well damn i can get a utec for like 600 and I wont have to pay 200 bux to rent a car for a week.

 

i dont know where you are going to get a UTEC for $600. install is no small thing either. you wont be able to do it yourself. and then you have to pay for the dyno tuning. its your choice, but i would just get the reflash.

 

input appreciated

 

On the contrary - as you mod, you'll want to fine tune your A/F ratios, and the flash wont be 'perfect', which is why you usually get about 10 HP...if your car is tuned in your area for A/F - you will gain more. Also, the SAFCII holds 2 profiles, so you can have a race and daily driver, or two seasons as well, so your re-tuneing needs are less.

You can always add it later as well, but to say it's not at all needed....

Rick

 

I haven't done one (yet), but the UTEC install really doesn't look like a big deal. Go on the TurboXS web site and you can download the UTEC manual, which has pictures of the install itself. It looks really simple. The tuning on the other hand, I have absolutely NO experience with.

And as far as getting the UTEC for $600, you can probably find a used one for that price. Just check the classifieds.

 

yeah used is what i was talking about for 6 new ones seem kinda like a rip off. But I was also wondering about the emanage. No one has mentioned it and when i was looking at it it looks like exactly what i need for na. And from what I understand, with a little research I can tune it myself with my laptop because it sounds pretty user friendly. Anythoughts?

 

The UTEC is a good mod to tie all your mods together, Not only will you get around 12 more HP out of your car, you will also get smoother ride because of the tune.

Matt

 

Would you reccomend the SAFC2 on a 04 Z with bolt ons plus a full reflash set at 13.3 A/F ?

 

I picked up 11whp from a reflash for just 600 bucks and the ride is smooth as silk...

 

The only problem with tuning yourself is:

1. you should really be tuning only on a dyno

2. if you have not done a lot of dyno's, you shouldn't be the one tuning on the dyno

3. it will cost you a lot more to tune it yourself on the dyno if you've never tuned a car before. Not that you can't do it, just that there's a learning curve.

I'm glad I got my EU tuned by a pro on a dyno... I was thinking about doing it myself and realized I would've probably fuct it up

 

only problem with a used utec is there is no warranty on it. Beyond that its a great value.

as for an emanage being user friendly, it is hardly that - the install alone is a pain in the neck, tuning is even more cumbersom unless you've done standalone type tuning before.

 

If you get the autosport harness (and are intelligent enough to be able to look up pin locations, splice, and solder properly) then the EU is totally plug and play...

and I don't know what you're talking about, tuning with the EU is a snap especially on the dyno (not sure exactly about normal emanage, but I thought emanage just changes MAF voltage whereas EU can change injector pulse)

 

There are gains to had with the UTEC and I think we are forgetting that a used UTEC can be had for around 650.00 vs. 500.00 for a one time flash that has its limitations. You can always get your money back from the UTEC which by the way is nowhere near complete in its development yet , nor anywhere near reaching its limits in its capabilities. Turbo XS has some surprises down the road for all UTEC owners.
Hope this helps

 

ok... lets break it down:

$650 for a used utec with all the sensors/harness (good luck)
$200 at least for install (im being generous here)
$300 for dyno tuning

at the very best your looking at $1150 in the end. sound like a great value now? personally, $600 plug and play seems pretty reasonable... why do you think everyone who had NA mods are trying to unload their UTECS now? its just not worth it.

please - DO NOT try and tune the UTEC without a dyno (i know that's what your thinking). you'll be very sorry.

as far as the SAFC II goes, i just dont see the value of buying + installing + dyno tuning with the SAFC just to get 3-5 more horse.... that's why i think the reflash is just fine for NA mods.

just my $.02

 

Dude, you can install the utec yourself with a screwdriver, a 10mm socket wrench, and about 30 minutes of your time.

 

30 minutes, I installed mine in 15 minutes, and I bought it for $650.00 already tuned to a car with the same mods as mine.
$1150.00 your talking out your ***!
Yes I will have it retuned eventually at MRC or Car V2 but untill then its still
awsome!

 

i must have the installation confused with the emanage... thanks for not being @sses about it

i still dont see you getting the unit plus the dyno tuning for less than $1k

 

+1 on the Utec. I had all NA bolt ons, aside from Cams or any serious engine work. I was doing around 262whp and 250 tq. This was on a fairly conservative dyno. From just installing the Utec to tuning it , I gained around 19 whp.

I would definatly suggest you getting a utec, especially since you can still use if you ever decide to go FI.

 

You need some help and more experience - 3-5 HP ????

Try anywhere from 12-20. Your doing the same thing a UTEC will give you, other than timing map changes - and that you get that and more from the reflash anyways.

Your talking about a low level NA car - exhaust and intake - to go an get a UTEC or REAL EM is absurd for that level of a build.

I've been doing this 20 years...trust me...absurd. If you want real power and a REASON to tune...build the engine then...that way it's justifiable.

Too many people on these boards buy $3000 worth of mods - exhaust, intake, headers, CATS etc..and the only thing that changes is A/F...so just tune what changes and needs to be adjusted....SAVE YOUR MONEY!

By the way - telling everyone that you have a UTEC, doesn't make your car any faster. Trust me - I'm FI and NOT using a UTEC or Other...just the SS box that came with the SC. I've gotten into arguments with people about why my car will never be at it's potential without a UTEC - and most professional tuners, that I have spoken to...agree with ME. AND my car out powers most that have the expensive EM's installed.

You guys need to ground yourselves...really. UTEC is not king and isn't needed on EVERY car, and it's not that great for bragging rights either...that is if you know better.

Rick

P.S. OK now that I've asked for it...bring it on...I can feel the flaming starting already

 

Maybe - it depends on what the bolt ons are and what your goals are.

Ideally for NA power and safety, you want to be at 12.8:1 A/F or just at 13...your real close, but I haven't seen a dyno with A/F to help otherwise. you have to look at the power band and see where the A/F ratio dips and peaks.

If you brought the ratio down the 12.9-13 - you could see about 8-10 HP more. That's worth $300 and a tune to me...

Rick