noob tuning question

[Mr_Efficiency]

I admit i dont know much at all about messing with chips but my gf's dad does it a lot and has all the stuff, I was curious if I had the .bin file for a chip i wanted could I just give him a chip to erase and burn the .bin onto and call it a day? I know there are diffrent types of chips, but if i gave him the correct one is it as simple as just burning the .bin onto it?

Also where is the best place to go for an ALDL cable, I'm looking into getting tuner pro and data logging just to see whats going on with my engine, i figure its a good way to monitor things while i'm screwing around with the boost.

thanks

[3100 MPFI]

I got a cable for like $10.00 on EBAY.

As for the chip, you need to replace the EEPROM with a blank one. The stock ones are not easy to write over. Something about having to erase them with a UV LIGHT before you can burn to them.
Ask him if he can burn to stock GM chips, or if he needs one with a blank EEPROM (yes, it is EEPROM, and NOT EPROM).

Like I said, I got my cable on EBAY, and the program I use is FREESCAN. It is really good for my needs. I use it on my 1990 Grand Prix STE, and I used to use it for my 1988 Cutlass Supreme (that had a custom built 3100, and a 1993 ECM in it).

I have not really messed with it in a while, but now that I am getting closer to finished on my OBD2 swap in my 1988, I will be looking for a different program.

[Mr_Efficiency]

yeah hes mentioned that before about needing blank chips, what do they run a piece?

[3100 MPFI]

to be honest, I bum them off of a friend. I don't think you can buy them by the piece (radioshack? You got questions? So do they).

I know when he gets them, he gets them in packs of like 10, or something. Not like I can just run over there and ask. He lives 1800 miles away.

If I see him online, I will ask him about it.

[bszopi]

You can get them online for around $5 each. Of course, its been 2-3yrs since I ordered one, so the prices might have changed.

[IsaacHayes]

You'll need a memcal adapter too to plug it into the computer.
Check out www.moates.net they have a lot of hardware for that stuff..
The new chips you get you don't have to use UV and they can be erased electronically hence the extra E - (Electronically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory).

How to tune TGP code:

http://www.bstuff.com/index.php?showtopic=46962

(the links for TGP code patched for 5spd links are down, contact Scott0999 on here for them).

for an ALDL cable you can make your own (simple 2 transistor versions work I hear, but I built a more complex fully RS232 compliant one with an IC) or buy one online at the various places.

[3100 MPFI]

I don't need a memcal adapter. I just remove the stock chip, and solder in a new one. No extra parts to buy.

[IsaacHayes]

If you are re-burning chips all the time tuning though that would suck!

[3100 MPFI]

Why? If you have an adapter to put a stock memcal on a burner (similar to what ben uses), then it is not bad.

[IsaacHayes]

Oh, I see. I think I know how it all fits together now. Got ya! Doing it that way though you can't swap between 2 chips on the fly as easily unless you have a spare memcal... Having 2 like that you could log with one in, then make changes and burn the 2nd, swap it in and repeat. Saving steps from walking out the car and back to the house to re-burn one chip! LOL

[Mr_Efficiency]

thanks for the link, but i already had the 5 speed TGP code, I talked to my GF dad today and he said he would burn it for me if i just gave him the .bin so i dont have to worry about finding the blank EEPROM. and i'll have to keep an eye out on ebay for an ALDL cable, thanks guys