SAFC VS DSMLink (long) Tuning Approaches

[wrx2dsm]

Ok...here is the dilemna Im up against with my 95 GST. I have begun to plan out my mod path to avoid modding twice. I didnt plan to well with 03 WRX and ended up paying twice for the same mod. The DSM is purely a play car but I have come to the crossroad of tuning. My end goal is EVO 16g with supporting mods(Im getting alot of my buddies' hand me downs as he finishes his car) with around 300whp on 93 oct. My best friend and mechanic has been DSMing for years. His car is sick quick and has been down the mod road before. He is very old school in his tuning approaches but still effective. He believes in the simplest approach, that happens to be AFC with boost and EGT gauge. He got his 60-1 road tuned so well, when it was thrown on the dyno, only a 2% fuel correction in 2 RPM ranges was needed. I am very curious as to the DSmlink approach. I came from the WRX world where cracking the ECU is one of the better ways of tuning. The rex has been to be right on the cusp of the knock threshold to make power. I believe in tuning from the ECU like DSmlink provides but I am worried about overkill. Any ideas or opinions? thanks, sorry for the rant.

 

[Bastard1g]

If you have the money, go with the dsmlink and wideband. Its about a grand for all that but thats about all you need to worry about. I couldnt think of anything else needed for tuning. Thats my plans. You dont need a wideband but its a nice tool to have if you can afford it. I am going to order dsmlink in 2 weeks, then maybe I can tune my 6 bolt swap.

 

[Mackzero]

I agree, definately go DSMLink and a plx-m300 wideband. You can tune the car to perfection with that setup.

 

[16g-95gsx]

Your friend is IMO completely wrong for EVER thinking that that would be the better route. You own a 95 dsm, this means you already have an Eprom ECU, now add up the cost of a datalogger, PDA, Safc, and that EGT, and you are right around the same cost as DSMlink only you're left with a very barbaric and IMO piss poor setup. EGT's are awful to tune by, anyone who says otherwise I think has a good bit to learn. The Safc hacks the timing curves all too hell, forcing you to never reach full potential on pump gas. An Safc cant even come CLOSE to supporting the fueling that a 60-1 would require, let alone a 50 trim that was pushed to its limits. Get dsmlink, there is no reason to even think of any other tuning system

 

[tomahawk]

Your friend is IMO completely wrong for EVER thinking that that would be the better route. You own a 95 dsm, this means you already have an Eprom ECU, now add up the cost of a datalogger, PDA, Safc, and that EGT, and you are right around the same cost as DSMlink only you're left with a very barbaric and IMO piss poor setup. EGT's are awful to tune by, anyone who says otherwise I think has a good bit to learn. The Safc hacks the timing curves all too hell, forcing you to never reach full potential on pump gas. An Safc cant even come CLOSE to supporting the fueling that a 60-1 would require, let alone a 50 trim that was pushed to its limits. Get dsmlink, there is no reason to even think of any other tuning system

Just so misinformation isn't spread, there is such thing as a non-EPROM 95 turbo ECU. I own two, one EPROM and one non-EPROM (shameless plug) and the non is for sale too.

 

[phunny]

Do you need a wideband with a DSM link?

 

[xEM1x]

A wideband is not needed, but it is very very usefull. DSMlink has a built in A/F estimate, but thats not exactly acurate.