CA18 help...opinions needed

[DALAZ_68]

well simply put i went CA on my s13

and ive got a few questions


set up im planning
r32 MAF
KAe TB
444cc
T28
3''full exaust

ive read what ive could about stand alone systems and piggy backs...but the problem is...its just words to me...i need someone who can break it down much easier so i can figure out what and which way to go with my set up...

obviously this is an opinion thread so bring what u got on the table...

what do u guys think my gains would be
mind u ive freed up my P/S pump and A/C are both not being used...if that helps any...

any suggestions on something i should change anything...

reason why im going wiht this setup is its accessible to me currently...friend not using one thing or the other...alll in working condition...now i just need to figure out what route to take...

before i get total butt rapped, ive done some searches already on say things like Emanage, power fc , AFC's, megasquirt...

but each has ups and downs... though i doubt ill run into some one here with a megasquirt set up, i can atleast get some opinions on piggy back systems and some stand alone aswell

thanks u guys

[inertiadrft]

For the set-up you are going with I suggest the finnest cheapest piggy back system on the market today..(Drum roll)......

The APEX-I SAFC, you are running a small turbo with some sensible sized injectors, you are only gonna be able to extract a certain amount of power with any system you go with, I really dont see the need for any bigtime system, besides, you cant go wrong with a safc/neo..
My two cents..

[ilovecoupes]

I think you have a pretty simple setup
I don't think you need to go with a stand alone

If I was you i would probably go with a Chipped ecu, or with an Eprom

[DALAZ_68]

well my goal is atleast 250 whp...if not 300WHP if i can reach it...

which means a lil further upgrades would be neccessary...i just dont wanna buy something that once i get to say 250 ima have to chuck it aside and buy something else


any thoughts on emanage/ultimate

[MegasquirtCA]

Go with Megasquirt for $250 for a complete standalone plus $100 for wiring harness. Quite a bit of the CA guys are running them with amazing success.

I was practically the first to use it on the CA and everyone followed suit.

I made a write up on Nico. http://forums.nicoclub.com/zerothread/164446 some information is outdated but some of the basic stuff is there.

Heres pics of my setup.


http://img129.imageshack.us/img129/7897/DSC00222.jpg

http://img289.imageshack.us/img289/8356/DSCF0678.jpg

http://img314.imageshack.us/img314/8503/DSCF0081.jpg

http://img314.imageshack.us/img314/2968/DSCF0078.jpg

http://img345.imageshack.us/img345/1016/DSCF0015.jpg

http://img345.imageshack.us/img345/4206/DSCF25.jpg

[DALAZ_68]

Go with Megasquirt for $250 for a complete standalone plus $100 for wiring harness. Quite a bit of the CA guys are running them with amazing success.

I was practically the first to use it on the CA and everyone followed suit.

I made a write up on Nico. http://forums.nicoclub.com/zerothread/164446 some information is outdated but some of the basic stuff is there.

Heres pics of my setup.


http://img129.imageshack.us/img129/7897/DSC00222.jpg

http://img289.imageshack.us/img289/8356/DSCF0678.jpg

http://img314.imageshack.us/img314/8503/DSCF0081.jpg

http://img314.imageshack.us/img314/2968/DSCF0078.jpg

http://img345.imageshack.us/img345/1016/DSCF0015.jpg

http://img345.imageshack.us/img345/4206/DSCF25.jpg

dude ur write up is the reason i considered megaquirt...

the one thing thats making me not go towards it quicker is...i cant solder, and i know u can buy a unit premade but cost more $$$

second i couldnt figure out witch kit was MG v3

third finding the ford parts...

[MegasquirtCA]

The Ford parts are retarded easy to find, any junkyard with 1991-1994 Escorts with 1.9L have them. The only thing you need off it is the Module and trigger wheel. The rest you can buy new. A brand new coilpack is $50.

Megasquirt V3.0 the fastest way to tell the difference is that board will be BLUE. Megasquirt V2.2 is Green and Microsquirt is Red.

I recommend Megasquirt SMD 3.57 which is all surface mounted and a price tag of $430. Hopefully I will upgrade to that one soon and sell my current Megasquirt.


If you want go to Radioshack and pick up a soldering starter kit and some boards and components. I never knew how to solder also before I went megasquirt. I practiced with the stimulator and dove into the board afterwards.



I have a friend who is selling a already assembled Megasquirt II V3.0 for $320 if interested let me know.

[dorkidori_s13]

didnt apexi make a CA powerFC DJetro??

[MegasquirtCA]

Good luck getting your hands on one. And the chances of the harness being fubared are slightly higher. So a AEM or PowerFC wont do ya any good. But with Megasquirt, Haltech etc you can fab a new harness.

[DALAZ_68]

The Ford parts are retarded easy to find, any junkyard with 1991-1994 Escorts with 1.9L have them. The only thing you need off it is the Module and trigger wheel. The rest you can buy new. A brand new coilpack is $50.

Megasquirt V3.0 the fastest way to tell the difference is that board will be BLUE. Megasquirt V2.2 is Green and Microsquirt is Red.

I recommend Megasquirt SMD 3.57 which is all surface mounted and a price tag of $430. Hopefully I will upgrade to that one soon and sell my current Megasquirt.


If you want go to Radioshack and pick up a soldering starter kit and some boards and components. I never knew how to solder also before I went megasquirt. I practiced with the stimulator and dove into the board afterwards.



I have a friend who is selling a already assembled Megasquirt II V3.0 for $320 if interested let me know.


def intrested


and i found this online what do u think////

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=120194110341&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=002

anything else that i would need :confused::-/

[MegasquirtCA]

I never really dealt with FCON, looks like a Elaborate piggy back. If a piggy back is all you want than it may be a worth buy.

You know megasquirt can be setup as a piggy back as well if you like.

[DALAZ_68]

You know megasquirt can be setup as a piggy back as well if you like.


ive read that yes actually but havent seen an online set up or seen any on the streets... maybe im searching wrong and wut not


well what i like is about the megasuirts is the dept of tuning u can do with it...im planning of buying a lap top soon for work and school.and if i can use it for my hobby then its just another reason to get htis

[MegasquirtCA]

Just be prepared its not a walk in the park, you gotta do a bit of reading. I admit it is easy but it may get confusing in some parts, when you get confused give me a holler.

[DALAZ_68]

ohh i know ill get confused...thanks for the support man...preciate it :bigok:

[Matt Cramer]

"Piggyback" Megasquirts aren't true piggybacks; the wording is a bit misleading. Some people have used "piggyback" to describe a setup where the Megasquirt is controlling fuel and the stock computer controls ignition, or on some cars with electronics up the wazoo, setups where the Megasquirt controls fuel and ignition but the stock ECU is still there to control the transmission, drive by wire throttle, power windows...

[SHIFT_*grind*]

I never knew Megasquirt was that cheap. :eek: Might have to think about that for my SR when I get to that point...

[Slammed180]

I had that exact set-up on my CA 180SX, only I was running a Z32 MAF, and a R32 GTR fuel pump. All I did was I got my ECU chipped and tuned.

Everything ran great, and pulled nice.

[MegasquirtCA]

I never knew Megasquirt was that cheap. :eek: Might have to think about that for my SR when I get to that point...


Thats Megasquirt II V3.0, Megasquirt I V3.0 is about $180. The difference is the processor. MSII has a faster 16 bit processor.

[LongGrain]

i think i still have my megasquirt wiring harness from when i was going that route with my CA, if you want it let me know.

[DALAZ_68]

i think i still have my megasquirt wiring harness from when i was going that route with my CA, if you want it let me know.

sweeet :naughty: