Hy guys, I know this is an old product and there were issues with running the igintion for your SR with this product. But they seem to have fixed that problem. But my question is has anyone locally tuned or installed one of these? While converting your SR set up into MAP system. I’m more curious about ease of the product and the life span.
I’ve read that they’re very easy to tune. Basically I’ve come down to the Megasquirt or an Enthalpy tune. They’re about the same price but I’m able to grow with the megasquirt and it has alot more options built in, or easy add ons.
So if you have experience with the megasquirt let me know. As the more I read, the more I get overwhelmed, due to me not being to computer savy.
imho, if you’re on a tight budget you should still hold out and save a few more bucks and pick up a used Apexi PFC or stretch for an AEM EMS used… both can be found at times for under $1,000.
I think if you have to ask these questions you are not the right dude to be getting a megasquirt. It only saves you money if you can go 0 to 100% yourself.
That MS Nissan kit looks decent and if you can solder components to a circuit board you’re set.
the kit is plug and play to the factory harness, supports map sensor, coil on plug, boost control, launch control, even knock control (APEXi and haltech do not even have this feature,AEM does tho i think) the only thing i didnt like is no sequential fuel injection but it was available as an upgrade.
An ECU from epalthy or JWT is the cheapest way to have a “tuned” ecu. These are proven tunes for x turbo and y injectors. However beacuse these ECUs are not tuned to the individual car, they must be tuned slightly rich and retarded to prevent any detonation, therefore not the potential maximum hp and tq. (these companies would not have a good reputation from selling ecus that blow engines) also these ECUs dont support MAP and this can be a problem for some
On the otherhand, a programmable ecu (apexi, haltech, AEM, megasquirt) will require an experienced tuner to extract max hp from your setup and has lots of cool features. but from what ive seen, a precfect tune (for a DD) on a standalone is not achieved in one session $$$
Those were the main selling points for me. My Brother went to school for computers so the soldering and assembly, I could let him do it with out any worries or second guess’.
Now for the tune, I have searched and there are rough and fairly good tunes avaible on the megasquirt forum. But I have yet to see anyone succesfully convert there setup to map. Example of a decent tune: its the GT3076R silvia he’s making 414HP at 21psi
Of course there is alot of dyno time involved in this setup, but it would be about the same for any other stand alone set up, or so I would assume. Although the Epalthy tune is more or less plug and play.
Of all the cars I tune, almost without fail, the cars that have decent ECUs in them tune out the fastest. It’s because they work…everytime. These are real companies, with real engineers, with real standards and real process.
Example of my personal car over the years.
PowerFC - <3 hrs total. SR20 GT2871R .86 390rwhp/345tq at 18psi
AEM EMS - 2 hrs total. SR20 GT30R 441rwhp / 365tq at 19psi
Autronic SM4 - <2 hrs. SR20 GT2871R .64 336rwhp/31xtq at 16psi
ViPEC V44 - <2 Same setup as above.
ViPEC V88 - <2 Cammed LS1 421rwhp/412tq
I have never met anyone that has regretted buying a decent, proven ecu. I have met lots of guys that regret going the cheap route.
The Question that needs to be asked first is what are your goals and power numbers that you are trying to accomplish. But as most guys you dont need anything more than a proper stock ecu retune, Nistune is the best for this, enthalpy uses similar boards as nistune.
If i was in your shoes i would go with the nistune as it will cost the least and it will blow the megasquirt out of the water.
Next best bet to the nistune is apexi power FC then Haltech.
Stay away from aem as it is older technology compared to the haltech.