Custom ECU Tune or Power FC?

[jsasrsr]

Ok, so im at the point that im going to need some tuning in my sr20 to get the most potential out of it...

but i have two options..

1. ECU Tune Service for $150
or
2. Apexi Power FC for around 800 or so....

Im thinking more on just getting the ECU tuned, but is it really worth it? Or should I go all out and get the Fc? any input would help!

[Dousan_PG]

tune for 150?
sounds like crap hahahah
genero tune? or on the dyno?
because it takes mor ethen an hour to get a really good tune going...


id go the PFC route at the minimum.

[jsasrsr]

its that send in your ecu and your specs/mods and they tune it... i was just wondering if its all hype

[Dousan_PG]

its not neraly as good as some dyno time and a real tune would but

it works
but its not worth it imo. i had an enthalpy one
sureit worked great
but the new PFC setup i got is far superior imo.

[DrG_RPS13]

Why not try something like Nistune www.nistune.com (http://www.nistune.com)

well priced and you can select bigger injectors, bigger maf etc and it lets you tune your standard factory timing and fuel maps in realtime. Also sets up base maps based on the hardware you've added.

[rps13sr20]

It all depends on your budget. Since you are contemplating between the two, I would assume you have the money for a pfc and dyno tune. Go with pfc and don't look back, you won't regret it. ECU re-flashes are good at getting the job but limited to how much you can tune it.

[dynamicck]

Ok, so im at the point that im going to need some tuning in my sr20 to get the most potential out of it...



Getting an ecu tune will NOT give you the most potential.

most potential and cheap are polar opposites.

[NI_YON_Zenki]

well, considering you're based in Germany, if you're trying to save up & bring the car home? then get the PFC. Don't bother changing the PCM, cause specifics will change upon getting the car stateside. But who knows what exactly you're try to accomplish.

and cheap & most potential are only opposites by verbal reference.
A good tuner will tune a PCM for a price considerably less than the purchase of a standalone, The difference is specifics of performance preference, you can work a very foolish setup well with a solid standalone tuning, but run a very strong setup consistently smooth with a simple PCM tuning, remapping the injection pulse readouts to a "basic" setup T28, t04, T3/T4 etc. so don't quote an ECU tune as cheap just because the kid didn't describe what it is he's trying to accomplish. In the case of this topic, rps stated a very good point of consideration.

[dynamicck]

I'd love to see a $150 ecu tune go head to head w/ a PFC. I got my money on a PFC any day.
yes there are people who can tune a PCM very well, but I doubt it's $150.
I have yet to see it.

[!Zar!]

A power fc with a few hours of dyno tuning is the answer to life.

[flip3d]

A power fc with a few hours of dyno tuning is the answer to life.

Wow, seriously? You mean the sole purpose of my existence is to have a tuned PFC? If only it was that simple... :)

[s13silvia123]

i'll go with the FC. i have one. less time consuming than have a tune ecu. which would cost less on the long run. everytime you have something that you'll need to tune the FC is the answer. the tune ecu will cost you more on the long run.

[fliprayzin240sx]

If your gonna get a rom-tune...you might as well buy a SAFC now too because you will need it. Oh yah, they you'll need to get the SAFC tuned for the rom-tune. So in the end, you might as well have just gotten a PFC...

[Ninjabread]

IMO, the enthalpy rom tunes are hit or miss. I have a friend who has an s14 with an s14 sr, 550cc, z32 maf, and he got a tune from scott. It has near perfect afr's and he's been using it for over 2 years now.

Then there's people like mats (mr_240sx) who seem to have issues with them, his runs lean / rich, can't remember and he had to correct it a bit with his hks afr.

I'm on a budget and need to get my car running, so I'll go with the rom tune. I do plan to go pfc in the future when I upgrade the turbo, but right now I just can't afford 1000$ on PFC and 500$ + on tuning.

my 2 cents.

[240cracker]

if u decide to go with power fc its it wont be all half assed...
i one for sale for s14 sr20det if intrested PM

brand new in box $750 shipped and it comes with commander.

[lflkajfj12123]

its a budget choice

and really which do you want that will be worth your money

i'll be going with the pfc

[kensreliableb18b]

Ok, so im at the point that im going to need some tuning in my sr20 to get the most potential out of it...

but i have two options..

1. ECU Tune Service for $150
or
2. Apexi Power FC for around 800 or so....

Im thinking more on just getting the ECU tuned, but is it really worth it? Or should I go all out and get the Fc? any input would help!


first off, if you get a powerfc you still have to tune it. so its not just the "800."

second, i think you should explain what mods you're doing to your engine so we can get a better idea of why you're thinking of getting the tuned ec/powerfc

[s13 @ fullboost]

first off, if you get a powerfc you still have to tune it. so its not just the "800."

second, i think you should explain what mods you're doing to your engine so we can get a better idea of why you're thinking of getting the tuned ec/powerfc




what he said

[golfer17]

I would rather get a good ecu tune on the dyno with either that nistune software or a mail order tune and an safc for fine tuning myself. The power fc is a great tuning device, but it is also a very simplified ecu compared to the stock ecu (for instance, it does not have near the corrections for temperature and humidity changes that the stock ecu has).

either way should work great though. My main recommendations on tuning is to make sure you have a wideband to keep an eye on things from day to day, and never use a piggyback system for any setup that requires more than around +-20% fuel adjustments (disclaimer: this is an arbitrary number I've come up with based loosely on my experience and mostly on my opinion).

[tattoo131313]

So much depends on what mods you have now and what mods you plan on getting.With the PFC you can always retune if you upgrade.It does cost a little bit but,I think it's well worth it in the long run if you plan on owning your car for a while. An ecu tune just sounds like a quick fix to pull a little more hp out of your current set up.