My new car!

chickenwafer · Postby **chickenwafer** » Mon Nov 26, 2012 9:14

Yeah I got the software working on the tuning laptop. I really like the software, although the I wonder why out of the box the trailing ignition map is setup as a small table like 5x5 instead of the full map?

I like how it's configured and setup for rotary control and gives you plenty of options. I need to play with the closed loop boost control some more and figure out if the Haltech will be able control boost like I want.

VRx8 · Postby **VRx8** » Mon Nov 26, 2012 9:14

If you hit F3 you can make the table bigger. People says it take time to get the boost dialed in. But is the same with any electronic boost controller because you have to start going up in duty cycles little by little until you get to the target.

Brigdh · Postby **Brigdh** » Wed Nov 28, 2012 9:14

I'm curious, do you have an opinion on Haltech vs Motec? I'm looking around at options for my turbo FC, and the three names that seem to keep popping back up are Haltech, Motec, and Megasquirt.

VRx8 · Postby **VRx8** » Wed Nov 28, 2012 9:14

Motec you must be a baller! Probably the best of all 3 but too expensive, also heard is a pain in the butt to set up lol.

I saw this video on youtube
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pgIGXxze3Wo"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pgIGXxze3Wo[/ame]

The car wont even idle lol but im sure it needs to be tuned.

chickenwafer · Postby **chickenwafer** » Wed Nov 28, 2012 9:14

Brigdh wrote:I'm curious, do you have an opinion on Haltech vs Motec? I'm looking around at options for my turbo FC, and the three names that seem to keep popping back up are Haltech, Motec, and Megasquirt.

Motec's are awesome, but like Eduardo said they are first off, very very expensive and proprietary (meaning they want to use Motec sensors and Motec dataloggers and widebands etc) and you need to have someone very knowledgeable and well versed in Motec's to set one up and get it running correctly.

That being said, Motec's are fantastic...but only if you can find someone to work it for you. Ideally, once setup, you would never need to be re-tuned again unless your setup changes, they are that good. But I'm not too sure of many (or ANY) tuners in Colorado who could setup a Motec, let alone one on a rotary.

An EMS is only as good as the person tuning it, and enough features to launch a spaceship is great but if you (or the tuner) doesn't know how to set them up or utilize them, then it's pointless. And, if you can't get someone to tune you or setup your system, and you can't do it yourself, then you're kinda stuck.

I would go Haltech for a multitude of reasons, chief among which is you can easily find a tuner (even for rotary) and they are incredibly simple to setup, especially the PS1k or PS2k, and they are almost designed for rotaries in their setup.

Haltech also has many, many features "borrowed" from Motec systems and implemented into their software, such as their PID-based closed loop boost control and direct-fire ignition. I wouldn't make the leap to call Haltech's "baby" Motec systems, but they are getting that way.

Another option for the FC is the PowerFC with the Banzai patch harness. Now, the PFC catches a lot flack for being "dumbed down" and not very advanced- lacking features- and it is, but the PFC is exceedingly easy to use with a Datalogit and you can do on-the-fly quick adjustments with the Commander. Not to mention the support network is the largest of any rotary standalone ECU.

That being said, the cost to get into a brand new PFC with Commander, plus a Datalogit (not a must unless tuning yourself) is within a couple hundred bucks of a proper Haltech PS1k setup with harness. Add in an electronic boost controller for the PFC since it's native boost is horrible (and the Haltech has one built-in featuring either open or closed loop control) then it's nearly a wash.

Brigdh · Postby **Brigdh** » Wed Nov 28, 2012 9:14

chickenwafer wrote:Motec's are awesome, but like Eduardo said they are first off, very very expensive and proprietary (meaning they want to use Motec sensors and Motec dataloggers and widebands etc) and you need to have someone very knowledgeable and well versed in Motec's to set one up and get it running correctly.

That being said, Motec's are fantastic...but only if you can find someone to work it for you. Ideally, once setup, you would never need to be re-tuned again unless your setup changes, they are that good. But I'm not too sure of many (or ANY) tuners in Colorado who could setup a Motec, let alone one on a rotary.

An EMS is only as good as the person tuning it, and enough features to launch a spaceship is great but if you (or the tuner) doesn't know how to set them up or utilize them, then it's pointless. And, if you can't get someone to tune you or setup your system, and you can't do it yourself, then you're kinda stuck.

I would go Haltech for a multitude of reasons, chief among which is you can easily find a tuner (even for rotary) and they are incredibly simple to setup, especially the PS1k or PS2k, and they are almost designed for rotaries in their setup.

Haltech also has many, many features "borrowed" from Motec systems and implemented into their software, such as their PID-based closed loop boost control and direct-fire ignition. I wouldn't make the leap to call Haltech's "baby" Motec systems, but they are getting that way.

Another option for the FC is the PowerFC with the Banzai patch harness. Now, the PFC catches a lot flack for being "dumbed down" and not very advanced- lacking features- and it is, but the PFC is exceedingly easy to use with a Datalogit and you can do on-the-fly quick adjustments with the Commander. Not to mention the support network is the largest of any rotary standalone ECU.

That being said, the cost to get into a brand new PFC with Commander, plus a Datalogit (not a must unless tuning yourself) is within a couple hundred bucks of a proper Haltech PS1k setup with harness. Add in an electronic boost controller for the PFC since it's native boost is horrible (and the Haltech has one built-in featuring either open or closed loop control) then it's nearly a wash.

Interesting. Thanks for the info. Sounds like unless I want to tune it myself (which I think I could do, given some serious research and time, but I think I'd rather spend my time working on other parts of the car), I'll have to go with whatever the tuner is comfortable with.

Brigdh · Postby **Brigdh** » Wed Dec 05, 2012 9:14

Looks like Haltech is have a $200 off sale. Just thought I'd point it out to you
http://www.haltech.com/save-200-on-all-plugin-ecu-kits/

speedjunkie · Postby **speedjunkie** » Wed Dec 05, 2012 9:14

Hmmmm, I think I'm gonna look into that as well LOL. Thanks for posting that up!

chickenwafer · Postby **chickenwafer** » Wed Dec 05, 2012 9:14

Nice man, thanks for the link!

Brigdh · Postby **Brigdh** » Wed Dec 05, 2012 9:14

So, does this mean the two of you are going to buy Haltechs, figure them out, and then you can answer all of my beginner questions?

speedjunkie · Postby **speedjunkie** » Wed Dec 05, 2012 9:14

That would be Dave, not me. LOL

chickenwafer · Postby **chickenwafer** » Fri Dec 21, 2012 9:14

Haven't updated here in a while because I simply haven't done much with the car with the weather getting sour.

I did toy more seriously with the idea of selling the car, but I don't see anything I could easily replace it with to give me the same thrills. But I did deduce that I don't use the car enough and I need to develop a "purpose" for the car- weather it's more dedicated track work or street car duty.

After weighting the options I think moving the car more towards a street car is the better method. After all, I did re-do the interior completely to be more comfortable, and setting the car up for dedicated track work would mean gutting it all. I hate redoing things. Not to mention a track setup would also mean commuting to Bandimere and HPR more frequently, taking time off work potentially, and more costs. This doesn't mean I can't occasionally take the car to the track (I plan on it) but it won't be the cars main focus.

In order to make the car more street friendly the first aspect I want to address is the exhaust system; mainly fumes/smells and noise. The fumes are getting obnoxious to the point where I stink like gasoline after driving and my wife refuses to ride in the car- it has to end.

I researched catalytic converters that could withstand the high EGT's rotaries put out and would hopefully do some work to clean up the fumes, with sacrificing as little power as possible. I settled on a Vibrant spun metallic core 200-cell catalyst. For the price ($125 bucks) I think it will do the trick and would be easily replaceable if it goes out. I'm not looking to pass emissions, just make the exhaust more manageable. It should also cut down on noise.

To also help with exhaust fumes, I have an electric smog air pump from my old RX-8 I can rig up to pipe air into the exhaust system. I plan on using it to plumb air into the exhaust pre-cat and after the cat to dilute the exhaust as much as possible. I deleted the factory air pump wiring from the engine harness so I would have to re-run the wires to have the air pump cycled properly or figure out another method of air pump control.

I was also making a lot of noise debating coilovers recently, and in a perfect world I would still get them, but it makes more sense to keep my Koni shocks and pair them with some good lowering springs. So I ordered some Sprint lowering springs, they drop the car 2 inches so the ride height should be perfect. I had this same combo of Koni Yellows and Sprint springs on my RX-8 and the ride and handling was fantastic. Plus I don't have to deal with the nuances of constantly adjusting and setting up the coilovers.

Lastly, I am also going to re-do the wiring for my hatch-located battery. I don't think the main power cabling I used is of a heavy enough gauge, and it could be exacerbating my hot start issues. I think replacing it with proper 1/0 gauge power cabling should help, and if not, it will at least eliminate it as a potential issue.

speedjunkie · Postby **speedjunkie** » Fri Dec 21, 2012 9:14

chickenwafer wrote:... and my wife refuses to ride in the car...

Well, if you want some alone time...lol.

Don't tell Melissa I said that.

VRx8 · Postby **VRx8** » Sat Dec 22, 2012 9:14

e85 smells better lol, Im thinking about going e85.

PXRdriFT · Postby **PXRdriFT** » Sat Dec 22, 2012 9:14

I thought of doing that with my Subaru but didn't see many stations in San Antonio. Have you found a few down there? I think I only saw one on the website I was looking at.

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