Best Data logger with Dash for the money???

Who has the best data loggers for the money? I'd like to have it all in a dash I'd also like to be able to see wideband, drive shaft speed and oil temp, besides typical oil pressure, battery, and water temp.

I know you were considering going efi earlier. Many efi systems have what you are looking for. This was from a post here a few days ago...
#2047938 - 04/06/16 11:53 AM Re: megasquirt or holley EFI ? [Re: cagebob1]
Efidart Offline
member

Registered: 10/17/06
Posts: 144
Loc: AB
As I'm probably the most "Serious" race effort using an MS3Pro so I should probably chime in..

I've tuned and a still tune many BS3, Holley, FAST, Megasquirt, Stock GM, Ford and Dodge ECUs... Even import stuff like PowerFCs etc.. Having a chassis dyno everything comes across your lap. I used to run a Megasquirt 1 on my Dart almost 15 years ago but ditched it because of noise problems and went to a BS3 as I was tuning tons of them and still do, ended up selling the BS3 as a package with my old turbo setup so I needed a new ECU.

Big reason for not going with a Holley is they aren't really anything better than a FAST XFI, BS3 or an MS3Pro for the money. They are all a clump of very similar stuff that all accomplish the same thing in the end. If anything I think the new Big Stuff 3 Gen 4 coming out is going to set the bar a bit higher for off the shelf systems.


Reasons why I went MS3Pro-

They figured out the damn noise problems from original Megasquirt that drove me crazy..

CAN EGT interface is extremely affordable compared and is nice to trim cylinders cruising or WOT.

Outputs and inputs are easily setup and can use any sensor or algorithm to trigger things like water meth, intercooler pump or fuel pumps vs demand etc.

Easily use a new LSU 4.9 sensor and any existing wideband you may have.

Use Bluetooth and a basic android tablet as a dash customized exactly how you'd like it to show. (Like it better than the racepak I used to run)

Internal logging to SD card then Bluetooth download saves a ton of time plus you never have to remember to trigger it.

Megalogviewer and Tuner studio do most of the tuning for you once you've established your tables.

Things I don't like about MS3Pro-

Not every Joe Blow can just hook it up to their SBC, SBM etc.. and go. Takes some knowhow and wiring experience to do it.

Harder than almost every other ECU to make a base tune to start unless your buying a plug and play version of an MS3Pro.

Have to run an Injector driver box for low impedance injectors (Maybe an advantage as a separate piece..).

They don't make a Plug and Play harness like a BS3, Fast etc etc.. for a normal V8 (Might be coming sooner than expected which will solve pretty much everything I don't like about MS3Pro).


In the end the MS3Pro has more advanced features and the opportunity to develop features than any other stand alone ECU on the market.. but if you have no idea how to use them, the time to learn them or someone to help you, there is no advantage over any other standalone ECU besides price.


That was copy and pasted from user "EFI dart". I agree with the megalog viewer as being among the best data logging programs. I import logs from other systems into Megalog viewer to improve data analysis.

Rpm data loggers, Bigtime has one and a few others I know have them. Work good.

What ignition system? I know racepak will lay graphs right over a grid, convenient if that's what you are looking for.

I just purchased an RPM digital dash. I haven't hooked it up yet, but I know the give great service and are reasonably priced. I have one of their older data loggers in my duster and have been very happy with it. I also know the racepak is the standard of the industry and is also very good. I believe the rpm cost me less and I'm more familiar with it

I'm currently using a MSD 7AL2.

Racepak is def the standard, but is it really worth the $2600? I understand the data is priceless, I just want to validate they are worth the extra money.

Or can I get the same results and quality with a different brand. I have heard good things about RPM.

Touching on the post that trendz posted from by EFIDART. I am fairly confident that you could run a megasquirt as a datalogger. Here is an article on running it in paralell https://www.diyautotune.com/support/tech/install/install-megasquirt-parallel/

It would think its doing something but wouldn't be. The normal dashboards used for megasquirt and a cheaper android tablet could be used as the dash. It would possibly be a fair bit of tinkering to get working right though.

I am getting the rpm logger for my car, just more reasonable then racepak.

I love the Racepak in my black Duster so much I bought one for the small tire car too. I have the dash in the black car but will be sticking to gauges in the new car. I know it saved me big time when my oil pump was screwing up (bypass) and my oil pressure was 130 pounds. Luckily I didn't have a Fram oil filter on my car.

If you are going EFI, most all of them have quality built in loggers. The Holley has a very nice dash and we are currently working on the software to be able to tune the car with the dash. It's already a touchscreen dash, so the tuning option will be a software upgrade

That seems like a really nice set up.

All told me Racepak is the standard.

I'd love to do the EFI this year, but I don't have the time anymore this year. Maybe next year. Several friends have the Holley setup and it is bad azz.

Na, over rated...........learn to tune a carb and make more power........And pleeze tell me it`s the 10,500 rpm limit and how that`s why they`ve been NO WHERE near the 215.55 mph record set by Erica.........

Learn to touch a few keys and go faster.. I was
slow to accept technology but I came around
EDIT
How long did it take a carbs(2 of them) to go that
fast...30+years or more... and you want to call it
on a 1/2 dozen races.... you'll learn.. its a shame
you didnt start your business 20 years ago.. now you
should be doing E-85 stuff.... and dont you think
that NHRA is trying to slow the prostocks down..
thus the decrease in RPM

There`s been some testing to prove carbs make more power especially down low. Better cooling of the intake charge etc.............I don`t live my life by "too bad you didn`t do this or that" Mike cos it is what it is and I have zero regrets and will NEVER convert to efi or just jump on the E-85 wagon cos so and so went faster. Old skool and doin just fine and I`m only getting started........trust me...........

I'm glad its working out for you...but understand EFI is
and will be bigger every year in hot rods

I would do a Holly Dominator EFI . When I say it can do anything you want I mean it ! It logs everything that a racepak can , and can use all the information from any sensor to adjust anything you want . There are three axis tables to configure any information and two axis tables for changing conditions on the fly . Adjustments are limitless .

If you want to have the car take out timing with front end ride height , make a table . Rear wheel tire temperature vs track temperature , Front tire vs rear tire speed diferance in percent / slip angle . Temperature of the cylinder head can make the lights turn on and have the left signal light blink !just make a table for it in the program ,,super easy .

Anything

Pro-Stocks are slower because they are down 1000rpm at the stripe, NOT because the EFI makes less power...........BUT, if you will notice, the ETs are not near as far off as the mph. So what does that tell you. Tells you they are going QUICKER with less power, because the fuel curve is WAY more manageable..............Carbs make more power down low..........yeah right!!!

Your a carb guy.....fine, world needs carb guys. But no need to talk trash about new technology, just because you don't like it.

You say a guy makes more down low with carbs, I have a dyno sheet where a guy made more everywhere with EFI. What does either prove?..........not a damn thing

Not going to argue and efi is here to stay I get it I just don`t have to USE it never have, never will no biggie. Are you telling me the Pro Stocks are down about 9 mph because of a 1000 rpm drop? And how cool can the air be entering the EFI from a few inches off of the ground? Measure the inlet temp on that hot ass intake and get back w/me. Seems crazy to me but I`m nobody just a shmuck in his garage banging out a bunch of junk............

You could run the MS3PRO for less than the cost of a race pack and then use a cheap tablet as your dash. Then when you are ready for EFI you already have a good chunk of the work done and you already have the controller.

Have you tried this? It sounds like a great way to go, and maybe could be an easy way to switch back and forth between carb and injection to get real world results and see which works better and if there is any more power to be had.

I ran a megasquirt MS3X(build it yourself version of the PRO more or less) for awhile with a carb. If you install the sensors you can log whatever you want.

In my case I used for ignition control as well. All my MSD stuff had failed over the years and since I was going EFI anyways I opted not to replace it. I used the megasquirt to control the ignition and datalog air fuel, coolant, and air intake temps. It was great for ignition control, my drag week average was about .1 faster than it ever had been and I had made no other changes. I just put 80 miles on it this weekend with the full EFI working and its easy and works great.

The ONLY thing that you would need to different if using it as just a logger would be the RPM signal. You would need two sensors on the crank to pick up RPM, one for the megasquirt, and one for your ignition. I am sure there might be another way to trigger it, maybe even off the MSD tach signal but I didn't intend to use mine that way so I didn't look into it. Check with the guys at DIYAutotune.com.

The MSD tach output to pin 24 will do it.

I want to say when I assembled mine that I need to do something different to allow it to work that way, but its been awhile.