AEM V1 vs Flash ECU? Which should I have?

[Intropy]

I could hook you up. I have a for sale thread on 3si for some.

I am running 1000cc inj in my car on 93 octane and it idles and starts great. Is anyone running bigger injectors in their flashed ECU cars?

Hook me up as in free loaner, or as in I buy one?

I'm also on 1000cc but e85 so I'm moving a lot of fuel. I would have to put a MAF on so couldn't make big power, but could definitely check tunability / drivability.

[Greg E]

So the guys doing this for other platforms, are they doing it by hand like this or has someone ported a C compiler or something?

To be honest I don't think so. I think I'm the only nut job with the free time to do it this way.

Has anyone used and tuned with both an AEM and flashable 98/99 ECu?

Yes

[Tigchamp]

Ok so we have seven pages of talking, are there any dyno graphs to show just how wonderful a chromed ecu is.
There are hundreds of AEM ones out there.
Jeff

[Gearheadvr4]

Agreed some dyno runs would be nice to see.

Found this one, http://m.youtube.com/#/watch?desktop...9JlWnAxA&gl=US


Also I would like to here some first hand knowledge of somebody using both ways to tune and what they eventually chose and why.

[Intropy]

A dyno graph wouldn't really tell you much. Anything can do WOT, it's the little stuff that makes a difference.

Actually it would be really cool to do a side-by-side comparison. I feel like I'd need to switch my EMS calibration to MAF-based to make it fair (speed density is harder to get right).

[Intropy]

Also I would like to here some first hand knowledge of somebody using both ways to tune and what they eventually chose and why.

The thing that I can't quite wrap my head around is how you tune ignition timing with a chromed ECU. With an AEM, I can lock a cell on the dyno and watch instantaneous torque as I add timing. When it stops going up, I stop (and usually back off some more, just to be safe). I don't know what the equivalent method would be. You could just do pulls and try to piece it together from logs (did the car make more power this time) but that seems really time consuming.

[Chris@Rvengeperformance]

I originally planned to run the emanage ultimate along with the flashed ecu so I could do live tuning, but unfortunately I couldn't give this a chance as my tax bill forced me to sell off extra parts.

[Greg E]

The thing that I can't quite wrap my head around is how you tune ignition timing with a chromed ECU. With an AEM, I can lock a cell on the dyno and watch instantaneous torque as I add timing. When it stops going up, I stop (and usually back off some more, just to be safe). I don't know what the equivalent method would be. You could just do pulls and try to piece it together from logs (did the car make more power this time) but that seems really time consuming.

That's exactly what I do. Do a run, pull over, import the log into VDR, adjust where needed. Usually with-in 5 pulls I find that sweet spot with fuel & timing.

[Greg E]

Also I would like to here some first hand knowledge of somebody using both ways to tune and what they eventually chose and why.

Maybe my opinion doesn't qualify as I haven't tuned any record setting AEM cars but here was my take:

In terms of how much better it works is just an opinion debate. I don't see the stock ECU breaking any new HP records but I do see it becoming more popular once more features become released. About the only serious advantages the stock ECU holds over the AEM are cost and OBD2 compatibility.

Jeff hit it on the head about why I prefer a flash ECU over an AEM (aside from the fact AEM doesn't make a plug and play ECU for the 98/99s).

I'm not saying the AEM isn't a damned nice piece of equipment. But there is precious little that makes it 'better' than the OEM ECU, and quite a bit that makes it worse. Starting off with Mitsubishi's factory developed calibrations will put you at a drivability point where you're far ahead of all but the absolute best AEM tuners out there, and you're getting there for a fraction of the price.

[Intropy]

That's exactly what I do. Do a run, pull over, import the log into VDR, adjust where needed. Usually with-in 5 pulls I find that sweet spot with fuel & timing.

Maybe I'm just slow to come around but I can't bring myself to trust this virtual dyno stuff. I don't really care about accuracy (I think Trevor showed it's not very accurate) but is it at least consistent?