SolarBell
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Wheat Ridge, CO
Hmm. That's unfortunate. The word from AEM was that they hadn't heard of any issues. I can always install the stable 3.05 firmware.
Project Shoehorn - M90 into a 4.0L
- Thread starter SolarBell
- Start date
SolarBell
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Wheat Ridge, CO
Stupid question time. Does the pressure sensing port on the F/IC get connected pre or post supercharger? The documentation just says "after the throttle body". Admittedly the port is labelled "boost line" so I am assuming post-supercharger but you know what they say about assuming.
Talyn
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Radford, Communistwealth of Virginia
Post supercharger as it needs to sense boost. Prior would just sense vacuum.
Also, AEM doesn't know about the previous issues because they don't know much. You can call 3 different times and get a different answer for the same question.
Also, AEM doesn't know about the previous issues because they don't know much. You can call 3 different times and get a different answer for the same question.
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SolarBell
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Wheat Ridge, CO
Restored the F/IC to latest stable firmware that came with the 3.04 software release. Working on drawings for the mounts and other hardware I need to have made, nothing much to see yet. I do have a decent pile of parts ready to go.
This last week and next I'm working on a more mundane part of the project - frame stiffeners. Nothing to see here, been documented half a million times.
This last week and next I'm working on a more mundane part of the project - frame stiffeners. Nothing to see here, been documented half a million times.
SolarBell
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Wheat Ridge, CO
Something I did find that was interesting - AEM has discontinued development work on the F/IC units in favor of other projects as of late last year. So, whatever software and firmware is available now is probably all that will ever be, and the current beta firmware will probably never be updated to stable.
Talyn
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Radford, Communistwealth of Virginia
AEM stopped working on the FIC6 a while back. I wonder if they are still doing work on the FIC8. Are you replacing the spring load coupler on the SC?
O-Gauge Steamer
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Colorado Springs, Colorado
It is my understanding that AEM is moving to making the Infinity Engine Management System the preferred product. And for good reasons. It supports FI and is self tuning like the OEM ECUs.
As is the case with any company, once the demand for a product declines, that product is usually eliminated from the line. Hate to see it as the F/ICs (6 and 8) are about the easiest things to tune.
Nice parts Pile, can't wait until they are bolted in. You will have to stop by so I can see...
As is the case with any company, once the demand for a product declines, that product is usually eliminated from the line. Hate to see it as the F/ICs (6 and 8) are about the easiest things to tune.
Nice parts Pile, can't wait until they are bolted in. You will have to stop by so I can see...
SolarBell
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Wheat Ridge, CO
Picked up a Gates belt alignment tool today from a shop closing down. Saved a bunch of money on a tool they hardly used.
Yes, probably with one of the common replacement polymer couplers. I generally like the concept of the spring coupler versus the solid one, but the one in there is showing a fair bit of wear.
Yes, probably with one of the common replacement polymer couplers. I generally like the concept of the spring coupler versus the solid one, but the one in there is showing a fair bit of wear.
O-Gauge Steamer
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Colorado Springs, Colorado
Wish you would have let me know. Would have snagged one myself provided they had more than one...
I just can not believe the good fortune you are having inre parts collecting. It bodes well indeed for the success of this project.
Just asking here, what is the current investment total? Still under the Rick Rimmer "kit" price?
I just can not believe the good fortune you are having inre parts collecting. It bodes well indeed for the success of this project.
Just asking here, what is the current investment total? Still under the Rick Rimmer "kit" price?
SolarBell
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Wheat Ridge, CO
He only had one, other wise I would have gladly snagged another for you or Talyn. He did have a nice compression tester that I was interested in, but he wanted $90 for it and it wasn't worth it to me for as much as I wouldn't use it.
I've been tracking my costs for this project. I don't have good comparison numbers yet since I haven't actually made any bracketry to this point, but here's what I have:
Used M90 supercharger $300
Set of 3 AEM gauges (vac/boost, AFR w/ UEGO, oil press) $250
Air oil separator $17
HD Offroad frame stiffeners, full set $330
Gauge pods $50
Used A/C compressor mount $10
25' each of red and black 2AWG battery cable $50
Battery cable terminals $30
Panel mount battery studs, pair $15
Jegs 70mm idler pulley $20
AEM F/IC-6 $360
Venom 30lb injectors $130
ODBII USB adapter with ODBwiz software $45
Gate belt alignment tool $25
Air intake filter, hoses, and parts $120
Misc. supplies $80
Total so far: $1832
(Keep in mind almost $750 of that would have been spent regardless of the kit selected for stuff like gauges, frame stiffeners, AOS, gauge pods, ODBII adapter, etc.)
Here are some expenses I know I still will have:
Pulley Boys 3.0" 6 rib pulley for M90, keyed $80
Heat blanket for intake manifold $35
M90 refresh kit $100
-OR-
M90 full rebuild $700 (OUCH!)
Sacrificial XJ throttle body $0
Steel and Aluminum stock $??
Machining costs $??
New serpentine belt of correct length $??
Points of note for comparison.
- The eBay / Craigslist Rimmer kit included an M62 of unknown state for $300. I broke even there.
- The eBay / Craigslist Rimmer kit wanted $700 for the SplitSecond injection controller with already-built patch kit. I picked up the F/IC-6 and Venom injectors for under $500, and ended up with I consider a better setup (no 7th injector). I don't mind doing the wiring myself.
- The eBay / Craigslist Rimmer kit was $1000 for mounting hardware, idler pulley, intake hoses, and 7th injector setup. So far into that I have all of $140. I don't expect at this point to spend $850 on materials, machining costs, and a belt.
- I'm not going to have to cut a hole in my hood.
- I will have the option to add an intercooler.
I've been tracking my costs for this project. I don't have good comparison numbers yet since I haven't actually made any bracketry to this point, but here's what I have:
Used M90 supercharger $300
Set of 3 AEM gauges (vac/boost, AFR w/ UEGO, oil press) $250
Air oil separator $17
HD Offroad frame stiffeners, full set $330
Gauge pods $50
Used A/C compressor mount $10
25' each of red and black 2AWG battery cable $50
Battery cable terminals $30
Panel mount battery studs, pair $15
Jegs 70mm idler pulley $20
AEM F/IC-6 $360
Venom 30lb injectors $130
ODBII USB adapter with ODBwiz software $45
Gate belt alignment tool $25
Air intake filter, hoses, and parts $120
Misc. supplies $80
Total so far: $1832
(Keep in mind almost $750 of that would have been spent regardless of the kit selected for stuff like gauges, frame stiffeners, AOS, gauge pods, ODBII adapter, etc.)
Here are some expenses I know I still will have:
Pulley Boys 3.0" 6 rib pulley for M90, keyed $80
Heat blanket for intake manifold $35
M90 refresh kit $100
-OR-
M90 full rebuild $700 (OUCH!)
Sacrificial XJ throttle body $0
Steel and Aluminum stock $??
Machining costs $??
New serpentine belt of correct length $??
Points of note for comparison.
- The eBay / Craigslist Rimmer kit included an M62 of unknown state for $300. I broke even there.
- The eBay / Craigslist Rimmer kit wanted $700 for the SplitSecond injection controller with already-built patch kit. I picked up the F/IC-6 and Venom injectors for under $500, and ended up with I consider a better setup (no 7th injector). I don't mind doing the wiring myself.
- The eBay / Craigslist Rimmer kit was $1000 for mounting hardware, idler pulley, intake hoses, and 7th injector setup. So far into that I have all of $140. I don't expect at this point to spend $850 on materials, machining costs, and a belt.
- I'm not going to have to cut a hole in my hood.
- I will have the option to add an intercooler.
SolarBell
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Wheat Ridge, CO
Something I forgot to mention - I had a line on a number of Gen4 M90's from the GM 3800 motors for far less money - somewhere around $50. But I would likely have made up that difference in the expense required to build the discharge adapter plate and manifold along with an adapter plate for the intake. Also since the Gen4 M90's have the bypass valve built into the body, the physical unit is longer and may not have fit as well in the place I wanted to put it.
Talyn
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Radford, Communistwealth of Virginia
Have you tried to spin the SC over with a drill? If there wasn't any clunking I would be tempted to run it as is.
SolarBell
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Wheat Ridge, CO
Been meaning to do it and finally got to it tonight. Put it all together and filled it with 8 oz of whatever lightweight oil I could find, which ended up being jack oil. Spun it for a couple minutes at 2000 RPM - the max my corded drill can do. Sounded good, no bad noises at all. There are no scratches on either end face or partial rotational scratches, either of which would indicate bearings that are going out or eccentric. I was most concerned about an oil seal leak otherwise. It's a little hard to tell since there was a bunch of oil left in there, but I cleaned off a section of the rotor face plate and it essentially stayed dry. So it looks like I might be in the clear. I'm leaving it filled with oil overnight to see if any drips down the rotor face just to be sure.
I would much rather prefer to do the full rebuild to be safe but finances at the moment make that untenable. I'm not happy with the condition of the rear needle bearings and the coupler looks pretty worn so I want to at least replace those. Apparently rebuilding the snout is pretty easy and the kit is only $90 + shipping, so that is reasonable to me.
I would much rather prefer to do the full rebuild to be safe but finances at the moment make that untenable. I'm not happy with the condition of the rear needle bearings and the coupler looks pretty worn so I want to at least replace those. Apparently rebuilding the snout is pretty easy and the kit is only $90 + shipping, so that is reasonable to me.
O-Gauge Steamer
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Colorado Springs, Colorado
FYI... I run Royal Purple 75W/140W gear oil in the Sprintex. Seem to work OK.
I like the idea though of using thin oil for a passive leak check.
I like the idea though of using thin oil for a passive leak check.
GrimmJeeper
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Gardena, CA
I had that exact same oil catch can on my saturn, had constant issues with the push connects leaking on the sight tube. the only way I finally got them to seal was to load them up with silicone.
SolarBell
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Wheat Ridge, CO
Thanks for the heads up. They felt a little shady to me, good to know ahead of time to deal with them.
Checked it this morning and even spun it on the drill some more. No oil at all found on the spots I cleaned off. If there was a leak anywhere on those seals, it would spread everywhere given how tight the tolerances are. I think I'm going to be ok with the $90 refresh kit. I will probably budget and plan for a week's downtime to have it completely shop-rebuilt in the next year just to be thorough. (And keep a close eye on it for the first month or two)
Boostwerks.com
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Colorado
By chance do you have close up pictures of the Venom fuel injectors? I'm just curious if they have changed over the last several years. They used to be notorious for having a horrible spray pattern. Since Venom is still around I'd like to assume they've fixed the issues, but you never know.
O-Gauge Steamer
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Colorado Springs, Colorado
I have been running the Venom injectors since I installed the Supercharger. Have had zero issue with them. Can't say that I know exactly what the pattern is as I did not check them.
What I can say is that then come as matched flow sets.
What I can say is that then come as matched flow sets.
SolarBell
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Wheat Ridge, CO
SolarBell
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Wheat Ridge, CO
For this build I was hoping to maintain many of the stock components and not make too major of changes to the stock 4.0L components. But the larger the port coming from the supercharger to the intake manifold the more efficient the supercharger can run. As a result I worked with a machinist to design a new part to transition from the discharge pipe into the intake manifold. What we came up with is a part that is a full 70mm (2.75") in internal diameter, will bolt in place of the throttle body (some porting required, but the stock bolts are intact), and will accept fittings from a 3" intake pipe. There is still some restriction for sure, but it's a lot better than anything else I've seen without heavily modifying the intake manifold.
