I've been pondering this too. I doubt anyones tried one i'm posting because I hope someone can prove me wrong. Our cars have a bit more internal noise than most cars designed with a knock sensor newer cars with smoother valve trains. and with forged pistons i have a feeling it will be trigger all the time untill the engine is good and warmed up. avoid the knock sensor of an mitsu evo. an open headered muscle car lined up next to it will set off the sensor.
I plan on using the one off of my 3.8 GN engine when I drop in the 350. They use the same valve trains as the v8's so it shouldn't be that much different. Just have to get it attached to the block correctly, and get a Knock guage ($80) I'll let you know how it workes... probably some time later this month after it's installed and driving. :3gears:
MSD has a universal knock kit comes with sensor and gauge . summit part number msd8964 this is what the write up says Protect your powerplant from harmful detonation with MSD's engine knock alert systems. A knock sensor is installed into an engine block drain or access hole, and relays excessive detonation to a dash-mounted controller unit. The sensor is tunable to the noise pattern of your engine, so you know if there's excess detonation right away. These systems come complete with the sensor, adapter, and controller, and are compatible with 4, 6, or 8-cylinder engines with 12 V electrical systems. I was wondering if this would work on the 455
Here is another knock sensing option. http://www.viatrack.ca/ It is intended to be used with a Megasquirt. It is supposed to be universal in that when you order it you specify your engine(mainly the bore diameter) as it are these type of characteristics that determine the types of frequencies that actual knock will induce in the block. So it is "tuned" for your engine. There would still be the question of what actual sensor to use with the module though.
I was thinking along the same lines too. Kind of like the ESC Chevy used on the early 305 9.2:1 engines. Here's a tid bit of useless info; If you use a chevy truck of that style with ESC (Electronic Spark Control) towing and your trailer hitch/ball has any play in it. The "rattle" is transmitted through the frame to the engine and it knocks the timing around and looses power.
Wow...I didn't realize they were so sensitive. There's more info on there here: http://www.megamanual.com/ms2/knock.htm
Something more fun. If you are in a car with a big block and open headers, lined up next to a mitsu evo you will set off the evo's knock sensor untill you speed away.:laugh: nate
Also, you can "de-sensitize" knock sensors by using teflon tape around threads. Be careful on installing: use a deep socket, as these critters are fragile, and are set to a specific very light torque in INCH OUNCES, if I recall.(192 inch ounces is same as 1 foot pound, i think !!!)As I understand it, they work only in a certain band of vibrations; and YES, outside noises and installation details (headers, engine torque straps, motor mounts, etc) make a difference. Had a hell of a time getting one of my turbo cars to run right after changing from factory down pipe and exhaust to 3"solid mount downpipe and 3" dual after test pipe system. Off road use only, of course:Brow: p . Oh yeah, knock sensors will NOT work with solid lifters.Hydraulic roller lifters, love them. try using Innovative motorsports wideband O2 sensor with your fuel injection system, or just as a precision tuning aid
I actually do use the Innovate LC-1 on my turbo camaro. It's how I tune my megasquirt EFI system. I will also be using one on my EFI 430 conversion... :Brow:
How do you like megasquirt? I've been thinking about using it on my mustang (That will be lsx powered) Was it easy to use, or would you suggest a different system now? I've read the majority of the megamanual and other tid-bits already... Thanks.
I am definitely an advocate for megasquirt. There are many nice things about it, the best thing being the price. For ~$140 I got a kit that I assembled which controlled fuel and spark on my camaro that is laptop tunable, capable of reading a wide-band o2 sensor and doing air/fuel ratio targeting, turning cooling fans on/off, etc. It was pretty easy to use once you get used to reading up on the things in the manuals. I spent about a week building my first kit and then spent a weekend wiring it up to my camaro. The engine started on the first attempt! As for a LSx setup, I know there is a way to get megasquirt to do coil-on-plug but I haven't looked into it much. I think others in the megasquirt community have run it successfully.
