I did some searching and could not find anything regarding "modding" the stock ECU for adjustability. My buddy with a turbo Civic only had to do a little soldering to his stock ECU and voila', nearly as good as an EMS. Surely to god as long as the 4G63 has been around, it has to be easy to do this stuff. How the heck are these 'tuner-shops' flashing our ECU's?

For anyone who knows, please post information on the mods required to the stock ECU to make it adjustable (if any), the software available for the tuning, and any other relevant information regarding this topic.

THANKS!

 

The stock ECU isn't easy to "mod" The guys flashing the ECU's have hardware that connects to the ECU and sends new encrypted data to write to the flash rom on the ECU. The hardware/software is pretty expensive, presumably to prevent casual users from doing it themselves. I have seen the hardware and how it works, and know for a fact that the hardware in reality is about $300 in parts, but a typical "Flashing setup" costs $3000 or more to get started.

There is some talk about something called "Evo-Link" from the folks who came out with the DSM-Link ECU mod.. There are also one or two people who have adapted a DSM-Link (EEprom DSM ECU) to the Evo, but its not a modified OEM ecu in that case.

ECUTEK (I think thats the name) has recently come out with new hardware and software for flashing the ECU, its supposedly much superior to the TechTom hardware and software, but its price is very high, licensing, hardware, software, can set you back $5k or more. HOWEVER there is talk that they will be releasing a user adjustable reflash at some point in the future, what that means is your tuner reflashes your ECU for a baseline to your mods, dyno tuned, and all if you want it.. You then get a connector that can make minor adjustments because the new reflash would accept input from the user at that point. I don't know when the release for that is due, but you can talk to Al at Dynoflash since he does have access to the two types fo reflashes.

The options you have for the Evo is a Reflash, Piggyback, Standalone.. If you want to retain your stock ECU, and need adjustability you can't get with a reflash, but want the type of control that chipping would offer, then you should take a look at the UTEC, It doesn't control every aspect of the ECU, but it does allow you to overcome all the limitations you would typically have issue with on a stock ECU (Fuel cut, RPM limits, Direct control of fuel and timing, etc..) Without requiring some sort of base reflash.

All of this information has been gone over in great detail, and you really need to do your research, but "chipping" an ECU is not one of your options.