General Stock ECU vs standalone

[Diehardmitsu]

How's it going people...
I'm fairly new to the DSM game and this site. I'll be doing a RWD 4g63(1g) swap to my 89 Mitsu. Starion and I'm basically trying to gather as mush info. as possible before starting.
Firstly, I'm trying to decide whether it'll be best use a factory ECU with a piggy back or should I go full standalone. Cost wise, which would be better? Also, which would be most reliable and easy to tune?
I'm shooting for around 450 WHP.
Your thoughts and opinion please.

 

[3kgt2nv]

I would use dsmlink before i used a piggyback and the dsmlink is almost as good as any standalone out there for what your going to try to make.

 

[Bud92gsx]

Almost as good..I'd say it's very comparable to the other EMS out there..And only half the price od aem EMS..

 

[delta448]

Firstly, I'm trying to decide whether it'll be best use a factory ECU with a piggy back or should I go full standalone.

Go with a factory ECU or another standalone. Unlike piggybacks, they offer full independent control of fuel, ignition timing, boost, solenoid activation, etc.

The most widely used tuning interfaces are those that re-use the factory computer. To me a device is only a piggyback when it's purpose is to manipulate the data an ECU receives in attempt to make it operate under conditions it isn't currently programmed for. Several versions of our factory ECUs can simply be reprogrammed correctly.

An aftermarket standalone will be much more expensive than all the other options, but do offer many benefits. I am not experienced with these, so I'll let someone else cover those options in more detail.

Cost wise, which would be better?

Only going on price, either

• an Ostrich and burnable EPROM chips or
• a reflashable ECU, software and cable

would likely be the cheapest. The reflashable ECUs are only found on 98+ turbo DSMs, and the Ostrich requires a socketed EPROM ECU.

Also, which would be most reliable and easy to tune?

Easiest to tune, the hands down winner would be ECMLink.
Their support forums alone are worth the price of ownership, even without their amazing datalogging capabilities and their intuitive user interface.

I'm shooting for around 450 WHP.
Your thoughts and opinion please.

ECMLink. Especially if you're not the most experienced tuner.

 

[mike96]

Only going on price, either

• an Ostrich and burnable EPROM chips or
• a reflashable ECU, software and cable

would likely be the cheapest. The reflashable ECUs are only found on 98+ turbo DSMs, and the Ostrich requires a socketed EPROM ECU.

You could always throw a Megasquirt in that list. Price wise it could be done for just a hair more than those two but they are a little bit more work to install and set up. If you are going to look into the flashable ECU route include the EVO8 ecu into that list, cost is a bit less than the flashable 98/99 ecu.

 

[Diehardmitsu]

Go with a factory ECU or another standalone. Unlike piggybacks, they offer full independent control of fuel, ignition timing, boost, solenoid activation, etc.

The most widely used tuning interfaces are those that re-use the factory computer. To me a device is only a piggyback when it's purpose is to manipulate the data an ECU receives in attempt to make it operate under conditions it isn't currently programmed for. Several versions of our factory ECUs can simply be reprogrammed correctly.

An aftermarket standalone will be much more expensive than all the other options, but do offer many benefits. I am not experienced with these, so I'll let someone else cover those options in more detail.


Only going on price, either

• an Ostrich and burnable EPROM chips or
• a reflashable ECU, software and cable

would likely be the cheapest. The reflashable ECUs are only found on 98+ turbo DSMs, and the Ostrich requires a socketed EPROM ECU.


Easiest to tune, the hands down winner would be ECMLink.
Their support forums alone are worth the price of ownership, even without their amazing datalogging capabilities and their intuitive user interface.


ECMLink. Especially if you're not the most experienced tuner.

I do have some experience with road tuning a few cars.
My daily driver is an 03 Is300 with a SupraTT swap.
is300 2jzgte swap - StarQuestClub.com

I road tuned this car. The Wideband AFR gauge shows mid 14s on cruise and
11s during boost consistantly, it runs real good.

I know most factory ECUs have the best timing curves and knock control thats why I didn't rule this option but when you play around with bigger injectors big boost, they become a headache to dial in good fuel through the powerband.
I will definitely do some reading on the ECMlink, the data logging capabilties you mentioned sounds promising.