swapping in a different PCM?

[LETZRIDE]

Is it possible for us to swap in a different PCM such as an LS1 pcm or maybe a different v6 pcm? one that has more support from hp tuners then what we have?

[Fondle]

Re: swapping in a different PCM?

from what i have heard its not possible, i was suggested to get a stand alone system

[LETZRIDE]

Re: swapping in a different PCM?

theoretically why shouldn't it work? maybe not one from an LS1, but maybe a different v6 car?

Sensors are all based on voltage outputs no? Should it theoretically not just be a matter of wireing up pins correctly to correspond with the car and the new PCM? I.e it would not be a direct swap, but rather you would need to rewire the pins where the pcm plugs in to interface with the new unit?

If the unit came from say a 4.3L v6 (not sure if they have more support then us, just using it as an example) how would that unit know that it is not in a 4.3L car?

[bigbrian442]

Re: swapping in a different PCM?

A 4.3 uses a distributor. I don't think that PCM can be adopted to the coil packs.

[LETZRIDE]

Re: swapping in a different PCM?

^ I didnt mean a 4.3L specifically, just another v6 pcm in general that has more support then what we do...just used the 4.3 cause it is the only other v6 pcm I could think of at the moment...

[Mogobs30th]

Re: swapping in a different PCM?

From my knowledge, it would have to be a swap from another Fbody, and also depending on years. A 93-95 3.4l will work, a 95-98 3.8l will work, and a 99-2002 3.8l should work.

My car currently has a '97 PCM in the car, though it is a 95 3.8l. The speedo is off, and a few other things need adjusted, but it essentially works. But that is really the only swapping I would think you can do.

Other than that, you're fuct. Only other thing you could do is a F.A.S.T system or some other standalone.

[LETZRIDE]

Re: swapping in a different PCM?

I guess what I am getting at is, you know how then you can put our 97 pcms into our 96/95 cars...what makes this possible? putting a 97 pcm in a 95/96 car is a direct swap with no issues, the only way the speedo would be off is because of different gears in the rear.

the reason it swaps over is because all the pins are in exactly the same area right?

so if you took a gm pcm out of another v6 and moved all the pins around, and spliced the wires that were for the ignition to the ignition wires, o2 to o2s, etc etc...is it not more or less the same thing?

I mean, if you turn the key in your car, it reads a signal which tells the car to fire up the ignition...so long as you spliced the right wires together it should still do that no?

I dunno, maybe I am just not thinking it through enough.

I know that when people do standalone systems they still sometimes use there pcm in conjunction with that standalone system so that they can continue to use their gauges and control the transmission...is there a way to maybe run two pcms then? run our pcm for spark timing/ignition/transmission, and run something like an LS1 pcm for the MAP tunes and all the other goodies they have...?

[bigbrian442]

Re: swapping in a different PCM?

^ I didnt mean a 4.3L specifically, just another v6 pcm in general that has more support then what we do...just used the 4.3 cause it is the only other v6 pcm I could think of at the moment...

I don't think any other V6 PCM's have more tuning support than the F body with the exception of the 4.3's and I believe they use the same PCM as some V8 cars. The kicker is finding one that will drive the coil packs on the 3.8 and 3xx motors. If there was one out there that would drive the coil pack ign, it shouldn't be more than changing the pin outs on the wiring harness to make it work just like you were thinking.

[97rs4life]

Re: swapping in a different PCM?

no idea if it would work, it may as we can use their MAF, IAT, and other sensors with ours. The transmissions are the same. Would require repinning the whole harness at the PCM but it might be doable. That would be awesome if it could be done, just never heard of anyone doing it yet.

[LETZRIDE]

Re: swapping in a different PCM?

Ok, there is some potential here...lets go one step further...can we swap to using either a distributer so that the 4.3 would be compatible with us, OR is there another way maybe through some MDS stuff that we could run the ignition components off the 4.3L? or piggy back that 4.3L to work in conjunction with our pcm...maybe splice the power wire to go to both pcms, but only have the ignition stuff go to our pcm, and the rest of the pins go to the 4.3L pcm? or is that a long shot?

[bigbrian442]

Re: swapping in a different PCM?

No provisions for the distributor on the 3800. It would take some research to find out how them3800 PCM drives the coil packs and how the other PCM drive the ign they work with.

[LETZRIDE]

Re: swapping in a different PCM?

How about just running both pcms at the same time? I mean the guys that run the standalones have to run the pcm and the standalone at the same time in order to control the transmission?

[97rs4life]

Re: swapping in a different PCM?

have you emailed hptuners about an ls1 pcm yet? They might have an idea if it was possible or not to run a v8 pcm on a v6 car.

[LETZRIDE]

Re: swapping in a different PCM?

^ not yet...didnt think to ask them...I'll fire off an email to support right now.

[97rs4life]

Re: swapping in a different PCM?

cuz sensors wouldn't be to hard to wire into the harness, the swapping of pins would be the longest/hardest part