The 15 Y/O Turbo M42 Build Thread (Now Holley EFI Terminator X Controlled)

[Dj Buttchug]

Also, I should add that during the install of the new standalone I was able to find the reason why the MS1 was turning off randomly. Turns out the main terminal connection at the front battery tray was the cause of the issues. The + connection was dropping out causing the car to suddenly shut off. My assumptions about the MS1 board were wrong. Too late to go back now.

I will sell the MS1 with my current loaded tune (uses 440cc Bosch green giants) for the cost of shipping anywhere in the US.

Let me know if you're interested.

[Dj Buttchug]

Here is the Can network part of the harness. I was able to keep to stock boot for the install.

The Factory M42 DME and the Mega squirt grounded the main and fuel pump relays when the ignition was cycled on. With the Terminator X you can do this but you must use one of the input/output channels. Instead I opted to ground the ECU and the fuel pump manually. The two switches on the center console control the DME startup and fuel pump now.


And finally after a shit ton of wiring, going cross-eyed looking at flow charts the new DME is alive.

[Northern]

I'm sure I could google this, but any chance the m3 battery cover still fits with the ix washer bottle?
One of the many things I still haven't figured out a good solution for lol.

[Dj Buttchug]

Final fitment of the harness going in. Trying to retain the OEM harness cover. IX wash bottle I had laying around. Nice to have washers again.

[Dj Buttchug]

^ Very true.



Moving onto the crank and cam sensor issues. M42 runs mag sensors which kind of suck imo. Terminator X is better fitted with Hal Effect style so we order 2 proximity sensors.

After about 3 hours, some ACE harward bushings and a 4inch ABS plastic sheet I was able to create my own sensors for about $30 each. Crazy less expensive that OEM.

Here are a few photos of the final product. Cam and crank sensor have the same hold tab. I was able to trace out the mount tab and shape new ones out of the ABS





Fitment is good. Here is what they look like installed. We are running the exact same distance away from toothed wheels as OEM.

[Northern]

It's always so satisfying to see all the crap you can pull out of the harness when you know exactly what you need or not.

The harness on my silver car is in good shape but there's a bunch of useless wiring, ADS port, etc.

I pulled almost a whole grocery bag of wiring out of my shitbox's M52 harness once I understood wiring I actually needed, and realized how to depin the DME connector.

[Dj Buttchug]

Took a break from wiring and made a barrier for the intake.



Also city light retro wired up finally after 6+ years of having the option but never doing it.

[Dj Buttchug]

Engine wiring harness is now separated from the main and fuel pump relays along with the starter and alternator wiring harness. Several pins removed from the C101 and diagnostic connector. A mess of wires to be cleaned up. I have isolated the oil pressure, tach signal, coolant temp, and vehicle speed so the stock cluster will work as designed. The process is time consuming but not hard if you can follow a flow chart.


Here you can see we remove the o2 sensor relay. Main and fuel pump relay retained. This is the remains of the M42 harness. None of this will be used.




The engine cranks.



Waiting on cam and crank sensors from Sieger Electronics.

[Dj Buttchug]

And so it begins. Remove existing harness


Layout new harness in general location in engine bay


Locate pins needed to isolate alternator and starter harness and begin de-pinning- re-pinning c101




Begin modifying LSX harness. I will run the engine on even cylinder injector and ignition wiring so cylinder 1 will be 2, cylinder 2 will be 4 and so on. Same plan for the injector bank.

Install wideband. (Now we have two wideband o2's in the car)



ECU will mount in factory location with some mods to the holding tray. Pretty straight forward. The Ecu requires its on dedicated harness +/- to the battery so I tucked that under the carpet on the passengers side and ran the harness right back following the factory battery terminal wiring.
\





Now we order sensors and begin the changes needed to the crank and cam position locations. Lots more to do.

[Dj Buttchug]

I've always wondered how the Holley Terminator stuff stacks up to the traditional standalone offers.

My gut says it's basic/lacking in some ways, and that most people reviewing it are new/newish to standalones/EFI

BUT I'd love to see it end up competing with the usual suspects outside of the LS world.

I should have some updates on the install here shortly. Ive been spending most of my recent time tearing down the m50 and m52 engines preparing for a stroker build for the E34. The 318is is now in the garage and I will begin the stock harness removal this week. The Terminator X is cool because the harness is already done, I just have to remove half of the setup. There is documentation of this system running K24 engines as well as other 4 cylinder applications. Itll be nice to be running updated sensors instead of the old mag cam and crank. Holley also has a very interesting drive and learn tune feature, its own built in wideband, and several other features that are pretty cool.

Ill throw some install photos up soon.

[Northern]

I've always wondered how the Holley Terminator stuff stacks up to the traditional standalone offers.

My gut says it's basic/lacking in some ways, and that most people reviewing it are new/newish to standalones/EFI

BUT I'd love to see it end up competing with the usual suspects outside of the LS world.

[Dj Buttchug]

A while back I ordered a Holly Terminator X full standalone for an LSX series engine. It comes with a complete harness. Now that the standalone is here, the plan is to remove the existing MS1 and M42 wiring harness and install/modify the LSX harness to work. Ill remove half the injector and ignition harnesses. Ill have more info and photos soon.

Various searches online I am finding this has never been done on an M42. Should be some good fun.

[Dj Buttchug]

I am using a KDFI 1.4 (MS2Extra). There is a massive misfire, but I have gotten it to idle. After hours of tweaking different settings we gave up for tonight (its 2am lmao). We tried the priming pulse you provided but flooded the engine haha. Below are the current tune/things were I think the problem could be. The misfire is MASSIVE, almost like those cylinders either arent getting fuel or spark, yet spark is definitely there(havent checked fuel yet) and with original ecu the car runs fine. Thanks! Gonna crack on tomorrow!

My injectors are 3x the size of yours. None of the other info will work. Have you verified your engine timing and crank angle?

[baltic_wh4le]

I am using a KDFI 1.4 (MS2Extra). There is a massive misfire, but I have gotten it to idle. After hours of tweaking different settings we gave up for tonight (its 2am lmao). We tried the priming pulse you provided but flooded the engine haha. Below are the current tune/things were I think the problem could be. The misfire is MASSIVE, almost like those cylinders either arent getting fuel or spark, yet spark is definitely there(havent checked fuel yet) and with original ecu the car runs fine. Thanks! Gonna crack on tomorrow!

[Dj Buttchug]

What engine management are you using?