How can Piratamotor help you? At Piratamotor, we understand that every project is unique, and embarking on engine tuning or acquiring such a specialized product requires much more than a simple purchase. That’s why, when a client presents us with their project, we carefully listen to their needs and offer completely personalized advice to select the most suitable products. Our goal is to ensure that every project is carried out successfully. We build long-lasting relationships with our clients based on mutual trust and continuous support that truly makes a difference.

However, acquiring the best components is not enough without the experience and knowledge required to implement them correctly. Key aspects, such as determining the appropriate compression ratio, selecting and properly timing a camshaft, choosing the optimal turbo, identifying the ideal injectors, or installing the correct fuel pump, are crucial to meeting specifications and ensuring maximum performance, durability, and reliability of the engine.

At Piratamotor, we strive to offer a comprehensive service that marks the beginning of a solid and effective collaboration. We integrate all these elements with a precise and professional technical approach, ensuring that each component works in perfect harmony with the others. One of our specialties is the design and electronic tuning of custom-programmable ECUs, which we develop to adapt specifically to the mechanical modifications performed in our workshop. This approach ensures complete synergy and optimization between all motor systems. Our workshop, equipped with a dynamometer, allows us to carry out all necessary work in one place, simplifying the process and saving our clients time and effort. Thus, we eliminate the need to rely on multiple workshops, avoiding complications.

Thanks to our direct distribution and comprehensive services, we can offer the best prices in the market. Furthermore, we provide an extensive range of high-quality engine components, including:

• Forged pistons.

• Forged connecting rods.

• Trimetallic bearings.

• Reinforced head gaskets.

• Reinforced fasteners.

• Reinforced intake and exhaust valves, springs, and titanium retainers.

• Camshafts for racing or classic engines.

We work with the best brands in the industry, such as Carrillo, ZRP, Manley, ARP, COMETIC, Athena, Wiseco, JE Pistons, ACL, King, Supertech, among many others, ensuring that each project is equipped with components that offer the best performance, durability, and reliability.

At Piratamotor, we also stand out as specialists in programmable ECUs and accessories from renowned brands like Megasquirt, Link, and Haltech. Our true strength lies in the design and development of universal and Plug and Play (PNP) programmable ECUs for specific models. These customized ECUs perfectly adapt to each client’s needs, offering innovative and efficient solutions that maximize engine performance, whether for racing, classic vehicles, or other internal combustion engine projects.

Our unique approach to creating custom products and systems ensures that each engine reaches its maximum potential in terms of performance, reliability, and efficiency. If you have a project in mind, we are here to advise you and provide the best tailored solutions.

Technical Support for Independent Projects For clients who prefer to handle their own projects, we offer thorough and specialized advice. We help select the ideal components, whether forged pistons and connecting rods, programmable ECUs, or other key elements. Additionally, we provide an online calibration, testing, and adjustment service for programmable ECUs purchased from our store. This service facilitates remote adjustments and resolves issues in 90% of cases without the client needing to travel. However, it’s important to note that some complex issues may require in-person diagnostics and testing in a workshop.

Restoration and Modernization of Classic Engines At Piratamotor, we also specialize in projects related to classic engines. One of the most common challenges with these vehicles is the lack of spare parts or the need for modernization to improve their performance. One of our most notable lines of work in this area is the conversion of classic engines to electronic injection and ignition systems. This transformation not only significantly increases the reliability and efficiency of historical vehicles but also preserves their essence while equipping them with modern technology.

Innovation and Collaboration Our experience has also led us to collaborate with Formula Student teams, providing technical support and customized solutions for innovative automotive engineering projects. In many cases, we have worked with teams focused on energy efficiency, helping them achieve goals such as covering the greatest distance possible with just one liter of fuel. These achievements reflect our ability to adapt to different challenges and objectives.

At Piratamotor, every project is a unique challenge. Whether it’s maintaining the authenticity of a classic engine while improving its technology or supporting racing teams in breaking barriers, our commitment is to deliver high-quality customized solutions that truly make a difference.

At Piratamotor, we specialize in the design, development, and installation of programmable ECUs, both universal and specific, also known as Plug and Play (PNP). These ECUs are essential for optimizing the performance of modified or classic engines, providing customized electronic management.

Programmable ECUs are versatile and advanced tools that allow precise adjustments of multiple engine parameters, such as air-fuel mixture, ignition timing, turbo pressure, and other critical performance factors. Their flexibility makes them the ideal choice for a variety of projects, ranging from preparing competition vehicles to modernizing classic engines.

When is it necessary to install a programmable ECU?

• Significant engine modifications: When the engine has been modified to the point where the original ECU can no longer efficiently manage the new components or adjustments. In motorsport, a series of changes often accumulate, such as:

  • Installation of a turbocharger or supercharger.

  • Changes in compression ratio.

  • Replacement of injectors, fuel pump, or camshafts.

  • Addition of custom exhaust or intake systems.

  Programmable ECUs allow precise adjustments to these changes, achieving the perfect balance between power, performance, and reliability.

• Conversion from carburetion to electronic injection and ignition: Transforming older engines with carburetors into modern systems with electronic injection and ignition not only improves efficiency and performance but also extends their lifespan. A programmable ECU is essential for controlling all engine parameters after this conversion.

• Modernization of vehicles with older injection systems: For vehicles with outdated injection systems, where spare parts are scarce or overly expensive, a programmable ECU is an ideal solution. It enables the replacement and management of essential components while improving engine reliability and performance.

• Simplification in competition vehicles: In race cars, especially modern ones with numerous electronic modules (lights, airbags, ABS, instrument cluster, among others), using a programmable ECU significantly simplifies electronic management. Additionally, it removes unnecessary components for the racing environment, reducing weight and optimizing overall vehicle performance.

Benefits of using a programmable ECU

• Flexibility: Enables adjustments and configurations tailored to the specific needs of each engine and project.

• Universal or specific compatibility: Universal ECUs are ideal for a wide range of engines, while PNP models are designed specifically for certain vehicles, simplifying installation.

• Energy efficiency: Optimizes the air-fuel mixture, ignition timing, and other parameters to achieve peak performance.

• Advanced diagnostics: Facilitates problem detection and resolution through real-time data acquisition.

• Performance improvement: Maximizes engine power and torque, adapting perfectly to the modifications made.

At Piratamotor, we offer not only programmable ECUs from leading brands like Megasquirt, Link, and Haltech, but we also develop custom ECUs specifically designed to meet our clients' needs. Whether for competition projects, modernization of classic engines, or special applications, our programmable ECUs guarantee total and precise control of the engine.

If you're considering implementing a programmable ECU in your project, contact us. We'll help you determine the best solution for your needs and provide the technical support necessary to achieve the results you’re looking for.

At Piratamotor, we recommend starting the engine tuning process by driving the vehicle. This method allows adjustments to be made under real conditions, utilizing the vehicle's weight and encountering everyday driving situations. Although a dynamometer can simulate these conditions, it will never fully replicate the fidelity of real-world circumstances and may significantly increase the tuning budget.

Our company has a dynamometer in our own facilities, enabling us to carry out all the necessary stages of engine tuning in one location. Additionally, the fact that we design and manufacture our own units provides us with a deep understanding of all the adjustments required. This makes us the ideal choice to ensure precise and personalized tuning.

Driving the vehicle also has an important advantage: it allows for the identification of issues that may go unnoticed on a dynamometer. It's not uncommon for a car to need to be removed from the dynamometer before tuning begins due to previously undetected problems, leading to a loss of time and money for the owner. Adjusting the engine while driving helps detect and resolve these issues before moving on to the final adjustments.

Recommended Tuning Process

1. First Stage: On-road Adjustment The first part of the tuning process involves driving the vehicle. This approach ensures that adjustments are made under real conditions, optimizing the process and significantly reducing the hours needed on the dynamometer. Generally, a complete tune for a simple and problem-free engine can take 6 to 10 hours. By performing most of the work while driving, the hours required on the dynamometer are reduced, resulting in considerable savings for the client.

2. Second Stage: Dynamometer Adjustments Once all issues detected during the on-road adjustment have been resolved, the tuning process is finalized on the dynamometer. This phase involves fine-tuning critical parameters, such as ignition timing and air-fuel mixture, to ensure maximum engine performance and reliability.

3. Vehicles That Cannot Be Driven on Public Roads For vehicles that are not street-legal, the complete adjustment process must be carried out on the dynamometer. However, in these cases, we recommend performing a preliminary test in a closed circuit or facility to conduct basic checks. This helps minimize setbacks and maximize the efficiency of the time spent on the dynamometer.

4. Final Check After the dynamometer adjustments, and whenever possible, a final review in a closed circuit or facility is recommended. This step ensures that the engine performs correctly under real usage conditions, especially for competition vehicles.

At Piratamotor, our comprehensive approach combines our experience, our in-house dynamometer, and our deep knowledge in designing and manufacturing our own units. This expertise allows us to have precise insight into the necessary adjustments, ensuring the highest level of service and performance.

When we observe a blacksmith working with red-hot steel in the forge and striking it with a hammer, they are performing a forging process. In foundries, an un-forged material is poured into a mold by gravity, whereas a forged material is one that, when poured into its mold, is pressed, resulting in a denser and more durable material.

In addition to being forged, there are various types of steel and aluminum that make the components even more robust. Forged pistons and connecting rods, for example, are made from materials that can withstand the stresses of high-revving engines or turbocharger pressures much more effectively. Beyond the forging process, these components have other characteristics that make them stronger. Manufacturers employ advanced designs, reducing material where it is not needed and reinforcing the areas that require more strength. For this reason, it’s no surprise that a forged connecting rod, in addition to being made of chromoly (chrome-molybdenum), is almost twice the size of a stock one yet weighs only a few grams more.

At Piratamotor, we offer a wide variety of forged components from leading brands like Carrillo, ZRP, Manley, ARP, Wiseco, JE Pistons, and Supertech, among others. These brands are renowned for producing high-quality products specifically designed to handle the extreme demands of competition engines and high-performance projects. Our commitment is to ensure that every client receives reliable and effective components for their project.

The same applies to other reinforced materials:

• Valve train: The use of materials like titanium, which reduces weight, or Inconel, which is highly resistant to extreme temperatures, is common in high-performance engines.

• Head gaskets: Designed with advanced ribs and coatings, or even with separate rings between the head and the block, brands like COMETIC and Athena offer reliable and resistant gaskets to ensure superior sealing in engines subjected to high pressures and temperatures.

• Reinforced bearings: Manufactured with harder metals combined with softer coatings, bearings from ACL and King balance durability and protection, extending the engine’s life even under extreme conditions.

Forged and reinforced components are specifically designed for engines with drastic modifications, such as competition engines or high-performance projects. However, there are also manufacturers that produce pistons of excellent quality and more precise tolerances, ideal for classic engines where spare parts are no longer available. These pistons allow the restoration and maintenance of historic engines, offering an effective and reliable solution for their preservation.