Piggyback tuning is pretty well obsolete IMO at this point. Personally I DESPISE the gm maft translator setup, even using the gm maf sensor with dsmlink is unreliable and inconsistent which for tuning is obviously exactly the opposite of what you want. Safc type devices are just a huge pain with any kind of large injectors and cause a ton of other problems that, to me at least, aren't worth it considering all the other options available currently.

Dsmlink is fine and well for most dsm tuners, and it will do what most people need but the ability to flash ecus now has really opened up the budget options if you trust yourself to not edit the wrong things. As far as standalone they are fine but you will struggle to get the most out of such an expensive piece without a fair amount of dyno time and it may be "quirkier" than what a stock ecu is if you miss a setting or don't tune things in the "right" order to begin with.

You certainly can swap a 2g or evo ecu into a 1g harness, it isn't plug and play but I am sure considering the electronics swap you already did i'm sure you could manage it fine.

 

yeah, im debating the 1g vs 2g, for being able to use the OBD2 apps, but then if i get the same info another way it might not matter.


So with the ostrich, does that negate the eprom? meaning I wouldn't need an eprom ecu?

My main thing is not so much power, but reliability. so basically A/F and knock tuning. Im going to limit the boost to 17psi

Oh and I would like the little tricks such as anti lag

also do any of my options give the ability to change boost setting? such as if I pick up a solenoid valve?

 

If you plan to go with speed density, go with an Ostrich 2.0 and Jackal via ds-map.net. Avoid tunerpro altogether as the GUI is a giant festering pile of shit. Jackal will do everything SD wise better and is even easier to use than ECMLink. Hakcenter/Curtis is an awesome developer and will help you to no end. However you can't go wrong with ECMLink either. Avoid the standalones tbh, unless you're going for 1000+whp and need the features they offer. Avoid GM MAF-T, and SAFC like Sean said.



TL;DR? Go with an Ostrich using Jackal SD via DS-Map.net, or ECMLink. Avoid TunerPro, standalones(unless shooting for 1000whp+), and piggybacks like SAFC/GM MAF-T/etc.

 

sorry what is TLR?


Yes i was just studying the Jackal stuff, for $20 not bad, but is that like "demoware"?? where you get to test it out, but you really need the $200 version to make it really work??

I would prefer to use a MAP sensor is that possible with Jackal?

 

How far you want to get into tuning will ultimately help you decide.

If you have never tuned before I would go with ECMLink, You have a non-EPROM Ecu but Thomas and Dave can Convert it to EPROM for an added fee. There is a ton of information and guides available here and from a google search regarding ECMLink and how to set it all up.

If you decide ECMLink you will have to buy the V3 Package and also pay for the EPRM conversion on your current NON-EPROM ECU. Once you pay for all that you would ship the ECU off to ECMLink and they will do what is required and have it back to you within a week as long as there EPROM conversions are in stock. Once you get it back it will come with everything you need to install the ECU and connect with your laptop and start setting everything up/tuning.

I can tell you from Experience, I have tuned many different ECU's(ECMLink/Haltech/AEMEMS). ECMLink works very well for what it is, very easy to set up and just works. With the Standalones you will find yourself constantly having to make corrections to get the desired results.

 

which one will allow for extras such as anti lag?
I would just pick up an Eprom ECU rather than add one.

 

Any of them will do anti-lag. That should not be your sole purpose for wanting to get a "tunable" ECU. You would also be surprised at the fact that 99% of the people tuning do not use anti-lag as it really is not needed unless you just want to shoot fireballs/blow turbos and ruin engines!

 

Exactly as blackawd just said, antilag is cool for showing off but in the real world is is very hard on components and while it certainly is the go-to if you are trying to wring every fraction of a second off your time for the vast majority of people it is not needed as the time can be made up in other ways more safely and cheaply.

 

the anti lag was just one example, as it would be nice to be able to add inputs and controls.

 

If I could only have one mod it would be Ecmlink v3 set up on speed density.

Here is how to get ecmlink to run on your car considering you have a non-eprom.
and you'll get access to the ecm tuning forums that contain a real wealth of knowledge.
http://www.ecmtuning.com/product_info.php?cPath=24&products_id=35
1G DSM non-EPROM conversion

 

^ Also a great choice. You can't go wrong with ECMLink. One disclaimer, if you go with a 2G ECU Jackal/Werewolf won't work. It's strictly for 1G ECUs only. Curtis/Hakcenter is just a personal friend of mine and I loved his software for my old 1G. From a cost standpoint it'll do what you want, however ECMLink is a great choice too. You can't go wrong either way, it's just a question of price at this point. $180 for the Ostrich + $20 for Jackal as opposed to $545 for ECMLink. Not counting cost of an EPROM ECU because you'll need a socketed EPROM for both.

You definitely can't beat ECMLink's support or their logger. In the end it's just all in what you prefer. There is no "wrong" option except TunerPro.

 

well right now my budget is pretty low, so for the time being I think im going to have to go with jackal.
However can you tell me if its possible to add a visual knock monitor/light with the jackal?

 

Yeah it's possible. On the stock cluster on a DSM Jackal converts the stock boost gauge into a knock monitor/knock count. You could track down that wire and splice an LED into it I'm sure.

 

Hmmm, but is that the BS knock thing where your really seeing it trying to cut boost? or is it an actual knock signal from the sensor it self?

I guess I should go over to the Jackal forum....


Now if he could just make it control a VGT turbo....MMMMMMMm:tree:

 

Actually...he's making a holset VGT/HE351 controller right now. He's just finding the best way to mass produce it. Head on over to ds-map.net and sign up/poke around.