87 ECM Advantages

[kwcook]

What are the advantages of an 87 ECm?

Is it necessary to have the 87 ECM to run the upgraded 87 style coil packs and the LT1 MAF and translators on an Hot air car?

Thanks

 

[buickpower]

The main advantage is that it is much easier to find someone to burn a chip for you. Hardly anyone burns chips for the early ecm. Also more info is available from the scanmaster with the later ecm. As far as the coil packs etc., someone else will have to chime in.

 

[jacksorroche]

I'm pretty sure that you will need to upgrade to the 86/87 ECM if you are going to go with the LT1 and Translator. You can upgrade to the 86/87 coil pack by just getting the adapter at Casper's, no ECM upgrade necessary.

By the way, I did the whole LT1 MAF, Coil pack, ECM, electric fan and MAT sensor upgrade at the same time. It was a lot easier than I thought it would be and the car runs better. Not sure how, but it seems to be less moody. Yea, I know, sounds crazy....

 

[kwcook]

so i can use the 856 style ignition module and buy the adapters and an 87 style coil?

will the 3 inch maf work fine?

87 ecm conversion i will also need to get a mat sensor

thanks

 

[John84GN]

about the MAF...you'll need to get a MAF translator, from someone like Ramchargers (I think I paid about $180) to convert the LT1/LS1 Maf signal into "Buick language"

FYI...the 3 1/2" MAF is from the LT1/LS1, and the 3" MAF is from the '96 Impala SS...same thing, just one's 3" and the other is 3 1/2"

Yes, you'll need a MAT sensor, Caspers has those (about $20)

 

[kwcook]

thanks guys, been a great deal of help

 

[Bryan C.]

If you convert the coil, you will need to change the ignition module as well. The adaptation of the wiring occurs where the wiring harness plugs into the ignition module. It is easy and straight forward, the instructions from Casper's sre easy to follow and if you have any questions John Spina will be more than happy to help you out. He is great in the way of customer support.