So I'm pretty new to DSM's and ive been putting money into my 1G and I think its time for a tune, was thinking about picking up an Apexi SAFCII but not 100% certain could I get a little help?
mods include
-big 16g turbo
-550cc injectors
-2g maf
-3 inch exhaust
-delta 272 cams
-built head
-stock fuel pump
Advice on if its time for a tune, what to buy, and what would be the best tune for my car would be much appreciated

upgrade to a WB 190 or a WB 255 and AFPR, Apexi SAFCII will help but ECM Link will do it all and cover future upgrades.

An SAFC is the old school way to do it, but usually since we have ECMlink available there's not much reason to go with anything else. V3 Lite is very reasonably priced.

^ they don't sell v3 lite anymore, only way is second hand now. O.p. what's your plans and goals for the car? Since you only have 550's a safc1-2 is perfectly fine, but has its limits. Like said ecmlink is made for our car by guys that drive them and tune them, there is hands down the best support. And if you read and do enough research before hand, can be very easy to use and get a good tune, without paying hundreds to someone else. You def could use a fuel pump upgrade and rewire along with a after market pressure regulator. You do not want to raise the boost and not have the fuel to support it. Going lean in a turbo car at high boost can be deadly to everything moving in your engine .

I was really just planning on making a bad ass street fighter, 300-350 horse sounds pretty nice, but being a broke college student im really just looking for the cheapest easiest alternative until I graduate in march then the dsm link will be a no brainer, a wally 255 was the pump I was planning on getting, boost will probably stay on the lowish side (sittin at 15 psi right now) cause it is also my daily at this point, i was just looking at the safc because I can pick one up for half the price of dsm link and its all self contained and can be tuned without anything else[DOUBLEPOST=1408898432][/DOUBLEPOST]The safc would also probably be the final upgrade until graduation, im really just trying to cover all my bases and make it as reliable as I can, so when something does go wrong itll just be "Because DSM" rather than "You shouldve done this to prevent that"

If you go with the wally 255 you will need a AFPR it will overrun the stock one.

You could also look into evo fuel pumps to save some money, a 255 will need an AFPR but you can throw in a evo 10 fuel pump for pretty cheap as well as a rewire. I would put together the rewire kit yourself vs buying a kit (save more money) the safc can then be used to "fine" tune the 2g maf/550 set up.

http://www.dsmtuners.com/threads/evo-x-fuel-pump.339799/

It's a easy swap for a 1g, I have a evo 10 pump in mine.

It seems like a nice set up grab a wideband, but the 2g maf and the 560s are a great match.

Also to add one more thing, get a cheap palm pilot for data logging (to watch for knock) they are dirt cheap on ebay, the mmcd software is free online, and you can make the serial cable for $10-$15 depending on where you source the db9 connector. Radio shack has everything you need to make one.

http://mmcdlogger.sourceforge.net/
http://www.dsmtuners.com/threads/the-easy-way-to-make-a-1g-usb-datalogging-cable.424006/

There might be better links or write ups somewhere.

-^ that write up is misleading alittle. It actually cost him around $30 to make the cable and after all the hassle. Finding the parts you need ordering and waiting. Your better off finding someone selling a used setup. I scored my palm and everything for $25

ThatChurroGuy said:

...so when something does go wrong itll just be "Because DSM" rather than "You shouldve done this to prevent that"

Click to expand...

There is no such thing as "because DSM"; it's always "You shouldve done this to prevent that"....on any car.

But back to the original question, do I or do I not need a tune?

Yes, but i'd skip the cams and get a fuel pump/adjustible fuel pressure regulator first.