[X3_4_life]

I bought a used ECU for a 99'/2000 Elantra off eBay for $48 with shipping, I received it a couple days ago. It's been really cold this week, single digits in the mornings. I'm off tomorrow, I plan to plug in the heater in the garage and swap in the ECU... hopefully that will takes care of the lag I have been experiencing!

 

[geezer101]

Good luck, this should get it running properly.

 

[X3_4_life]

Good luck, this should get it running properly.

Thanks, I hope so!...I will update once I get it installed and a test drive.

 

[geezer101]

Thanks, I hope so!...I will update once I get it installed and a test drive.

Excellente! Good luck with it. Hope it runs like a beast 😁

 

[X3_4_life]

Worked on Zippy this morning. It was pretty cold around 10° F, but felt colder. I decided to Pull the car out of the garage because the heater wasn't really helping and the sun was out, whiched helped being able to see under the dash. Getting the old ECU out was a PITA which I had planned for, but working in the cold made it a little more aggravating. Comparing both the old/new ECU's they look identical and the pin layout was the same so that gave me a little confidence. After getting the Elantra ECU installed I took Zippy for a test drive. The throttle response was noticably better right from the start. Before with the original Alpha ECU 1st and 2nd gear were doggy, and the car didn't really began to pick up speed until you got the RPMs up and wound it out in 3rd gear. Now it's a whole new animal, a world of difference...best $48 I spent so far!

It's been awhile since I have posted any pictures, so here are a couple pics just comparing the Alpha and Beta ECU's.
(Just in case someone needs the #'s off the Beta ECU, it's kinda hard to read, the bottom #'s under the barcode are: 39150-23951)

 

[geezer101]

Results! Freaking awesome. I'd really like to know why it didn't play ball with the Alpha ECU. Even more curious - what would've the Alpha engine ran like on the Beta ECU? It is excellent to know that the pinouts are identical.

 

[X3_4_life]

Results! Freaking awesome. I'd really like to know why it didn't play ball with the Alpha ECU. Even more curious - what would've the Alpha engine ran like on the Beta ECU? It is excellent to know that the pinouts are identical.

I'm kinda curious why the Alpha ECU didn't want to play too. It was a real relief when comparing the two ECU's and seeing they were interchangeable, and even more after driving down the block and instantly noticing the power difference!...This little car is a blast to drive now!

Next on the list will be changing out the factory gauge cluster for the one that has a tachometer, and some other interior upgrades as well as fixing the exhaust drone. New tires and wheel will be coming soon as well.

 

[geezer101]

Gonna need grip. Stock tyre and wheel combo is going to make the X3 feel like a greasy skateboard. Were you aware of the chassis issues with the X3? There were accusations that Hyundai 'missed' a few spot welds and it made the body/chassis dynamics a little iffy. Guys who race these (or the few of these that are left...) in Excel Cup class racing. They've all had the the reinforcing channels under the floors welded to the floor pans to stiffen them.

Here's a little X3 fun for you -

 

[X3_4_life]

Yes, definitely need more grip. It's pretty easy to break traction with the stock skinny tires. I also hope the stock Alpha transmission with 200,000 miles holds up, I'm kinda thinking it's the weak link. 😂 I really like the close ratio shifting though.

No I hadn't heard about the weak chassis issues, I will have to look into that more. I also need to replace the rear control arm bushings as I noticed they are shot when I was last underneath the car running the exhaust.

That Excel Cup class racing looks like it would be fun! I have never seen so many X3's at one time in my life lol! I follow a YouTube channel, Big Rig Racing and he has an Excel race car.

 

[geezer101]

My genius buddys' former boss had a couple of Excel cup cars. Not allowed to mess with the engines at all, no major body modifications like carbon fibre etc but pretty much else anything goes. He figured out that grounding the O2 sensor forced it into closed loop mode and he tuned the hell out of it, then the car went through a workshop and one of the apes there undid all of his work. You don't see many X3's here due to the demand for straight cars and spare parts.

 

[X3_4_life]

Got some "new to me wheels" and tires off Facebook Marketplace...

 

[X3_4_life]

I spent some time mounting the new to me tires and wheels this weekend. I knew mounting the front wheels was going to be problematic because of the captive rotor bolts that stick out. In preparation for that I had already ordered two different sets of wheel spacers hoping I could make something work. With a little bit of milling work I was able to get one set to work, I just had to use my router and remove a little bit of material so that the center of the spacer would fit. I also had to grind down the heads of the bolts that hold the brake disc in place down slightly to clear the spacers. This is all temporary as I plan to do a front disc brake upgrade/swap eventually to get rid of the captive rotor setup and also for better performing/larger disc and calipers. Anyway here are some pics, I knew the wheels would stick out some, due to the wheel offset, but they stick out further than I imagined...not sure how I feel about it lol...I really like the styling of the wheels, and couldn't pass on them for the price.

 

[X3_4_life]

 

[X3_4_life]

I took it for a test drive and I like the feel of the wider track width, it feels like it handles and grips the road better, but visually it's not my favorite, and the front tires rub at full turn (which can be fixed with a grinder cutoff wheel really easily). I'm on the fence, if I keep these wheels I might have to build a wide body kit for it! 😁

 

[Appers]

I'm doing the 2L g4gc with alpha box here in aus. Great engine mount you did. What clutch and flywheel is needed. I worked out I need to trim a bit of the block for the clutch slave to bolt up. But wondering what flywheel and clutch I need

 

[X3_4_life]

Thanks! I used a 1.6L Luk clutch kit and a 2.0 flywheel. I have the part#'s listed on my first page, but not sure if that would help you out since you live in Australia lol. You should post some pics of your project!

 

[geezer101]

It's going to hold the road like nothing else but the extra track will make for some scary bump steer. I'm sure the cops will love those wheels too

 

[X3_4_life]

I haven't posted in awhile. Not much to report as far as working on the car. Yesterday was the first time I had actually driven it in a couple months, the tags expired in April, so I did get those renewed. The car is fun to drive, but the exhaust takes away from the fun factor. There is a rattle/buzz sound in the rear that is really bothersome, besides the drone sound I already mentioned earlier, I need to get the exhaust sorted out. I don't really have the desire to jack the car up and work on the exhaust anymore, lol. I may just take it to a shop and have them finish it up. I also still need to install my tachometer. And on my last outing I broke the sun visor. The plastic part that holds it in place broke, so the whole visor fell off. I also have noticed the car hesitates to start, more so after it has been driven and warms up. I'm thinking the Alpha starter is a little weak for trying to turn over the bigger Beta engine (more compression?) So I may buy a Beta starter soon as well. I have heard the electric fan kick on a couple of times. Yesterday was around 90° and the the car seems to stay in the normal cool range on the temp gauge, even with the stock Alpha radiator.

 

[geezer101]

The starter is probably tired. Pulling it apart, cleaning it out and giving the commutator ring a freshen up might restore some of the oomph. I doubt there is a lot of difference between the Alpha and Beta radiators. Bits of plastic trim are going to get brittle. Inside door handles are on the endangered list - i notice inside door handles on J2 Lantras are often missing from cars in JY's. A friend of mine broke the front passenger door handle in my wagon (but he is a bit of a ham fisted ape lol)

 

[X3_4_life]

That's good to know, I'll try freshening up the starter first. I still haven't made it to a wrecking yard ...I need to check some out, might be able to find some survivor visors if they aren't already gone or broken. I'd like to get some better front seats too.