87 ECM, LT1 MAF & Translator Upgrades - Before and After

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Jan 11, 2022
Hello Braintrust,

I've been on the road with my 85' T-Type for months now (weekend cruiser) having upgraded my old chip shortly after passing CA smog. The car never ran as smooth (since I purchased it 1 year ago) as I did since I put in my TT chip in (29lbs,91,11-14psi). Red Devil River and ALDLdroid gave me my first look at the available data stream from my 85" ECU. BLMs were always 128 +/- 10 when idling or cruising.

The next upgrades for me came by the way of 87' ECU, LT1 MAF + Translator & TT chip. At idle with the Translator dip switch (on on on off) and rotary knob (Base 3) set for this configuration, my BLMs are at 142. Cruising speeds I'm seeing BLMs at 142.

I reset the ECU and changed the Translator knob to Base 4 (richer at idle), went for a drive and noticed that when in/at idle I see BLM at 142 but see a consistent BLMs at 133 when cruising and back to BLM 142 when idling.

Questions: Is the target BLM 128 (+/- 10) one we need to hit when idling and cruising? If I'm seeing BLMs at 133 when cruising but BLMs at 142 at idle, I'm I safe to assume all is good?
 
Eric locks the idle blms at 128. It should stay there.
 
Eric locks the idle blms at 128. It should stay there.

I'm using the stock MAF intake tube and silicone couplers for this setup. When I switch back to my 85" setup (MAF, ECM, TT Chip) I'm back to BLMs 128 (+/- 10). Back to my 87' setup (LT1, Translator - on on on off-Base 4, TT Chip) and BLM 142 at idle, BLM 133 cruising. Since I can go back to my original setup with consistent results, If there is a leak (un-metered air), it would be before the throttle body. If I spray starter fluid at the couplers and the engine speed picks up, then easy day (I double checked to make sure my worm clamps were on tight), right?

I will reach out to Eric before the end of the day. Thanks!
 
Hello Braintrust,

I've been on the road with my 85' T-Type for months now (weekend cruiser) having upgraded my old chip shortly after passing CA smog. The car never ran as smooth (since I purchased it 1 year ago) as I did since I put in my TT chip in (29lbs,91,11-14psi). Red Devil River and ALDLdroid gave me my first look at the available data stream from my 85" ECU. BLMs were always 128 +/- 10 when idling or cruising.

The next upgrades for me came by the way of 87' ECU, LT1 MAF + Translator & TT chip. At idle with the Translator dip switch (on on on off) and rotary knob (Base 3) set for this configuration, my BLMs are at 142. Cruising speeds I'm seeing BLMs at 142.

I reset the ECU and changed the Translator knob to Base 4 (richer at idle), went for a drive and noticed that when in/at idle I see BLM at 142 but see a consistent BLMs at 133 when cruising and back to BLM 142 when idling.

Questions: Is the target BLM 128 (+/- 10) one we need to hit when idling and cruising? If I'm seeing BLMs at 133 when cruising but BLMs at 142 at idle, I'm I safe to assume all is good?
@HotAirWH1 Did you experience similar issues with your 87 ECM + upgrades?
 
Yes, I have the same issues with identical numbers. I attributed it to a small crack in-between 3 & 5 exhaust manifold, but could be wrong viewing your comments.
 
Yes, I have the same issues with identical numbers. I attributed it to a small crack in-between 3 & 5 exhaust manifold, but could be wrong viewing your comments.
Reverting back to my 85' ECM and original MAF, my BLMs are 128 (+/- 10). So if I too had a crack in between 3 & 5 exhaust manifold, my BLMs should also be out of range, right?
 
I agree. When I have the 85 ECM & MAF installed, I have no scan tool to monitor the BLM'S.
 
I'm using the stock MAF intake tube and silicone couplers for this setup. When I switch back to my 85" setup (MAF, ECM, TT Chip) I'm back to BLMs 128 (+/- 10). Back to my 87' setup (LT1, Translator - on on on off-Base 4, TT Chip) and BLM 142 at idle, BLM 133 cruising. Since I can go back to my original setup with consistent results, If there is a leak (un-metered air), it would be before the throttle body. If I spray starter fluid at the couplers and the engine speed picks up, then easy day (I double checked to make sure my worm clamps were on tight), right?

I will reach out to Eric before the end of the day. Thanks!
Was Eric able to give you any insight or suggestions.
 
Pre turbo exhaust leaks or vacuum leaks can cause a high BLM count.
Thanks Scoob, but running my old maf, and 85' ECM gets me back to BLMs 128 (+/- 10). If a replacement MAF is not the answer should I pursue making a request to correct for this issue in the chip?
 
Thanks Scoob, but running my old maf, and 85' ECM gets me back to BLMs 128 (+/- 10). If a replacement MAF is not the answer should I pursue making a request to correct for this issue in the chip?
Without Scanmaster numbers, I'm giving you an educated guess as to what could be wrong. The aftermarket MAF's are USUALLY very durable. The stock units are the ones that crap out.
 
Thanks Scoob, but running my old maf, and 85' ECM gets me back to BLMs 128 (+/- 10). If a replacement MAF is not the answer should I pursue making a request to correct for this issue in the chip?
My guess is that Eric thinks the AF number is out of whack for the MAF you have, so he's sending a replacement.
 
Without Scanmaster numbers, I'm giving you an educated guess as to what could be wrong. The aftermarket MAF's are USUALLY very durable. The stock units are the ones that crap out.
Can I email you before and after ALDLdroid files for you to look at?
 
I just watched a Scanmaster G video. What's the MAF reading before and after. I used the original SM and it has AF.
 
Eric runs his chips a tad rich on his defaults so we don't blow shit up. My engines ran about 122 for BLM's at idle.
 
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