Where to spend the money?

[carvinbassplyr]

Ok I have my next $1k to spend and while I know what I want to get to start the upgrade process now that the tranny/drivetrain work is done...I just don't know the order to go in. As I've stated in previous threads I have a final goal of 350AWHP which I know means 20G turbo, MBC, bigger injectors, FMIC, and tuning when all is said and done. However, I currently have a 14B turbo, FP 255 fuel pump, AEM afpr and 3" turbo back exhaust with eliminator pipe and looking for some advice on where the money should go now? CAI, MBC, FMIC, gauges, and tuning? CAI, MBC, 7cm^2 housing, gauges and tuning? Any advice is appreciated!

 

[richard33]

I would say pick up DSMlink first. Get used to tuning the car and then go from there.

 

[carvinbassplyr]

I would say pick up DSMlink first. Get used to tuning the car and then go from there.

I appreciate the advice and understand where you're coming from, but aren't there at least a few bolt-ons I should do to make messing with the tuning of the car worth while?

 

[95tsiemad]

I would say pick up DSMlink first. Get used to tuning the car and then go from there.

Listen to him ^^ this will be the best thing you could buy for your car. You will never need to upgrade it.

 

[DSMxJB]

I appreciate the advice and understand where you're coming from, but aren't there at least a few bolt-ons I should do to make messing with the tuning of the car worth while?

I say do what YOU want it's you're car. I try not to let people influence my car because it's mine and I do what I like to it. I could go buy a 5foot aluminum wing and some underglows tomorrow if I wanted and I wouldn't care what anyone says, but if I were you I would buy everything you need to tune. I wish I had tuning tools every day.

 

[carvinbassplyr]

Listen to him ^^ this will be the best thing you could buy for your car. You will never need to upgrade it.

Ok, dsmlink won't spend the whole $1k though...wouldn't at least a MBC, CAI and 7cm^2 housing help me make the most of what I already have w/the dsmlink?

 

[DSMReviver]

Go and grab a chicken sandwich at subways. thats what i do.

 

[richard33]

Ok, dsmlink won't spend the whole $1k though...wouldn't at least a MBC, CAI and 7cm^2 housing help me make the most of what I already have w/the dsmlink?

Well if you are planning on gettting a different turbo don't bother with the backhousing. You should get link,boost gauge/wideband, MBC, injectors, and an intake if you want. I would get 1000s but I'm sure you can get something in the 800 range and be fine for injectors.

 

[RvlutionMtrsprt]

Link V3, wideband, used evo 3 16g, sell 14b, get used injectors, pay somebody to tune your car.
Actually, scratch paying somebody to tune it. Tune it yourself and save your money for a fmic.

 

[Bud92gsx]

Link, wideband, gauges, MBC,used evo 3 should have you pretty close to 1k.But you can also pick up a small 16g for around 200, it spools a little quicker than the E3...But if you can pick up used injectors for cheap I would go for it..Unless you just want to save up for 1000's..

But link, wideband, mbc, and gauges for sure..

I'm guessing your maintenance is up to date?

 

[carvinbassplyr]

I'm guessing your maintenance is up to date?

Yes; timing belt, headgasket, oil, and fluids are all brand new.

To the the guys suggesting E316G's...it's not easy to get that kind of power out of those turbos especially on pump gas, and if you do get those kind of numbers the turbo is going to be constantly be at it's limits. I've already decided on a TD05 (to keep the spool quicker) 20G turbo for my final setup. I do see that Link, MBC and gauges seem to be a common staple in everyone's suggestions on what to get so far so I will definitely look into those.

 

[91stocker]

You guys are delusional on those lists.

link v3 - $500
sp bundle - $100
eprom - $250

Theres $850 leaves him 150 for a boost gauge and a mbc. Or maybe a used wb. But atleast then you will be able to use those upgrades later on, like a 20g, etc. The 14b also seems to flow 30lbs/min pretty regularly.

 

[dsm-onster]

In this order:

--Link lite. Don't waste money on the sd bundle. (Why do folks always say that HAS to be included in the cost for a 400whp tuning solution from ecmtuning . His 2g maf is fine.) $375 + $185 eprom conversion
--VR Speedfactory fmic $310
--Evo 580s (bunp the fuel pressure) $100
--Cams (hks 272, fp2, dks 272, comp200, any thing with 210-213 .05" lift duration, used or regrinds are fine) $200-$400
--Used evo3 16g $300


Lowest I can get you to is just under $1500 if it were my car. Remember that teh 14b is good for upto 320ish whp with a good tune. And the stock injectors are NOT enough for it's flow potential nor is the stock sidemount intercooler.

You don't NEED cams, but they sure help for 350whp and a td05h turbine wheel that's on a 16g and a typical bolton 20g. You can convert to the 1998-1999 ecu and save about $300 ($100 for reflashable ecu, $40 for cam sensor, $100 for reflash/logging cable, $25 for EvoScan).

That puts you at just under $1000 subtracting those costs (before shipping). But, it's much easier though with the cams, and linklite can be upgraded to the full version later where you'll never need another tuning solution again.

 

[TSIfreek]

Dsm link and a quality wideband gauge

 

[carvinbassplyr]

In this order:

--Link lite. Don't waste money on the sd bundle. (Why do folks always say that HAS to be included in the cost for a 400whp tuning solution from ecmtuning . His 2g maf is fine.) $375 + $185 eprom conversion
--VR Speedfactory fmic $310
--Evo 580s (bunp the fuel pressure) $100
--Cams (hks 272, fp2, dks 272, comp200, any thing with 210-213 .05" lift duration, used or regrinds are fine) $200-$400
--Used evo3 16g $300


Lowest I can get you to is just under $1500 if it were my car. Remember that teh 14b is good for upto 320ish whp with a good tune. And the stock injectors are NOT enough for it's flow potential nor is the stock sidemount intercooler.

You don't NEED cams, but they sure help for 350whp and a td05h turbine wheel that's on a 16g and a typical bolton 20g. You can convert to the 1998-1999 ecu and save about $300 ($100 for reflashable ecu, $40 for cam sensor, $100 for reflash/logging cable, $25 for EvoScan).

That puts you at just under $1000 subtracting those costs (before shipping). But, it's much easier though with the cams, and linklite can be upgraded to the full version later where you'll never need another tuning solution again.

Interesting that you bring up cams...I figured that would kind of be a "finishing touch" upgrade not a step "on the way there". I ABSOLUTELY plan on putting in some 272/272 cams at some point though! So now the debate becomes ECMLINK or DSMLINK...

 

[92GSXtacy]

DSMLink and ECMLink are the 'same'. Same company, DSMlink just refers to previous versions while ECMLink is used to refer to v3.

 

[carvinbassplyr]

Ok, so I should do ecmlink v3 (lite for now?), gauges, MBC and CAI and then see where I am? I'm not expecting to get to my final goal with this $1k, I just want to make sure that the upgrade path I take allows me to daily drive the car as it goes through the phases on it's way to the final setup.

 

[91stocker]

Ok, so ecmlink v3 (lite for now?), gauges, MBC and CAI for and then see where I am?

Boost gauge and wideband are a must. Wb runs $200 though, but yea that will get you set up pretty well.

 

[carvinbassplyr]

95' Eprom ECU
ECMlink V3 lite (installed)
Software CD
USB/OBD2 Cable
Stock Eprom Chip
the recipts from when i bought it a few weeks ago
and the installation instructions.


The only thing that it will need is the clutch wire for NLTS. So you get all this for $600 shipped to your door.

Is $600 a pretty fair price for this, or is this someone trying to get near full price for used stuff? Does this include everything I need, or does it have more/less than what I need?

 

[dsm-onster]

You can get link lite (comes with cable and cd) and convert your non-eprom to eprom for $560 straight from ecmtuning. You didn't see the prices on ecmtuning's website? Offer to buy his stock 2g eprom chip for $10

 

[carvinbassplyr]

Offer to buy his stock 2g eprom chip for $10

Ya, wouldn't that be nice...

 

[phunny]

In this order:

--Link lite. Don't waste money on the sd bundle. (Why do folks always say that HAS to be included in the cost for a 400whp tuning solution from ecmtuning . His 2g maf is fine.) $375 + $185 eprom conversion
--VR Speedfactory fmic $310
--Evo 580s (bunp the fuel pressure) $100
--Cams (hks 272, fp2, dks 272, comp200, any thing with 210-213 .05" lift duration, used or regrinds are fine) $200-$400
--Used evo3 16g $300


Lowest I can get you to is just under $1500 if it were my car. Remember that teh 14b is good for upto 320ish whp with a good tune. And the stock injectors are NOT enough for it's flow potential nor is the stock sidemount intercooler.

You don't NEED cams, but they sure help for 350whp and a td05h turbine wheel that's on a 16g and a typical bolton 20g. You can convert to the 1998-1999 ecu and save about $300 ($100 for reflashable ecu, $40 for cam sensor, $100 for reflash/logging cable, $25 for EvoScan).

That puts you at just under $1000 subtracting those costs (before shipping). But, it's much easier though with the cams, and linklite can be upgraded to the full version later where you'll never need another tuning solution again.

Exactly what ^^^ said. TUNING FIRST

 

[carvinbassplyr]

There is a guy locally selling a 1996 eprom ecu from a fwd turbo eclipse. He says the eprom chip has already been removed and it just needs socket service to be ready for ecmlink. Does that sound right? Is it going to matter that it's from a FWD car when mine is AWD? He's only asking $30...

 

[dsm-onster]

So he removed the chip from the ecu and didn't have a socket put in? WTF never happens.

Further, it is a 1996? There are no 1996 eproms.

 

[carvinbassplyr]

So he removed the chip from the ecu and didn't have a socket put in? WTF never happens.

Further, it is a 1996? There are no 1996 eproms.

Well I think they're assuming it's a 1996 eprom because it was pulled from a crashed 1996 gst. So who's to say the owner hadn't upgraded it. I think they're a little confused because now they're saying the chip had been pulled to be socketed for DSMlink so I don't know if the person selling it pulled the chip so he could have it socketed and just decided not to finish it, or the owner of the car it came from had dsmlink and just pulled the chip to resell the program? In the pictures I've seen the label shows the "E" on it...trying to get a picture of the backside to see if it has the pins....