AEM EMS users please take a look.

18793 Views 243 Replies 32 Participants Last post by billyNOTnice, Jan 4, 2010

billyNOTnice

Discussion Starter · Mar 29, 2009 (Edited)

I've been a anderson ford motorsport PMS user for almost 4 years now. I have loved it, and never had any problems with it, but I'm ready for a change. Maybe just looking to learn something new. from what i've been reading this AEM EMS is supposed to be all that. I'm considering any stand alone that people would recommend. I'm not trying to find something extrememly difficult to use either. I was wondering what people had to say about their experience with this as opposed to another tuning device. What are the Pro's and cons.. how long to hook up, how long to get the car running, driving, and how hard it it actually to just dial in a rough tune? I'm driving a 93 cobra, but i have an A9L computer in it, so i'd assume ijust want the regular version of the EMS? I'm no tuner, but i have tuned myself on my PMS all this time, so i figure i should be fine adapting to the EMS with some tech help from you guys. Thanks in advance for your response.

ALL PICTURES HAVE BEEN MOVED TO PAGE 4. PLEASE SEE PAGE 4

1 - 20 of 244 Posts

Slither

· #2 · Mar 29, 2009

You will love it. I cant say on the installation(installed mine in a supra) but it should be plug and play with only needing to wire in the IAT and MAP sensor. Tuning is very simple. You can probably find someone to send you a basemap. Bob Kurgan would be a great guy to buy from, and IIRC he includes a basemap to get you started.
You cant go wrong with AEM

r.barn

· #3 · Mar 29, 2009 (Edited)

+1, you will kick yourself for not doing it sooner.

PMS is great, but its still controlling a stock A9L, while not bad
it was never meant for extreme engines and is based on mid 80's electronics.

AEM will improve running conditions in all aspects.

I couldnt believe how much smoother my engine idled and ran after
doing nothing but swapping in the AEM.

Biggest plus is it plugs in the factory wire harness while maintaining
most of the high end stand alone options on systems like FAST and BigStuff3

I highly recommend installing their EPM module and coil packs as part of the install.
MUCH better ignition system and the AEM is known for being twitchy with anything
but stock Motorcraft distributors.

See less See more

billyNOTnice

Discussion Starter · #4 · Mar 29, 2009

hm i'll keep that in mind. does anyone have any links where i can read up on this.. like an AEM forum? I'd like to find people with mustangs who run them and are fluent in using them so i have a good idea of what i'm doing before i get started. From what you say i should be pretty happy with the change which is what i'm looking for. my idle has never been like stock or even close. i've always had an obscure idle. my WOT is great, but my pt. throttle really lacks in spots with the pms it seems. How much are these new, and is it better to buy new, or should i get a used one? and where and how much are they?

r.barn

· #5 · Mar 29, 2009 (Edited)

AEM has a great factory forum. You wont get any factory help on there
but tons of threads and people to help.

http://forum.aempower.com/forum/index.php?board=44.0

The AEM Tech phone line is hands down the best customer service I have ever
dealt with.

You can find them used from time to time. Up to you whether savings
is worth the unknown.

Jegs and other internet sites have them for about $1,600

I got mine from local tuner that is AEM dealer, installed, swapped over to SD
to dump MAF and tuned for $1,600

SD is much better than MAF for boosted applications. Cheap GM MAP sensor
and 2-3 wire hook up makes it a breeze.
You can also run $30 GM boost control solenoid and have push of the button
high/low boost psi settings.

You will get lost with all the things you can do with this unit.

I even run a virtual real time "digital dash" on a cheap daylight readable tablet pc
will display pretty much anything computer sees in a fully customizable gauge

Ricer eat your heart out !!!

See less See more

billyNOTnice

Discussion Starter · #6 · Mar 30, 2009

thanks for your post r. barn, this is exactly the kind of stuff i'm interested in seeing. Do you have any of your install pictured? i'd love to see some further pics if you had them. do you have any videos of your car running? and that tablet pc idea is perfect. something i never would have thought of.. how much are one of those? I might consider something like that instead of my bulky laptop. I'm definately on the waiting list to go speed density, i've never been happy with my mass air meter ever since i went turbo and blow through.

eleanorfox

· #7 · Mar 30, 2009

AEM is about the most user friendly stand alone i have ever used. nice icons on the top. plus the plug and play is amazing.

I did not like F.A.S.T, to hard to navigate IMO

r.barn

· #8 · Mar 30, 2009

billyNOTnice said:
thanks for your post r. barn, this is exactly the kind of stuff i'm interested in seeing. Do you have any of your install pictured? i'd love to see some further pics if you had them. do you have any videos of your car running? and that tablet pc idea is perfect. something i never would have thought of.. how much are one of those? I might consider something like that instead of my bulky laptop. I'm definately on the waiting list to go speed density, i've never been happy with my mass air meter ever since i went turbo and blow through.

ECU is just tucked under psngr carper. Its a little bigger than the A9L
so you have to get a little inventive on where to tuck it.

Tablet PC thread over at AEM I did. They run about $200 on ebay.
Make sure you get the "outdoor" screen
http://forum.aempower.com/forum/index.php/topic,20313.0.html

My homemade twin turbo 351W with AEM, coil packs, super Vic EFI intake
and Accufab 4 brl throttle body. Gives you an idea of what is possible

See less See more

husky331stang

· #9 · Mar 30, 2009

AEM

Theres a used one in the electronics section right now for 1100,but its been on there a few weeks.Shoot him an offer of 950 or so and see what happens.I bought mine NOS for 1050 about 2 months ago,will be installing as soon as the weather settles here,good luck!

toyman

· #10 · Mar 30, 2009

husky331stang said:
Theres a used one in the electronics section right now for 1100,but its been on there a few weeks.Shoot him an offer of 950 or so and see what happens.I bought mine NOS for 1050 about 2 months ago,will be installing as soon as the weather settles here,good luck!

Bought mine a little over a year ago for $850 including the AEM 3.5 bar MAP sensor. Bought a get started tune from Bob Kurgan.

billyNOTnice

Discussion Starter · #11 · Mar 30, 2009

thanks.... so let me ask this. I have a 1993 mustang cobra. I run an A9L computer in it. it's a h/c/i motor 60# injectors, hp stage 1 60 mm turbo kit, 44mm wastegate 3" exhuast all the way back from 3.5. I also run an AIS methanal injection kit with a dual nozzle setup. What all will i need to run this stuff with the AEM. I mean i assume i would need the AEM, then a map sensor of some type... but what else.. can anyone jot me down a quick list of things i need, and or things i would want to look into changing to make the AEM work more efficiently.

r.barn

· #12 · Mar 30, 2009 (Edited)

EPM module
http://jdmultimate.com/Store/Product/ItmItem.aspx?ItemId=166343&Make=FORD&Model=THUNDERBIRD

LQ9 coil packs off an Escalade (mo betta than LS2 or LS1 coils)
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/NEW-...ptZMotorsQ5fCarQ5fTruckQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories
If you mount the coil packs on valve covers you can run off the shelf
Taylor spark plug wires for late model Chevy trucks.

GM 2 bar MAP sensor with pig tail plug ....... cheap

GM boost control solenoid ........ cheap

That will give you an SD system with Coil Near Plug distributorless
ignition with computer boost control.

You can set the AEM to run a "low" boost settings and then
flip a switch to go to "high" boost. You can also have boost levels
change depending on speed and rpms too.
Seen 8 sec mustang leave the line like 12sec car, hits 50mph in 2nd and
the AEM bumps boost up and you go rocketing down track.

The AEM will also control your water/meth injection system as needed
too.

Install and wiring for everything is not hard at all.

See less See more

billyNOTnice

Discussion Starter · #13 · Mar 30, 2009

why is it better to do this than just to run my factory ignition setup? does the aem have issues using it?

r.barn

· #14 · Mar 30, 2009

billyNOTnice said:
why is it better to do this than just to run my factory ignition setup? does the aem have issues using it?

1st: TFI distributors suck donkey balls. Rotors and caps wear out
TFI modules go bad, pick-ups go bad. Switching to coil packs gives
you MUCH better spark control and timing input.

The AEM has issues with timing errors with TFI distributors.
It reads the timing so accurately that the small errors it gets throw it off.
Really only seems to like factory Motorcraft distributors. Mine hated my
MSD billet distributor.

There is a sticky on AEM forum regarding this
http://forum.aempower.com/forum/index.php?topic=7694.0

I would plug-n-play the AEM with your stock ignition at first just to
get it running. But upgrading to the EPM module and coil packs will pay
off in the long run.

EPM wasnt out when I did my coil pack install, So I used modified Explorer
cam and crank sensors on mine. Junkyard parts. Took lot of head scratching
to make work, but the parts were dirt cheap.

See less See more

mld54

· #15 · Mar 30, 2009

I agree that ls coils are better, but I have run the AEM for five years using the factory ford distributor, and don't have problems with it, a couple of years ago I replaced the cap and rotor with new accel parts and had problems with timing errors, I have been a ford tech for over twenty years, back when ford used distributor mounted TFI modules they recommended coating the tip of the rotor with dielectric grease, I coated the rotor and the timing errors were gone , that cap and rotor have been on the car for two years with no problems, the only time I see any timing errors are 2 or 3 on start up

also I used to run a gm map sensor, then switched to a AEM 3.5 bar the difference was amazing, much better drivability, especially at low speeds in traffic, it's a better quality sensor

I'm planning on switching to a set of gm coils at some point, I don't know if I'm going to use the EPM or go with crank trigger, I already have the 12 tooth trigger wheel, explorer cam sensor/synchronizer and crank sensor, Not sure where to mount the coils, I don't think there is enough room on the drivers side valve cover due to the intake, I just wish the AEM would produce a SAW signal so I could use the ford EDIS system

See less See more

billyNOTnice

Discussion Starter · #16 · Mar 31, 2009

excellent post, thank you very much for your feedback. it's definately appreciated. does anyone have any videos of them tuning or anything?

kbscobravert

· #17 · Apr 2, 2009

r.barn said:
1st: TFI distributors suck donkey balls. Rotors and caps wear out
TFI modules go bad, pick-ups go bad. Switching to coil packs gives
you MUCH better spark control and timing input.

The AEM has issues with timing errors with TFI distributors.
It reads the timing so accurately that the small errors it gets throw it off.
Really only seems to like factory Motorcraft distributors. Mine hated my
MSD billet distributor.

There is a sticky on AEM forum regarding this
http://forum.aempower.com/forum/index.php?topic=7694.0

I would plug-n-play the AEM with your stock ignition at first just to
get it running. But upgrading to the EPM module and coil packs will pay
off in the long run.

EPM wasnt out when I did my coil pack install, So I used modified Explorer
cam and crank sensors on mine. Junkyard parts. Took lot of head scratching
to make work, but the parts were dirt cheap.

r.barn

got a question on timing for EPM and LS1/2 coil packs. What timing light is everyone using? I want to buy one that work with both the factory ignition and later for my LS2 stuff.

billyNOTnice

Discussion Starter · #18 · Apr 2, 2009

Just an update... I bought an aem ems, and It should arrive sometime early next week hopefully. I've been reading the users manual and playing with the software to familiarize myself with it... hopefully i'm not totally clueless when i start using this.

kenbell89lx

· #19 · Apr 2, 2009

toyman said:
Bought mine a little over a year ago for $850 including the AEM 3.5 bar MAP sensor. Bought a get started tune from Bob Kurgan.

Toyman, how is this AEM working with your KB? Is this on Fox or Modular car? I'm thinking of buying from Bob and having him install/ tune my new 347 with this system. I am puzzled by the move to coil packs though. I'm going to be calling him to discuss, but I wanted to know how your car drives with this system.

Thanks.

toyman

· #20 · Apr 3, 2009

kenbell89lx said:
Toyman, how is this AEM working with your KB? Is this on Fox or Modular car? I'm thinking of buying from Bob and having him install/ tune my new 347 with this system. I am puzzled by the move to coil packs though. I'm going to be calling him to discuss, but I wanted to know how your car drives with this system.

Thanks.

The only issue I have relates to a slight surge/pulse when cruising between 50 - 60 mph. I've data logged all the parameters that I felt may be causing it but haven't been able to isolate the source of the problem. There are no tuners around me for 100's of miles let alone one familar with the AEM. I'm half toying with the idea of taking a late spring drive (2000 mi) to have Bob Kurgan give the car a final tune. The car is a SN95 (94 GT AODE). Engine easily spins to 6500 rpm without issue but I have set the AODE shift points at 5600.

1 - 20 of 244 Posts

This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.