44 replies to this topic

[Gsrfreo]

Hello. Firstly, I've been reading the forum for ages. A lot of great info on here!! My wife is sick of me being on it all the time. I've finally signed up.
I have a late 94 gsr. I've had it since 97. Not many mods done so far, just the normal. Exhaust from turbo back, pod filter. Just recently a plazmaman intercooler. Wow the stock one was tiny!! Other then an evo 3 kit it's stock. Only done 185k.
I'm not planning on having the fastest gsr in the world. But do want it to go harder. It's never been on a track or the 1/4. But I hope that changes in the future.
Anyway. I'm looking at getting an evo 2 turbo fitted at the next service. As the exhaust manifold is missing a bolt and the gasket is leaking. Making a high pitched squeal when off boost driving. Very annoying. I figured while the manifold is off I may as well change the turbo.
As I am no way a mechanic the work will be done by an evo specialist.
A question I have, and I know there are a lot of options. Is regarding the ecu? I am planning on getting 510 or 560cc injectors, and better afm. The workshop is recommending I get an evo 7 ecu fitted. I understand it's fully tuneable. But that means dino and that means $$$. I do understand to get the most out of my car dino tuning is best.
I've also read on the forum about ecmlink, meek chips. And putting an evo 3 ecu in. Each have there pros and cons. I like the fact that ecmlink and meek chip I get to keep my ecu. So everything will work. I hope. And the evo 3 ecu is kinda plug and play but cooling fan issues. But not tuneable unless it's chipped. The ecmlink seems to have a lot of options and tune ability for latter mods. Does it need to be dino tuned though? And I'm not sure my mechanics know it, but I read it's very easy to use. I spoke to meek. He said he can tune the chip to what mods I have, and it's simple plug and play. But to do any latter tuning I need to get an old palm pilot and leads. But the software is easy to find. I really don't think the workshop will know this chip.
So in short any advice on a value for money upgrade?
Cheers

[leadfoot]

i myself would recomend doing the simple stuff first thuse to compliment the turbo i'd recomend afm 510cc injectors and evo 1 - 3 ecu. (you can always chip it later on)

 

to put the later model ecu in require alil more fiddling around if the shop you working with is confident they can get it in and running quickly and smothly i'd follow their advice and put in the later model ecu. for ease of install when putting in the later model ecu i would recomend installing the matching AFM and injectors to match the ecu. this way once the intial wiring changes are made everything should work as factory allowing you to tune later on

[EVL JUM]

ive done this conversion to my old gsr. i put in the evo turbo, injectors, maf and used and evo 2 ecu. Ran like a dream. but when i had a power run done, was told it was leaning out at the top end. but thats over 6.5-7k rpm

 

you will need to have the manifold milled out. to suit the larger hole on the evo turbo. cost me 50 buxs last time. all you need is your mani and an evo turbo gasket

 

things that will need to be changing. you will need new water lines to the turbo. and you need a new oil feed line maybe the oil return line too. Depending on what i/c pipe you are running, you may need to change that aswell. as the evo turbos have a different J pipe angle

[jack be nimble]

The evo afm is a pita if you dont want a pod, as it doesnt fit.

Do your turbo mods, injectors and burn a meek chip, or maybe vr401 can burn you a chip. See if they can burn it for a later round afm (399, 482, or similar) they outflow the 055/609 and fit with your piping and airbox.

I can socket your ecu and then any chip will go in, meek or ecmlink, later.
Dont worry about the fan thing, yours is probably radiator run and a evo3 ecu will just not have the function enabled. I think a chip and socket job would be cheaper than a evo3 ecu.
Get a innovate mtx-l then you can look at your afr without a dyno. And set up for self tune later if you go ecmlink.

Edited by jack of all, 12 June 2014 - 05:03 AM.

[evo-gsr]

You will need to mod your front pipe if you change turbo also.

[leadfoot]

jack the 609 afm does in deed fit with evo intake i trimmed alil of the ribbing off and pushed it in it's a tight fit and still presses against the cas but it does fit

[jack be nimble]

I trimmed the rib and the filter and the airbox, and undid bolts on airbox. And only then did it just squeeze in.
A lot easier if we could chip for a round one.

[evo-gsr]

Is Jumbuck bay narrower?

[leadfoot]

dunno shouldn't be i didn't have to alter the airbox in my coupe until i put the mivec engine in now i'm running a tiny ass mushroom pob literayl stands about 5cm tall and it is still a tight fit!

 

in this one you can just see the intake pipe sitting hard up against the cas
 

and in this one you can see the mivec head and the pod i had to resort to to make everything fit

[jack be nimble]

Jumbuck bay is exactly the same. Maybe I had a big 055, but im sure my 609 is the same size as the 055.

[Gsrfreo]

Thanks for all the advice. O sorry for spelling dyno wrong. Oops.
So any idea how much it would be to get a chip programmed? Are the meek ones kinda the same as vr401?
And jack of all how long would it take to socket it? Can the factory chip be put back in? So I can drive it to the workshop. And then changed when the injectors and afm are fitted?
And klubner1 where did you get that injector cover? My one broke years ago.
I've tried to put photos up but it won't let me.

[jack be nimble]

Couple of hours to socket it. I have a gsr ecu you can swap for a day or so. Yep you can put your chip back in till you are ready to change.
I think vr401 can do you a chip, same as meek. There was a 2nd hand meek chip for sale here other day. Cant recall price but was a bit under $100. So new will be thereabouts.
Just pm vr401 (member here) and see what he says. There is probably a couple of members here that can burn a chip.
A tv repair shop will be able to socket the ecu too. Get them to replace caps and jumper mod while there (ecmlink has details) jaycar has sockets, get the round pin socket, the flat pin one is crap.

I use photobucket to put up pics.

Edited by jack of all, 13 June 2014 - 04:36 AM.

[EVL20T]

Don't get a chip written unless it is tuned on your car on the fly.

I got a meek chip ages ago and the car ran too lean, waste of money really.

[evo-gsr]

I disagree. I had a Meek chip in my old Gsr and it was fine for what it was...if anything mine ran rich.

[EVL20T]

Ours was lean, on idle it was way leaner than 17 on the wide band and on boost was hitting 14.5

Took it to Milo and he read the chip and found that the inj were all entered in wrong

Best way is to use an ostrich or another programmer/writer and tune while you drive or on dyno

After Milo tuned ours, the car ran sweet. 11.5/12 on boost and 14.5/15 on idle. You could feel it pull more too

[EVL20T]

Buy that's not to say all his chips are like this. Our was tuned with Sard 720cc inj, so he prob didn't have the right codes

If it's a stock setup then I would say ull be right

[jack be nimble]

So get the mtx-l and check its ok. you going to need a wideband anyway at some stage. And it will interface with everything. Ecmlink, late evo ecu, motec, anything really.

[leadfoot]

Thanks for all the advice. O sorry for spelling dyno wrong. Oops.
So any idea how much it would be to get a chip programmed? Are the meek ones kinda the same as vr401?
And jack of all how long would it take to socket it? Can the factory chip be put back in? So I can drive it to the workshop. And then changed when the injectors and afm are fitted?
And klubner1 where did you get that injector cover? My one broke years ago.
I've tried to put photos up but it won't let me.

 

i bought it off a member on here who bought in a batch from Malaysia then i spreyed it with degreeser after this photo and the anodizing went all funny. i think i still have it and a stock one here somewhere

[Gsrfreo]

Thanks again for all the advice. After looking at the site for so long. It's kinda cool getting replies and advice from everyone.
Ok so. I think I'll get the 16g fitted at my next service. Just run it on the factory ecu, for now. Then start collecting the other stuff. I think the workshop has second hand evo 7 afm and injectors. I'll see what they want for them. They have quoted to fit evo 7 ecu, afm, injectors and I think a new boost solenoid. For around $2k. Without a dyno tune. And that's around $880.
I know this will be the best option. But $$. And the wife loves when I spend money on my car. Not.
I'll start by trying to get the turbo past her. Lol. Then get the other stuff. And maybe just a chipped ecu first. Baby steps.
Not to mention Coilovers, lifters, window tint, roof ect ect.

I took advice from people on the site about MBL8 for my lifters. What a difference. Thank you! I found a place in perth that stocks it. A 4wd place on great eastern hwy just before Tonkin hwy. I hope this helps if anyone in perth needs it.
Cheers

[evo-gsr]

Yep...once you start...it never ends!