Aftermarket ECU help

Nycho · Postby **Nycho** » Thu Jun 07, 2007 2:09 pm

Ok guys here's one for ya! been thinking about getting an after market ECU. my car doesnt have forced inducation but have been told after market ECU's can make a bit of a difference. my big question is, is it really worth the cash? from what i've seen prices are right up there. would i be better spending the cash on something else? is it worth getting a cheap ECU off ebay, or something? what do you guys think?

pcmx5 · Postby **pcmx5** » Thu Jun 07, 2007 4:36 pm

I run a Microtech piggyback(around$1100 i think.)

Not sure what it would do without other mods so I think you are better to decide what you want from the car in total and then work out a rational way of getting there.

If you get an ECU you need to get it tuned to your cars characteristics so if you did early on you would have get it retuned as you modified.

If your car is standard I would go in this order;

1. 2 1/4 high flow catback;($450-550)fitted

2 Cold air Induction;make one(say $50)

3 Extractors/ high flow cat;($700)fitted

4 Tighe 805c Cams;(Billets$950, regrinds$525)

5 then ECU.(1100)

Fit CAMs, supply timing belt kit , fit ECU and dyno tune tune.say, $800-900

I think that having an ECU that you know can be tuned well by someone is much better than buying an ECU and then trying to find someone to tune it.There are a lot of \"enthusiastic amateurs\" out there and sometimes you can spend heaps and still not get results.

You should ring Anthony at Maztech if you want any advice 94168411

hope this helps

Peter

Nycho · Postby **Nycho** » Thu Jun 07, 2007 7:43 pm

cheers pcmx5 good help there!

i got a 2\" cat-back system installed and was planning on a CAI at the other end as my next step. are pod filters the way to go here or am i best off using the existing air box and CAI,say Grumpy style?

pcmx5 · Postby **pcmx5** » Fri Jun 08, 2007 8:39 am

If you do a search on this forum you will find plenty of info on CAU's,including how to make one.

The choices are probably, a pod, a CAI that fits within the engine bay or one that requires you to cut into the flase firwall.

Peter.

Postby **Okibi** » Fri Jun 08, 2007 12:55 pm

Wolf do a direct plug in for the 1.6 NA's (and the first year of 1.8s that used the same ecu plug as the 1.6).

One of our club members is getting 130 HP at the rears with an NA8 engine, intake, cat back exhaust and a wolf.

- edit Okibi - sorry the owner took a little while to get back to me, I guess some people actually do work -

pcmx5 · Postby **pcmx5** » Fri Jun 08, 2007 1:23 pm

Okibi.

94.4kw equals 126.59 hp so this guy has found some real secret he should share with us all or 146 ish may be a bit on the high side.

Most people seem to think around 100rwkw is about the limit for a NA8a although an NB8a with the better head may be a little more.

I hope you are right about 146 ish,it would be good if someone has made a breakthrough to that sort of power.

Peter

Rob E · Postby **Rob E** » Fri Jun 08, 2007 1:40 pm

A programmable ECU is worthwhile if your expectations are reasonable. (ie. do not expect cost / hp ratio to correlate with what you can get from forced induction)

With the regular breathing mods (ie good header / exhaust / intake). You would expect to gain between 5-10hp on an NA. Also very good for the NA6 as you can replace AFM with MAP sensor. Add cams, and you will need the a programmable ECU to get the best of them.

Postby **Okibi** » Fri Jun 08, 2007 5:20 pm

My mistake, it was 130 :oops:

I was sure it was higher

Postby **Okibi** » Fri Jun 08, 2007 5:22 pm

130 HP = 96.9409833 kilowatts

As a comparison, my NB8A made 82kW on the same dyno. (Pod/standard AFM/Press Bend Cat Back).

Sean · Postby **Sean** » Mon Jun 11, 2007 6:05 pm

I may be able to organise a special rate on microtech ECUs depending on what you are after

slammer · Postby **slammer** » Mon Jun 11, 2007 8:27 pm

Get an aftermarket ECU, mines a microtech.

Think of it this way ...would you be happy using a PC pre pentium chip or a Mac LC 11? not me

With an aftermarket ECU you can tune each mod you make maximising the benefit of each mod rather than being reliant on the old flap door opening :lol:

it's a no brainer if you want to do anything more than an intake /catback solution

john! · Postby **john!** » Tue Jun 12, 2007 1:34 am

Don't forget the megasquirt p'n'p which is under $1000 at the moment thanks to the current exchange rate. So wishing I had the spare cash kicking round at the moment to order one.

john

Nycho · Postby **Nycho** » Tue Jun 12, 2007 2:04 am

Cheers guys!

some good info there. seems like microtech make a good model. i was looking at two, the LT8s and the LT10s. LT8s looks the better value atm as it seems to be a phase out model. i like the idea of being able to hook up a laptop only its weird you need a $135 adaptor, yet the software is free. how hard are these to tune? do u need a degree in mech engineering to do it?

Rob E · Postby **Rob E** » Tue Jun 12, 2007 2:44 am

john! wrote:Don't forget the megasquirt p'n'p which is under $1000 at the moment thanks to the current exchange rate. So wishing I had the spare cash kicking round at the moment to order one.

john

They are still testing on Australian car/s at the moment......should be ready soon though..that said, if you want you can buy one now

john! · Postby **john!** » Tue Jun 12, 2007 2:53 am

Ok, I wasn't aware of any significant differences between the American and Australian models in terms of ecu. Are they having issues getting it to work, or is it just minor differences in models in differing markets? I am keen to get one, but am happy to wait till they are properly sorted for our cars.

john