I hope you know what you're doing.
Do you?
Well, theoretically, yes. ?
(A major part of my job is repairing SONAR, working on neutron generators, repairing and fabricating precision lab equipment, etc., so I definitely have my soldering game down at least haha).
Megasquirt / Microsquirt is a fairly straightforward system:
This one is a DIYPNP. Basically, it is a microsquirt (white board) that controls fuel and spark. The rest of the larger board is a MAP sensor (port at top left corner), along with other sensor options and control areas. This one in particular allows for boost control as well.
Just running through the tunerstudio software is like walking through a engine builder's dream. Literally any parameter of engine control and data analysis is available to you. I cannot believe how powerful the software is.
For a base tune, I've adjusted a 302 tune to run a V6 instead of a V8. I'm a little nervous, but have talked to a few folks familiar with both, and have been told the 2.9 and 302 are very similar in programming. Still searching for a 2.9 tune though.
The smaller board at the bottom is an adapter board that allows for jumpers to be connected between the Microsquirt and a Ford 60 pin connector.
The way it's set up currently is for individual injector control for a 5.0l.
I mapped out my harness last night with a wiring diagram and overlayed it with the one I drew up from the donor vehicle. I have 2-3 hours worth of rewiring jumpers, but that shouldn't be too bad. It's just a matter of hooking input and output connections to the correct harness pins.
The saving grace is the module between the Megasquirt and Ron Swanson in the first photo. It's a "JimStim" board that acts as an engine simulator. It allows the computer to be hooked up and the tune tested without putting my engine at risk.
So, the way I see it, this allows me to control virtually any engine I'd put in this chassis. Or, if some basic white ***** in a Kia totals my Ranger, I can use it to control whatever replaces it.
My biggest curiosity as of now is what the power difference will be between the current PCM and the Megasquirt. I've been having a lean issue (according to my AFR gauge), and can't seem to track down if it's a result of my MAP/IAT/CLT dying a slow death, or the PCM slowly leaning out the AFR as time goes on. I'm also being lazy and haven't bothered to check yet. Keep in mind, it may not be an issue as I still have a narrowband O2; wideband upgrade will happen as soon as I can find one on the cheap/freebie. I have considered leaving the PCM unplugged overnight and seeing if the AFR corrects itself.