Bolt Ons

[black25t]

how many bolt ons can i put on my rb25 (plenum, exhaust manifold, turbo etc) before i have to go for a new ecu? got a heap all the bits lyin in my shed ready for it, just dont know what i can get away with without upgrading to a haltech or similar

[zebra]

Nothing really

[Ad's]

Anything over stock like increased boost, fmic, exhaust will make the ecu turn to shit. To get the most out of the mods you will need a retuneable ecu that is the best option, unless you want to drive a car that doesnt feel right!

[PM-R33]

Turbo back exhaust, front mount intercooler and 10psi boost will usually be about the limit of the stock ECU without hitting the major ECU limits.

Usually this would yield you around 165-175rwkw. I made 170rwkw with a fairly nice power curve without hitting any ECU safety features.

Having said that every car is slightly different so you may still run into problems (especially on a cold night).

[Hanaldo]

I always find it amazing how many people want to avoid getting an ecu... Ecu was one of the first things on my list. Makes such a big difference, not just to power but to drivability and fuel economy.

Why not get an ecu and find improvements everywhere?

[GTScotT]

Mine shit itself with anything more than a TBE

[Beer Baron]

yeah just buy the ecu. best thing you will buy.

[zoidbergmerc]

why an ECU isn't on the top of everyone's shopping list I don't know.

It's an OK bang for buck upgrade and it'll make every upgrade after 100 times better.

Edited May 24, 2011 by zoidbergmerc

[R31Nismoid]

Ye ECU goes with exhaust & boost increase IMO, even on a stock cooler!

Better driveability, better economy, better power delivery - best bang for the dollar.

[black25t]

thanx for the input guys, i DO plan on getting a new ecu, just the parts i have came with the car. living in a small country town kinda makes it hard to get the thing tuned tho, is it worth goin all out for a pfc, haltech or similar? im not chasing huge power, its my everyday car, just sumthin thats a bit of fun, maybe round the 200-220rwkw mark. my gf drives the car too, so i dont want it scarin the sh!t outta her any help would really be appreciated!!!

[The Bogan]

LOL, my missus was driving my car one day and a car that was on and off the brakes in front was giving her the shi ts, she said she wanted to overtake them and I said "go for it", she dropped it down to second and floored it, LOL, the car hit boost went sideways and she shAT herself, said my car was "stupid" and hasnt driven it since.

[PM-R33]

thanx for the input guys, i DO plan on getting a new ecu, just the parts i have came with the car. living in a small country town kinda makes it hard to get the thing tuned tho, is it worth goin all out for a pfc, haltech or similar? im not chasing huge power, its my everyday car, just sumthin thats a bit of fun, maybe round the 200-220rwkw mark. my gf drives the car too, so i dont want it scarin the sh!t outta her any help would really be appreciated!!!

See that is a big issue that a lot of the guys living in major cities don't always understand. An ECU upgrade can be great, however if you don't have any one to go to makes it kind of pointless lol.

[Sir Lord Van Von Vader'ham]

cooma is only an hour south of canberra. heaps of tuners here.

ppl will drive futher than that in sydney to go to their tuner..

[Hanaldo]

Get NIStune, wideband, a laptop and start learning

[Mayuri Krab]

You can add an exhuast without hitting problems, well I didn't anyway.

I currently have all the basic mods (exhaust, boost tee, FMIC & POD) + a SAFC 2 & the car made 180rwkw when it was tuned about 1.5 years ago, no problems what so ever.

If you are not aiming for more power, SAFC is a budget option if you just want a quick solution to get rid of any R&R problems that may occur.

[KiwiRS4T]

Do what it takes to get a Nistune fitted and tuned. Looking at your list if you don't need new injectors or afm you should be able to fit all that keep the boost low and drive to the tuner to get the Nistune fitted and tuned. As you will need a Z32 ecu you can get the nistune chip installed beforehand and then just plug it in and get the tune.

[PM-R33]

cooma is only an hour south of canberra. heaps of tuners here.

ppl will drive futher than that in sydney to go to their tuner..

Oh, I didn't really look where he was from, I just ment in general. But yeah if he is that close than no problem at all.

Get NIStune, wideband, a laptop and start learning

This. Learning to tune isn't that hard, just takes patience and practice.

[zoidbergmerc]

This. Learning to tune isn't that hard, just takes patience and practice.

Just start rich and retarded and work your way back.

[tridentt150v]

The big diff is, if we f**k it up we have no one to go to to get it sorted. Have to put it on a trailer and then tow it 200km. Plus its not like you have a mate round the corner that knows how to do it and can show you. No safety net.

If we were to learn, we would be self taught and then some! and mistakes could be expensive.

Last thing you want to do is have to sell your car on Carsales - needs a tune!!!

Plus, I got a dyno + tune and it works so why muck it up?

I'd like to tune my own and have been considering getting a wideband and knock sensor, but then I'd need to use it, so on hold for now.......if anyone moves to town with the right skills, I'd probably do it.

Until then I stick to the mechanical stuff.