Hey all, I have a 1977 Toronado for parts and it has something I didn't expect on it. There appears to be a pulse generator like the newer cars use for speedometers, but it's on the crankshaft. There is a large wheel behind the crank pully, and the magnetic pickup is under the power steering pump. It says Delco-Remy on it so I think it's factory. There is a 4 pin wire plug attached to the back. I can't figure out what it would be used for. Anyone have any ideas? John

P1010438-1.jpg

P1010440-1.jpg

 

It's factory. 77 Toro was the first to use an electronic engine management system.

Another Oldsmobile first not many folks are aware of.

 

I'm not sure I'd call it an "engine management system" (which implies fuel control as well as spark control). It was one of the first crank-trigger ignition systems and used the computer (reading various sensors) to operate the spark advance curve. The system was called MISAR (MIcroprosessed Sensing and Automatic Regulation) and was offered in 1977 and 1978. The same basic concept was incorporated into the 1981-up CCC system.

 

Wow! I just learned something else cool!

 

Thank you for the replies. I didn't know the computers were so involved with the engines in 1977! Yes, I'm learning more every day too! John

 

Someone please ask Joe a trick question.

 

 

What did the hot rod lincoln catch at the top of the hill

 

http://www.songlyrics.com/

Years (and years and years) ago, a teacher told me that intelligence was not memorization of information, but knowing where to find it.

And I knew it was a Cadillac sedan without looking.
My radio dial is welded on the Oldies station. I prefer the Commander Cody version of the song, even though it's not the original.

 

I have been trying to beat that into the heads of my powerplant trainees for years, and some of them still insist on doing things the hard way- the way they were taught in the local school systems. The almighty SOL's haven't helped a thing in that regard.

Yes, Joe- it's not a complete engine management system. I guess it could have been considered the shape of things to come.

Or did BL have a patent on that with TR-7's? It was a shame they were such rotten cars, because they sure did look good.

 

...Actually, yet another car on the list of ones I need to build before I die is a 63 Cutlass convertible with one of the late Land Rover 3.9L injected motors. These are starting to show up at wrecking yards in the area.

 

Joe,

Isn't the 3.9L a take off of the old 215 buick/olds engine?

 

Yes. Unfortunately my post was partially truncated. What I had originally intended to say was that I always wanted a TR8, with the 215... er, 3.5L aluminum engine (which would also bring this thread back in the general direction of Oldsmobiles).

The 3.9 is just about a bolt-in replacement for the old 215. The newer 3.9s have EFI and an air box on top of the intake manifold that has individual runner trumpet tubes inside the box for a little ram tuning. Very cool little engine.

 

Slick little engine. Narrow and light would fit in many small cars. I always thought it would make a nice fit in a Nash Metropoltian. What screamer that would be

 

Yup. I built a Vega panel wagon with a 215 years ago. The car was a blast to drive and the 215 only weighed 20 lbs more than the Vega 4 cylinder. The only problem was that despite having lived it's whole life in SoCal, the car STILL rusted out from under me.

 

The car gods way of telling you to move on to the next project and so on and so on.....................................:rolleyes :