ECM vs Stand alone

4GTuner

Help Support 4GTuner:

1JUM2NV

1JUM2NV

Well-Known Member
Joined
Mar 22, 2009
Messages
530
Location
Perth SOR
Hey guys,

not sure if this has been covered.. but im looking for opinions..

Getting to the point where i will need to look at management systems..

2 options get a ECM chip or go a stand alone. Both have there pros and cons.

Im not planning on running E85 as it not readily available here. So fuel atm isnt a problem.
 
I've fitted and tuned more than 25 ECMtuning chips to VR4/RVR/Evo 3/GSRs etc etc. I love the product, and coming from the Old Skool ground floor background of aftermarket ECUs, I wouldn't hesitate to keep the factory setup. I haven't really come across any scenario the factory ECU/ECM couldn't handle. The Evo/GSR chip is a little more limited than the full VR4 versions, but you would need a pretty wild setup to even contemplate a stand alone setup. Even our State Gravel rally winning VR4 runs the stock ecu and ECM. Apparently, you have to have a Motec/Autronic or Viper to win rallies LOL!! The factory setup and chip is way cheaper than stand alone, and these days a stealth stock look keeps the revenue raisers at bay.

The only problem is that you Perth guys don't seem to have any Tuners that can get there head around /prepared to calibrate the ECM chip. To be honest, that completely blows me away, as it is so user friendly. I built an engine package with an ECU and chip a year ago for a Perth guy. He couldn't not find any one to look at it !!!!!!! He ended up flying me over on a cheap flight, and we hired a dyno and set it up.
 
the haltech ps series is absolutly awesome but it is pricey and has bits that you probably wouldn't need. but it's so simple and runs so much like factory i completly forget i'm running an aftermarket ecu
 
what ill be running.

lower comp motor 8.3:1
280 cams with adjustable gears. (still havnt decided if im going with them yet)
oversized valves
gt30
factory maf
800cc injectors

ive been told my someone i know if he could do this build all over again he'd go with the ECM chip aswell.

But not having someone local in perth does put a spanner in the works.. With the mild research i have done it doesnt look too hard to play with.
 
one reason i didnt wanna do stand alone is all the dyno time it would need. ECM (from what ive read) you can do live tuning
 
Either ecmlink or late evo ecu.
I can get you calibrated on the ecmlink, up running, and safe on ecmlink. As long as its logging a wb. So that only will need a bit of full throttle afr and timing adjust on dyno.
Only thing is no boost control for the evo/gsr built into ecmlink.

Or I have the cables for evoscan ecuflash but havent used it.
There is guys in cannington that import late evos and have a awd dyno. They dont use ecuflash and seem ignorant.......wtf?
 
sounds good jack. can you live tune instead of a dyno.. i know a dyno is probly easier and more legal haha..

got a small laptop that i can hook upto the chip.

Boost no issues. got a EBC :)

still leaning towards the ECM
 
How fast is redline in third? 100+ mph. Its pretty fast for most of the highways round here. Well its fast if you get caught.
Even to calibrate you need a few runs to get your airflow down.
But even once thats done you are then workng on your tables, so its easier for a tuner. 95% of the work is calibration. Just gotta add timing till it knocks and then lean it off.
Ecmlink has a hp feature, I suppose you could use that for mbt. Best at the drags if you dont want to dyno it
 
Khubner ... I'm actually a Haltech man from way back, and I still love tuning Haltech on applications where I can rewrite the factory ECU. However... no need to spend money where you don't have to ! Just being pragmatic .

I can live tune etc etc on the road as well, BUT my licence is way to valuable to me, and it doesn't take too much dyno time to set up ECM chips ( given I've ploughed thru 25 plus now !). Here in Adelaide, it is all too easy to get that $800 fine for being a little bit over the posted limit... let alone the Hoon legislation where the authorities can "park" your car for a month, lift $1500 out of your wallet for the privilege, and maybe auction off the vehicle if they think you have been a very naughty boy. Dyno time wins hands down every time !
 
how much dyno time are we talking bout blackvr? I can either get it up and running on a stock motor with factory setup, the once i finish my motor get it running with that.

or would i be better off getting it once i ready to drop my built motor in..
 
ive got an evo 2 ecu aswell. so i could do the link on that, then its atleast done haha. then built my motor at the same time
 
3-4 hours tops. The ECMLink doesn't need setting up in a stock setup really, as that is the default setting when you get the chip. However, if the stock engine is still in the car, it wouldn't hurt to tinker around with the ECM chip and familiarise yourself with it before going "hard core" on the new motor.
 
Evo 5-6 ecu is another option you should look into. I have E6 ecu in my Evo with SD and run eflex. Best thing I ever did.
plenty of people can tune the factory ecu too.
 
Go with whatever your tuner understands and is most experienced with.
There's no point in buying something if you have nobody available to tune it :)
 
Doesn't seem as though any one in Perth can tune Ecuflash or ECM chips !!!!!!What's going on in the West ?
 
OR... you can get a Haltech and book yourself into one of their 'Learn to Tune' sessions and learn to DIY :thumbsup:
 

Similar threads

EVO-00X
Walbro 525 fuel pump fitment - old Walbro 460 issue.
Replies
4
Views
2K
EVO-00X
EVO-00X
A
  • Locked
1990 A-Spec VR4 for sale
Replies
3
Views
2K
Ian91
I
Cranked
Tuning thoughts.
2
Replies
25
Views
2K
bazeng
bazeng
TBOWGN
Fully Forged RVR Hypergear - One of the Best Built
Replies
10
Views
4K
TBOWGN
TBOWGN
Gsrfreo
New to mods chip or ecu
2 3
Replies
44
Views
5K
rvrftw
R

Latest posts

Back
Top