upgrading to adaptronic ecu, need advice/opinions

91BRG · Postby **91BRG** » Thu Oct 22, 2015 12:19 pm

Hey guys
I need some input from you ecu gurus around here

My car is a NA6 with I/H/E, advanced timing, and a chipped JDM ECU.
The ECU itself is a std oem unit, which has been chipped in japan by Car Make Corn*s with an EEPROM.
It's pretty much a plug and play unit, which is common in Japan but not so common here due to the amount of trouble needed to do it to a stock ECU.
It was the single biggest difference power wise I've done to the car since I put it on. More power and torque everywhere in the rev range and changed limiter to 7800rpm (not that you ever need to go there).

I'm still contemplating whether to do an NA or FI build, but in the meantime I picked up a used Adaptronic E420c from a forum member.

Now my question to you guys... would the adaptronic make much more difference to my car with already a chipped ecu? I know I would be able to take off the afm, removing a little restriction, but I'm thinking it's probably not worth it to get the car retuned for roughly same set up... maybe just instead wait untill all my turbo/na parts arrive, before tuning?

What do you think?

sailaholic · Postby **sailaholic** » Thu Oct 22, 2015 1:46 pm

Don't bother. It will add headaches for almost no advance and a tune will probably cost you 600.

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LiteIsRite · Postby **LiteIsRite** » Thu Oct 22, 2015 2:03 pm

Sorry I can't help with your question, 91BRG, but may I ask where you got the chipped JDM ECU from? It sounds like a worthwhile upgrade for my stock NA6. Also, I'm not familiar with the I/H/E shorthand - non-standard inlet / header / exhaust mods? Cheers.

91BRG · Postby **91BRG** » Thu Oct 22, 2015 2:54 pm

yeah sail that's what's going through my head atm... don't bother eh, gotcha.

Lite, i/h/e = non std intake/header/exhaust
I bought the ECU from a forum member a while ago, they often come up used on yahoo japan auctions too (but you don't really know what config it's running). From memory the cost was around $150. imo, easily best mod to do if u can find it for around that price.

chrons_rotary · Postby **chrons_rotary** » Thu Oct 22, 2015 4:03 pm

If you want to go turbo, get an ECU first and install it before you change everything over.
Chuck the base tune on it, and learn about how to do basic road tuning yourself, while still having it N/A.
That way you can do all the basic stuff yourself, like idle tuning, cold start tuning, etc, that way you wont have to pay your tuner as much to do it all for you.
Also, which aftermarket ECU should depend on the tuner you intend to use.

Cheers,
Ken.

bartmanftw · Postby **bartmanftw** » Thu Oct 22, 2015 7:49 pm

Do it. Getting rid of the NA6 AFM makes a noticeable difference as it's quite restriction. If you're willing to, learn how to tune it on the road while it's still n/a as it will save you a lot of money.

91BRG · Postby **91BRG** » Thu Oct 22, 2015 8:23 pm

Ok so chrons and bart, you guys recommend it, provided I can learn and do the tune myself...
I've got the E420c (older model adaptronic), is this a relatively simple ecu to learn (...provided I do all the research online)?
And also, realistically, what should I expect over my chipped ecu? Will the gain be negligible?

photo of ecu

bartmanftw · Postby **bartmanftw** » Thu Oct 22, 2015 8:29 pm

Did you get the adaptronic from zerosecondsleft? I had a go tuning the 420c however I'm used to megasquirt so wasn't familiar with the tuning software. If you start off with the base map you should be able to get the car running pretty well provided you do a fair bit of reading on how it works.

Can't really say how it'll compare with your chipped ECU. Any idea what the AFRs are with it or any other info like timing map ect? Main difference will be the fact that you can re tune the adaptronic to suit anything you throw at the car like FI.

91BRG · Postby **91BRG** » Thu Oct 22, 2015 8:38 pm

yes i got it from him. great seller.
Ok, I will give it a go. Got a fair bit of reading to do lol, but then if I could do it myself it would be worth it.
But if it gets to the point of paying someone to tune it for me.. might not be worth it.
I really don't have any specs on the ECU, I know it made a huge difference but it still retains stock afm.

LiteIsRite · Postby **LiteIsRite** » Fri Oct 23, 2015 1:25 pm

91BRG wrote:I bought the ECU from a forum member a while ago, they often come up used on yahoo japan auctions too (but you don't really know what config it's running). From memory the cost was around $150. imo, easily best mod to do if u can find it for around that price.

Cheers!

rascal · Postby **rascal** » Fri Oct 23, 2015 2:51 pm

91BRG wrote:I've got the E420c (older model adaptronic), is this a relatively simple ecu to learn (...provided I do all the research online)?
And also, realistically, what should I expect over my chipped ecu? Will the gain be negligible?[/img]

I've been running the E420c in my NB8A for last 6 years.
They are pretty easy to learn. You can also let it autotune which does a lot of your work for you..

What gains you will see over the chipped ecu, depends on how far from optimal your car currently is.