What tuning path to go??

[LKWTSI]

Ok here goes, NO biting my head off, as I have read the Tech articles and searched many different key words for the last couple of hours and the conclusion is there is as many answers are there is DSM'rs. That's a good thing

So anyway, stripped the TB at Christmas and killed the engine. I've been sitting on this for the last couple of months and have finally managed to get started. I picked up a rebuilt 6 bolt that I need to transfer the accessories to from my old engine. It has a BSEK and HP oil pump and I'll basically put the thing back together and add a new ACT clutch.

I don't have an unlimited budget, but figured I do some tuning upgrades while doing this project. SO, I had stock injectors and ECU, running on Stock MAF. My profile shows the other mods that are on the car, so I'll forego the details in this post.

What I want to know, is as far as tuning goes, I pretty much don't think I'm going DSMlink, due to cost and what I intend to do with the car after, but want to know what I need to purchase for the next step up in tuning. I have MMCd / Palm Pilot, but need a cable, to connect it to the OBD.

Is a GM 3" MAF with MAF-T and SAFC the way to go? and if so what else do I need? If not what would be the best for price upgrade with out going EPROM and DSMlink?

Sorry this is a bit of a wordy, but wanted to make sure I conveyed my desires and I won't have to ask again.

 

[DWR-DSM]

Just to be sure, is your profile up to date? Im asking this because I don'y really see much of a reason to tune your DSM yet.

You can use jackal instead of dsmlink since it will work with a lower budget.

http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/tun...l-free-speed-density-tuning-software-1gs.html

 

[Dark_Horse]

Before you do anything, since you have a BSEK installed, take off the oil filter housing and port the relief hole. Especially since you said it had a HP oil pump. Why anyone would use a HP oil pump on a DSM with a BSEK is beyond me...

 

[slowboy101]

This might be an option but you can run the evo8 ecu and use the evo data log

 

[LKWTSI]

Before you do anything, since you have a BSEK installed, take off the oil filter housing and port the relief hole. Especially since you said it had a HP oil pump. Why anyone would use a HP oil pump on a DSM with a BSEK is beyond me...

Got the engine that way, not my fault. But I'll research what you're saying and take the approriate action.

Just to be sure, is your profile up to date? Im asking this because I don'y really see much of a reason to tune your DSM yet.

You can use jackal instead of dsmlink since it will work with a lower budget.

http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/tun...l-free-speed-density-tuning-software-1gs.html

Huh!! What do you have to have to be considering tuning beyond stock?? I said in the OP that I plan on doing a few upgrades as far as injectors and FMIC. beyond that I'm running Evo 3 16G, full exhaust, walboro 255, upgraded UICP and intake, MBC. I know I'll have to possibly upgrade to FMIC, but beyond that, from what I've seen on this site is at least considerably mod'd from stock. Which is why I asked the question in the first place. I need to know what would be the next reasonable step in upgrades to tuning.

 

[91stocker]

I love jackal and ostrich combo personally. Tons of options, super easy to set up and tune, software is free, plus you can pitch your maf in the trash

 

[DWR-DSM]

Sorry, I was busy with my son at the time I wrote that and thought of something else. Any idea on how much boost you plan on running? and what is your overall plan you are trying to accomplish besides tuning? Im asking this because Im trying to understand better what you want besides just adding more fuel and turning the boost lvl up.

 

[LTUDSM]

Dont waste money on gm maf maf-t /safc or loggers. Just get an EcmLink and call it a day. because with ecmlink you can do all these things,that the maf-t , afc, logger does. Plus it has many more features to proper tune the car.... and you will be good in a long run. Believe me,i did that ,and i was disapointed ,of the money i spent on these things (afc,maf-t,loggers) and ended up buying an EcmLink

 

[DWR-DSM]

It looks like he is trying to stay away from the dsmlink. I just realized you could always go with the dsmlink llite which is alot cheaper than the v3 and when you have the money you can always upgrade to the full version.

Dont waste money on gm maf maf-t /safc or loggers. Just get an EcmLink and call it a day. because with ecmlink you can do all these things,that the maf-t , afc, logger does. Plus it has many more features to proper tune the car.... and you will be good in a long run. Believe me,i did that ,and i was disapointed ,of the money i spent on these things (afc,maf-t,loggers) and ended up buying an EcmLink

+1

 

[Clinical]

A keydiver chip is a great & cheap way to go.

I ran a Keydiver stage 3 chip in my car, just switched to DSMLink finally.
I ran the Keydiver chip from 10psi-22psi and it ran great.

However I'm finally taking the car farther and want to be more versatile so am going with DSMLink.

However for your plans it'd be great. People seem to always have good things to say about the keydiver chips.

Check it out at dsmchips.com

You'd still need to have your ECU socketed but its only like $25.

If you ever want ECMLink as well, they can sell it to you and give you a discount if you send in your old keydiver chip - at least that's what I was told.

 

[jrohner]

Here's another for DS-Map!

 

[LKWTSI]

Hey thanks guys, I'm getting the feedback I was hoping for, so keep throwing the ideas out there.

So as far as boost levels and such, maybe I should go with this information and say this. I was running about 15 psi before the breakdown. I truthfully have NO idea what I can aim for, without knowing what I'll need to support much bigger boost values. So let me say this and see what you guys come up with. I was planning on going up to about 550 injectors and running the boost up around 18-20psi. Based upon what I have right now, I understood my stock MAF would run out at those boost levels and I'd need the bigger injectors to start getting more fuel into the picture. With that knowledge, I need to know what I'd need to run as far as upgraded airflow and systems to control the fuel maps. This is why I'm curious as to what tuning tools I need, eg. MAF-T and SAFC or Stock MAF and something else, or DSMLink or something similar. I hope I'm making sense, but really what I want to know is if I took the DSMLink & similar out of the equation what paths am I left with. I don't want to waste my time buying a MAF-T and SAFC to find out all I had to do was get a socketed ECU and something simple like a new MAF.

If this helps, my tuning goals are simple. I want to go a few steps up from stock. I'm not looking at building a 400+ hp monster. So from all I've learned from this site over the years, you guys out there have everything covered from stock all the way up to major HP drag and DD cars. So if I'm not being specific enough as to my tuning ambition, I apologize. This is why I'm digging around with this thread. I know someone out there has done what I'm trying to find out. WHO, went above the stock values and bolted on the upgraded toys, bigger turbo, and injectors and exhaust and what did you add for the fuel and air side of this upgrade and how did you control it. OR am I just chasing the wrong ideas.

I really appreciate the info and being able to learn from what all of you have to say.

A keydiver chip is a great & cheap way to go.

I ran a Keydiver stage 3 chip in my car, just switched to DSMLink finally.
I ran the Keydiver chip from 10psi-22psi and it ran great.

However I'm finally taking the car farther and want to be more versatile so am going with DSMLink.

However for your plans it'd be great. People seem to always have good things to say about the keydiver chips.

Check it out at dsmchips.com

You'd still need to have your ECU socketed but its only like $25.

If you ever want ECMLink as well, they can sell it to you and give you a discount if you send in your old keydiver chip - at least that's what I was told.

I like the sound of this setup. I'll have to look more closely at the site for details. Also based upon my last post what do I need for airflow with this?? Stock MAF or something better?

Sorry, I was busy with my son at the time I wrote that and thought of something else. Any idea on how much boost you plan on running? and what is your overall plan you are trying to accomplish besides tuning? Im asking this because Im trying to understand better what you want besides just adding more fuel and turning the boost lvl up.

Hey nothing to worry about

The one thing I've managed to learn about web-boards is you can't always get across what you mean in text. Thanks for the input.