June 4th, 2005:
After sitting and staring at a box of the VEMS stuff I ordered for months now I'm finally ready to start things.
The project is completely ghetto and unique partly due to my budget and partly due to my dislike for anything mainstream. Budget is what led me to buy the VEMS in the first place...well that and the fact that I love AVR microcontrollers.
I must have been hit in the head or something because I decided to put a turbo on my motorcycle and crank it up to 300HP. I researched it for a long time and I didn't agree with the normal, 'kit' install method, which relies on complicated modifications to make the original ECU work (electronics boxes, extra injectors, etc). Instead I decided to buck tradition and do everything in a way unlike ever done before.
I'm starting with a 2001 Suzuki Hayabusa with low milage. Most of the parts I have for this project have been accumulated via various sales, eBay, salvage, etc.
The engine has been modified as follows:
- 60lb. valve springs from Carpenter Racing
- 0.080" cylinder base spacer (reduce compression to aprox 8.7:1) courtesy of Falicon
- Hi volume oil pump gear from Schnitz Racing
- Hi pressure oil relief valve from Schnitz Racing (gear and valve combine to create an oil pressure of about 175psi)
- Modified low profile oil pan (special thanks to Terry McIntosh of McIntosh Machine)
- MPS Racing polution control block off plates
- M
- MPS Racing clutch kit w/ high pressure clutch springs
- MSD blaster EDIS coil pack
- Custom spark plug wires (MSD 8.5mm Super Conductor, Pro boots, EDIS connectors from Magnecor)
- NGK Iridium CR9 spark plugs (Thanks to the local NGK rep for hooking me up)
The fuel system is almost completely custom including:
- Walbo in line fuel pump
- Aeromotive fuel pressure regulator
- Professional Products fuel filter
- Injectors salvaged from a Honda S2000 (thanks to the guys at suzukihayabusa.org for the hook up)
The turbo is a T3 Garrett I picked up second hand for $200. It's a little rough around the edges but shaft movement is perfect.
I haven't found a wastegate yet but I'm trying to find something inexpensive that I can use the ECU to control the boost. I have some ideas to try some unconventional things with that sa well.
I've built the exhaust manifold myself out of scrap, tube from the original headers, and some mandrel bends from the local autoparts shop.
Thanks to eBay, I've found a slightly dinged up intercooler from a wrecked Audi TT. It doesn't fit great but on the road to 300HP, I'll need an intercooler so I'll make it work.
There's still some fabrication to go at this point but soon I'll start installing the ECU. My biggest challenge is going to be getting it to work with the original crank and cam triggers. The crank trigger is variable reluctance type with 8 equal pulses per revolution. I don't yet know the timing of the cam sensor.
If anybody knows a good way to determine the settings I'll need to make this work (preferably without taking the engine apart again), please let me know.
Some things I'd like to implement if possible:
- Electronic wastegate/boost control
- Electronic blow off valve control
- Connect ECU to gear position sensor
- Output to control air shifter (automatic upshift)
- Automatic wheelie control (reduce boost/retard ignition when front wheel comes off the ground).