Anyone use Tuner Cat's Real Time tuner?

[CorvetteZ51Racer]

I'm getting ready to build a '92 LT1-based motor, and have used the standard TC software before. I have not used the RT software yet, and was wondering what kind of experience folks have had with it. Also, I haven't done LT1 tunes before, just L98s, and need to know what hardware I'm going to need to interface with the '92 ECM. TIA

[tjwong]

You can use Tuner Cats RT Tuner with your 92 car. But, the ECM is outside, and if you plan on doing actual tuning while driving that can be a problem. You would have to make some sort of shielded cable connection between the Romulator and the ECM, because there is a lot of EMI noise that can wreak havoc on the Romulator. I normally use during dyno tuning sessions in the shop and in that scenario it works great.

[-=Jeff=-]

for shielding you could use aluminum foil on the cable.

[kittmaster]

:iagree:

[CorvetteZ51Racer]

Well, the EMI thing is not an issue, as the engine will tuned on a water break research dyno in our research lab. We're set up to handle all kinds of EMI issues. Anyway, I see that I need the Xtronics romulator, but I'm a little fuzzy on how the interfacing and program storage is done.

[tjwong]

It is very simple really. I assume that you have a prom style ECM seeing how you are going to use the ROMULATOR.If your car is a 86 and up that uses a GM MEMCAL which is the large blue prom. You will need a adapter board. Such as a Moates part number G1 adapter. See Craig Moates website at:
http://www.moates.net

Using this adapter board allows you to plug in your GM memcal and it provides a socket to land the ROMULATOR connector to. Then you start up Tuner Cats RT Tuner software, load your BIN file into RT Tuner and then syncronize the program to the ROMULATOR. Thats about it once, it syncs it has loaded your file to the ROMULATOR and your engine will be running from the ROMULATOR memory.

During a test run, you can make changes to any parameter, in the BIN file that is editable within TC. When making a change in the constants table, you make the change and click on "update" which of course updates the ROMULATOR memory of your change.

Once you are done, save the file and burn a chip. Remove the ROMULATOR connector and plug in your newly burned chip and you are done. That is about it, really simple isn't it? :)

[CorvetteZ51Racer]

AAHHHHH, ok. I see now. You're still using the same hardware in the end as with the previous TC tuner, it's just that you're using the Laptop and Romulator during test runs as a temporary interface between the BIN and the ECM. Once you're happy, you burn the actual PROM like you would with the regular TC software and go on down the road? (no pun intended)