Tuning options...Please help

[slo]

Hey guys,

I'm really in a predicament here.... I really want to do this the right way and get a nice standalone system for my beloved ca18det but right now just isn't the time for me to fit that in my budget.

First of all, here are the mods:

t3 garrett turboFreshly rebuilt motor with OEM parts.2.25" i/c pipes and v-mount setup.3" downpipe and exhaust

The motor's still under break-in so I'm taking it easy... just keeping it under 3500 rpms. There's crazy lag compared to my old turbo, gt25r.

Now as I've said earlier, I wish i could afford a nice stand alone but I just cannot do that now. I plan to take it easy before I get one but until then, which tuning device should I run? I've been researching the safc's and the greddy emanage. Which ones are you guys running and why? How are the outcomes?

Please let me know asap as I need to get my motor tuned... Thanks guys. You guys rock!!!

Justin

[Bwana]

Nistune. Real standalone capability for $400. If you can't afford it wait another month or so, it's only a little more than the safc or emanage and far better.

[themadscientist]

Might want to pull that mailbox off the motor and put the stock intake back on. Just sayin; that think can't flow even.

[slo]

Thanks for the criticism about the manifold. The piece is actually from Venom for hondas. It's all been tig'ed and port matched to ensure no leaks and direct flow. I'll post up some dyno numbers whenever I get this thing tuned.

Justin

[float_6969]

Yea, NISTUNE is a pretty good option. For the price it's hard to beat.

[XTCshri2222]

I run Nistune, i love it.

[slo]

Thanks for the replies, guys. It definitely seems as though Nistune is the way to go. I just looked up nistune on google and brought me to their main website. Good info on the site.

[slo]

I tried to ask Nistune a question via email but I don't see a contact information anywhere on that site. So let me ask you guys that are using Nistune some questions.

What exactly is Nistune? I see a board that looks like a ecu but what exactly is it?

I'm really sorry for the noob questions but I've always been one curious SOB and asked a lot of questions before I committed to it. I'm reading the website over and over but I'm still confused. Is Nistune a standalone or still a piggy back?

I guess the bottom line is, will this thing make my car run better according to the modifications which I've listed previously? Thanks guys, please be patient with me....

[jt15833]

I talked with Pete Liebig, actually 52 emails back and forth before I got my confirmation of purchase email. They are very good at communicating with customers about their product, probably because it's great = )I say they because once you purchase it you can get on the Nistune forums, and there they have a guy named Matt who answers countless questions half of which are to in depth for me to understand, yet ; )

Back to you question, Nistune is a daughterboard that is installed on your ECU in place of a board that contains the fuel maps, timing maps, etc. The knob in the ECU that is used for diagnostics is removed and a female USB port is put in. This allows your laptop to hook up to it.

Theres no more need for the knob as your laptop can read codes, and clear codes, along with Nissan Consult which allows you to view every paramter, timing, batt voltage, maf, tps, etc etc. Also allows you to modify fuel and timing tables, rev limit, speed limit, k constant for injectors and the type of MAF you're using. It also allows you to change very indepth things such as injector latency.

The price is $400 AUD, atleast it was when I ordered. I paid $50 to have them install the board to my ECU, but if you decide to go your own route they provide this type 1 board install instructions, which will also show you what it is that Nistune does to the ECU.

http://www.nistune.com/docs/NI...n.pdf

The email I caught Pete at was [email protected].

Also here are some more pictures of what the Nistune software allows you to do. Logging is awesome!

As far as wideband support, the way it works is you get a wideband sensor that is capable of hooking to a laptop, I got the LM-1. During tuning, you hooking both the sensor and your ECU to your computer. The Nistune software is able to read the wideband data and you go from there.

[jt15833]

ps lets see some pics of that vmount!

oh also to your question about running better

If your air / fuel ratio is not dead on the best desired value (either by you, or your tuner) across your entire rpm range in every gear, your engine is not as powerful / safe as it could be. Timing too plays a big role!

I'm sure you will gain power from this and continue to gain more power based on the more mods you add.
Modified by jt15833 at 8:07 PM 7/29/2008

[Buddyworm]

I too can vouch for Nistune. Viewing the error codes and datalogs is absurdly handy for diagnosing problems. Not to mention how capable it is when tuning your mixtures/timing.

[slo]

Man, I truly thank you for the great information with the pictures and the email address. Since I'm such a noob, let me ask you this. You mentioned the "desired" a/f ratio... Everyone wants it to be 12.6, right? I've read somewhere that 12.6 is where you want to be all across the rpm band.

Also next question is, does it matter if my ecu's been chipped already? You said that Nistune will take place where the turning knob is now... is there anyone in the states that can install this, instead of sending it all the way to australia?

Thanks again for the quick responces!!

[Indecisive]

AFAIK the Nistune Daughterboard completely replaces the chip, so your chip and socket will need to be removed.

If somebody else can confirm though please. Nistune will be the way I'm gonna go in a few months once I get some stuff sorted out.