Timing Belt / Tuning Questions

[dpawl31]

OK, have a few questions.

I am going to do my timing belt, but I may or may not have the chance to do it with my friend who's done plenty of them.
If I do it myself - I have a few worries.

a) tight space. Im a big guy, can I move around ok in there with the car just on a jack?
b) special tools. from what i've seen as long as I remove the engine mount, I wont need ANY special tools?
c) getting the timing right. Not sure how I can get it EXACT just by marking the gears/belt?

What is the BEST how-to, and does anyone know if any of the online manuals are good?

Secondly, about tuning.

I am probably going to go with a Megasquirt II standalone system.
What are people's experiences tuning the stock motor, what piggybacks/standalones have you used?

[thehunterooo]

if you look at google there are some diagrams which show how to get it right using the cam gears, and a jack is all that you should need

if you find some kind of ecu tuning and can help the aveo, you are a god to me

[dpawl31]

MegaSquirt II, full standalone system adaptable to any engine.

Solder it together yourself for $250, or buy it built for $500.

Then you have to deal with wiring it to your factory harness.

But I might have a pigtail made. (stock ECU connector --- wires --- stock MSII connector)

[thehunterooo]

im in, make it happen captain

[Petrified.Rabbit]

squirt and spark would work if you don't have emissions testing.

would need all new sensors and coil pack though. on top of wiring etc: with tuning on a dyno should be less than $1000..

could use a base map from a 1.8l 16v vw..

[Monzaveo]

Here's some of what your up against...

http://www.aveodiy.blogspot.com/

I never completed it, but it should give you an idea.

My appologies to all for not completing it...I just need to make a part 2 as soon as I get the time. Blogspot makes it a royal pain to add the photos, as you write the instructions and want the pics to line up in order.

[Petrified.Rabbit]

you could post it here. instead of the blog.. just saying.

then copy and paste it into the blog.

[dpawl31]

Finish that thing and ill give you 10 free subs from the sub shop I own. Lol

[Monzaveo]

Now were talkin! I love incentives! and Subs are an awesome incentive!

You anywhere near Western NY??

[Nemasys]

A megasquirt system is cheaper then 500 buks man, know where to look!

You dont need the spark, only the fuel tuner, that makes things even more cheap.

You can buy a megasquirt fuel management fully assembled unit with the v3.57 board for 335 bucks, the wiring harness is around 60 bucks, so for under 400 dollars you have a fully assembled megaquirt standalone fuel management system with the wiring harness ready to be installed.

If you want the fuel and spark unit, your looking at just over 400 dollars for the megasquirt, but then you need to buy an MSD ignition system with an external coil pack, which can run you 3-500 bux, im telling you that you dont need the spark control for this motor. exist3nce's 254whp turbo optra is tuned with an e-manage blue, that does not allow spark control over the engine, in other words hes running 13 psi of boost with absolutely no spark tuning at all. The spark timing for these engines is quite well suited for taking boost, or any form of tuning you may require. You dont need to play with it.

Installation is quite simple all you need is your ecu pinout then simply splice the megasquirt harness into it.

The problem is getting the car started after that. Because no fuel table has ever been made for this car, your gonna have to play with your laptop and megatune for quite some time, a wideband here comes in very very handy!