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Should I buy a stock 7M-GTE ECU or get a standalone?

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7mgte mk3
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1.9K views 9 replies 8 participants last post by  wyattkernel  
#1 ·
I have an 87 mk3 with bins upon bins of parts. I'm getting the engine rebuilt and it's nearly finished (just basically got to bolt the head onto the block). Originally the car was NA but the previous owner swapped an 89 7mgte and then blew the HG. As I said, I'm getting ready to drop it in but there's a 7mge ECU currently in the car and I can't seem to find the 7mgte ECU, so I'm wondering how it was even running before. I have the wiring harness for the 7mgte but the question is whether I should buy a stock ECU or a standalone one, or is there a way to get the 7mge ECU to work with the 7mgte?

Note: All I have done is some simple breathing mods, but I'm looking to get a bit more power down the road just not going crazy.
Thanks
 
#2 ·
After all the time and money on the rebuild, etc, I would advise against using the 7mge ecu. Since you already have the 7mgte wiring harness, the 7mge ecu will not work too well and it makes more sense to just go buy a turbo ecu (ebay, SF WTB, facebook marketplace, offer-up, etc.).
Get it running first, and break it in.

Then read this when going for more power: 1987-1992 Supra Turbo 7M-GTE basic upgrades, "Tried and True" 2021 Edition | Supra Forums
 
#4 ·
What the other two guys said…. Just wanted to add though, if you even have an inkling of wanting to go to power levels beyond the upgrades thread that oldbonus linked (and maybe even if you stay at the upgrade levels listed in that thread). Just do yourself a favor and go standalone.

I did the whole “I just want a little bit more power, nothing crazy” and thought I was saving money not going standalone… guess who kept saying “I just want a bit more power” until they needed a standalone and wasted money not doing it in the first place??? It was me… I’m the guy.
 
#7 ·
If you went the 7MGTE ECU route, you would need to confirm injector size, get the right AFM, and possibly other sensors. Who knows what that guy was running before. With standalone, you don't necessarily need to change any sensors. Just more time setting up in the software. If you have a frankenstein setup with a mix of 7MGE and GTE electronics, you'll be doing testing either way to confirm what you have. Although, it sounds like you have a GTE running on a GE ECU... so makes sense it blew up.

A lot of us run ECU master black. They have PNP harness and a base map for 7MGTE. More importantly, lots of support from the community and from ECU master themselves. That can make a huge difference if you're the DIY type.
 
#8 ·
by the time you get your hands on a correct ecu and whatever missing pieces filled in from ebay or whatever, you likely will be spending most of the way to a standalone anyways. parts, especially electronics, are not cheap, and hard to come by these days. unless you find a member here or someone getting rid of their old stuff cheap after going standalone.

Another vote for the ECU master option.
 
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