I have contemplated for a while to start my own build thread, and finally decided to do so.
It probably wont be a very fast moving build, but I think there might be some interesting things to come.
I've been (and still am) pretty busy with the ECU software side of things, so I tend to neglect my own car a little.
I'll just post up the mods as they happen. ![:)]()
Some of the current specs of my 1994 Volvo 850-t5 (MT)
-It's very onyx green
-stock 15g turbo. The standard conical flange has been replaced with a straight one.
-white injectors
-M44 swapped with ongoing modifications/tuning.
-stock intake system. This one wasn't converted during the recall back in the day. This means it still has the stock "rip kit" (although the rip kit is actually what used to be stock)
-stock exhaust system
-suspension was replaced by previous owner with something rather firm. Handles nicely.
Some things that are in desperate need of attention:
-rear crank seal leaking badly.
-Clutch is worn and needs replacement.
-it needs a cleaning
Tuning the thing is alot easier with an Ostrich 2.0 rom emulator installed.
So to kick off with something more interesting than my rather stock specs, here's how I made that happen:
I first clipped all the legs of the flash chip, and removed them one by one with a soldering iron.
With a little tin on the tip, you only need to touch them lightly to release them from the board.
After some cleaning with desoldering strip, it looks like this:
I positioned the Ostrich to where I wanted it to go, and pre folded / measured the floppy flatcable I was going to use.
Then I cut one end of a floppy cable, and seperated the wires. I left them about 5 cm longer than required, so I could cut them to length and strip them while soldering.
After this soldering commenced. Using liquid flux helps alot with this:
I cut one of the original posts of the ECU to the proper height to support the ostrich.
I then unscrewed one the the screws of the ostrich, and used a longer screw to attach the ostrich to the post.
Then I then soldered some wires to a usb connector I had floating around, and soldered the other ends to some unused pins on the ECU connector. (Don't forget to cut these pins, I didn't and the ostrich didn't connect to the pc). This is what my dad did in his car, and it seemed very convenient.
Then the moment of truth... It fired right up after turning the key. After cutting the aforementioned pins off the ECU pcb, usb connected right up as well.
Very happy with the setup, can recommend to anyone who wants to do some tuning of his own.
The ostrich looks a little scratched. It was removed from another ECU where it was glued in, but it functions perfectly.
