So what is out there for engine management? Besides the standard Apex-i AFC and other piggybacks. What about full replacement ECU's and reflashes? Just wondering...

 

Probably can't say for sure until the Evo gets here, but assuming ECU options for the Evo 7 will work for our car, then we could use GEMS, Motec, Autronics, etc. I think AEM is working on the EMS for the Evo as well... most likely similar to the GEMS unit in the UK since they designed it for them.

Mark

 

They certainly have them for the VII and they probably fit. The problem is that they are mapped for higher quality gas than most of us can get. W'ell probably have too wait for the U.S. tuners to catch up

 

Just wondering, and thanks for the info... I am currently working with a company that will allow us to reflash Lancer EVO's. Octane will not matter as I can tune it for whatever octane you prefer, wether it is 91 octane in Cali or 94 octane in Connecticut.

Also remapping will allow tunability for any sort of mod you can imagine while keeping the stock feel.

As for what date it will be available I am not sure but hopefuly by mid summer.

 

AEM has an EMS in the works already (see their site at http://www.aempower.com) and universal ECU replacements like the Haltech stand alones that provide full tunability should work just fine.

 

Too much money!!!
We need affordable alternatives

 

Well what we are talking about is the ECUTek, which is a simple reflash with some tuning involved for each and every car. The pricing on this is far less then the AEM and in fact will probably be below 1K.

 

How many fully programmable stand alones do you know for under 1k? I know we're extremely limited on options (The '02 and '03 Lancer drivers) so those are the only alternatives I'd seen. Can you UNflash an ECU?

 

As for the WRX and Subaru world yes you can. I will have to verify on the Mitsubishi world, before I can say anything about that. As each ECU is different and have different types of chips.

Though if you can tune it you should be able to keep flashing so therefore you could put the stock map back into the ECU and use the for smog if that is what you were thinking. Man that was a long sentence...

 

If you want to tune the car, you have to be willing to shell out the $$$. Is a few grand really that much in the grand scheme of it all? People don't seem to have a problem shelling out large chunks of change for carbon fiber bits, rims, audio/video, shiny exhausts, etc. Why not for a laptop and an aftermarket ECU?
The thing going against the Evo is the relatively few 4wd dynos that are around. They're becoming more common, though, which is good. But it's hard to tune your car without one, thus making it harder to justify the cost of buying a full-blown replacement ECU. Why buy the ECU if you can't properly utilize it, right?

 

It all depends on your intent for the car if you are doing the usual mods: intake, exhaust, fuel pump and plan on running only on pump gas then a reflashed ECU makes sense. If you are putting togeather a custom setup with a big turbo etc. then a stand alone is the obvious and maybe only choice.

Since most of us don't have an unlimited budget spending money on a stand alone system dosen't make a whole lot of sense UNLESS your combo requires it

 

The reflash is a little bit better then you might think. I am actually going to be remapping a Subaru with a stock ECU. Though his car is not even close to stock.

Here is the setup:
- 2.0L Built Engine (Forged Pistons, Rods, Closed Deck)
- PE1820 Turbo
- Headers
- Catless uppipe and exhuast system
- Injectors
- Fuel Pump

We are going to be tuning this car with a Link and ECUTek reflash. You will be suprised at the power of the ECUTek software. I will have to post some shots of the software and get an organized layout of how it all works.

Though if you start changing engine sizes, compression, cams, and other suck things then the ECUTek may not be the best alternative.

Though like everyone has said the aftermarket ECU is probably the best choice at that point.

As for dyno tuning, that is not needed as much as you think. I have tuned many Subaru's on the road to within 10-15 horsepower of what the dyno can get with tuning. All you need is a lot of tuning knowledge, a good wideband O2 sensor and lots of open road.

Besides that dyno tuning is not optimal anyway. How often do you go in a straight line besides a drag strip, with no ram air affects. The road is much different from the dyno.

Almost every car you dyno for optimal horsepower before putting it back on the road needs to be detuned a little so the car will not ping on the road. Well that has been my experience, maybe I am just overly safe.