EMS for SR20'd cars

[S13 King]

I was looking at some of the options for EMS for my car. Came across a few, wanted to see what some of you were running.

I was looking into the Apex-i Power FC, that seems to be a common unit. Then i came across the new AEM SR20 EMS system. Seems pretty good, waiting on a write up about it and all. Post if you have it. Thought about a HalTech system also. A friend of mine was telling me about a Motec unit also.

Just curious, but from what i've heard the Power FC is the best. Suggestions?

[SpeedRacer1]

Power FC isnt the best, but its good. Some other systems are the HKS FconV, HKS Fcon SZ, Tomei Reytech, Microtech. Your probably not going to be serious enough to get any haltech or motec units since they will probably require a bit of extensive tuning.

Things like the Power FC, HKS FconV, etc are simply plug in and play. They have pretty decent tuning possibilities. Tomei's Reytec would be possibly the best choice since you can download all sorts of fuel maps from their website and change the ECU parameters with a simple data transfer from a laptop except that its programs are mostly in Japanese.

[Dori Dori]

Microtech is another easy solution. Check it out here (under electronics):http://www.tougefactory.com/main2.htm

The best one though (plug and play) IMHO is the AEM unit.

[getnrowdy23]

i friend of mine has haltech and has had nothing but problems out of it. he has been trying to get the wiring and some other stuff done for a about a year now.

[S13 King]

I had forgotten about the HKS units. Yea I'm reading into the AEM one. Isn't it fairly a new prodUCT?Most likely I'll get the Power FC or HKS one and leave the tuning to SGP Racing when i have my kit and all built and tuned.

[msaskin]

The AEM unit is new to 240sx's, but has been around for years now. I've been tuning AEM powered cars for at least the past year...probably have a dozen or so under my belt.

If you have any questions, let me know since I'm running the AEM on my car (and have been for the past 2 months).

I've got experience w/ the Power FC and Haltech's (E6k and E6x) as well, so I can somewhat compare them

~matt

[Dugi]

I'm running the Microtech.. no problems... wiring is very easy..... as for tuning any shop with tuning experience could tune any ems for you.... I've read on many forums which system is best... my conclusion is none are bad nor good...they're all about the same...it all comes down to the tuner.... so it's up to you what you're gonna do.. I went microtech budget wise and still has been good to me.....

this is just my opinion

Thanks

Doug

[LSB_11]

my mechanic is a certified hondata tuner, and has tuned AEM's, another one i cant remember, and haltech's. he is installing my haltech, it has taken him probably about a month to redrill and tap all sensor locations for the GM haltech sensors, and wiring was kinda ***** he says. but he says he loves tuning on the haltech over the EMS. and in his opinion, it is a more solid and tested system, without some of the bugs the ems comes with. but that is his opinion.

[msaskin]

my mechanic is a certified hondata tuner, and has tuned AEM's, another one i cant remember, and haltech's. he is installing my haltech, it has taken him probably about a month to redrill and tap all sensor locations for the GM haltech sensors, and wiring was kinda ***** he says. but he says he loves tuning on the haltech over the EMS. and in his opinion, it is a more solid and tested system, without some of the bugs the ems comes with. but that is his opinion.

I would have agreed with him for any version of the EMS prior to 1.0x

With 1.03 (And now 1.11) they really got rid of just about every bug.

Either way, the haltech is an awesome system. I've used the E6k extensively on DSM's. If it took him a month to wire/etc., he must work slow. I can get a DSM wired up and all sensors installed in a weekend

~matt

[cheez80]

megasquirt

open-source, software looks pretty robust, cheap.

[LSB_11]

msaskin

yeah, he has this shop as a side businness. but he does really good work for the what i have to choose from in the area. but he just doesnt know how to prioritize his time, or plan anything out. he has had my car for about 5 months now.

as a side note, just to make sure, the sr20de exhaust manifold gasket will fit the sr20det, right. and are the nissan factory gaskets better then the ones you get from advanced, falpro or something like that?

[msaskin]

yes and yes.

FWIW I'm running the S15 multi layer metal gasket and love it. Not too sure if the seal is really that much better than the regular single layer gaskets, but it's really just a peace of mind thing.

~matt

[SpeedRacer1]

SR20DE gaskets for sentra's can be used on RWD SR20DET's.

[180fan]

^^^ not all but alot of em.

[robbbby]

I'm not a tuner by any means but I know the power FC is FAR from the best. From all the reading I have done most experienced tuners think the "powerless FC" is crap.

Anyways I went with an AEM 1601 box I have no experience with standalones but I've been doing lots and lots and lots of reading so hopefully I fair pretty well. I've also read lots of good things about the AEM units along with the haltechs, motecs, autronics etc.

I'm just about finished rewiring my engine harness (It is so small now) and just have to get a bung welded onto my IC pipe for a AIT sensor and i'll be ready to go. Hopefully.

Oh ya, anyone want to trade 550cc nismo/tomeis for some 740cc nismo/tomeis?

[SpeedRacer1]

^^^ not all but alot of em.

Well the Mr Gasket Copper gasket im using does at least.

[msaskin]

[quote=""robbbby""]'m not a tuner by any means but I know the power FC is FAR from the best. From all the reading I have done most experienced tuners think the "powerless FC" is crap.Anyways I went with an AEM 1601 box I have no experience with standalones but I've been doing lots and lots and lots of reading so hopefully I fair pretty well. I've also read lots of good things about the AEM units along with the haltechs, motecs, autronics etc.

I'm just about finished rewiring my engine harness (It is so small now) and just have to get a bung welded onto my IC pipe for a AIT sensor and i'll be ready to go. Hopefully.

Oh ya, anyone want to trade 550cc nismo/tomeis for some 740cc nismo/tomeis?[/quote]Glad to hear other people are jumping on the AEM bandwagon

I've been running mine for almost 2 months now and love it. If you ever need any help, let me know. I use the same username (msaskin) on the AEM forums.

Also, what's your setup? I'd love to start seeing other peoples calibrations once they get started tuning.

~matt

[robbbby]

I have the same username over there also, I was the one asking for the battery offset for the 550's. I'm sure I will keep the nissan portion of that message board active with my stupid questions very shortly (just waiting on having my AIT bung welded onto my IC pipe)

I'm running a .64 gt2540r externally gated on a stock ex. manifold, stock intakeHead rebuilt with ferrea valve components and tomei 260/260 procams.Along with whatever other supporting mods (front mount, 550's, MAP sensor).Hopefully i'll be up and running before it starts snowing.

[msaskin]

Wow, you've got almost my exact setup, including the .64 turbo (I think we're the only ones...everyone else seems to get the .86 a/r).

I'm running 740's and no head work. During spring while I'm back east and my car is here in Vegas I'll probably be building up my spare block with OEM parts, ARP hardware, and CP Pistons, and the spare head with valve springs, 256 or 264 cams (probably the 264's) and a few other goodies.

~matt

I have the same username over there also, I was the one asking for the battery offset for the 550's. I'm sure I will keep the nissan portion of that message board active with my stupid questions very shortly (just waiting on having my AIT bung welded onto my IC pipe)

I'm running a .64 gt2540r externally gated on a stock ex. manifold, stock intakeHead rebuilt with ferrea valve components and tomei 260/260 procams.Along with whatever other supporting mods (front mount, 550's, MAP sensor).Hopefully i'll be up and running before it starts snowing.

[robbbby]

Awesome. Are you running on the basemap or have you retuned it for your setup?

[msaskin]

Awesome. Are you running on the basemap or have you retuned it for your setup?

Base map w/ the following changes:re-scaled for GM 3bar mapre-scaled for 740cc injectorsa few timing tweaks

I was having a hell of a time getting it to run smoothly (the accel fueling was way off) and while I was out tonight I converted over to a boost comp map.

Runs 10000% better...almost flawless

~matt

[robbbby]

Ya I was reading about your throttle response problems.

Hmm , well that's almost my same setup except for 740's Wish I had bought 740's but I used to have a safc so I was limited.

Glad to hear it's running well after just a few tweaks to the basemap. Have you been monitoring your stock knock sensor and air/fuel levels on this map?

Are you also running a GM boost solenoid?

[msaskin]

Well, the throttle response problems were really only cured by going to a Boost Comp map, which is a drastic (but very easy to do) change from the basemap. Do a search on the AEM Forums for "boost comp" and you'll see.

Right now I'm running a Blitz SBC-iD, but yeah, I'll be going to a GM BCS shortly (as soon as I get around to order one).

With the injectors re-scaled on the stock maps I was seeing about 11.2:1 or so under boost according to my wideband, so yeah, the maps after being re-scaled are very very safe . Granted, I haven't turned up the boost to more than 10psi yet.

As for knock, I'm actually trying to figure out whether my knock sensor is working correctly. In the base map JP (from AEM) made the knock sensor table is calibrated for the test car he dynoed. Apparently the nissan sensor isn't very noisy (at least compared to the honda and mitsu sensors I'm used to). I see about .2v or so from the sensor until my wastegate opens, then I get spikes to about .5-.6v. I think since my engine isn't grounded that well the knock sensor values are a bit off (Since the sensor grounds through the intake manifold/head)

~matt

[robbbby]

Cool, hope I don't run into to many problems and get the car driveable soon.

One question for you when you rescaled your map for the new injectors.

When it asked you for old fuel pressure and new what did you put?I was going to put the static pressure (or whatever it is called with the vac. line unplugged) for the stock ones which would of been 43.4/3 barAnd for the new ones whatever I adjust my FPR to without a vacuum line.

Would this be the proper way to go about doing it or do it with the vac line connected

stock 32-34 at idle

new ones - whatever i set my fpr at for idle

[msaskin]

You always want to set the base fuel pressure (static pressure) with the vacuum line disconnected.

I'm running a stock FPR, so I used the same before/after values in the injector scale wizard. If you're changing base pressure, I'd just put the static values in for before/after.

Might I ask why you're going to adjust base FP?

~matt

Cool, hope I don't run into to many problems and get the car driveable soon.

One question for you when you rescaled your map for the new injectors.

When it asked you for old fuel pressure and new what did you put?I was going to put the static pressure (or whatever it is called with the vac. line unplugged) for the stock ones which would of been 43.4/3 barAnd for the new ones whatever I adjust my FPR to without a vacuum line.

Would this be the proper way to go about doing it or do it with the vac line connected

stock 32-34 at idle

new ones - whatever i set my fpr at for idle

[robbbby]

I plan to run the stock fuel pressure, I was just curious on the proper procedure for setting it up in the AEM software.