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Megasquirt Conversion of 71 142E and 9 month upgrade project 140-160

I've seen a few references to others thinking about or having already converted their rides to Megasquirt. I thought these pics would interest a few people.

The old girl runs like new. Its been off the road for 9 months for extensive work. With everything that needed to be done for the MS conversion, I thought it would be an efficient opportunity to pull, customize and replace the dash, install a Rallye cluster, replace the heater motor, modify the dash for new digital AFR gauge,and install a polished intake manifold.

New installed dash with newly installed Rallye cluster

I also had the interior and seats redone. While the car was down I put in a custom mahagony rear deck for the speakers. It matches the mahogony dash in front.

new seats and side panels

71 142E just prior to MSII
These pics show two harnesses, the old D-jet and the MSII harness. I connected and tested much of the MSII system before I ripped out the D-jet harness like it was one of the predator's victims. You see that I am using mostly stock D-jet equipement. I used a vacumn adjusted fuel pressure regulator and a GM intake air sensor. A TPS from an 840 replaces the D-jet TPS. I used a MS relay board to ease connections to all the under the hood sensors and fuel injectors.
71 B20E just prior to MSII

MSII 3.57
I mounted the MSII 3.57 controller under the dash. The LC-1 WBS was placed under the dash as well. The LC-1 is too sensitive to heat under the hood, and I could not bear to put it under the car next to the frame.

Photobucket
I did a dyno run prior to the conversion with only 90 hp cranked out by the D-jet system. This justified and verified the need to Megasquirt.

The first day on the road, the engine was pulling better than I can ever remember. On the interstate while doing the first tuning, the car was suddenly doing 100 mph and still pulling strong before I backed off (I had not adequately safety checked it for that kind of run).

Now I have capable fuel delivery, I plan to install a flowed head with matched cam and exhaust for a little extra hp. Current old equipment includes an IPD header,street cam, lightend flywheel (17 lbs) with double valve springs. The radiator fan and clutch were replaced with an electric fan. The compression ratio is still the stock 10.5 : 1. Two years back I replaced my old LS differential with a Detroit Truelock. I have 4.10 gearing now but found a new set of 4.30 gears for cheap on Flea-Bay. Conversion over to the 4.10 occured 20 years ago when I could not get 4.30 replacement. I have regreted that ever since. The 4.30 made the '71 142E a real accelerator at low speeds (autocross!!). Oh yeah, I had to replace all the bushings front and rear along with fresh new springs. The old IPD front and rear swaybars needed new poly bushings as well.


This project was a lot of work, and way beyond my skill level. But with a lot of study and help from online friends I learned enough to finish it. Now it drives like a different car. I look forward to learning how to drive the hell out of it again :)
--
Antique Swedish Steel 71 142E color V#102








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    Megasquirt Conversion of 71 142E and 9 month upgrade project 140-160

    did you buy your crank trigger pulley or did you build it ? i am beginning the process of converting my 122 b20 and need a crank trigger wheel installed on a pulley.any info in that area?








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    Megasquirt Conversion of 71 142E and 9 month upgrade project 140-160

    did you buy your crank trigger pulley or did you buy it ? i am beginning the process of converting my 122 b20 and need a crank trigger wheel installrd on a puley.








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      Megasquirt Conversion of 71 142E and 9 month upgrade project 140-160

      No crank triggeer used.
      I have only done fuel so far. I am using the neg coil terminal for my pickup.

      Joel
      --
      Antique Swedish Steel 71 142E color V#102








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      Megasquirt Conversion of 71 142E and 9 month upgrade project 140-160

      www.avalancheperformance.com

      I sell B20 pulleys with an adapter ring for a Ford EDIS crank trigger wheel. Email me at aptec@shaw.ca for more information...

      --
      Dale








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        Megasquirt Conversion of 71 142E and 9 month upgrade project 140-160

        To use Megasquirt to control spark, don't I have to use a trigger wheel devise?
        --
        Antique Swedish Steel 71 142E color V#102








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          Megasquirt Conversion of 71 142E and 9 month upgrade project 140-160

          Yes...use one of these...



          and mount on of these on it...



          Get a VR sensor and mount it solidly to the block and the rest is relatively simple.

          --
          Dale








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            Megasquirt Conversion of 71 142E and 9 month upgrade project 140-160

            Oh Yes Oh Yes....I want one, I'll be in touch. I can see it saving me a lot of time getting the Megaspark together.

            Thanks
            Joel
            --
            Antique Swedish Steel 71 142E color V#102








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              Megasquirt Conversion of 71 142E and 9 month upgrade project 140-160

              Before you do that have look at the following website: -

              www.1800philes.com

              and look at particularly the article on

              MegasquirtnSpark installation.

              This seems to be a very much more simple way of adding spark to a Megasquirt installation.

              Feled








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    Megasquirt Conversion of 71 142E and 9 month upgrade project 140-160

    great job.MS is not a seat of your pants experience so congradulations for doing the back ground work to complete the conversion.Bosch has moved on to upgraded efi as have Volvo brick enthusiasts. properly assembled SUs run great but not for a 21's century ride that you created and programmed.








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    Megasquirt Conversion of 71 142E and 9 month upgrade project 140-160

    That's a nice car! Love those wheels.

    When the D-Jet is properly tuned, there is no power gain with MegaSquirt, but MS is the way to go for a modified engine. The D-Jet MPS has three adjustments hiding under the epoxy.









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      Megasquirt Conversion of 71 142E and 9 month upgrade project 140-160

      As well I don't have the abilities to read the engine performance as does a full time mechanic and the other experts on line. I appreciate your compliment.

      The MS system along with the WBS display allows a novice to closely monitor and adjust settings for proper performance. Maybe if I had the WBS system going while I had the D-jet, I could have tuned and diagnosed the D-jet system better.

      I would think that there are many D-jet systems out there not properly tuned and the owners are not aware of the sub optimum performance. They could benefit from a WBS system.
      --
      Antique Swedish Steel 71 142E color V#102








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        Megasquirt Conversion of 71 142E and 9 month upgrade project 140-160

        Could you get a part number off your old MPS for me please? I've always wondered if the US cars have a much leaner setting in them, the B20F ones must be leaner than the B20E ones we got here in Australia.

        You can change full throttle & part throttle mixture in the D-Jet MPS, but you can't change the VE curve. That's built in to the Control Unit.

        Still, MegaSquirt is the better way to go considering the extra mods you are planning.








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    Megasquirt Conversion of 71 142E and 9 month upgrade project 140-160

    By far one of my favourite 142's. Two thumbs up!








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      Megasquirt Conversion of 71 142E and 9 month upgrade project 140-160

      My only regret is I don't have the space for another 142. They really are a unique looking older car. These days, when you dress them up and drive around, they get some looks. They are simple enough for the backyard mechanic to work on and keep going for the most part.

      The shiney stuff is the result of my mental disorder. Thanks for the positive feedback.
      --
      Antique Swedish Steel 71 142E color V#102








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        Megasquirt Conversion of 71 142E and 9 month upgrade project 140-160

        "The shiney stuff is the result of my mental disorder. Thanks for the positive feedback."

        Everyone should be affected with the same disorder, beautiful car. One of the nicest ones around I've always thought.








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    Megasquirt Conversion of 71 142E and 9 month upgrade project 140-160

    Very nice, inside and out! That is one sharp 142E.

    So I assume you haven't re-dyno'ed since the conversion? FWIW, I'm thinkin' you must have had a significant problem with the D-Jet system (or an ultra-conservative dyno reading). I would have expected at least 100 rwhp with the stock setup. I believe most ITB cars (stock B20E save header and 11 to 1 compression) are turning 120 rwhp or better. Again, this can obviously be somewhat dependent on dyno type, and operator.
    --

    Gary L - 142E ITB race car, 73 1800ES, 02 S60 T5
    BlueBrick Racing Website
    YouTube Racing Videos








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      Megasquirt Conversion of 71 142E and 9 month upgrade project 140-160

      Thanks Gary.
      I know you are a defender of D-jet. I am amazed you do what you do with the system in your car.

      I felt bad not going back in the D-jet and fiquring out what the problem was after the first dyno run. I would have liked to seen what the little add ons I had, would or would not add to the HP. But, time is money, and I have to spend it frugally.

      The appeal of MS is the ability to fine tune for all conditions. You get to hook up a computer and play with the settings. And finally I felt it had more potential for performance, once aftermarket equipment is added.

      Joel
      --
      Antique Swedish Steel 71 142E color V#102








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        Megasquirt Conversion of 71 142E and 9 month upgrade project 140-160

        Hi Joel,
        Great Car! Very nice interior with gauge setup. I am quite envious.
        Mine 71 142e with original D-jet is sitting under a car cover under snow here in central MA. I cannot seem to find time to get the project going.
        Yours is an inspiration.

        Thanks for posting.

        Jeremy








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        Megasquirt Conversion of 71 142E and 9 month upgrade project 140-160

        I have been using MS on my SCCA Production car for a few years. When I first installed it the engine was in a relatively mild "Limited Preparation" state of tune. I found ZERO power at full throttle. However starting, throttle response. part throttle running and just about everything else improved. While I would certainly use MS on a street or a highly modified race car, my ITB 142 works well enough with the old DJet that I probably will not convert it.

        Great looking car!

        Charlie









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          Megasquirt Conversion of 71 142E and 9 month upgrade project 140-160

          "I found ZERO power at full throttle."

          I assume you meant to say ...zero power increase at full throttle?

          In any case, I have to agree that for ITB purposes (nearly stock B20E), someone would have to show me a back-to-back horsepower advantage between 5000-7000 rpm. Otherwise, I'm gonna spend the money on something that actually makes the car faster.
          --

          Gary L - 142E ITB race car, 73 1800ES, 02 S60 T5








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            Megasquirt Conversion of 71 142E and 9 month upgrade project 140-160

            I guess I should have said zero additional power.

            It did take hours on the dyno and a bushel basket full of ECU's and MAP's to find a combo that gave an ideal fuel curve. If building an ITB 142 from scratch MS may be more cost and effective.

            I also blew out the driver chip in my MS ECU once. It's now socketed and I carry a spare driver. So I'm not sure if it equals DJet in reliability. The only reliability problem I ever had with DJet was when a circuit board mounting screw fell out, shorted the board , and cost me the 2000 season championship (sigh).








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    Megasquirt Conversion of 71 142E and 9 month upgrade project 140-160

    Thats nice good job on the interior.







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