Updating my 2007 SR8 with a MoTeC ECU/GCU

John Parsons · 2018-10-08T04:47:56Z

I'm upgrading my SR8 to a MoTeC M150 GPRP (general purpose racing paddle shift) controller. I found that the gearbox controller (by Geartronics) was so old that the tuning software didn't work, and that the Life F88 ECU didn't talk to the AIM MXL, and that the fans weren't under ECU control, and that that the ECU didn't monitor oil pressure. My car, I've found, is one of just a few cars with this particular set of equipment, with the dash, ECU, GCU, and chassis harnesses (looms to you Brits, lol), all the worse for wear over the decade+ since the car was new. The car literally has two sensors for nearly everything: one for the ECU, and one for the dash.My original plan was to upgrade the GCU to a current spec controller, but that couldn't be done with the old ECU. Then I thought I'd upgrade the ECU to a current version, but that couldn't be done with the original engine loom. Several people within Radical have considered this state of affairs, and have said they would help with an upgrade kit, but months have now passed with no progress. I think the problem is just too hard without completely rewiring the whole car.And so that's what I'm doing. The plan is as follows:Replace the Life ECU / Geartronics GCU with a MoTeC M150.Upgrade the car to drive by wire (DBW) using a Jenvey Actuator. The M150 will do throttle/gearbox control via DBW instead of a pneumatic blipper.Replace the wasted spark ignition with a coil on plug (COP) ignition using Bosch Motorsports coils.Replace the fuel injectors with Injector Dynamics 1050x injectors.Use PWM control for fuel pressure maintenance instead of a mechanical regulator.I'll update this thread with status and pictures as this project unfolds. The current status is that I have the new ECU and actuator in hand. The injectors will be here tomorrow. The coils should be here this week. I have to get this done quickly before funds run out, lol!

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Alex Heavens

(@alex-heavens)

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January 16, 2021 3:58 am

@parsonsj

Yes I expect all the running gear to last longer with smooth shifting 👍 I remember the early days of the sr8 (They were already 2 years old before I got involved with them), lots of things used to break and I’m sure most of it was down to bad shifting. Driveshafts were a favourite 🤣

Might be backtracking a bit here, what are you using the ECUMaster to do?

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John Parsons

(@parsonsj)

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Topic starter January 16, 2021 8:17 am

@alex-heavens

I'm using an ECUMaster PMU (power management unit), switchboard (for steering wheel switches), and rotary switches (two on steering wheel, one on dash).

The PMU does all the power management, and has CAN support. I've replaced all of Radical's original toggle switches with a single 8 button CAN kb, along with steering wheel buttons and rotary switches.

My latest project is replacing the steering wheel coiled cable with an integrated quick-release hub/connector. I'll have that working this weekend, I hope.

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Ben M

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