'01 Spyder 1zz - 2zz Turbo

487 Views 12 Replies 7 Participants Last post by rileygreen5676, 11 d ago

jbknight

Discussion Starter · 19 d ago

I bought an 01 Silver Spyder with known engine issues Last June (2022). I hoped to baby it through the summertime and work on it over the Winter. Well, it lasted less than 24 hours from when I bought it before it crapped out. Since then, I have been working on a million things (ADHD), My Dad passed unexpectedly, And I lost motivation for the car while it sat for 5 months or so. In the last month, I have found new motivation and determination. The 1zz is out of the car; I have a 120,000-mile 2zz that I am rebuilding to put in there, as well as a turbokits.com turbo, Apexi FC, and some other goodies. I'll post about the work I've done and do along the way. I've already gained a ton of information from this site, Thanks!. Not sure how active the forum is, but I hope to add some stuff that someone will find useful today.

Save

Reactions: 4

1 - 13 of 13 Posts

Galo

· #2 · 19 d ago

Welcome aboard! At least you knew the engine had issues when you bought it. Sorry about losing your Dad. I'm glad you're "back in the saddle (or is it web?)"!
And the forum can be, is, quite busy.

Save

Reactions: 1

MerryFrankster

· #3 · 19 d ago

Before you get too far down the road to ruin, ditch the PFC.

Just by way of explanation, would anyone in their right mind buy a computer or a phone or even a microwave oven assembled with 1990's era components and software? The ECU is the single most critical component in your car.

Save

Reactions: 1

postmortemarg

· #4 · 19 d ago

MerryFrankster said:
Before you get too far down the road to ruin, ditch the PFC.

Just by way of explanation, would anyone in their right mind buy a computer or a phone or even a microwave oven assembled with 1990's era components and software? The ECU is the single most critical component in your car.

What is the best ecu for a 2zz zzw30 other than the PFC?

Save

MerryFrankster

· #5 · 19 d ago

postmortemarg said:
What is the best ecu for a 2zz zzw30 other than the PFC?

First find a tuner. Then buy whatever ECU is recommended by the tuner. ECU's that work well are
Haltech Elite 1500
LinkECU Monsoon or AltezzaLink:
Ecumaster EMU Black
MaxxECU SPORT

If I did not mention an ECU, it is not on my recommended list.

Save

Reactions: 2

jbknight

Discussion Starter · #6 · 18 d ago

MerryFrankster said:
Before you get too far down the road to ruin, ditch the PFC.

Just by way of explanation, would anyone in their right mind buy a computer or a phone or even a microwave oven assembled with 1990's era components and software? The ECU is the single most critical component in your car.

I never considered it this way, but it's a good point.

I went with the Apexi, as it's what MonkeyWrench and TurboKits/ Black label fab used for their builds and provided the already tuned files. Hopefully, I only have to do some fine-tuning
.

Save

MerryFrankster

· #7 · 18 d ago (Edited)

jbknight said:
I never considered it this way, but it's a good point.

I went with the Apexi, as it's what MonkeyWrench and TurboKits/ Black label fab used for their builds and provided the already tuned files. Hopefully, I only have to do some fine-tuning
.

Those kits come with a base map that is barely suited to drive the car a short distance to a tuning shop. It takes more than fine tuning to get it running properly. Most tuners nowadays do not want anything to do with a PFC or if they do you'll get a half-assed tune by someone who does not know what they are doing. Read the parallel thread about the guy whose 2zz PFC tune was a complete fiasco. Good luck to you.

Let me explain a few more things:

The PFC by itself does not have any way to communicate with a computer you will have to buy a separate unit called a Datalogit to serve as the interface.

The software interface PFCEdit is like Southwest Airlines's flight scheduling software, antiquated, and just a disaster waiting to happen and leave you stranded somewhere.

The Datalogit does not have a wideband O2 controller you will have to buy a sensor with a controller and wire it to the datalogit if you want to tune.

The datalogit does not have an input for a MAP sensor and even if it did the PFC cannot do any boost control you will have to buy a separate MAP sensor and boost controller and run it independently of the PFC or just run on the wastegate spring - not a way to go.

The PFC does not have any knock control or any other failsafes for any other potentially damaging conditions that occur commonly in boosted engine.

Why MWR or Turbokits continue to sell this deficient unit in this day and age when far better solutions are available is criminal. Honestly I don't know what they (or you) are thinking.

See less See more

Save

Reactions: 1

Node

· #8 · 18 d ago

jbknight said:
I never considered it this way, but it's a good point.

I went with the Apexi, as it's what MonkeyWrench and TurboKits/ Black label fab used for their builds and provided the already tuned files. Hopefully, I only have to do some fine-tuning
.

While others and I run the PFC, it is not a perfect solution. The maps drift with fuel, temperature and there is really not a limp home capability. Sure it plugs right in and there are some maps for it but they won't match your build. You also will 100% need to tune cold and hot start enrichment. You WILL need to retune every few months just to keep things running right. A PFC is NOT a set and forget kind of thing. The only reason I am running it today is because I like my tune and don't want to spend so much time getting the build running right.

I.E. none of the systems Franster mentioned above are outside of my skill set or financial means. I just don't have patience these days to drive around town, get a base map. Go back to the dyno and cross my fingers that I wont blow something up.

Save

jbknight

Discussion Starter · #9 · 18 d ago

MerryFrankster said:
Those kits come with a base map that is barely suited to drive the car a short distance to a tuning shop. It takes more than fine tuning to get it running properly. Most tuners nowadays do not want anything to do with a PFC or if they do you'll get a half-assed tune by someone who does not know what they are doing. Read the parallel thread about the guy whose 2zz PFC tune was a complete fiasco. Good luck to you.

Let me explain a few more things:

The PFC by itself does not have any way to communicate with a computer you will have to buy a separate unit called a Datalogit to serve as the interface.

The software interface PFCEdit is like Southwest Airlines's flight scheduling software, antiquated, and just a disaster waiting to happen and leave you stranded somewhere.

The Datalogit does not have a wideband O2 controller you will have to buy a sensor with a controller and wire it to the datalogit if you want to tune.

The datalogit does not have an input for a MAP sensor and even if it did the PFC cannot do any boost control you will have to buy a separate MAP sensor and boost controller and run it independently of the PFC or just run on the wastegate spring - not a way to go.

The PFC does not have any knock control or any other failsafes for any other potentially damaging conditions that occur commonly in boosted engine.

Why MWR or Turbokits continue to sell this deficient unit in this day and age when far better solutions are available is criminal. Honestly, I don't know what they (or you) are thinking.

Really, man, this is super helpful. I thought I read a lot about it, but I guess I was reading everything from the 2000s.

If this is a mostly street/weekend funmobile, and maybe a few AutoX events. What ECU would you recommend? I've reached out to my local tuner, but I got the Admin/Phone answerer, and I am not sure I will hear back today. I'd love to be able to maintain OBD for emissions/State Registrations. Again, Thanks a bunch.

Save

MerryFrankster

· #10 · 18 d ago

jbknight said:
Really, man, this is super helpful. I thought I read a lot about it, but I guess I was reading everything from the 2000s.

If this is a mostly street/weekend funmobile, and maybe a few AutoX events. What ECU would you recommend? I've reached out to my local tuner, but I got the Admin/Phone answerer, and I am not sure I will hear back today. I'd love to be able to maintain OBD for emissions/State Registrations. Again, Thanks a bunch.

I have given a list of ECU's above. Wait to hear back from your tuner and pick one.

There is unconfirmed information that MWR is offering ECUmaster EMU Black with full plug and play capability including gauge cluster, AC, radiator fans. If this is true and it works as advertised it would be the logical choice.

The only way you can have OBD2 and some level of emissions testing compliance is with a piggyback solution that keeps the original ECU in the car. MWR does have a piggyback solution with ECUmaster EMU Black.

Save

Node

· #11 · 18 d ago

OBD huh? Well, there are ways to pass the OBDII requirement. None of them are perfect or a off the shelf solution. I wrote a whole bunch of stuff here but I think it's better not to post on an open forum.

There are ways to pass OBDII ready codes in a mostly legal way. I do not condone using a device to falsify the OBDII ready codes. While technically possible it is quite illegal.

Save

35BOB

· #12 · 11 d ago

jbknight said:
I bought an 01 Silver Spyder with known engine issues Last June (2022). I hoped to baby it through the summertime and work on it over the Winter. Well, it lasted less than 24 hours from when I bought it before it crapped out. Since then, I have been working on a million things (ADHD), My Dad passed unexpectedly, And I lost motivation for the car while it sat for 5 months or so. In the last month, I have found new motivation and determination. The 1zz is out of the car; I have a 120,000-mile 2zz that I am rebuilding to put in there, as well as a turbokits.com turbo, Apexi FC, and some other goodies. I'll post about the work I've done and do along the way. I've already gained a ton of information from this site, Thanks!. Not sure how active the forum is, but I hope to add some stuff that someone will find useful today.

I'm sorry about your dad , Loosing family can stop a project quickly .

Save

rileygreen5676

· #13 · 11 d ago

I’m sorry about your dad, you just have to keep going with the project

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Save

1 - 13 of 13 Posts

Top Contributors this Month