1988 Memcal??

[badabing9]

greetings,

a forum menber has offered to assist me, (hell, he is gonna do all of it, i have to give credit where credit is due!) to get a "chip?" for my stock 1988 corvette ecm computer.

herein lies the problem. i am not sure what that is (memcal) so, where can i buy them and what is the cost as i wish to get 2?

he also said that i needed a "bin" file. ugh!.....i am lost! where can i obtain a bin file for my stock 1988 corvette computer? is it a file that can be downloaded? i have no devices capable of retrieving it from my computer and i don't want to start taking my computer apart nor rermove it from the car in any way as it is my only means of transportation and if something goes wrong, i'm screwed!

can anyone lend a hand here?......thanks!

 

[Ripp 73]

See... there are those pesky computers again hehehe... I'm sure someone will be able to help you out, I've just never had any experience with them. Good luck Badabing

 

[86Gold]

greetings,

a forum menber has offered to assist me, (hell, he is gonna do all of it, i have to give credit where credit is due!) to get a "chip?" for my stock 1988 corvette ecm computer.

herein lies the problem. i am not sure what that is (memcal) so, where can i buy them and what is the cost as i wish to get 2?

he also said that i needed a "bin" file. ugh!.....i am lost! where can i obtain a bin file for my stock 1988 corvette computer? is it a file that can be downloaded? i have no devices capable of retrieving it from my computer and i don't want to start taking my computer apart nor rermove it from the car in any way as it is my only means of transportation and if something goes wrong, i'm screwed!

can anyone lend a hand here?......thanks!

Are you looking to change the computer "programming" i.e "tune" the car? To squeeze a little more performance out of it, change when the cooling fan comes on, or change other operating parameters?

If so, youi'll have to remove the computer, open it up, and remove the stock "chip". Then replace it with a re-programmed chip. This will require that you buy a chip (EEPROM) and an adapter to install it in your computer. Someone will need to "burn" a modified "bin" (slang for binary file) to the chip. This binary file is essentially the computer program that your car needs to run the engine management system. It's actually a set of constants and data tables, but let's not get all computer science about it. To do this he'll need the stock bin from your stock chip (extracted with a computer and appropriate software). He then modifies the bin and puts it back on your new chip.

The memcal is a package with this programmed chip and another support chip to provide the logic for your computer to operate. The support chip provides "limp home" mode and some spark advance/retard stuff.

I just had a chip burned for my 86. It's not difficult to remove the computer and swap chips. Less than an hour after you've done it once.

It is possible to make a mistake in modifiying the bin and prevent your car from operating properly. Sometimes it's trial and error depending on what you want to achieve (performance tuning). Keep your stock memcal so you can go back. There are some really good "tuners" on this and other forums.

Go to http://www.moates.net/ for chips and adapters.

I'm an old guy and grew up with carbs. But once you get into electronic engine management you'll never go back.
With the right set up you can tune and tweak the car (fuel, timing) while your driving it, with your lap top on the seat next to you. Don't even have to open the hood - cool. Next I'll be getting a big wing and underbody neon lights - yipes, my third childhood.



Good luck.

 

[badabing9]

Are you looking to change the computer "programming" i.e "tune" the car? To squeeze a little more performance out of it, change when the cooling fan comes on, or change other operating parameters?

If so, youi'll have to remove the computer, open it up, and remove the stock "chip". Then replace it with a re-programmed chip. This will require that you buy a chip (EEPROM) and an adapter to install it in your computer. Someone will need to "burn" a modified "bin" (slang for binary file) to the chip. This binary file is essentially the computer program that your car needs to run the engine management system. It's actually a set of constants and data tables, but let's not get all computer science about it. To do this he'll need the stock bin from your stock chip (extracted with a computer and appropriate software). He then modifies the bin and puts it back on your new chip.

The memcal is a package with this programmed chip and another support chip to provide the logic for your computer to operate. The support chip provides "limp home" mode and some spark advance/retard stuff.

I just had a chip burned for my 86. It's not difficult to remove the computer and swap chips. Less than an hour after you've done it once.

It is possible to make a mistake in modifiying the bin and prevent your car from operating properly. Sometimes it's trial and error depending on what you want to achieve (performance tuning). Keep your stock memcal so you can go back. There are some really good "tuners" on this and other forums.

Go to http://www.moates.net/ for chips and adapters.

I'm an old guy and grew up with carbs. But once you get into electronic engine management you'll never go back.
With the right set up you can tune and tweak the car (fuel, timing) while your driving it, with your lap top on the seat next to you. Don't even have to open the hood - cool. Next I'll be getting a big wing and underbody neon lights - yipes, my third childhood.



Good luck.

thanks for reply,

i am not looking to do anything but, get 2 stock programs on 2 stock chips. it would be nice to have fans come on at 180 but, not nesessary. i would figure that all 88's were alike in their programing so, therfore i was wondering if that bin fine could be downloaded somewhere as i said before, i have no way of extracting any info from my computer (bin). i was also under the impression that my car was not "programable" through the obd1 port, but, actually has to be removed from the car. believeme, no wings, or lights etc!.........the farther i get into this, the more i believe that i'm not gonna be able to do it......

 

[Edmond]

Does Jeff still burn chips? He burned my chip for me and I didn't have to do anything but pay him.

 

[badabing9]

Does Jeff still burn chips? He burned my chip for me and I didn't have to do anything but pay him.

.........uh,..........jeff who?

 

[Edmond]

.........uh,..........jeff who?

Try this:

http://www.corvetteactioncenter.com/forums/member.php?u=371

I don't know if he's still doing chips but it's worth sending him an e-mail.

 

[86Gold]

thanks for reply,

i am not looking to do anything but, get 2 stock programs on 2 stock chips. it would be nice to have fans come on at 180 but, not nesessary. i would figure that all 88's were alike in their programing so, therfore i was wondering if that bin fine could be downloaded somewhere as i said before, i have no way of extracting any info from my computer (bin). i was also under the impression that my car was not "programable" through the obd1 port, but, actually has to be removed from the car. believeme, no wings, or lights etc!.........the farther i get into this, the more i believe that i'm not gonna be able to do it......

OK. Sorry, I got carried away.
The bin for an 88 with automatic transmisison will be different the bin for an 88 with the manual 4x3 transmission. Also, I think differential gear ratios make a difference also.
You can find bin files at www.moates.net/fileman/Stock Binaries/DIY-EFI GMECM Binaries/1227165 32 32B 6E 94/32/
There are two for the 88 vette.One would be for the auto trans, the other for the 4x3.
You can buy memcals for the 88 from www.GMDirect.com ($38) or www.rockauto.com ($46). The AC DELCO part number for the auto trans is 16074766. Also from a Chevy dealer ($?).

BTW
You're right, you can't program through the obd1 port. But you can buy the hardware to do it directly to the computer. It's something you wouldn't do for a daily driver, but if you into racing you might. It's just a fascinating idea - to me anyway.

Good luck.

 

[badabing9]

OK. Sorry, I got carried away.
The bin for an 88 with automatic transmisison will be different the bin for an 88 with the manual 4x3 transmission. Also, I think differential gear ratios make a difference also.
You can find bin files at www.moates.net/fileman/Stock Binaries/DIY-EFI GMECM Binaries/1227165 32 32B 6E 94/32/
There are two for the 88 vette.One would be for the auto trans, the other for the 4x3.
You can buy memcals for the 88 from www.GMDirect.com ($38) or www.rockauto.com ($46). The AC DELCO part number for the auto trans is 16074766. Also from a Chevy dealer ($?).

BTW
You're right, you can't program through the obd1 port. But you can buy the hardware to do it directly to the computer. It's something you wouldn't do for a daily driver, but if you into racing you might. It's just a fascinating idea - to me anyway.

Good luck.

moats sent me an e-mail with these prices
Pricing is shown there, and is as follows:
- G1: $35
- C1: $6
- HDR1: $10

mine is an automatic but, not sure of the gears.......daily driver.......not into racing.

now, i have to digest the info on his site for a bit as well as find a good used compatibal computer for my car..........

 

[Hrtbeat1]

send me a PM and I'll email some pics of what it takes to change the chip. I did mine a little differently ... put a "ZIF" socket on the memcal. BTW when I bought the car it was running great with the wrong chip. The computer had been replaced already and someone may have just swapped the whole thing.