LA2 or LA3 Swap Without re-pining

[trainford308]

First let me say that is easier to re-pin the connector, than to modify the LA computer. But if someone wants to keep the wiring loom stock and have a plug and play LA computer, this is an option, if you are good at soldering. That being said, the way I did it was to jumper four wires on the board, run one wire from the board to a pin, and make three cuts on the board to disconnect the existing circuits that are not needed. It goes like this: jumper pin 43 to 25, pin 24 to 30, pin 33 to 35, pin 31 to 32. Cut the wire from pin 43 and run a jumper from pin 25 to the wire that goes to pin 43. Then you have to put three cuts on the board. An Exacto knife works well. On the bottom of the LA board cut the foil that goes to pin 30, and the foil to pin 35. The LA board is a two sided board, so you have to cut the foil on the top side the board that goes to pin 25. If you want to use an ACT, you will have to run a wire from the board to the outside of the computer. A good place to tie into the ACT circuit would be, where the capacitor that was connected to the pin 25 before you cut the foil, is soldered to the board. I didn’t use an ACT. It sounds complicated, but if you lay out on paper the pins to get an idea of all the pin numbers, it’s not too complicated. I hope the pictures help. I used the pin out charts from this site to figure out how to do this. It works in my car, but maybe I just like to do things the hard way. Tom

[Raven855]

Interesting approach, might give it a try.

[drquest]

I bet if you made up a few extras of those you'd probably be able to sell them pretty easily.

[Hamstang]

There is a guy that already does it for like 70 bucks or something over on merkur sport.

[drquest]

There is a guy that already does it for like 70 bucks or something over on merkur sport.

See I told you

[trainford308]

I just did it for my own use. I wonder if the guy at Merkur is doing it similar to how I did it. I just wanted to post how I did it incase anyone else wants to use this method. I was unaware of the Merkur conversion. Tom

[kevMasvo]

How much will you charge me if i sent u a la3?

[Rich R]

Re-pinning the LA3box

"...jumper pin 43 to 25, pin 24 to 30, pin 33 to 35, pin 31 to 32. Cut the wire from pin 43 and run a jumper from pin 25 to the wire that goes to pin 43. Then you have to put three cuts on the board. An Exacto knife works well. On the bottom of the LA board cut the foil that goes to pin 30, and the foil to pin 35. The LA board is a two sided board, so you have to cut the foil on the top side the board that goes to pin 25. ...Tom

This doesn't seem to agree with the process described at NATO and Turboford for re-pinning the harness. Doesn't the wire that once went to pin 43 get jumpered to pin 27?

I don't have the LA3 open in front of me, but I'd like to implement the computer change you describe. Thanks for your response.

Best,

Rich

[jamman]

I just got an LA3 and would like to do this also ...

Can you post more pics that more clearly show the cuts etc on the board ?

Also do you really need to hook up the ACT sensor ? I've read conflicting info on that ...

Thanks!

[BrianO]

I just got an LA3 and would like to do this also ...

Can you post more pics that more clearly show the cuts etc on the board ?

Also do you really need to hook up the ACT sensor ? I've read conflicting info on that ...

Thanks!

no you don't have to and you will get codes without one. If you do install one it has it's goods and bads. here are some goods http://www.svoca.com/forum/showthread.php?t=20794

the mileage goes up doing long commutes, but city driving is so much fun mileage may go down..verified by a buddy that did the same thing as me.

[jamman]

Brian

In that thread you mentioned

"I installed the ACT sensor in the upper intake "

I've read you can strap the ACT to the firewall or a relatively cool location, is that true ?

Thanks !

[BrianO]

I do'nt want to go too far off topic of this thread, but what you're talking about is just to stop the codes from not having one installed. The ACT to work properly has to be installed after the intercooler in the air stream so the ECU gets a before(VAM) and after(intake) temp to adjust timing.

there's lots more info in this section if you search for ACT. good luck

[PsRumors]

I have been staring at my LA3 trying to decide if I want to do this or not. Glad you posted it.

[trainford308]

Sorry, I haven't been on this forum much and I have lost interest in this modification since I didn't want to change injectors from 30# to 35#. Yes, it is pin 43 to pin 27, not 25. Good catch. Pin 25 would have to go out to the ACT. I did not hook up the ACT, but I would recomend doing that. I did check out the turbo Ford mods. His mods are similar, but if I remember right, he was not using the regular/premiun option. I'll go back and take some more pictures of the cuts. Tom

[Rich R]

Re-pinning the LA3 box

Tom - did you get a chance to photograph your foil cuts?

Best,

Rich