I am pulling the trigger on a few parts and have some questions regarding tuning and what your opinions are. The car is a 2011 Ralliart. The car already has an EVO X BOV and a Magnaflow 3 inch catback. The parts are as follows:


ETS FMIC
MAP UICP and LICP set
Grimmspeed Boost Controller
AMS Boost Pill
K&N Drop in filter
MAP EVO X Test Pipe with resonator


I am also going to use the Tactrix cable option and ECU Flash for tuning purposes. I am very new to turbo cars and would like some opinions on the parts and what issues I may or may not have plus what tunes are out there that would work best.


Most of the ECU Flash stuff seems straight forward and I have a choice to drive to Chicago to AMS or to Minnesota to MAP to have it tuned more on a dyno.


Thanks for your advice and help in advance.

 

You dont need both the Grimmspeed and the AMS Pill. Its typically one or the other. With all those mods (assuming you use the boost pill) you can use the free basemap thats available.

 

How much more boost will my car have using the pill. Wouldn't the boost controller give me better boost stability? Could the car be tuned using ECU Flash without the pill? I plan to go with a better fuel system and bigger turbo next year. For now, I am trying to get all the supporting mods finished before the rest. Thanks for your input.

 

The controller will give better tuning flexibility assuming you go with a custom tune. Whether or not it will give more I can't say.

 

My suggestion is you could get both and run the AMS Pill for now (can always be resold to someone else) and use the free basemap to tide you over and then when you get the turbo and fuel system you can use the Controller when you get the custom tune.

 

Exactly...i got the boost pill but now purchased a COBB EBCS and will have it installed and re-tuned. As far as intercooler depending on what you plan on doing a cheaper route is the Evo X FMIC and piping. Picked up a used one with piping and all and as far as i know it is sufficiend until you plan on going with a bigger turbo. Not sure how efficient the OEM Evo on is with the Evo X turbo but it is more than enough for the RA ones. Cosmetically the ETS does look sweet and will be good in the long run if you have big plans though! As far as tune I would recommend Boostin Performance. Had my car tuned there and was very happy. With the basic bolt ons you will have minus the ETS and the Grimmspeed i had 250whp/292wtq on mustang dyno with a slightly conservative tune due to tranny slippage. Haven't had experience with AMS so can't say anything about that, just giving you options.

 

I did not realize Boostin Performance was just as close to me as AMS. I would like to find a used EVO X intercooler and piping for now, upper and lower to suffice what I want to do and save some money. I think either a high flow cat or test pipe, drop in filter and boost pill for now and then a ECU flash will suffice. I can then start saving money for the bigger turbo and other stuff to do next spring.


This is why I am posting, getting the experience from veterans that have been working on and tuning these cars for awhile. I want the best bang for the buck on my stock platform and put money away for the good stuff later. I truly appreciate your input as well as everyone elses. If anyone is in the Appleton WI area, feel free to let me know and we can have a meet. My sons are into cars as much as I am so it would be nice to get out and start meeting other EVO and Ralliart owners.

 

If you have a Facebook account check out the "Evo X Swap Meet" group. You can find plenty of the parts you're looking for and can always try bargaining prices with the sellers. Definitely get the FMIC and intercooler piping if you can find them as our stock one is tiny as hell and seems pretty useless. I'd skip getting the stock X UICP though and go straight for a hard pipe if you can find one. The stock X LICP is pretty good.

 

Well I ordered all my parts today but changed a couple things up. I opted for the boost pill for now and did not go with the ETS intercooler. I know some people may not like the Depo Racing intercoolers, but from what I have seen and read, they are a decent quality for what I am trying to do for a lot lower price than others. When I step up to the bigger turbo in the near future, I will spend the money on a better intercooler. I also decided not to get a K&N filter right now. I may end up going with the AMS intake so that will be money saved until I do more research and make up my mind. I will be doing a transmission flush when I get home before these parts are installed and before I flash the ECU. I will take pics and post them as I start the process.

 

How much did you buy the Depo intercooler for? You can find used X intercoolers for less than $100. Do you do your own tuning? For the AMS intake you'll have to get a custom tune for it unless thats another one of those down the road items with the bigger turbo and such. I'd still say do the K&N filter just cause its still better than the stock filters.

 

I think I got it for around $325. I have been searching on e-bay and a couple other places for a used intercooler but they were all in the $200 range and I figured I could get a decent intercooler from Depo for a little more so its done. As far as the tuning, I have tuned Mustangs and Hondas in the past so I will figure it out as I go with a turbo car. I will do a lot of logging and see how things go. I will do K&N for sure. AMS will be a down the road thing. First these few things.

 

You may want to talk to some tuners with experience tuning the SST transmission before diving in yourself.

 

I definitely will. I am a Quality Assurance Specialist for a living, so I dig into every aspect of things. Doing research and viewing things from all angles. I appreciate the feedback. I do not think the SST will be under too much stress with just these simple things. When I get into the bigger turbo, fuel system etc. then I will be worried. I plan on finding a used tranny to send to Jacks or SSP and have it gone through then take mine out and do the same so I will always have a back up. I am also looking at a stroker build as well. I know its insane putting this money into a Ralliart, but in my opinion it less common than an EVO which makes it even more fun.

 

Stay away from Jacks. Some friends of mine got screwed over by them. I'd say SSP or Kozmic is a good choice.

 

I would be interested in hearing the details of what happened with Jack's. I have had nothing but good experiences with them over a decade. I won't say that they have not made mistakes, but they have manned up to them and backed their work.

I agree with this statement 100%.