Whooo! Tip-in stumble fixed

[SuperSix]

For year the 87 T has had an irritating tip-in stumble coming off of idle. I know the TPS is spot on, so it wasn't that. All vacuum lines are good, etc..

The 87 T had an odd MAF Translator. I got it in a trade for services many years ago. I noticed the Translator had an odd pigtail coming out of it, but didn't think much of it. When I was in BG in 2005, I found Bob and asked him about it. Somehow I had gotten one of his preproduction test units, and the spare leads were for a spark/timing module he was fiddling with. (Pics below) I had it hooked to to a 3" LS1 MAF. Whoa - I just noticed it's a Beta Translator Plus..  Is there a way to flash these? Maybe an updated PROM? I PM'd Bob on TB.com - no reply..

Ok, I just studied it,and mine has 2 wires that other "regular" units don't. Note the blue and brown wires coming out at the top of the PCB. I noticed this unit has a dial unit labeled "RETARD". Odd. Or maybe it was a custom model for Norbs?  Production comparison pic posted at the end of this post.

Well, today, while recharging the A/C on the 87T, I remembered that I got a stock GN MAF in the 87 GN I recently bought. I figured I may as well see if it works. Pulled out MAF Translator, LS1 MAF and air filter, cobbled together the right hoses and such, and put the GM MAF on. I fully expected the MAF to be bad.

No more stumble, runs MUCH stronger.

Maybe I had the MAF Translator set up wrong, I'm not sure. I may pot the Powerlogger in the 87T to check it out..



Comparison pic:

[Scoobum]

Two of the dials say spark...wonder ing if the timing was retarded...thi s causing the car to feel lazy.

[Turbodave]

I had one of those T+'s also.  Ran it for years.  Never got the retard feature to quite work right, so I just left the two wires disconnected all these years.
Yes your unit can be upgraded, but takes a new chip (the big one).  I upgraded mine last year with a 6.25 chip, and it's still being used succesfully in another car.
 
Long story short, get an update chip from Bob, and yours should be good to go.  Set the retard knob to 0 just in case.

[daveismissing]

Hard to understand Bob's upgrade policy. He won't do Scanmasters anymore but he does these?

[Scoobum]

Hard to understand Bob's upgrade policy. He won't do Scanmasters anymore but he does these?

Whiner

[SuperSix]

Two of the dials say spark...wonder ing if the timing was retarded...thi s causing the car to feel lazy.

Honestly, I'm not sure if it was set correctly from the start - I may read the directions this time.

I had one of those T+'s also.  Ran it for years.  Never got the retard feature to quite work right, so I just left the two wires disconnected all these years.
Yes your unit can be upgraded, but takes a new chip (the big one).  I upgraded mine last year with a 6.25 chip, and it's still being used succesfully in another car.
 
Long story short, get an update chip from Bob, and yours should be good to go.  Set the retard knob to 0 just in case.

Strange - maybe they were early units or something. I see the upgrade for sale for $30.00. I need that, and a case cover. The cover is what I PMd Bob about and got now response. I will email and see if I can get a cover shipped with the upgrade chip.

[daveismissing]

He uses off the shelf cases anyways.
I sourced a scanmaster "shell" for a local who melted his.

[SuperSix]

He uses off the shelf cases anyways.
I sourced a scanmaster "shell" for a local who melted his.

I figured they were standard project cases - thought it would be easier to get it from him. I'm sure I can get one along with the upgrade chip.

[SuperSix]

Two of the dials say spark...wonder ing if the timing was retarded...thi s causing the car to feel lazy.

I never had the spark portion plugged in. Not sure if I will.

After looking at it again with fresh eyes (And it's bright enough for me to read the dials) I had the MAF size set wrong, had it set for a 3.5" MAF. I'll fiddle with it on the car later.

[gordyzx9r]

Who is Bob?

[SuperSix]

Who is Bob?

Bob Bailey - the guru behind MAF translators, Powerlogger, and Scanmaster I think

Here's the other old school translator I have. Bought it as a back up, it's never been hooked up. Version 1.0, SN 52.

[Steve Wood]

I have an early version somewhere around here that I never used.  Maybe I should get an upgrade chip if available for it and give it to someone.

The trick to the Translator is to carefully read the instructions and then make sure you are looking at the adjustment tables correctly.  It was very easy to read them wrong.  It was very common on the early ones to have to set the dials for a 3.5 to get a 3.0 to work better, or vice versa.  I have not helped anyone with one in years.  The later revisions seemed to be dialed in a lot better as would be expected.

[Scoobum]

I don't see the switches for the different chips. Does it work for all chips...or just for Bobs?

[SuperSix]

I don't see the switches for the different chips. Does it work for all chips...or just for Bobs?

No idea. The "instructions" just have MAF Base and MAF WOT settings.

I assume that since it's so old, it's chip independent? I would be using his with an old Jim Testa chip that I am currently using in the 87 T. I will be using the T+ with a TT on the GN.

Or I may stick with the factory MAF on the 87 T...

[daveismissing]

I was investigating last year- I think one really wants a ver 5.x or 6.x at least.