I'm running an Autronic SMC in my skiboat. I chose the SMC over others because Autronic offers a fully sealed, water proof version of the ECU. They recon that you can throw it in a bucket of water while the engine is running and it wont stop!
Also, I was hoping that the fully sequential capabilities would help with power low in the rev range.
I wired it up myself which was pretty straight forward, just a few calls to Ray Hall to check on a few things.
You need to use the crank trigger and one of the cam triggers. I had to grind every 2nd tooth off the crank trigger, but the newer versions from Autronic you don't have to do this.
You also need a reluctor interface to get the Autronic to work with the factory lexus crank and cam triggers.
I used the water temp and air temp sensor supplied with the kit.
I used the factory throttle position sensor
For ignition, I use 2 bosch 008 ignitors, running the factory lexus coils and distributors.
I have 1 spare output
As for tuning, I used a Map which was emailed to me from a guy who tuned a lexus V8 in a car. I have played around with it a bit, and it still really needs to be tuned properly to suit the boat. That said, it runns very well, I just think there is some more power hiding in the tuning! First start from dead cold I have a flat spot for the first 30 seconds, but after that, it starts perfectly all day. I'm sure that problem could be sorted out with a bit of fiddling.
The manual it came with was pretty good for setting it up, however could use more info about actual tuning theory and practice.
The software is a bit 'Russian' to use, but you soon get used to it. Once all the parameter are set (mode flags are a little complicated), the caliberation tables are easy to use.
The Auto tune runction does not work on engines fitted to boats.
I wish the Autronic had built in wide bane o2 function.
Other than that,
I'd give it 8 out of 10. All it needs is Wide band o2, better software and a bit more about tuning in the instruction manual.
