Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Classic Morgans (pre-CX) Roadster rev hang and tune

I have been working the past few weeks on coming up with a tune for my V6 Roadster and I am getting close. Thus far, I have been able to reduce the rev hang in lower gears while smoothing out the torque band further up to redline. The engine sounds better (clearly a very subjective thing) and it pulls better into higher revs. At this point, we are trying to work out how aggressive we move the timing to keep the knock sensor in line. I am hoping to come up with at least two tunes depending on what octane gas in use. A few questions:

Has anyone else done a non-factory tune for their roadster? If yes, were you able to get rid of all the rev hang in lower gears? Also, have there been any cooling issues running the tune more aggressive with higher octane fuel?

Hoping to have a final tune in place by end of the week which everyone can then use at least as a baseline for their own car. More details to follow?

How have you managed to 'crack' the ECU access, when even approved dealers can't ?

There will be lots of 3.7 owners interested in this, including me

The ECU, which is a standard Ford ECU, has a different code that can be read by the program device. This code needs to be included in the tune file in order to re-program the ECU. That’s it. All parameters that can programmed can be changed once you include the code. I tried using a Ford 3.7 tune and it sent back a message telling me the car was not recognized.

Hi HKNYMOG
I would be VERY interested to hear the final outcome of your Remap. I to understood that the ECU was locked down and although there is/was a modified ECU available you required a new plug from Morgan, who would not commit to having these manufactured.
Please keep us posted on your progress and if successful how we can obtain your remap.

That roughly ties in with what I learn't from my local dealer. Apparently the ECU's have a field in the firmware to store the car specific VIN number. The ones fitted by Morgan though are all the same having that field left blank. Unfortunately the Ford updating software needs to read the VIN number before any tweaking can proceed which has been the catch so far.

Once I have locked down the tune, I am happy to share the progress. I suspect the vendors I am working with will be happy for the business. I do not think the VIN is involved as I have not shared this information with the tuner I am working with. That said, I am not tech savvy in this area. The tuning unit itself is a stock Mustang tuner (last generation) and the part number of the ECU in the car is CR3Z-12A650-PRELIMABS.VB. Once the tuner knew that, we were able to access the unit and change the tuning. At first, we tried some stock tunes, which of course, ended up changing everything from the speedo to the fuel gauge. We are now sorted with most everything, but we are still working out how hard we can push the timing and how best to deal with low gear rev hang. I hope to be done in another few days.

I am most focused on a nice progression up to redline rather than maximum power. Think back to the old BMW S50 straight-6 and that’s what I am looking for. That is one sweet engine. Different folks will have a different preference.

HI.
Have you completed the work on your remap and is it successful?

My 3 litre 2008 Series 2 Roadster has had a Williams retune before I bought it so don’t know what it was like before

Stewart,
that just boosted the power back up to the S1 levels. Rev hang is only an issue from the 3.7l engines, some say due to the MMC piggy backed ECUs. Cain believes the "Mustang" flywheel is too heavy for the manual box.
John

Stewart & John:

partially it´s the flywheel.... but not solely!

I upgraded my 3.7 to AR V6- spec ( lightened 1-mass flywheel, ECU, exhausts incl. cats etc etc. "+" ) and it still has "some" revhang left... but worlds apart from the standard.

So, yes: the flywheel will help.