Anyone here into CANBus hacking?
Discussion
Firstly, I'm not sure if this is the correct sub-forum to be posting this, but you gotta start somewhere...
Basically, I'm looking for someone(s) who would like to collaborate with me on an ambitious project that I'm embarking on. In essence, I've bought a crashed Maserati QP GTS (actually, I've bought two, but don't tell the wife...), from which I'm going to transplant the engine into a derelict classic car (I'm not going into any details about that on here because I'm fed up with all the crap from the haters). The GTS is the model that has the Ferrari F154 twin-turbo engine (it's more or less the same as the 488, but with a different crank and a wet sump).
The main problem I face is dealing with all the CAN devices - I can either spend £££ and buy a Cosworth (or similar) standalone ECU, or I can keep the factory unit and bypass the unwanted modules using CAN emulation. There are only two or three aftermarket ECUs that could do the job due to the engine being Direct Injection, and all of them are big money,so I'd like to try the other option first. Or to put it another way, it's the only way I can afford right now...
Although I've spent much of my career dealing with motor racing data acquisition systems and the like, I'm not a board-level electronics engineer, so could do with some help getting the CANBus controller hacking hardware sorted out. I would therefore be keen to hear from anyone with a) the relevant skills, and b) the willingness to help out!
Basically, I'm looking for someone(s) who would like to collaborate with me on an ambitious project that I'm embarking on. In essence, I've bought a crashed Maserati QP GTS (actually, I've bought two, but don't tell the wife...), from which I'm going to transplant the engine into a derelict classic car (I'm not going into any details about that on here because I'm fed up with all the crap from the haters). The GTS is the model that has the Ferrari F154 twin-turbo engine (it's more or less the same as the 488, but with a different crank and a wet sump).
The main problem I face is dealing with all the CAN devices - I can either spend £££ and buy a Cosworth (or similar) standalone ECU, or I can keep the factory unit and bypass the unwanted modules using CAN emulation. There are only two or three aftermarket ECUs that could do the job due to the engine being Direct Injection, and all of them are big money,so I'd like to try the other option first. Or to put it another way, it's the only way I can afford right now...
Although I've spent much of my career dealing with motor racing data acquisition systems and the like, I'm not a board-level electronics engineer, so could do with some help getting the CANBus controller hacking hardware sorted out. I would therefore be keen to hear from anyone with a) the relevant skills, and b) the willingness to help out!
Thank you for your reply! As far as I've been able to determine, no-one has done any work on this system - at least, I've not been able to find anything after hours and hours of Googling.
I have a running car here to take the measurements from, and the plan is to also set up one of the engines from the wrecked cars on a standalone test bed so that I can easily access all the relevant parts, switch them around, etc. The other engine will then be used to dry-build the car.
I have a running car here to take the measurements from, and the plan is to also set up one of the engines from the wrecked cars on a standalone test bed so that I can easily access all the relevant parts, switch them around, etc. The other engine will then be used to dry-build the car.
Gentlemen - thank you for your helpful comments, they're much appreciated!
As for how many buses the car has, at this stage I have no idea - some background:
I initially bought a GTS from a salvage auction, but once I'd sorted out the various hiccups, I realised that it was far too nice to take a disc cutter to. I therefore decided to keep it until I've got everything I need in terms of running CAN info, whereupon I might put it up for sale. Or not - it's simply so nice to drive that I may have to keep it.
Since I couldn't find a crashed one in this country, I went looking (online) in the States, where I found two. Having bought the first one nice and cheap, I thus declined the second, but when it was offered to me at a price I couldn't refuse, I gave in. In my defence, I was left unsupervised at my computer...
The first of the two is due to arrive in the country in about two weeks, so until it gets here, I can't go pulling things apart to find out. The manual (5,552 pages long) has lots of detail regarding the harnesses and what they connect to, but frustratingly doesn't tell you anything at all about how all the modules relate to one another.
My plan is - as suggested, to try and determine which modules can be identified on the network by operating/unplugging them and then emulating them so they can be deleted to reduce the system to the bare minimum.
As for how many buses the car has, at this stage I have no idea - some background:
I initially bought a GTS from a salvage auction, but once I'd sorted out the various hiccups, I realised that it was far too nice to take a disc cutter to. I therefore decided to keep it until I've got everything I need in terms of running CAN info, whereupon I might put it up for sale. Or not - it's simply so nice to drive that I may have to keep it.
Since I couldn't find a crashed one in this country, I went looking (online) in the States, where I found two. Having bought the first one nice and cheap, I thus declined the second, but when it was offered to me at a price I couldn't refuse, I gave in. In my defence, I was left unsupervised at my computer...
The first of the two is due to arrive in the country in about two weeks, so until it gets here, I can't go pulling things apart to find out. The manual (5,552 pages long) has lots of detail regarding the harnesses and what they connect to, but frustratingly doesn't tell you anything at all about how all the modules relate to one another.
My plan is - as suggested, to try and determine which modules can be identified on the network by operating/unplugging them and then emulating them so they can be deleted to reduce the system to the bare minimum.
peew - yes, this is certainly one of the issues I've been thinking about. The auto 'box will be replaced with a manual transaxle, so finding out how to maintain max torque is going to be a major aim. I may be able to use the ABS module though, as I intend to fit as much of the original suspension as possible, including the hubs, discs, calipers, and so on.
The plan is to take one of the front subframes and see if I can use it as an engine cradle (it normally carries the two main engine mountings). If this looks sensible, I'll then plumb in all the necessary services so that it can be run successfully. After that, I'll strip all the electrical parts off the car, and reconnect them to the 'test bed'. This should give me a chance to determine which modules I can live with, and which ones need to be deleted. It's going to be a steep learning curve, but if it wasn't going to push me, I wouldn't be interested!
eliot - while I'd love to simply fit a standalone aftermarket ECU, unfortunately, there are very few out there that can cope with direct injection and variable valve timing. Life would be so much easier if I were prepared to convert it to port injection, but at this stage, I'm not!
The plan is to take one of the front subframes and see if I can use it as an engine cradle (it normally carries the two main engine mountings). If this looks sensible, I'll then plumb in all the necessary services so that it can be run successfully. After that, I'll strip all the electrical parts off the car, and reconnect them to the 'test bed'. This should give me a chance to determine which modules I can live with, and which ones need to be deleted. It's going to be a steep learning curve, but if it wasn't going to push me, I wouldn't be interested!
eliot - while I'd love to simply fit a standalone aftermarket ECU, unfortunately, there are very few out there that can cope with direct injection and variable valve timing. Life would be so much easier if I were prepared to convert it to port injection, but at this stage, I'm not!
Thank you all for your wise words - I do, of course, realise that every word of caution you've raised is 100% valid, so will now revisit Plan A, which was to throw all the factory stuff to one side and fit a standalone device. As part of this, I will have a good look at the Syvecs offerings and see whether they'd be suitable!
Having thought about this at some length since my earlier post, I think the smartest way ahead would be for me to try and get the engine running on its 'test bed' using the stock factory wiring/modules, etc., and then once I've proved that it all goes, switch to a standalone such as the Syvecs.
I guess the real purpose of my asking the initial question was to satisfy myself that I had considered all the available options. The first of the two wrecked cars isn't due to arrive for two weeks, so I'm trying to make the most of the time between now and then to sanity-test my plans.
While using the stock set-up may appear to be cheaper, I now think the amount of grief the process would give me would far outweigh the extra price of a standalone system, especially if you were to factor in the number of hours it'd take and relate them to £ per hour! I just need to find something to sell...
I suspect that the final decision as to which ECU I buy will be down to how much support I feel I'm likely to get from the manufacturer.
I guess the real purpose of my asking the initial question was to satisfy myself that I had considered all the available options. The first of the two wrecked cars isn't due to arrive for two weeks, so I'm trying to make the most of the time between now and then to sanity-test my plans.
While using the stock set-up may appear to be cheaper, I now think the amount of grief the process would give me would far outweigh the extra price of a standalone system, especially if you were to factor in the number of hours it'd take and relate them to £ per hour! I just need to find something to sell...
I suspect that the final decision as to which ECU I buy will be down to how much support I feel I'm likely to get from the manufacturer.
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