Thread: Tornado Conversions

Try: mark@tornadosystems.com
And yes deal and buy only from him not third parties.

See also:
V8Performance eBay Shop About My Shop

Hi Troy, I've made a few posts about this topic (you can search for them) - as I've got a '95 HSE with Tornado chipset fitted and retro-fitted lambda sensors (mine had none). My chips were purchased by previous owner through RPI, but I spoke with Mark later about problems I had. There's other cheaper chips around - which others may be able to give useful info on.

To summarise my other posts I'd say there's better ways to spend $1200. My experience is that its marginally better on fuel (less than 1l/100km difference). Power is noticeably higher at high rev range - but as I rarely hit high rev range that's not useful to me. It's claimed to be better torque low-mid range but I honestly couldn't tell the difference.

If you are planning on modifying other performance aspects of the engine (exhaust, cams, intakes, 5.2 upgrade etc) then the chip probably starts to become more valuable. But if you're staying mostly stock - I wouldn't bother /shrug

Mark Adams is notoriously slow to reply to his emails - if he replies at all, but he's quite helpful once you do actually get hold of him. The address Traco gave is his correct address when I last contacted him.

Hi Tread
Before spending $1200 plus if you are not getting around 12 litres per 100 klm on highway driving{ sitting on no more than 100 klms per hour} you may need the injectors cleaned .The best stuff I found was at super cheap in a Silver canister with a blue nozzle .I think the brand is molly, it's german and definately works better than the others.I was actually in the process of buying a tornado today till I found I have no oxygen sensors.Look up Graham Cooper he may have a remapping alternative.Also the states do some called super chip.
Regards p38 xtreme

Originally Posted by rangerdanger

Hi All,
I've bought a pristine low km 95 P38 6 months ago, and was entertaining fitting a Tornado chip and a set of lambda sensors to help with towing power and fuel economy. Exchange rate is good at present.

How many of these have been fitted in Australia? Are the manufacturers claims realistic with our better fuel?
Just seeking some real world feedback before blowing $1200.

Also where is the best place to get them? I've tried the Mark Adams contact via RR.net but no reply. RPI have quoted them but I'm led to believe it is better to buy off Mark so he can map exactly to your needs.

Any feedback welcome.
TroyN

Troy

As a user I can highly recommend the Tornado (from Mark Adams direct not via RPI) for anyone with a D1 or RR Classic (14CUX ECU), providing engine breathing is improved and ignition timing is advanced from stock to take advantage of the new fuel mapping. However GEM's ECU's in P38's the decision is not so simple. To explain.

Firstly Australian 14CUX vehicles came with no O2/lambda sensors (even though they have a fuel map to take them) so CO mixture is a crude fixed correction that operates across the entire fuel map, hence fuel mapping change has more impact in these vehicles. That is not the case with later GEM's with O2/lambda sensors doing real time fuel mixture fine tuning (in closed loop) not the fuel map (other than comparatively) and where the map is not used until around 3,000 RPM (then goes open loop). Therefore any fueling mapping change benefits in a GEM's is really only to match any ignition timing changes.

Secondly the 14CUX ignition is controlled by distributor (with vac & mechanical advance) so only a fuel mapping change is required at around $600. However the timing in GEMs is controlled by ECU (via a Crankshaft Position Sensor) hence the additional cost ($1,200 total) is for a second chip to advance the ignition timing over stock.

My first inclination would be to spend the money elsewhere to start with in a GEM's engine. First cab off the rank would be 02 sensors if you don't have them and which your OEM chip/ECU can read (requires ECU fuel map reset though) with no re-chip required. Then you can rechip later to suit those modifications and accepting the high cost accommodates those changes and mainly from a timing change (not fueling) releasing some free horsepower hidden by rovers conservative timing set up (which is also protected with knock sensors in the GEMS).

On that sensor and matching chip to other changes subject, the standard Lucas knock sensors stick out a long way from the block. Mark can give you chip that accommodates a knock signal from the flat Bosch type sensors, which are more reliable and give more clearance around the exhaust manifolds.

Mark gets emails from all around the world seeking free advice on rover engine upgrades for all sorts of vehicles so his response is often to ignore them for a while. You may be better off contacting him via his ebay site v8performance. Once you get his attention he is excellent guy to deal with.

Thanks everybody... great feedback.

I might just start with the Lambda sensors and see how she responds. Should at least help the fuel economy if nothing else.

Originally Posted by rangerdanger

I might just start with the Lambda sensors and see how she responds

O2 sensors won't just 'work' with your standard non-lambda ecu. After I installed my own lamdba's it was still running in 'open loop' with stock chipset - and 'closed loop' with Tornado installed - both Melbourne Land Rover and Ritters said they couldn't change any ecu setting to make them work - there's some debate about whether you can get them activated with testbook etc, but popular opinion seems to be that you can't (jury is still out on it though). If so that means you'll either need another ecu that has lambda's enabled or an aftermarket chipset like tornado.

Just remember a 38A will not run with another ECU as the BECM and ECU must match.
Regards Philip A

I hate to drag up this old subject, but I am still sitting on a couple of O2 sensors and have decided to try using them on the 'pretty pig' (1995 4.6 HSE)... in the hope of improving both performance and economy.

I know they came standard in other parts of the world and can be retro-fitted reasonably easily, but exactly where should they be fitted and has anyone actually had them enabled yet (or enabled them for someone else)? And I guess the final questions would be- how were they enabled, and how much did it cost?

Any actual/factual info would help!