Hi, I am looking to start a slow process of modifying my Evo, which only has a K&N filter so far. I am at 30,000 miles and still on the stock clutch. I was thinking about selling the Evo stock and moving on to a MR. But I think I will still like to start the tuning process, just in case I decide to hang on to it. I am going to RRE for a 30K maintenance call soon, at which point I will install basic stuff like a grounding kit, SS brake lines, NGK plugs (maybe Nology plug wires), and an oil catch can.

After that, I am looking to slowly build it up and end up with about 300 WHP on 91 octane gas. One option was to install a S-AFC II, MBC, BOV, 3" catback, and a K&N Typhoon (but with the problems some people are having, I might just hang on to the K&N panel filter). Another option is to get the XEDE, BOV, and 3" catback. I left out the MBC for XEDE setup since I think the XEDE unit handles the boost control for you. I don't think either setup is capable of 300 WHP. Maybe I can go for some HKS cams, and cam gears later. There's also the option to add ECU flash with dynoflash or Xflash. I am still a little confused about what more you gain from flashing that you don't get from the piggy back system. What kind of gain am I looking at with just an ECU flash and skipping the piggy back systems, and vis versa?

My problem is that I don't know if I should go the Vishnu route or the mix & match route with the S-AFC II. I am not looking to invest in a AEM ECU. I am trying to keep it affordable. Also, I don't have the time to mess with the car all the time, and want a setup that will just let me get in and drive, and can easily be returned to stock. In fact, I definitely want to hang on to the stock turbo and IC. Vishnu seems a good choice in that regard, but I don't have time to do a trip to the Bay Area just to tune the car. I would probably get RRE to do the work, so I think I would choose a setup that they are familiar and confident with.

I commute to work in heavy traffic for about an hour each way. So I would appreciate any info on how to build up to 300 WHP on 91 gas, while keeping the Evo a reliable and user-friendly daily commuter. Thanks

 

whats up sanjay, we met at RRE a long time ago. The S-AFC is a good, economical route, and RRE tunes them for super cheap . . . But it can't control ignition timing . . . which really robs the midrange torque. The xede, on the other hand, can control your timing.

 

Hey Alex, good to hear from you and thanks for the reply. How did your exhaust mis-match turn out anyway? My whole issue is that I am still trying to get educated on all the options. I guess XEDE basically handles almost everything for you like boost level, ignition, and A/F ratio?? If that's the case, I guess the higher price would be justified. I am still trying to understand the difference between the piggy back systems and the ECU flashs. It seems they do the same thing, but I guess they don't? Anyway, any feedback from someone who has gone through this process would be really appreciated. The biggest problem is that there are too many choices.

 

RRE took care of the exhaust "mismatch" but there may have been other reasons why they actually suggested i buy THEIR cat instead, and it had to do with the fact that i was getting my HKS exhaust custom made to be a full 3", and it was just easier for them to do it that way.

As for the flash / xede comparison, it actually looks like the Flash that Vishnu offers can do just about as much as the Xede can for basic mods. Its with more complicated / turbo upgrade related stuff that the Xede becomes super useful. It can run MAP amongst other things.

And i hear you about the "too many choices." I went through quite a few myself before picking what i thought to be the best one.

And as for the price of the Xede, 900 bucks does seem like a lot, but it handles everything.

A comparable set-up with the SAFC II would run almost the same amount of money

The SAFC-II is 300
The harness (to make it plug and play like the XEDE) is 160
An electronic boost controlled to allow RPM-based coost control is 300
And even then, you still can't control ignition timing.

Thats my take on it.

 

Best bang for the buck is a flash, whether it's Dynoflash or Vishnu, you can't really go wrong. That'll hold you over until you upgrade the turbo, and after that, you are probably best off running some kind of stand alone ecu, like an AEM EMS.

Just my take...

 

i agree with Mattsteg, except that i would argue that the Xede is better and more economical for running a turbo upgrade . . .

1) its been tested at lenghts at One Lap of America on the Vishnu Car
2) it can do just about everything the EMS does
3) unlike the EMS, it retains the stock functions for adjusting timing and such when the AC is turned on (or something of the sort)

 

Thanks for the info guys. I think I will definitely do more research before going ahead with an engine management upgrade. Also, I would appreciate it if someone could recommend a good place to do a baseline dyno run in OC, IE, or LA.

 

Brainstorm in LA, they have a good dyno but they charge an arm and a leg, 150 if you want air/fuel wideband.

LAPD out in the valley

XS engineering in Huntington (or somewhere in the OC)