The ECOTEC in the TR4 is performing like a champ.  However, we had our first ‘oh shait’ moment.  The thing started missing under acceleration and given that is is a four banger, having 25% of all power missing intermittently makes a big deal.  Time to scratch the noggin’…

Well, this is where the thing really gets interesting.  We’ve had plenty of experience with all sorts of fuel injected GM engines – from the humble”throttle body” to the L98 TunedPort to the legendary LT1/LT4 and let’s not forget the awesome LSx family and last but not least the L32 in bowtie6.  Some of these can be fiddled with by changing ‘chips’ (L98 and TunedPort) while others like the LTx and LSx family can be modified with laptops and software.  And the oddball, the L32 – well he is pretty much hosed.  That poor critter is so old school that no software exists to fiddle with him.  Bugger. 

Scanning some of the OBD I engines was simple enough:  jump the appropriate ALDL connector terminals and watch the MIL blink.  Count how many times it flashes and look it up.  Voila!  On L98′s, LTx’s, LSx’s, L32′s…  We’ve used several code readers – the last one we bought was pretty slick but it did not allow for tuning the ECM’s.

Ah, but for the ECOTEC…  Now we are talking!  HPTuners offers one very awesome software package and that is one more advantage about using this particular engine.  And, it can be used on the LTx’s and LS’x too.  So back to my original post…

We hooked up our  trusted laptop running HPTuners and we were able to scan for codes.  Sure enough, the thing showed we had an engine misfire.  But this is where it gets pretty cool:  not only did it confirm the misfire, it was smart enough to tell us which coil was causing the misfire – the coil on number 1 cylinder was the culprit.  We promptly changed it, cleared existing “DTC’s” and off we went.  Problem solved.

The point I’m  trying to make here is that with the proper tools, diagnosing FI is not rocket science.  Folks make this to be a great mystery.  I’ve heard from so many folks through the years that if has a “computer” it is not worth messing with.  Adding insult to injury, I’ve read of folks stripping the FI system off L32′s and replacing that with a “Holley”.  Oh dear…

ECOTEC engines in British sports cars are a reality.  These engines offer great power-to-weight, excellent mileage and a wonderful exhaust note.  Folks, this is the way to go when modifying a British sports car.  The proof of concept was my cousin Jim’s TR4.  He has been working on this car for a couple of years, and little by little it has become a reality.  There are so many awesome things about this car!

The frame is hand built.  This is the same design that is being used for bowtie6‘s new frame.  My frame will be a simpler version of the one on the TR4 but basically will consist of the basic principle:  square tubing, modified TR6 front suspension, and a 4 point suspension rear axle with posi-traction.

The TR4′s body has been left stock, except for the bonnet, boot lid and hard top.  These components have been hand-made out of aluminium.  Yes, aluminium.  The main directive for the TR4 was to make it as light as possible and by making these body panels from aluminium a great deal of weight was saved.

The engine is an ECOTEC 2.4 litre and matching five speed from a Solstice.  Last year, the car was tested with the smaller 2.2 litre version.  We found the engine to be awesome and very responsive.  The ECM had to be fiddled with a little, but the result was quite impressive.  If you want to see a video of the car at that time, check this out:  ECOTEC TR4 video

Pretty cool huh?  Well – that was done about a year ago and showed the car in pretty rough state.  It was in primer, things were not bolted down tight, the interior was missing and the wiring was still being worked on.  Some 1500 miles were put on the car by Jim and all pointed in the right direction:  the care was lightweight, very responsive and the frame provided a very tight, solid feel.

The TR4 was fully disassembled, this time for its final assembly including a new 2.4 litre ECOTEC, paint and interior.  This time it is for real!  After many months of work, this is what the first ECOTEC powered  TR4 looks like:

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