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How Important Is A Tune After Front Mount Install?

Munkyb0y

By Munkyb0y,
in Engines & Forced Induction

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Munkyb0y Grand Master

Munkyb0y

Posted
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I just installed a front mount intercooler. R33gtst. I'm booked in for a tune this arvo.

I had the car tuned a few months ago when i put the new exhaust on. I changed it from a 3 inch bitsa, to a full stainless 3 inch with much better cat. That was well worth it. More power everywhere, and increased response and midrange.

I'm wondering how beneficial a tune is if the only change is a front mount (upgraded from r34 smic).

Currently the car feels pretty much the same as before the front mount, so it's not really lacking.

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TTT Grand Master

TTT

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I disagree with that nizmoid.

he is going from an R33 smic to an R34 smic.

The difference will be minimal and the cost of a retune of easily over $100 would be better spent later on something else.

Monkeyboy - I assume you actually have an aftermarket ECU that is being tuned. not that you are making a mod and going to a dyno place where they put it on the dyno and do a power run and point at the screen and say.. see.. more power. all the while you have a stock ecu.

Munkyb0y Grand Master

Munkyb0y

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I disagree with that nizmoid.

he is going from an R33 smic to an R34 smic.

The difference will be minimal and the cost of a retune of easily over $100 would be better spent later on something else.

Monkeyboy - I assume you actually have an aftermarket ECU that is being tuned. not that you are making a mod and going to a dyno place where they put it on the dyno and do a power run and point at the screen and say.. see.. more power. all the while you have a stock ecu.

its gone from an r34 smic to a front mount 600x300.

yes it has an aftermarket ecu

Munkyb0y Grand Master

Munkyb0y

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its a unichip, with boost control module. (before anyone asks why i chose unichip...i didnt. it was on the car, and ive found it to be rather damn good when tuned properly by my tuner who has extensive experience with these....*deep breath*...)

and yeah the 34smic was flushed and reflushed by me before fitting, and was in good condition. so it was clean in all respects.

my tuner told me to get a front mount, and bring it back for a tune afterwards. i said do i need another tune really? and he said, yeah of course, its totally worth it. he hasnt mislead me before, so i'm assuming theres some benefit to be had. just wondering what experiences you guys had.

Munkyb0y Grand Master

Munkyb0y

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If you go back for a tune, you will probably get the smallest gain you will ever get from getting a tune...

How much does the tune cost you?

no more than $250, hopefully less. its not peanuts, but its about half of what other places charge to tune a unichip. he always starts from scratch with the timing, boost, afr's. usually about 10 runs.

Wait till you get more mod, such as a bigger turbo.

Your just wasting your money at the moment!

thats the thing, i dont see any more mods coming after this, at least for a while. but then i always say that lol.

i mean with the exhaust, the car would have sucked to drive without a tune, so theres no way i would have left it.

and even my mechanic (unrelated) said that i'll definately need a tune after the fmic.

plus, how am i gonna drive around for months wondering if the car is running at it's best :laugh:

Edited by Munkyb0y
DRD-00F Grand Master

DRD-00F

Posted
Posted

I would say totally unecessary, as other people already have... especially for that amount...

Just say you are waiting on some new parts to get in (injectors or something, though that may get a follow up question :laugh:) and you figure you will wait til they get in and do it all then...

You won't notice much difference before and after the tune going by your descriptions of the intercoolers...

TTT Grand Master

TTT

Posted
Posted

LMAO.

what did you expect the tuner to say when you asked if it really needed another tune?

You have a stock turbo?

then the R34 SMIC would be more than efficient.

even with the stock turbo at it's moaximum safest level, let say you made 215rwkw..

The R34 SMIC is still efficient at that level.

so..

your tuner told you to go get a FMIC, so you did.

also said that it will need another tune at $250...

you know what you are going to get for $250?

Nothing.

no no..

not true.

for $250, you are going to get less throttle response..

cool...

swanny180 Proficient

swanny180

Posted
Posted

Total waste of money mate.

Going from stock R33 sidemount to FMIC made a tiny tiny difference to how the car drove.

Your engines airflow isnt going to change (not running a bigger turbo or any more boost) by any great amount, the fuel flow isnt changing (ie same fuel pressure, same injectors) and as such you really wont make any meaningful gains through having it tuned.

You *might* pick up 2 or 3kW from having slightly slightly more timing wound in due to the higher detonation threshold from having a cooler intake charge...

And to be honest, while $250 is quite reasonable for a tune, thats damn expensive for a 2-3kW power gain...

swanny180 Proficient

swanny180

Posted
Posted
why would i get less throttle response? thats stupid

You have more intake piping volume from having more length, larger diameter piping, and more intercooler volume.

More volume to fill = slightly more lag/less response.

TTT Grand Master

TTT

Posted
Posted

I bet that now that you have the FMIC on, then go back to the SMIC, you would immediately notice the difference of throttle response.

I didn't say lag.

throttle response.

example.

driving in second gear at 2500rpm.

plant your foot.

doing this exact same thing with the FMIC and the SMIC will show you the difference.

especially going from the FMIC to SMIC

Not that you will go back now..

but I assure you you would feel the difference.

my point was that if you have the stock turbo, a FMIC is a waste when you can use the R34 SMIC.

it will flow and cool anything the stock turbo can throw at it.

sure a FMIC is good to have for future mods if you plan a turbo upgrade..

But I would have got the FMIC at the same time as turbo.

on a silvia or any other engine with a forward facing plenum and factory SMIC I would say that a FMIC is definitely worth it.

anyway..

if you want to spend the $250 it's up to you..

stolen_s15 Mentor

stolen_s15

Posted
Posted

No need for a tune, its a waste of time and money if only the cooler is being changed.

Are you running stock fuel pump and boost? If so I would chuck in a walbro or bosch pump and a cheap (turbotech or similar) boost controller, wind up your boost to 0.8 bar and then get a tune.

Nick

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