PCMTec Edition Required: Professional, One-Car Workshop, or Workshop.
Notes:
- This guide only works for BA/BF and earlier PCMs. The FGs have a different CAN setup and the vehicle speed source setting is ignored, hence without an ABS module, the vehicle will not run correctly.
- Disabling PATS will stop your BCM/ICC from functioning properly, hence it is only recommended for swaps that do not have this hardware or cars that have this removed (e.g. race/drag).
- This guide may not work for early model BA Falcons (eg 2004 and earlier) that run the 5.4L. A workaround for these models is to use a later model strategy from a manual 5.4L.
- PCMTec doesn't offer technical support for any swaps, because there are so many variables it makes them impossible for us to support and generally outside of the scope of PCMTEC. We will, however, offer technical support for the relevant functions of our software.
BA/BF:
To run the BA/BF PCM standalone there are two items that must be set up. Firstly the PATS security system must be disabled.
First, locate auF16527 (PATS Alternate Switch) and auF16595 (PATS Switch). From the factory you will have:
auF16527: 0
auF16595: 1
Flip both values. So now you will have:
auF16527: 1
auF16595: 0
Now that the PATS security system is disabled the BCM/ICC will no longer function, you should only do this if you are not utilizing the dash cluster in your new vehicle.
The next step is to change the speed source. From the factory, the VSS (Vehicle Speed Source) would most likely have been set to use the speed from the ABS module or the TCM sent via CANBUS. We will now change this to use the output shaft speed (OSS) sensor. You'll obviously need to wire an actual speed sensor as well up to Pin B7. Most people mount this on the rear of the manual gearboxes.
Now change VSS_Source to Transmission Output Shaft Sensor.
Whilst you are in the VID block editor it is recommended to adjust the final drive ratio and other gear ratios that may have changed.
This file will now allow the PCM to run standalone with no other modules.
FG/FG-X:
The FG/FG-X only supports a CAN source (e.g. OEM TCM or ABS) for vehicle speed so the VSS Source parameter is effectively ignored.
In this case, if you are using an FG/FG-X there are several options:
- Run the PCM with no speed reference and tune out the various FMEM torque limiting that occurs and speed-related tables. There are some workshops that may offer a mail-in service for this sort of tuning.
- Using a CAN emulator to process an available speed sensor and emulate the ABS or TCM messages on the CAN bus.
Once again, we don't officially support engine/trans swaps due to the large amount of support time they consume.
We recommend talking to one of the many conversions shops to do this work for you, as we have seen countless cases of people buying 4 or 5 PCMs and randomly swapping modules generally making a mess of the vehicle (and spending a lot of cash in the process) only to go see one of these guys in the end. You will save yourself a lot of time and money to go see them from the start. They will ensure you buy the correct loom, PCM, and various modules and then provide a tune that will run the vehicle without any of the hundreds of possible limp modes kicking in.
Brett Hogno at Custom Machine Works in QLD (PCM mail service for engine swaps).
Killa Kustom Kables & Conversions in QLD (Looms for conversion).
Whiteford (VIC only). He can reprogram TCMs (BF -> FG and vice versa).
Matt at BPR can also do conversions, general tuning, etc. He can reprogram TCMs as well (BF -> FG and vice versa).