Drive by Wire conversion...

**SOMSS** · 01-08-2011, 05:53 AM

My SS is going to be the test bed for a drive by wire conversion for the 4th Gen F-Body. Mosport Speed Shop is putting together a drive by wire conversion kit complete with a individualized tune (hand held). More info as the project matures.

**9T8W66** · 01-08-2011, 02:56 PM

Not sure why anyone would want to do this but.....

Best of Luck on the project.

**Z28_Driver** · 01-10-2011, 08:17 AM

**Firebirdjones** · 01-10-2011, 08:54 AM

Interesting, but it's something I prefer to avoid.

**jiveass** · 01-10-2011, 09:05 AM

yea,.....im wondering why also....most drive by wire cars ive driven have a lag in throttle response....plus i dont wanna depend on a computer to work my throttle for me...my ex girl has a mustang with drive by wire....i know of one time when i was driving it, i pushed the gas to get up to speed, then let off and it kept accelerating...only for a few seconds...but it scared me.

**Firebirdjones** · 01-10-2011, 09:37 AM

Originally Posted by jiveass

yea,.....im wondering why also....most drive by wire cars ive driven have a lag in throttle response....plus i dont wanna depend on a computer to work my throttle for me...my ex girl has a mustang with drive by wire....i know of one time when i was driving it, i pushed the gas to get up to speed, then let off and it kept accelerating...only for a few seconds...but it scared me.

Yep, It's alot of those reasons I avoid it. These cars have enough electronics on them, I don't need something else to add.

Besides, Speed and Performance offers a kit for the retro swap of LS motors with drive-by-wires, and it's simple, just a little box that mounts on the gas pedal to send the signal.
I don't see why it wouldn't work on a 4th gen, since it's made to work on any retro swap you do. So I fail to see how this speed shop is putting together and kit and making SOMSS's car a test bed, it's already out there.

I've looked into this already myself, trying to do a retro swap of an LQ4/LQ9 in a 72 blazer. But I'm going the other direction, and switching the throttle body out for a cable driven version

Maybe SOMSS could shed some light on this and help to explain why it's different from what already out there??

**jiveass** · 01-10-2011, 09:57 AM

i say the less i have to depend on the computer, the better. i as well would like to her som's reasoning....

**rc74racer** · 01-10-2011, 10:04 AM

I won't avoid DBW but I certainly wouldn't convert a car that didn't have it. I just don't see where there is any demand for this.

**Jay37** · 01-10-2011, 01:15 PM

Any one driven a '10 camaro w/ a super charger. Good luck going anywhere without the traction control. By far the smoothest traction control I have ever experianced also makes for much better acceleration.

Good luck OP

**SOMSS** · 01-10-2011, 06:31 PM

First good reason for the swap is ease of tuning. You get more precise part throttle tuning and an increase in response. This kit will include a ported TB, a new ECM to control the TBW. All electrical connectors and a custom tune for your car. It will be plug and play, allowing any one with some mechanical aptitude to do this upgrade them self.

**Jay37** · 01-11-2011, 12:39 PM

Sounds pretty sick to me.

Will you have traction control, seems like the fly by wire traction control systems are awesome. I mean everyone likes the computer controlling injector pulses, ignition timing and such. Why not let it control the throttle body?

Excited to here your results.

**9T8W66** · 01-11-2011, 04:46 PM

Traction Control ; "another bandaid fix for people who don't know enough to let off the gas". Or as I like to put it "it's a common sense inhibitor"

**Jay37** · 01-11-2011, 05:09 PM

So are you going to tell me that if you put to identical lets say 550hp supercharged camaros next to eachother at the strip and turn the traction control off on one and it will beat the one with it on? with street tires? on both

**9T8W66** · 01-11-2011, 06:58 PM

Originally Posted by Jay37

So are you going to tell me that if you put to identical lets say 550hp supercharged camaros next to eachother at the strip and turn the traction control off on one and it will beat the one with it on? with street tires? on both

Take 2 LS1 auto F-bodies one with and one without and the non TCS car will win hands down.

I know the systems are way more sophisticated then they used to be, but a skilled driver vs the stab and steer traction control equipped approach would be a very interesting race to see.

**SOMSS** · 01-11-2011, 09:07 PM

Traction control is not meant for drag or road racing per say. It was developed to safely maintain traction in poor weather conditions.
This thread is about making a turn key kit for converting a cable throttle throttle body vehicle to a drive by wire. It's not a debate. Drive by wire is the future, keep up or get left behind.

**Firebirdjones** · 01-12-2011, 07:22 AM

Originally Posted by SOMSS

Traction control is not meant for drag or road racing per say. It was developed to safely maintain traction in poor weather conditions.
This thread is about making a turn key kit for converting a cable throttle throttle body vehicle to a drive by wire. It's not a debate. Drive by wire is the future, keep up or get left behind.

I'll take "left behind"

I'm still a carb and points fan and have several cars as such, I still have a rotory dial phone in the house, and I still prefer to shop at a store rather than the internet. Technoligy peaked for me about 1975

In any event, we should keep this on topic,,,,I still would like to see the outcome of your swap, especially curious how it works with the cruise control...

**Smittro** · 01-12-2011, 09:53 AM

Okay some of you guys do understand that whether it's a throttle by cable or throttle by wire the PCM still controlls it all right???

My 01 is a factory 85mm fly by wire.. No lag to report..

**ZexGX** · 01-12-2011, 09:59 AM

Originally Posted by Smittro

Okay some of you guys do understand that whether it's a throttle by cable or throttle by wire the PCM still controlls it all right???

My 01 is a factory 85mm fly by wire.. No lag to report..

When my car had a 3.8L in it, it was drive by wire. No throttle lag either. When I switched to cable driven for the LS1 swap, I just zip-tied the DBW cables out of the way since they were part of the chassis harness and not the motor harness.

**Smittro** · 01-12-2011, 10:11 AM

Originally Posted by ZexGX

When my car had a 3.8L in it, it was drive by wire. No throttle lag either. When I switched to cable driven for the LS1 swap, I just zip-tied the DBW cables out of the way since they were part of the chassis harness and not the motor harness.

imho makes the cruise control more responsive too..

Especially up and down hills with the cuise on.

**Firebirdjones** · 01-12-2011, 10:44 AM

Originally Posted by Smittro

Okay some of you guys do understand that whether it's a throttle by cable or throttle by wire the PCM still controlls it all right???:

Well, technically no. The cable still allows you to control the throttle blade. It's the Throttle Position Sensor that tells the computer where it is,,,and even that still uses a solid wire connection.

I think it's the thought of transmitting a signal through space that bothers some people. I know that's the part I don't like.