so i've got about 500 to spend and so far all i have is a greddy ti cat back so i was thinking about a dp and either test pipe or high flow as well as a flash of some sort. So since i live in the bay area vishnu, gruppe-s, and works are all pretty close so does anyone know if any of these ecu retunes will be significantly different. Also test pipe or high flow?

any other suggestions?

 

Gruppe-s offers flashes? I know that Vishnu and Works provide good flashes, but I thought both were over $500. You could get a downpipe, testpipe, and mail-in Dynoflash for $500 total with some change to spare...

Test pipe will make more power, but the high flow cat will be more emissions friendly. Don't you have strict emissions laws in CA?

 

WORKS offers a solid boost level w/o the need for an aftermarket boost controller --- which I think is great for the "stealthy-minded." Not that others won't say that too, but some recommend the addition of a boost controller for certainty. But hey, that's my opinion. As far as the test pipe vs. high flow is concerned, unless you're going for all-out power, you might be annoyed by the stench of your unfiltered exhaust wafting through your window at every stoplight. To which I say: High-flow cat, por favor.

 

yea emissions laws in ca are pretty strict and they're doing a crackdown on imports in my county, and though both are illegal sounds like the cat-delete will stick out alot more

 

Pretty much every flash tuner offers the same boost control via the flash - not just Works. Some tuners just prefer the MBC/EBC route, though, since you can run higher boost without boost hose modification, and you can change the boost on a whim for racing or inclimate weather purposes. However, an MBC/EBC is never required by any flash tuner, since boost can be controlled in this manner with any flash.

By no means should you choose a HFC due to this stench issue. I've never had any issue with smelling my exhaust except for when I'm in my garage. Don't let something that trivial deter you - there are other much more significant reasons to choose a test pipe or not, such as noise level and emissions vs power.

 

well in terms of legality aren't both blatantly illegal, yet it would seem that it would be easier for police to know you're running a test pipe because of the smell?

 

with a test pipe, wont you fail emission testing? Im really not sure how it works in my state, i think emissions is tested every 2 years.. anyone from massachusetts can chime in and maybe tell me if i can get away w/a test pipe

 

You can't go wrong w/ any of them. I went w/ Vishnu and have been happy w/ there service and tunes.

Definitely, a good idea to stay local. All three will be able to provide you with good person-to-person customer service. That's worth more then going w/ some out-of-state reflash.

Good luck

 

Its the same in PA you have to have an emissions test every year and you will fail with a test pipe. I barely passed with my high flow cat. So if you have your emissions tested every year save yourself the trouble of taking the test pipe off and replacing it with your stock cat every time you get your emissions tested. I dont know if the laws are more strict in CA on emissions, if they are you will probably fail anyways and in that case just get the test pipe.

 

I recommend Vishnu if your in NorCal for a tune. Buy a Works HFC and DP on the way to Vishnu so you dont feel bad about picking one or the other

 

I suggest a custom tune by shiv and call it a day. $1000 for the flash and custom dyno tuning but well worth it IMO. He has a ton of experience with lower octane tuning compared to others out there. If your tight on money and want a better bargain I suggest getting a dynoflash mail in tune which I believe is around $300. However a mail in flash is kind of half assing your car IMO. Remember you get what you pay for!

 

Dynoflash mail-in is $199 as already stated, and it is not half-assing, but yes a custom tune is always better for $400 or so. I ran 12.26 on my mail-in flash, and others have gone faster. $1000 for a flash is absurd...

 

+1

there is nothing better than local service for cars as long as good choices are available.

 

Why not use ecuflash? $89.00 for the cable, the software is free, and then get a e-flash from dynoflash for $50.00? and then you can make changes yourself after doing some logging, which you can use evoscan which is $15.00 (registration) and is in a test release right now but will get better once the bugs are worked out and you use the same cable for that as well....Save yourself about 350.00 bucks and use that for more parts. Then as you add stuff you can do some logs and make changes yourself to get even more power....To me thats a no brainer?

 

EcuFlash if the greatest thing since sliced bread, but I think if we keep suggesting it to people who think that cops will bust them by smelling their exhaust, then I think we'll have a bunch of fried ECUs or blown engines. I try to reserve such info for those with what seems to be a decent grasp of tuning.