybody know anything about them ?

...........tasi

[justinc]

anybody know anything about them ?

...........tasi

Mark Adams knows his stuff from what I've heard, IIRC he was one of the first to chip the GEMS system etc.

JC

[p38arover]

A friend in Coffs Harbour has one in his P38A. He likes it.

Mine has a Bruce Davis chip in it.

[Matman]

I emailed mark about one for mine(2001v8 disco)and he said they were still developing them,so i guess i have to wait.

[p38arover]

If you buy from Mark make sure you tell him whether your car has O2 sensors and how many (if any).

My friend didn't so the chip had to be sent back for the right one.

[PaulP38a]

I've got a UniChip here somewhere. Hardy gave it to me when I bought his Rangie last year. He had it installed in the P38A but removed it while doing some troubleshooting that he thought may involve the chip. He never bothered to reinstall it and I'm in no rush to either.

I believe they only work on the Bosch systems (no GEMS). If anyone wants to try it out, let me know. Those within driving distance of Canberra can collect for free... your deposit will be a bottle of cheap-ish red :D
If it requires me to pack and post to you... your non-refundable deposit may stretch to 2 bottles :D:D

I have no idea what they are worth, but we can worry about that later perhaps.

Cheers, Paul.

UPDATE 18-Sep: the UniChip is heading off to Queensland for a while or indefinately depending on how it goes in Grimace's Rangie.

[p38arover]

I think the UniChip needs to be wired in and then programmed on a dyno (like th Haltech). It's not a plug and play like the Mark Adams or Bruce Davis chips.

[Hoges]

someone else on this site runs his LR on cooking oil... what sort of chip should he use :wasntme:

[Hoges]

Actually on a less frivolous note, the Bosch engineers were a bit sneaky with the Motronic5.2.1 system which was also used in '96 and newer 318ti's with the 1.9 liter M44 engine. The relevant BMW enthusiast sites contain a number of articles written in frustration at the difficulty of improving the mapping of their systems. (I went looking there to see what others had done with the motronic 5.2.1 system ;))

from a BMW forum -quote: " It appears that the main part of the M5.2 firmware and maps is very similar in appearance to previous Bosch (non OBD - II) systems. The OBD - II diagnostic and security firmware was 'patched' around the older designs. the security firmware hides calculated checksums all over the place, and each revision of M5.2 changes the hiding places."

This is just one part of the puzzle. There's also a heap of proprietary hardware and software issues which virtually preclude any "fiddling".

guess the question is: if one was going to install a GM LS1 engine, would a "BECM" from a VX/VY holden be feasible as a replacement for the existing RR one? (I dream about it regularly...:angel:

[ariddell]

He's the benchmark when it comes to chips on TVRs so I'd say he knows his stuff.

Have only ever heard good things about the MA Tornado chips in the UK, but then over there they are usually tweaked on the car by Mark in person during a rolling road session.

I've been toying with the idea of buying one of his more generic, less agressively programmed ones for my TVR for a while now so if you're thinking of ordering one to be shipped out from the UK i might be interested in getting involved in a group buy.

[Traco]

Mark Adams will have a chip to suit most hotwire and gems applications. There's lots of information about his chips in Des Hammill's book on tuning the RV8. Mark is a regular poster on the TVR forum pistonheads under the title "Blitz Racing" - RV8 engined TVR sports cars had Lucas 14CUX hotwire injection with Tornado Systems fuel chips installed in the ECU. They were powerful (340bhp) and extremely quick (0 to 60 mph in 4.1 seconds).

Rather than go through RPI I suggest you visit Mark's ebay shop but note the shop price includes EU VAT, which will not be applicable to an export to Australia. Now's a good time to buy with the dollar/pound exchange rate.

Before you order, Mark would need to know some basic type information from inside the ECU. With the hotwire systems there are two major variants, and the software has to match. Also it is worth checking that the EPROM in these ECUs is fitted in a socket, because many of them are soldered into the circuit board. If this is the case then you would need to have one fitted locally, or send it to Mark for surgery.

All Tornado software contains tunes for both catalyst and non-catalyst operation. In addition you can select other preferences such as idle speed, rev limit, etc.

[tasi devil]

thanks very much everybody .... Traco i did go the e-bay route.
i rang them to make sure of the right one, spoke to Ian and must say, excellent service.
just need to sort out some details and soon as it arrives we'll get it honking, mate says we can get access to a dyno, so with that and my Faultmate we should get a pretty decent result.
will let you know how it goes.

..........tasi

[uzz32soarer]

This is a rekindle of an old thread.

Tasi Devil, did you ever get to fitting the Mark Adams chips?

My P38 has recently had an engine upgrade at 330k kms and I'm looking for accurate feedback on the Mark Adams chips before committing to a purchase.

[clubagreenie]

The chips are developed but he needs your ECU sent over to program as it's not as simple a job as just sending another one. Depending on the tune revision you have it may or may not run on a different tune.

Send him an email or phone up and he's really helpful with info.

[tasi devil]

can't believe that was so long ago.
only just got it going after 18mths + & trying to fit a M90 blower without a dedicated plenum chamber underneath it......& destroying two engines
finally @ my wifes insistence that she wanted 'her car' back, i took it to some fellas that deserve a 'Gold Star'. they resolved some other minor issues & put it on their Autologic Diagnostic scanner to fix a very fast idle & sync the chips to the ECU ?
anyway don't reckon the missus will get to drive it much.......that is till i lose my licence.
i'd say go for it, those fellas @ Mark Adams are very approachable, but be prepared that you may need to rest it all with a scanner.

.............tasi

[clubagreenie]

Probably synching the ECU to the BCU again.

[uzz32soarer]

I have access to the latest Rovacom gear from the local Rangie repair center so the reset may not be an issue.

More of an issue is getting an email address that can reach Mark Adams. I've tried a few but the only answer is from RPI and they want to sell me their cam kits etc etc.

Today I tried mark.adams@tornadosystems.com, but no reply and that website has no actual content relating to chips or upgrades.

Anyone have a contact email that actually may reach Mark?

[uzz32soarer]

The chips are developed but he needs your ECU sent over to program as it's not as simple a job as just sending another one. Depending on the tune revision you have it may or may not run on a different tune.

Send him an email or phone up and he's really helpful with info.

I have a spare ECU so sending mine to UK won't be a problem. More so that I need to actually contact him.

[clubagreenie]

I get to him on the same. Sometimes takes a couple of days but he gets back.

I'll give him a call tonight and let him know about the thread/emails.

[tasi devil]

yeh, i didn't bother with e-mail, rang them direct before purchase to make sure i was getting the correct item for my '98 GEMS.

............tasi