(Second) ECM Swap
How to Convert an ECM File The tutorial at StramaXon provides an easy way to convert ECM to BIN. The download mentioned on that site is in the RAR format, so you'll need a program like PeaZip or 7-Zip to open it. Once you have the ECM file in the BIN format, you can convert BIN to ISO with a program like MagicISO, WinISO, PowerISO, or AnyToISO. Download ECM for Mac to convert disk images to ECM format (and back) to save space. Operating Systems Mac OS X 10.11, Macintosh, Mac OS X 10.9. (BIN, CDI, NRG, CCD, or any other format. What an absolutely idiotic idea to preserve them with this useless.ecm crap. THey even admit it has no purpose because Windows and OS X easily can deal with the compressed image file without this ecm junk.
The ECM that came in 1986-1989 TPI Fbody's and Vettes is a series 1227165 (165). The ECM is located up and behind the dash, on the passenger side of the car. (Behind where a Glove Box would be in a older pre 80s car)
The '85 and '86-'89 TPI cars use a MAF sensor inline of the intake air flow to precisely measure the air flow and adjust A/F, etc. based on that reading. 1990-1992 TPI cars switched over to a MAP system (also referred to as Speed Density) where the ECM gets a estimated air flow based on engine vacuum. The change to MAP is rumored to be based on cost reasons for GM, but for performance engine builders, the limited air flow able to pass thru the MAF is also a consideration of changing to a MAP system.
I wanted to be able to quantitatively compare the MAF-vs-MAP systems on my vehicle to have a better understand the limits of each and how my car would react/benefit from both. To easily switch between the two systems, I set out to build/adapt both ECMs, different sensors, and wiring harness differences in a convenient manner to make switching back and forth between them as simple/easy as possible. After working thru the wiring diagrams and getting much valued help from the GMECM mailing list, I came up with a solution to equip my car with both set of sensors that are different, and build an adaptor cable between my existing ECM harness ('165 wired) and the newer ('730) ECM.
Note that you do not have to build the adaptor to change systems, you caneasily reuse your MAF wiring and existing knock sensor engine wiring to hook thenew MAP and knock sensor to. This is a more permanent solution if you'resold on Speed Density and don't want to switch back-forth between the MAF and MAP systems like I do.
86 ECM pinout diagram92 Sensor/ECM wiring page1, page2, page3, page4, page5, page6, page7,
This is a text file that has the required connector pin changes for theconversion. They are listed in order of the '165 connector pins as wellas in order of the '730 connector pins. (Note that you need an additionalECM connector for the '730 ECM)
The pin naming nomenclature is shown in the above pinout/wiring diagrams.
'165 ECM connector pin changes for 92 ECM
Don Broadus
John Gwynne
Bruce Plecan
Dave Zug
Parts needed:
A handy tool for repining GM harness connectors is the Lisle Terminal Tool, P/N 14900 and can be found here
Convert Ecm To Bin Psx
Adaptor parts needed:
Total cost for the project is ~ $150 depending on what you can get thrusalvage yards and what you have to purchase new..
Click on any image below for an enlargement (~500K) image.January/February 2000 (Preparation)MAF harness plug -to- MAP sensor engine harness The MAF plug was made by cutting apart an old broken MAF and soldering wires to the pins. The MAP plug is available in most any Auto Store in the 'HELP!' section.
All three (24,32 and 32) connectors modified and slipped onto header
Long taped-off wires in foreground will hook to new MAP and Knock Sensors.
All three (24,32 and 32) connectors modified and slipped onto header
Long taped-off wires in foreground will hook to new MAP and Knock Sensors.
'730 ECM pluged into harness.
(labeled, but not soldered to pin header)
'730 and '165 MEMCALs.
'730 (lower) from L4 Cav, '165 from v8.
'730 V8 MEMCAL.
Knock Sensor circuit board built onto MEMCAL.
'730 (and '165) modified V8 MEMCAL.
low-profile ZIF into solded socket.
'92 5.7L Knock Sensor from Autozone
'Trailer Hitch'
wiring harness pulled thru firewall for MAP hookup to adaptor cable
MAP and second knock sensor wired into engine-bay and down/thru firewall
Black plastic conduit used for all wiring for clean look.
I started the car and gathered an initial ALDL scan to check sensors,etc. The car ran very poorly and the data showed it running VERY rich with the stock '92 5.7l calibration. I have enough preliminary data to start zoning in the EPROM. The ALDL data (after warmup) from the RPMs, MAP, O2 from the first start can be seen here
The adaptor was then unhooked and the '165 ECM reattached to prove they can be swapped easily. The ALDL data from the subsequent MAF is shown here .
A basic EPROM image and road test data will be forthcoming..
3-1/2' aluminum tube replacing MAF sensor
Cut from 3-1/2' diameter aluminum jar, 6' long. Painted 'stealth' black
3-1/2' aluminum tube replacing MAF sensor
Cut from 3-1/2' diameter aluminum jar, 6' long. Painted 'stealth' black
MAF hookup wire can be seen on thermostat housing
1 (MAP) 13.098@105 (let car shift to OD)
2 (MAP) 13.095@105 (let car shift to OD)
3 (MAF) 12.941@105 (kept car in 3rd to 5600rpm)
4 (MAF) 13.071@103 (let car shift to OD)
5 (MAF) 12.927@106 (kept car in 3rd to 5800rpm)
6 (MAP) 13.063@105 (kept car in 3rd to 5800rpm)
7 (MAP) 13.050@105 (kept car in 3rd to 5600rpm)
*note: all the runs had 60' times between 1.812 and 1.860 and so I feel are warranted for comparison..
The Bins used for the tests are a AUJP (Runs 1,2) , AUJP (Run 6) , AUJP (Run 7) variant used in the '730, and a ARAP variant used in the '165.
Diacom snapshots of the RPM,air flow,O2 for the best MAP and MAF runs..
Diacom snapshots of the RPM,Spark Adv (TDC relative),Knock retard for the best MAP and MAF runs..
00-5-21The MAP system runs very strong now. The above tests were with an early(in tuning) MAP chip that barely had the fueling stable and had no sparkadvance tuning done. I've since tuned it much better and the MAP setup isrunning at and above the level of the MAF setup..
I will soon bebuilding a cold-air intake for it that is much more difficult to do witha MAF system...
Convert Ecm To Bin Mac
- Open the folder and look for 'unecm.exe'
- Click and hold the ECM file, then drag it on top of 'unecm.exe' and let it go.
- Wait for the process to finish.
- Once the process is finished, the window will close automatically, and the ECM file will be a BIN file.
Click to see full answer
Also, how do I extract ECM files?
The easiest way to do this is to drag the ECM file directly onto the unecm.exe program to extract the image file out of it. To make your own ECM file, just drag the file you want encoded onto the ecm.exe file. This command is to change the working directly to the folder where the ECM program is stored.
Furthermore, how do I use ECM tools? Find a convenient place on your hard drive for your ECM needs. Next, open the archive and drag and drop the files into this folder. Once done, you'll have a set of files ready to use. To use ECM tools, find the ECM file in question and drag and drop it over the unecm.exe file.
Likewise, people ask, how do I convert files to bin?
Convert Image File to BIN / CUE
- Run PowerISO.
- Choose 'Tools > Convert' Menu.
- PowerISO shows Image File to BIN Converter dialog.
- Choose the source image file you want to convert.
- Set the output file format to bin / cue.
- Choose the output bin file name.
- Click 'OK' button to start converting.
How do I Unecm files on a Mac?
Open Terminal (either find it in Utilities or Spotlight search for it) and then navigate to the cmdpack directory (the easiest way to do this is to type cd followed by a space, and then drag the directory to your terminal window--the path of the folder will be inserted--then hit return).