Which engine management system to get?

[Moostang]

I have been checking out the different tuners/engine management systems out there. If i had the money i would probably just buy an aem plug n play system. But sence funds are lacking what are some of the better Piggy-back systems out there?

I viewed a few of the the systems and the cheaper ones offered a/f control, but im looking for at least some timing control too.

Now i thought that the ECM Tuning DSMLink looked like it might be a good deal. Data log + tune air/fuel and timing. Anybody use this? Any problems.

Any suggestions or expereince would be great about any system.

BTW: I did a couple searches and after 5-10 pages of nothing i decided to post.

 

[BaddAssGst]

Depending on how much money you have, theres a few options to look at. Alot of it depends on if you have a laptop and an e-prom. If you don't have either, add another 500 bucks onto DsmLink. If you have both, your looking at about 600 bucks.

By the time you spend the money on a logger, afc II, and/or a Dsmchip, you have over half the cost of DsmLink.

That's how I looked at it. I didn't have a laptop so I didn't buy DsmLink. I may go back and sell my logger, AFC, and chip and buy DSMlink since the difference will be a couple hundred bucks.

 

[Moostang]

hmm.. i have the laptop, but im not sure about the e-prom? What exactly is that? I wouldn't mind doing a chip/logger setup. Im new to the dsm world so im still trying to figure this all out. My other car all i needed was a piggyback system and i needed a low impedience driver for my injectors, and for adding a supercharger i put on a 3-bar map sensor, but that was it. Or i used a chip and had it tuned on the dyno.

 

[BaddAssGst]

Fill out the vehicle information so we know what you have and what your working with.

For e-proms: http://dsmlink.com/faq-eprom.html

Assuming you have an e-prom, a chip and logger is probably the cheapest and that will run you about 250 bucks.

 

[JayRolla]

After you find out you have eprom, no eprom its still worth getting dsmlink. It has real good tuning software and very easy to use. It has been used on many cars and has great reviews. Try to search again you will find lots of threads on this topic, just go a little futher.

 

[jibberishballr]

I have been checking out the different tuners/engine management systems out there. If i had the money i would probably just buy an aem plug n play system. But sence funds are lacking what are some of the better Piggy-back systems out there?

I viewed a few of the the systems and the cheaper ones offered a/f control, but im looking for at least some timing control too.

Now i thought that the ECM Tuning DSMLink looked like it might be a good deal. Data log + tune air/fuel and timing. Anybody use this? Any problems.

Any suggestions or expereince would be great about any system.

BTW: I did a couple searches and after 5-10 pages of nothing i decided to post.

First off you wont have an Eprom ECU unless either the person with the car put one in or you have a 95 eclipse(assuming your a 2g...not sure about 1g's). Second, from what ive heard DSMlink is worth every penny. Getting the Eprom and DSMlink is gonna cost you probably around 800 dollars plus so it is expensive. Since im 18 and a little short on cash im goin with the SAFCII and a datalogger used for about 300. You can still tune very well with these just lack some of the features that DSMlink has. It also depends on what your goals are for the car. If you're going to be getting huge turbos and modding like crazy dont skip on the dsmlink. My situation is im getting either a 14b or 16g. (thats the biggest im going so i think the SAFCII will work for my needs and my wallet...good luck!

 

[SkyLineGtR-R34]

First off you wont have an Eprom ECU unless either the person with the car put one in or you have a 95 eclipse(assuming your a 2g...not sure about 1g's). Second, from what ive heard DSMlink is worth every penny. Getting the Eprom and DSMlink is gonna cost you probably around 800 dollars plus so it is expensive. Since im 18 and a little short on cash im goin with the SAFCII and a datalogger used for about 300. You can still tune very well with these just lack some of the features that DSMlink has. It also depends on what your goals are for the car. If you're going to be getting huge turbos and modding like crazy dont skip on the dsmlink. My situation is im getting either a 14b or 16g. (thats the biggest im going so i think the SAFCII will work for my needs and my wallet...good luck!

I dont' mean to hijjack his post, but I was wondering if DSMlink would be good for around 300-350hp or would it be an overkill?
I've never used dsmlink, but heard of it and seen it few times.

 

[jibberishballr]

I dont' mean to hijjack his post, but I was wondering if DSMlink would be good for around 300-350hp or would it be an overkill?
I've never used dsmlink, but heard of it and seen it few times.

Yes Dsmlink would be good for that range. DSMlink is probably the best tuning device i can think of. There are lots of people using it all the way from T-25's to huge Turbos like 57 trims. DSMlink is a great choice and should be your first choice if you have the money!!!

 

[BaddAssGst]

I dont' mean to hijjack his post, but I was wondering if DSMlink would be good for around 300-350hp or would it be an overkill?
I've never used dsmlink, but heard of it and seen it few times.

Although helpful, definitely overkill. A simple AFC II can tune you out 350hp.

Does it hurt to go better? No but it's definitely not a necessity. If you have the money and have some type of tuning knowledge, by all means get it.

 

[SkyLineGtR-R34]

Although helpful, definitely overkill. A simple AFC II can tune you out 350hp.

Does it hurt to go better? No but it's definitely not a necessity. If you have the money and have some type of tuning knowledge, by all means get it.

Well I figured by the time I buy an S-AFC, Zietronix Wideband, and Datalogger software I'll spend more than the DSMlink costs

 

[BaddAssGst]

Well I figured by the time I buy an S-AFC, Zietronix Wideband, and Datalogger software I'll spend more than the DSMlink costs

Depending on how you spend money, yeah. You can pick up a logger for 50 bucks, an AFC for 125, and a Wideband for under 300 but then again your comparing that stuff to DsmLink, which from what I hear, doesn't hold a candle to.

I would personally save up for DsmLink unless or course you would need a laptop and e-prom. Good luck.

 

[Moostang]

Fill out the vehicle information so we know what you have and what your working with.

For e-proms: http://dsmlink.com/faq-eprom.html

Assuming you have an e-prom, a chip and logger is probably the cheapest and that will run you about 250 bucks.

The car is an AWD 95 talon TPI. It is 100% stock. Looking at starting off with a complete 3" exhaust, a larger turbo, some sort of engine management system, an intercooler, and probably upgrade everything except the motors internals.

I have one friend putting together his sbc 383 for his fireturd. This friend who's redoing the talon (which im helping out), and then I have my mustang were im running twin pt-67's. (Kinda funny seeing that comment about the 57-trim being HUGE...)

We would like to see a good competition between the fireturd and the talon. With the heads cam and intake swap the fireturd should hit low 12's without the shot of nitrous (Should be an easy 11 sec. car if he wasn't running an automatic). If we could could beat the firebird with the taloon with a low budget build it would just be funny.

Just came up with a 1000 bucks to start out will for the taloon. + my friend already bought a larger turbo, intercooler, bov, and a MBC. I figured next we would work on the intercooler plumbing and get that made up at least and then move on to the exhaust and stuff.

 

[Moostang]

if the car doesn't have an e-prom what exactly do i need? To buy an e-prom or some other aftermarket device?

 

[DGajre777]

Read this thread - http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/showthread.php?t=225325

What year DSM do you have?

 

[SpoolinTalon2]

dont mean to go a bit off topic, but do you NEED an eprom ecu for DSMlink? i know you need the laptop and what about a wideband? is that necesary? or would having those things just be better tunning for the car? thanks.

 

[DGajre777]

dont mean to go a bit off topic, but do you NEED an eprom ecu for DSMlink? i know you need the laptop and what about a wideband? is that necesary? or would having those things just be better tunning for the car? thanks.

Some 1995 ECUs are EPROM ECUs. Yes, you NEED an EPROM ECU for DSMLink. EPROM ECU has a slot for a chip, DSMLink is a chip. Without the slot, you can't use the chip.

Wideband makes tuning easy, if you can log it and get RPM information with it. Instead of spending money on a dyno (if you even have one in your area), you can tune with a wideband. AEM UEGO makes a wideband 2 1/16" gauge that comes with an output to log with DSMLink or ECUPlus.

 

[SpoolinTalon2]

very helpfull. my friend has a logger and safc II, would a wideband be next if he wants to be able to get his car tuned as best as possible? instead of having to buy DSMLink since he doesnt have that much to spend right now thanks

 

[BaddAssGst]

very helpfull. my friend has a logger and safc II, would a wideband be next if he wants to be able to get his car tuned as best as possible? instead of having to buy DSMLink since he doesnt have that much to spend right now thanks

Yes, definitely. The wideband is probably one of the best "tuning devices" for the price. Definitely not a must-have but it is a should-have.

 

[SpoolinTalon2]

so if he gets a wideband then is there even a point to getting an a/f gauge? is the wideband a hard mod to install, i havent found any how to's on it. with the combination of the wideband, safc II, and the logger, would bigger injectors also be helpful, his mods are a t-28, upgraded pistons and rods, intake pipe, intake filter, hard intercooler piping, greddy type s, fuel pump, upgraded smic, no cat, and the electronics as mentioned above. thanks.

*also if someone thinks i have spelled something wrong or you couldn't understand something i was trying to say, please let me know b/c i guess i got a warning for mispelling or not communicating properly in one of these posts that i just made on this thread. thanks.

 

[DGajre777]

so if he gets a wideband then is there even a point to getting an a/f gauge? also is the wideband a hard mod i=to install, i havent found any how to's on it. thanks.

The AEM UEGO comes with an a/f guage. Most A/F gauges that run from narrowband sensors (that we have in our cars) are useless for tuning and end up being a blinky light show. To install it, you need to weld a bung on your downpipe 36" past the turbo and before the cat. Put the wideband o2 sensor (installs just like the regular narrow band o2 sensor) and connect the wires.

http://www.importevolution.com/product_info.php?products_id=3002 I have this is my wishlist along with ECUPlus.

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[BaddAssGst]

Ouch.. those things are expensive without a discount.

My buddy gets stuff through AEM and he gets them for like 246, like dirt cheap.

 

[TurboB5]

Im running the AEM UEGO also, along with many friends of mine with turbo cars, and it works amazingly...i recommend

 

[wret]

*also if someone thinks i have spelled something wrong or you couldnt understand something i was trying to say, please let me know b/c i guess i got a warning for mispelling or not communistaing properly in one of these posts that i just made on this thread. thanks.

Actually you got your 3rd warning, mostly for your lack of capitalization but now that you mention it, you should double check your spelling too.

 

[SpoolinTalon2]

Dam capitalization. Well I guess a bunch of people have gotten warnings then cause I see others even in this thread that haven't capitalized. But back to the subject, ya that is pretty dam expensive, would it be good to get a used wideband and an A/F Gauge? Thanks.

 

[lthlevo]

AEM is the way to go