[drummerdawg]

Thought the stock ECU would though a code if they were merged, good to hear it dosn't! My goals are low 200's this year and
mid 3's next year after a rebuild. Would like the car to stay OBD2 legal for emissions, but then I know a guy that will pass it LOL..

The main thing is I don't want the car to be a PITA to drive, needs to start and drive like stock until the loud pedal is pushed.

Steve

You do know you can NOT run a turbo Spyder on the factory 1zz ecu correct?

 

[Racerstev]

You do know you can NOT run a turbo Spyder on the factory 1zz ecu correct?

The plan was a piggy back AEM FIC. Still not convinced what to use here yet. The FIC seems easy to tune and has a wideband
closed loop input (I think). Was thinking using it to control 4 more injectors and just leave the stockers alone. But finding a
way to add injectors to a plastic intake might prevent this.

Did a quick look at the APEXI stuff, seems kinda stone age, no laptop, no wideband input, no closed loop from what I can tell.
Never had any experience with the AEM standalone. I'm still spooked from when it first came out and melted a bunch of engines
down...Seems they got there act together though.

I do have some tuning time on Haltech, Mega Squirt and Autronic..

 

[TurboKits.com]

You do know you can NOT run a turbo Spyder on the factory 1zz ecu correct?

You mean stock ECU, stock fuel system alone? Correct? The 1ZZ ECU is capable with the AEM FIC & Harness. But not ONLY the 1ZZ ECU.

 

[Racerstev]

How about something like this with the FIC controlling the injectors.

http://turbosystem.com/auto/engine/Portfueler.htm

or to add any standalone w/o cutting the harness

http://www.diyautotune.com/catalog/diybob-breakout-adapter-nippondenso-122-pin-p-537.html

 

[DDPR]

The plan was a piggy back AEM FIC. Still not convinced what to use here yet. The FIC seems easy to tune and has a wideband
closed loop input (I think). Was thinking using it to control 4 more injectors and just leave the stockers alone. But finding a
way to add injectors to a plastic intake might prevent this.

Did a quick look at the APEXI stuff, seems kinda stone age, no laptop, no wideband input, no closed loop from what I can tell.
Never had any experience with the AEM standalone. I'm still spooked from when it first came out and melted a bunch of engines
down...Seems they got there act together though.

I do have some tuning time on Haltech, Mega Squirt and Autronic..

FIC does not really work well on the 1ZZ and 2ZZ - too much intrusion from the factory ECU. Way better off with a Hydra.

 

[TurboKits.com]

FIC does not really work well on the 1ZZ and 2ZZ - too much intrusion from the factory ECU. Way better off with a Hydra.

There is always good, better, best scenario in anything. The FIC on a low boost kit like ours works very well when tuned properly.

 

[Racerstev]

Just wondering how loud the car is w/o a muffler? Does it drone and is there a baffled muffler available?

Been looking though management options, the AEM EMS4 looks like a great option for me. It does boost control,
launch control and meth control. It does cost a bit more. Can I buy this kit with out the electronics?

Steve

 

[TurboKits.com]

Just wondering how loud the car is w/o a muffler? Does it drone and is there a baffled muffler available?

Been looking though management options, the AEM EMS4 looks like a great option for me. It does boost control,
launch control and meth control. It does cost a bit more. Can I buy this kit with out the electronics?

Steve

It's pretty loud, but not too bad, the nice part is the kit has about a 2ft straight section already set for slip on, we have had customer add larger mufflers to bring the sound down and it's a very straight forward mod.

 

[Racerstev]

A question on the turbo, does it have the billet wheel "Batmowheel" or a standard cast wheel?

Just saw your new power package, very complete and 350hp!

Steve

 

[TurboKits.com]

A question on the turbo, does it have the billet wheel "Batmowheel" or a standard cast wheel?

Just saw your new power package, very complete and 350hp!

Steve

We offer both, the BatMoWheel Upgrade is $195 on all of our 1ZZ/2ZZ Kits.

 

[rburton]

Thought id throw out an update since i finally got my car back from the body shop, which was a horrible experience, i had to re-fit everything myself, just took alil effort that they werent willing to try, a Moroso pan and LSD install, couldnt be happier to have the car back in my hands not to mention tearing up the road again 2! Working now on fitting the Lotus Diffuser i picked up to flow the air into an high density a2a intercooler that i still havent picked up, so im still using 50/50 methanol boostjuice. i might have a chance to get hooked up on some good coilovers soon 2. Im super excited to get back to finishing up the last of the minor mods ill be doing to the spyder.....hopefully by the end of the year!

Plans still include:

6UL wheels 15x8 front, 15x9 rear Bronze finish
Toyo R888 tires
High density Intercooler
Dual intake temp gauge
Install Lotus Diffuser
Coilovers
whiteline sways
battle version control and trailing arms

:2gunsfiring_v1:if i get all that done this year the last will be a Hardtop.....i really wanna join the club u guys

 

[Bryon S. Bailey]

Looks great in the picture. You would never know you had problems with the bodyshop? At least that is past you now!
It's hard to tell in the pic but did you but a wide body kit on it or flared rear quarters? More pics when you get a chance.

 

[xbiker]

Great looking car, Ross.

 

[MerryFrankster]

Did a quick look at the APEXI stuff, seems kinda stone age, no laptop, no wideband input, no closed loop from what I can tell.

Sorry but you're wrong on all counts here.

A. The Apexi PowerFC (I assume this is what you are talking about) hooks up to a laptop through a FC Datalogit or FC Hako. For software you can choose FC Edit or Copilot.

B. The wideband input goes through either with the Datalogit or the FC Hako.

C. Closed loop (O2 sensor feedback) is a setting in PowerFC that you can turn on or turn off.

I keep hearing and seeing tis "old" and "stone age" attribute thrown at the PowerFC, so it seems to me that someone is doing some very effective negative marketing against a very capable product, and uninformed people are more than eager to drink the Koolaid.

 

[drummerdawg]

Car is looking good!

 

[JWalrus]

I keep hearing and seeing tis "old" and "stone age" attribute thrown at the PowerFC, so it seems to me that someone is doing some very effective negative marketing against a very capable product, and uninformed people are more than eager to drink the Koolaid.

I would certainly agree that the PFC is a capable product, but I wouldn't say its critics are totally wrong. It wins big for being one of the only plug and play options for the 1ZZ/2ZZ, which enables the community to share maps and other working knowledge. However, it is pretty outdated by modern stand alone ECU standards. Things like fuel and timing map resolution, knock control, flex fuel capability, data logging and inputs/outputs are all lagging in comparison to modern ECUs. I think the MR2 community, all gens considered, is just small and typically behind the curve on new technology, mainly because it takes a while for someone to pave a reliable path and others tend to follow. There also aren't many shops that specialize in the MR2, so when one of the few supports a product it sort of becomes the default mod for the community.

My biggest considerations for picking an ECU are local tuning options, ease of use and setup (tuning software), knock control and flex fuel (If you are turbocharged and have access to E85, I think you're be crazy not to run it). If I were considering a stand alone right now, I would probably go with either the VIPEC/LINK ECU or the AEM Infinity. Both aren't much more expensive than the Power FC, but offer actual knock control, flex fuel and a variety of other nice features not found on the Apexi. I appreciate the Hydra because I really respect RickyB for his dedication to the MR2 community. It is a good option for those with a tuner who supports it, but there are a lot of complaints about its complicated set up and tuning and pay-to-play price structure.

Just my $.02...

 

[raybythelake]

Tuning

I would certainly agree that the PFC is a capable product, but I wouldn't say its critics are totally wrong. It wins big for being one of the only plug and play options for the 1ZZ/2ZZ, which enables the community to share maps and other working knowledge. However, it is pretty outdated by modern stand alone ECU standards. Things like fuel and timing map resolution, knock control, flex fuel capability, data logging and inputs/outputs are all lagging in comparison to modern ECUs. I think the MR2 community, all gens considered, is just small and typically behind the curve on new technology, mainly because it takes a while for someone to pave a reliable path and others tend to follow. There also aren't many shops that specialize in the MR2, so when one of the few supports a product it sort of becomes the default mod for the community.

My biggest considerations for picking an ECU are local tuning options, ease of use and setup (tuning software), knock control and flex fuel (If you are turbocharged and have access to E85, I think you're be crazy not to run it). If I were considering a stand alone right now, I would probably go with either the VIPEC/LINK ECU or the AEM Infinity. Both aren't much more expensive than the Power FC, but offer actual knock control, flex fuel and a variety of other nice features not found on the Apexi. I appreciate the Hydra because I really respect RickyB for his dedication to the MR2 community. It is a good option for those with a tuner who supports it, but there are a lot of complaints about its complicated set up and tuning and pay-to-play price structure.

Just my $.02...

I had been very interested in going the turbo route along the lines of the OP. The complication of learning an aftermarket unit enough to be able to troubleshoot or tweak it after an initial setup by a reputable tuner (I'm in Ohio so I'm close to Monkey Wrench Racing in Michigan) put me off. Ideally, I'd like to be able to throw a switch and put tuning back close enough to stock to pass emissions. To meet emissions testing here in Ohio I would have to replace injectors, remove the aftermarket ECU, install the stock ECU, jimmy the waste gate. These tasks made me nervous about passing and/or damaging the engine. I understand that RickyB or anyone else needs to make a living and the relatively small number of potential customers in the MR2 community is an impediment.

 

[dblazer]

FIC does not really work well on the 1ZZ and 2ZZ - too much intrusion from the factory ECU. Way better off with a Hydra.

This. Both DDPR (I believe) and TrackForged (I know) in Portland spend beaucoup hours trying to sort out the AEM F/IC. I abandoned it for a standalone.

Feedback from AEM and MWR on the unit was "sometimes they work, and sometimes they don't". You can burn days trying to make it go and fail.

 

[dblazer]

I had been very interested in going the turbo route along the lines of the OP. The complication of learning an aftermarket unit enough to be able to troubleshoot or tweak it after an initial setup by a reputable tuner (I'm in Ohio so I'm close to Monkey Wrench Racing in Michigan) put me off. Ideally, I'd like to be able to throw a switch and put tuning back close enough to stock to pass emissions. To meet emissions testing here in Ohio I would have to replace injectors, remove the aftermarket ECU, install the stock ECU, jimmy the waste gate. These tasks made me nervous about passing and/or damaging the engine. I understand that RickyB or anyone else needs to make a living and the relatively small number of potential customers in the MR2 community is an impediment.

Swapping out the ECU and injectors isn't that big a deal, both times I've needed to (every two years here) it has worked without any problems except one O2 sensor wire got burned somehow. Fixed that and good to go.

 

[Racerstev]

In my state (PA) when a car gets to be 15 years old you can register it as a classic. A classic doesn't need emission inspection here :cocksure:

I'm still 2 years away on my 2003....

Steve