Link G4 Extreme (a quality product)

[yzf1070]

I dumped the Emerald, fitted the Link G4 Extreme and the car is superb, smooth as silk, no hot starting issues, no bad manners in traffic.... and it pulls even better mid range.... Configuration takes some working out but the ignition and fueling set up is a dream in comparrison to the Emerald. The stepper motor set up and calibration is easier. The Link has 2 inputs for the knock sensors fitted and the Audi EGT probe WORKS on the Link unlike the Emerald. More expensive than the Emerald but IMHO worth every extra penny. Highly recommended piece of kit. 4 years after starting the project my Tuscan now at last, goes like I always hoped it would.
Huge thanks to STR8-Six for the engine rebuild to SC spec, TurboPacs of Co Durham for the many mods and enhancements and setting up of the ECU/s.

[dav3]

Wow sounds like you have a very well sorted car there, have you done anything with the suspension. Am considering getting the omex ECU next year as setup by Racing Green just wondered why you went for the G4 Extreme is that tied in with the super charger

[yzf1070]

dav3 said:

Wow sounds like you have a very well sorted car there, have you done anything with the suspension. Am considering getting the omex ECU next year as setup by Racing Green just wondered why you went for the G4 Extreme is that tied in with the super charger

Springs are standard, shocks are Nitron 2 way adjustables. Brakes are next on list and traction control, but next year. I considered the Omex from RG, but after numerous discussions with the Supra and Skyline crowd just about all recommended the Extreme as best contender for money available. Has almost the same capabilities as the Motec M600 but costs far less (no additional costs to unlock the facilities within). RG are fitting the Omex to Pascals Supercharged project so it must be capable, some of the Supra guys suggested the sofware was not as easy to use as the Link?!?

Cheers

[hiltonig]

Hmm that sounds good as I have the Emerald and found the hot starting a pain, where did you get the link from ??

[350Matt]

Just a quick question but was the mapping of the link done by a different firm compared to who did the Emerald installation?

In my experience the Emerald can be calibrated to work well under all conditions,

[hiltonig]

350Matt said:

Just a quick question but was the mapping of the link done by a different firm compared to who did the Emerald installation?

In my experience the Emerald can be calibrated to work well under all conditions,

On my install :-
yep the emerald bods did the RR session, at the end its off yer go here is the manual, no mention of err you need to do the hot start and cold stuff, dont get me wrong they are very helpfull just that after spending a shed load of cash you would expect a car running as well and better than the ECU you replaced it with.

Edited by hiltonig on Friday 18th September 08:21

[yzf1070]

I got the Link from Thor racing £1284 (incl the government theft tax). It was indeed set up by the same outfit who attempted the Emerald; Turbo Pacs in Co Durham. They were so impressed with the unit they have become agents for Link ECU's in the north east. Me... I am just happy that my car behaves well in traffic and starts easily both in winter and summer, hot or cold engine. Emerald were very helpful but confessed that they only got the Audi EGT sensor working with an old probe, It seems a new probe will not work at all with the Emerald... I know I bought 2 of the feckers at 150 quid each.

[hiltonig]

yzf1070 said:

I got the Link from Thor racing £1284 (incl the government theft tax). It was indeed set up by the same outfit who attempted the Emerald; Turbo Pacs in Co Durham. They were so impressed with the unit they have become agents for Link ECU's in the north east. Me... I am just happy that my car behaves well in traffic and starts easily both in winter and summer, hot or cold engine. Emerald were very helpful but confessed that they only got the Audi EGT sensor working with an old probe, It seems a new probe will not work at all with the Emerald... I know I bought 2 of the feckers at 150 quid each.

Yep you were not alone on that one, I bought 2 as well.

[ro_butler]

Graham,

That Link ECU looks great. I am guessing that it would work on an AJP8, even with its odd firing angle. It also looks like it will support full sequential injection on a v8. Anyone know if the above statements are true?

Also there is a 'valet' mode that limits the revs when you activate it. And perhaps most exciting of all there is a 'drive by wire' throttle under development. This could potentially get rid of the throttle pots that seem to need replacing frequently. It may also stop the AJP8 going 'out of tune' so quickly.

I have a spare ECU for my car should the worst happen but this ECU could prove a much better replacement solution if someone made a loom adaptor (plus the extra bit of loom for the extra sensors).

Sadly I know this is all a lot harder than I am making it sound so hats off for making it happen!!

[rev-erend]

Link G4 exteme sounds impressive

http://www.thor-racing.co.uk/Link-53.asp

But is nearly twice the price of the Emerald.. but sounds good none the less.

[spitfire4v8]

I couldn't even see any prices on the link site so assumed if i had to ask i couldn't afford it but admit i only skimmed through the site.
Not sure how drive by wire gets rid of the throttle pots though, I would have thought the ecu would need a feedback loop so it knew the throttle angle it asked for was what had occurred at the engine.
Like Matt I've never found the emerald lacking , but then I haven't got involved in EGTs so have never needed to use that functionality. Don't forget to factor in either a conversion loom or a bespoke new engine loom when going for new ECUs too. The costs soon mount up. If you got your link installed and mapped for 1200 pounds that sounds like a bargain. I charged about that for the early cerb emeralds I did and openly admit I lost money on every single install, but that's another story and nothing to do with the emerald itself which is a bargain, i've fitted nearly 50 and mapped hundreds and they're a dream to work with. If the Link is easier then it must virtually map itself!!

[450Nick]

Looks like a good ECU! Just to let you know though, the Emerald does work with EGTs, the problem is though that there are different types that look the same. The new ones you can buy are from the S4, Rs4 and Rs6 IIRC and they don't start outputting any signal until some silly high temperature. The lower temp units come on lower down (the ones found on the TT and 2L stuff and work no problem. You also have to select it on the live adjustments screen (I was a bit confused as I couldn't find it for ages!).

Got mine of a pretty much new TT in a breakers for a few pounds - looked brand new. Stuck it in and not had any problems with it

[hiltonig]

Question I would like to know is what ECU does Mr Mark Adams like ?? on RV8,s

[ro_butler]

spitfire4v8 said:

I couldn't even see any prices on the link site so assumed if i had to ask i couldn't afford it

I has read it was about £1200 to buy (inc vat) but I doubt that includes fitting or mapping.

spitfire4v8 said:

If the Link is easier then it must virtually map itself!!

LOL! I think it does for fuelling, if I read the specs correctly

[yzf1070]

ro_butler said:

spitfire4v8 said:

I couldn't even see any prices on the link site so assumed if i had to ask i couldn't afford it

I has read it was about £1200 to buy (inc vat) but I doubt that includes fitting or mapping.

spitfire4v8 said:

If the Link is easier then it must virtually map itself!!

LOL! I think it does for fuelling, if I read the specs correctly

The cost I quoted was just for the Link which comes with a wiring loom, and as I no longer live in UK the guys at Pacs removed the Emerald, fitted the Link and then mapped it for fueling. The ignition set up took longest, but the fueling was pretty much spot on very quickly by following the steps in the manual and providing you use an accurate wide band lambda it does do the fueling itself. Or so I am told. It's then a case of configuring the software for protection devices to do what you want... knock sensors to retard the ignition and high egt to inject additional fuel untill temps come back to the safe zone. Same on the intake side if temps go too high (charge cooler not doing its job) ignition is retarded. At least thats the theory. I have not yet been able to spend much time with the car in order to get it on track and push it hard enough. It's now off the road for the winter, guess it will be April ish next year now before its out again.

[rev-erend]

hiltonig said:

Question I would like to know is what ECU does Mr Mark Adams like ?? on RV8,s

He specialises in the 14CUX but I don't really know if he maps any other systems.

[Vixpy1]

The Link G4 is an ok ECU, but nothing on it is exceptional for the price.

[Bluebottle]

Just read the full spec on this G4 Extreme and it does sound good,
£1,092 +VAT including the wiring loom makes it financially comparable with the Omex or Emerald ecu (I'm not a big fan of the Emerald).
I particularly like its support for MAP, Air Flow meter, Continuous onboard Barometric correction and 8 channel sequential fuel injection.

[dbv8]

I can feel a 'group buy' coming on

[hiltonig]

Bluebottle said:

Just read the full spec on this G4 Extreme and it does sound good,
£1,092 +VAT including the wiring loom makes it financially comparable with the Omex or Emerald ecu (I'm not a big fan of the Emerald).
I particularly like its support for MAP, Air Flow meter, Continuous onboard Barometric correction and 8 channel sequential fuel injection.

How come u have fitted the engine and SC kit and not upgraded the ECU, Does the Lucas cope ok ?

Just wondering as I am getting ready for the SC upgrade and engine

Also hows the Quaife diff, going to upgrade mine this winter have you noticed any difference ?

Edited by hiltonig on Monday 28th September 17:22