Thread: VVL and base timing with Calum ECU

I'm mixed up in my head here about base timing and chipped ECUs. I have a Calum ECU with base idle timing map of 15* across the coolant temp range. I want to set my base idle, so my question is this: Do I need to get into timing mode like you would with a stock DE to set the mechanical timing to match the base idle timing map in the ECU, or can I just turn the distributor until I see the marks line up to 15* without entering timing mode? Also, aren't stock cam VE's supposed to have 10* of base idle timing? Should I change the base idle timing map to 10* across the board and then turn the distributor to 10* mechanical timing so that there's no +/- timing offset in the timing maps?

Also, if you do have to get the VE in timing mode, are there any tips or tricks that are different from a DE to actually get it into that mode?

Timing maps on the JDM spec VE were quite conservative in many areas. I ran my Calum ECU idle timing/mechanical timing at 15*/15* without issue. I never saw any froms of knock or detonation with higher than stock JDM VE timing values, all over the map. I was fairly conservative up high in the RPM range though.

Yes, you should still put the car into timing mode when setting/changing your mechanical timing via the dizzy. There are no special tricks to put the VE engine into timing mode, DE rules still apply.

Were you running regular 87 or 91+?

Thanks for the quick response.

I was running 91 octane.

Also, before I switched to the Calum ECU I had an '01 RR ECU, running 20* timing on 91 octane with no ill-effects. I also tried 10* mechanical base timing with the RR ECU and it ran like poop. At 18* it really woke up and 20* was real nice, well, atleast for a Roller Rocker ECU anyway.