mx5cartalk.com

Hello all. I am currently weighing up my options for ecu mods.

I have currently got a k and n typhoon intake and am getting the loch headers and exhaust for my 98 NB. I am not sure how much hp i will get from it all but i am thinking in the range of maybe 15hp at the flywheel.

I was then looking at upgrading to splitfire ignition coils to complement the iridium sparkplugs and top gun leads.

Post this the option of ecu mods comes up. I have looked at a powerchip and it seems good value for money at around 990 plus about 2 hours of install (should not be more then 200 bucks). This would then leave it to start like a stock car and idle like one. It gives about 18hp at the engine so that would be a total of around 30hp at the engine with the other mods which would give about 170 - 175hp. Which is pretty good and would put it in a similar catorgary to a clio sport 172 in terms of straight line speed. But then i can't go cams or anything else which could be a good thing and make me spend the money on suspension, brakes etc. I was also tossing up getting wolf 3d v4 plug in comp and that will give me all the tuning i could want and let me get rid of the AFM from what i understand. That said do these things let you cold start and idle properly especially with aircon on?

So what do you guys think:

Go powerchip for about half the price and spend the other money on other bits or get the wolf 3d and be done with it?

Any advice would be much appreciated and if my hp gains are not realistic please let me know. Thanks guys.

Id get a Greddy emanage blue to control things...its far better that getting a \"chip\" as its fully laptop tuneable, and its very very very good value for money compared to anything else on the market. The hot wire afm isnt that restrictive so i wouldnt worry about it. On your year car any system will be a piggy back as you have to keep the factory ecu to run the dash and alternator.

an emanage blue with looms and software can be had for around AU$650. it controls injectors..timing etc
basicly youd want to lean it out up top and wind in some timing to get the most out of it.
have a look here:
www.mohdparts.com/emanage

shite, that seems the way to go. Will i lose cold start and idle or will it be fine? anywhere in brisbane that you would recommend to do it all?

THeres no need to worry about cold start etc with the emanage for your application, As you wont be adding bigger injectors or a turbo the car will start and drive as normal,
As the emanage is a piggy back unit it just sits there and lets the factory ecu work as normal until you tune in some adjustment..at this point the piggy back tricks the factory ecu into doing what you want it to.. You tune the emanage to make changes to the cars factory fuel and igniton curves where it needs it for more power, which will be leaning out the 4000+ rpm range.

You can down load the emanage software from that mohdparts site for free,and have a play with it to see just how tuneable it is. it has 16x16 load maps for ignition and fuel which is more than enough, you can even select the rev points where ever you want so if you wanted to jam all 16 rev adjustment points from 3000-7500rpm you could if you wanted to.
I think its the best value solution for a street dríven car with mild mods that has to stay legal in terms of emmissions etc.The emanage will also not effect the cars factory diagnostics functions.