Which first- DSMlink or upgrade the turbo?

[doug]

I have about $600 saved and it's time to give the car a present. I just can't decide what to do first. I already have a 95 EPROM ECU that I can send in to get DSMlink installed onto, and I'm still running the stock T-25. Should I get a better turbo first (and still have no tuning tools) or go ahead and get the DSMlink? I'm looking at either the EVO III 16G or an unclipped 18G as my turbo choices (but thankfully this isn't a "which turbo" thread).

Relevant mods are:
2.5" O2 elim turboback
intake
UICP w/TurboXS BOV
MBC
Auto Alchemy -6AN fuel line from filter to rail and a rewired stock pump
stock A/T
Boost & EGT gauges

Last dyno run indicated I'm running grossly rich-- less than 10:1, so I'm pretty sure I'm getting enough fuel. I figure a better flowing turbo might help my A/F ratio some as well, but like I said, I have no way to tune right now. And I could keep the boost down until I upgrade the IC and, eventually, the injectors. Any suggestions?

 

[Agent Ezzard]

Seeing is how you really don't have reason other than just for tuning, I would say get the turbo first. I can truly understand the reason to get a DSMLink immediately if you had a 6 bolt and a RM problem. Other than that, I would pic the turbo up and keep the boost where it should be until the right fuel mods are present.

 

[brryder]

i would ge the dsmlink first. If you get the turbo, you gonna have to run lower boost because you dont have any fuel managements. With the dsmlink, you're gonna be on the safer side

 

[BlueMoonEclipse]

Isint the chip made by dsmlink designed specifically for your turbo/inj trim?? (sorry all i know about the mitsu ecu was for a tsi talon proj i abandoned...to concentrate on my ol 420a) so it can idle properly even when reset...

If so id go turbo first,keeping boost low, add inj + fuel upgrades, then have dsm link made spec for your setup and trim

annyways happy shoping!!

 

[13secGST]

hmmm..well first off, even though this isn't a "which turbo thread"
I wouldn't recommend the 18g...just cause they are not effeicent and way over priced for what it is.

Second, even though you have already, and I know your excited, think long and hard about what turbo you want, what do you want the car to do...don't go by hp ratings and say...yeh I want to make that much, that sounds good to me...because 350whp on a big16g or EVO 16g is very hard...you need to be tuned excellently and have every performance mod...I'm just telling you this cause I go my Big16 and now I want to upgrade to an AGP L1R which actually suits what I want to do with the car and gives me more power...

Last, since I have DSMLinkV2...I'd say that it would be a wise upgrade, even now...you could tune, learn more about tunning, and have a "fast" T25...you'll still save for a new turbo, but now you can have something to tune with when you get it, besides, I think you need Injectors and a fuel pump before you do a turbo upgrade...otherwise your asking for trouble.

Ok...that is my opinion, as I have been in your postition before and where you are, you have so many options, as much as you want stuff...you don't need it yet...because you will continue to work and save money and get what you want...at least thats what I have done.

Hope I was somewhat helpful

 

[doug]

Thanks for the comments, guys! I understand where everyone is comnig from and appreciate the input. To clarify a few things:

The fuel mods I do have already are doing a great job of getting more fuel into the engine-- about the only other mod I think I'll need for a while is bigger injectors. The stock rewired pump along with the new fuel line eliminates the major restrictions in the fuel system and appears to be working well as evidenced by my super-rich A/F ratio at the last dyno run (according to the shop owner who is a DSM guru).

The 18G I was looking at is a used one for sale by a local guy and is pretty affordable. Since I have an A/T, I can't really go too big on the turbo since there'd be no way to spool it well without serious tranny mods and nitrous. And I can't afford a BB turbo such as the SBR-GT10.

OTOH, it would be hard to keep the boost down since I'd still be running the stock SMIC and not have any tuning tools. But down the road when I did get injectors and turbo, I'd also need to upgrade the IC as well, making for a large sum of money needed at once. Maybe I could sell my plasma.....

 

[L2RTSiAWD]

I would get the DSMlink first but make sure it's version2.

 

[doug]

Score so far--

Turbo: 2
DSMlink: 3

I think I'm leaning slightly toward the turbo for two reasons: 1) it would be slightly cheaper (if I get the EVO III turbo for $569, or this used 18G down the street for even less), and 2) I wouldn't be feeling the need as much to buy dyno time to tune. If I get DSMlink, I'd most likely spend a good chunk of cash at the dyno to get everything running right, and then when I finally did get a new turbo, I'd have to go right back and recalibrate everything. Does this make any sense?

 

[peregrine]

get the dsmlink. you dont need a dyno to tune your car. just tune for little to no knock, its not brain surgery. then save your money and buy a bolt on 50 trimn and 680 inj. you will be much happier in the long run with that setup.

 

[Groomz]

DSMlink. Power is nothing without control.

 

[greyforestgst]

turbo
tuRBO
TURBBBOOO

 

[leet]

Originally posted by Groomz
DSMlink. Power is nothing without control.

Couldn't have said it any better.

 

[13secGST]

no...it doesnt make sense...you dont need to dyno tune your car every time...and if you get DSMLink first it will give you a much better understanding of the car

all you have to do is log a 3rd gear pull..."tune"...and you done...no need to go to dyno tune until your setup is complete

 

[xinfiniter]

I asked this same question 2 years ago and I got the dsmlink. Trust me you'll be happy with it. You can play with the features and learn how to use it. Then when you have enough for the turbo you can get a bigger/better one then you could without the dsmlink. Who knows....by the time you can get the turbo your looking at now...it will be cheaper or better turbos for the same price. DSMLinks price wont go down.

 

[headrec*]

One word DSMLink. I just got a pocketlogger for my car and I was a little hesitant thinking that I should go more with exhaust and fuel pump etc. But just in the month or so I've had it I've learned so much more and there's still a ton I haven't learned. Get the dsmlink and like John said MAKE SURE IT'S VERSION 2.

 

[greathuskie]

first...get the dsmlink

second...when you get a turbo, get the evo 16g

 

[doug]

OK, I'm convinced. I'll go with the DSMlink first most likely. Thanks for all the great responses. Anybody got a laptop they don't need? I have a color Palm, which I know can run DSMlink on it, but I don't know how easy it is vs. using a laptop. I would guess that the laptop would be easier, especially for all the initial setup.

 

[hostile]

Get the dsmlink first, with dsmlink you can probably max out your stock turbo.

 

[doug]

I came across this old thread tonight during a search for something else, so I thought I'd update. I ended up getting the turbo first, but only because a local guy was selling one dirt cheap and I couldn't refuse. The good news is that not longer after that, with the wife in the car, I hit fuel cut-- hard. Right then, she consented to letting me get DSMLink as well. So now I have both and am very happy. BTW, the turbo I got was a used Big 16G and it's been running like a champ now for 2-3 months.

I think if I were to make a recommendation to someone in the same boat I was when I originally asked the question, I would also say get the DSMLink first. If I would've had to live with 9-10 PSI in order to avoid fuel cut for much longer, I would've gone bonkers.

 

[kpt4321]

Originally posted by 13secGST
hmmm..well first off, even though this isn't a "which turbo thread"
I wouldn't recommend the 18g...just cause they are not effeicent and way over priced for what it is.

This is wrong. The 18g is a great wheel, just don't spend too much.

 

[kpt4321]

One more vote for DSMLink. You will need it to run the larger turbo, and you want to learn how to tune first.