Chrome noob- chrome or aem for 850whp

[Dsmhunter]

So its getting around to that time. I would like to fully understand this flash ecu deal before jumping in.
So some questions I have are-
1.can we completely change graph sizing? Or do you adjust within the already made perimeters?
And 2. Will this be a good option for a 1000hp car, that will see the streets rarely?
3. Can we scale to any size? Build our own maps to our spec?.
4. Or should I go aem ems. I already own a 99 ecu but I don't know wtf to do with it,
Any help will be appreciated

[anyonebutme]

My opinion is to use what you know. In this case, whoever is tuning the car will have a preference. If you are tuning it, then.........good luck. 1K HP means no room for error. As Ray Pampena says, at that level by the time you see knock, the engine is already dead.

[familyMAN]

Sent you a PM. I personally like AEM for speed density, live tuning and will also be adding an AEM datastream gauge. I have tuned it on varying setups from 3.0 to 3.5. NA heads, TT heads, stock cams, 264s and 280s. Pretty easy once you get the hang of it. I have only made 540awhp though so not at the level you want to get to.

Of course, everything is changeable which is good and bad and the base map from AEM isn't great to start with. I had some GREAT help from members getting started though.

Haven't played with chrome personally. Seems very capable also and getting some good results.

Also love boost control through AEM and a cheap Mac boost solenoid.

[mb3000]

Personally I would go with AEM.

[99 vr4]

Each has its pros and cons.

The biggest thing the flash ECU offers is drive ability in all types of climates with out retune... Think stock here. Get in, turn key, go fast! Most AEM tunes can never come close to this.

Also with the flash ECU you use your stock sensors. And, at least with a Clone ECU, you can use any boost control solenoid.

You keep the obdii port and the ability to pass your smog test.

Now there are some areas the AEM is good at. .. compete flexibility. With the flash ECU you are stuck with what ever size table is predefined in the ROM. The stock rom had limited timing and afr maps while Chrome has expanded maps. So far no one has had a problem with the map sizes.

No speed density. And to be honest, no one has yet to be able to give the Chrome developer a solid concrete basis for why speed density is better which is based on sound and proven theory and not purely opinion.

No live tuning. You must flash upload all tune changes. Not a show stopper as the flash process is quite quick.

The aem requires a larger up front investment. By using your stock sensors, wiring, etc, your up front costs are significantly lower over AEM.

Again, your tuner will have a preference.

I hope this helps out a bit.



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[kywhitelightning]

Each has its pros and cons.

The biggest thing the flash ECU offers is drive ability in all types of climates with out retune... Think stock here. Get in, turn key, go fast! Most AEM tunes can never come close to this.

Also with the flash ECU you use your stock sensors. And, at least with a Clone ECU, you can use any boost control solenoid.

You keep the obdii port and the ability to pass your smog test.

Now there are some areas the AEM is good at. .. compete flexibility. With the flash ECU you are stuck with what ever size table is predefined in the ROM. The stock rom had limited timing and afr maps while Chrome has expanded maps. So far no one has had a problem with the map sizes.

No speed density. And to be honest, no one has yet to be able to give the Chrome developer a solid concrete basis for why speed density is better which is based on sound and proven theory and not purely opinion.

No live tuning. You must flash upload all tune changes. Not a show stopper as the flash process is quite quick.

The aem requires a larger up front investment. By using your stock sensors, wiring, etc, your up front costs are significantly lower over AEM.

Again, your tuner will have a preference.

I hope this helps out a bit.



Sent from my SPH-L720 using Tapatalk

Good luck adapting a MAF to work at that power level. Until Chrome enables SD, AEM would be the only way to go for an anticipated power goal like that. That is the Chrome downfall right now and TBH it's really not a downfall, it's just something not explored yet. A slot style MAF would make a power goal like that achievable but the plumbing size would have to be pretty large and without a honeycomb investment drivability would suffer from that style setup. OP doesn't seem to be terribly concerned with drivability now but I have seen first hand how slot style sensors can be all over the place with the huge tubing required to make the power goal suggested.


Jeff

[arm0red1]

Good luck adapting a MAF to work at that power level. Until Chrome enables SD, AEM would be the only way to go for an anticipated power goal like that. That is the Chrome downfall right now and TBH it's really not a downfall, it's just something not explored yet. A slot style MAF would make a power goal like that achievable but the plumbing size would have to be pretty large and without a honeycomb investment drivability would suffer from that style setup. OP doesn't seem to be terribly concerned with drivability now but I have seen first hand how slot style sensors can be all over the place with the huge tubing required to make the power goal suggested.


Jeff

Good luck? I think Matt's 1100 hp car did quite well at that level on his ford maf.

For the pipes, you dont have to upsize everything, just have one spot bubble to accomodate the maf in blow through.

Otherwise for draw through, have the pipe sections post maf joined with neumatic vbands and reinforment braces (see vibrant performance)

Its not an outrageous stretch, and at those levels, a lot of the car is customed tailored to begin with.

As noted before by greg, its not the ecu thats limited, its the sensors and data collection that you need to address, and they're plenty of sensor upgrades to support that power.

...all of which offer much better resolution and dynamic tuning than SD.

For what your paying and forgoing for access to SD, the payoff seems marginal.


My PRO argument for a stand alone is that you have total control of everything at the ecu level, you define the parameters, you can finitely control lots of minute features, rescale to your needs ect ect.

The flash ecu doesnt offer all of that per say, but then again, it still gets the same job done and doesnt need it.

[Greg E]

Wait, so what I hear you saying is you tuned it well as essentially speed density.....but I thought speed density was bad?

Who said SD was bad??? It's not bad like drunken sloppies with a fat chick. It's just good enough like sober hot model lovin.

Good luck? I think Matt's 1100 hp car did quite well at that level on his ford maf.

For the pipes, you dont have to upsize everything, just have one spot bubble to accomodate the maf in blow through.

Otherwise for draw through, have the pipe sections post maf joined with neumatic vbands and reinforment braces (see vibrant performance)

Its not an outrageous stretch, and at those levels, a lot of the car is customed tailored to begin with.

As noted before by greg, its not the ecu thats limited, its the sensors and data collection that you need to address, and they're plenty of sensor upgrades to support that power.

...all of which offer much better resolution and dynamic tuning than SD.

For what your paying and forgoing for access to SD, the payoff seems marginal.


My PRO argument for a stand alone is that you have total control of everything at the ecu level, you define the parameters, you can finitely control lots of minute features, rescale to your needs ect ect.

The flash ecu doesnt offer all of that per say, but then again, it still gets the same job done and doesnt need it.

Good post! The initial run ray did with Todd's car using the flash ECU with the ARC wasn't stupendous but to be fair, I wasn't there. I know what needs to be done to make it work, I just need a courageous volunteer with the proper setup and some dyno time.

[kywhitelightning]

Good luck? I think Matt's 1100 hp car did quite well at that level on his ford maf.

Have the bugs between the arc 2 and Chrome been ironed out yet?

Jeff

[Greg E]

2. Will this be a good option for a 1000hp car, that will see the streets rarely?

I hear this a lot. Have yet to see it happen though... This isn't so much that there's an issue with the performance of the ECU as it is a severe under-estimated budget to actually build one of these cars to reach that level.

The limitations of chrome are not the ECU when it comes to making HP. It's the MAF you're using to count the airflow high enough to make that power. When planning your engine/turbo setup this is the key towards making Chrome work for your goals.