What do I need, how do I get it?

So you've decided to go Megasquirt.  Like my shop teacher always said "you need things to do stuff".  Profound words....


Here are the main components you'll need along with some suggestions on where to find them:


Megasquirt unit - There are a few different ways to go about this.  You can just go directly to http://www.diyautotune.com/ and order up the kit and pieces required to build this unit yourself.  This will save you a few hundred dollars and if you are successful, officially make you far more skilled with a soldering iron than I am.  This approach is beyond the scope of the blog.


I purchased my unit pre-assembled from an individual on http://www.miataturbo.net/.  His user ID is Reverant.  Send him a private message and let him know what you are looking for.  You may also want to wait for a group buy on these, as it will save you a few dollars.  www.miataturbo.net is an amazing resource, but you have to be able to accept the small number of trolls that will try to drag you into arguments.  You need to have message board common sense skills, including how to ignore trolls to get answers there.  


If you order from Reverent, the unit itself will most likely take 3-4 months from the time you order it until it is in your hands.  Plan accordingly.  You'll have plenty of time to read up on megasquirt.  He will ship the unit with a base map for your car.  This will be setup as a rough starting point based on the information you provide to him during the build process.  He tunes a good number of Miatas and most likely, he'll have one that's close enough to your car to at least get you started.  


Wideband - You must have a wideband AFR gauge that is capable of outputting a 0-5v signal to an external source. Almost all of them have this.  I'd say pick your favorite brand.  The innovate mtx-l is very popular.  I went with the PLX AFR2 because I liked the DM-6 touch screen multi-gauge it came with.  I've read too many LC-1 horror stories, don't buy that one.


IAT sensor and bung - If you have a MSM, then you have a factory IAT sensor.  In theory you could use this with megasquirt.  You don't really want to however.  The GM open element IAT offers far better response, is very well supported by megasquirt, and is fairly cheap.  Go to http://www.diyautotune.com/  and order a GM Open Element IAT sensor with pigtail for ~$22.  You can order the steel or aluminum bung you'll need from them at the same time.  If you don't have a welder, and don't feel like finding a local guy who will enjoy laughing at you when you respond to the inevitable "what car is this goin' in" question, you can pay BEGI $25 for a short pipe that has the correct bung welded in: http://www.bellengineering.net/product_info.php?cPath=6_41_297&products_id=674


A laptop - If you have an old one with a serial port, that's great.  If not, http://www.diyautotune.com/ has the USB adapter and tuning cable available.  If you are buying the serial cable at an electronics store, you'll want a DB9 Male to Female straight through cable.  They are most commonly labeled as "serial extension cable".


TunerStudio MS & Megalog Viewer - Both are available for free from http://tunerstudio.com/index.php/tuner-studio  You'll want to pay the $50 for the full version of tunerstudio so you can get the VE Analyze live feature (autotune).  Lots more about VE Analyze live to read about here: http://www.miataturbo.net/showthread.php?t=42925


Misc stuff - 

• 5/32 (4mm) vacuum line and a vacuum T - Needs to reach from engine bay to MS unit.
• Digital Multi-Meter - Needed for troubleshooting.