Reflash or Stand-alone Dilemmas
My '93 240SX with an SR20DET swap used to run an HKS GT2530 turbo, with supporting modifications and a ECU tune, delivering 280 whp. Since then, I've redone the engine using a GT2871R (0.64 a/r turbine housing) and some Tomei Procams (260 duration/lift). I'll need another tune, and a chipped ECU would be cheaper but I know you're not much of a fan of mail-order tunes. With a target goal of about 350 whp, would a stand-alone be worth the money for such a mild setup? If so, what stand-alone unit(s) would you recommend?
-John Yang
Seoul, Korea
A properly tuned ECU, whether stock or stand-alone, would be fine. I prefer stand-alones, but the stock Nissan ECUs are pretty good if an experienced tuner is chipping/reflashing them. The only problem with mail-order tunes is that you need to have exactly what the mail-order map was designed for. A different air filter, intake tube, air flow meter, intercooler, or intercooler pipes can throw the entire tune significantly off. If you plan on matching the parts exactly to the chip for the stock ECU then you could give it a shot. If not, I recommend the A'pexi Power FC as a true plug-and-play ECU. The catch is that you'll still need somebody to tune it for you, or you'll need a tuner to load a base map in the Power FC for you-and you'll still need the same exact parts. With the Power FC you also have the "D-Jetro" option that allows you to eliminate the air flow meter and therefore the chances that the tune will be thrown off due to differences with air flow meter voltages from mismatched parts.
Elusive Pulleys
Can you please tell me where I can get a set of pulleys for my Honda S2000 Vortech supercharger? I am desperate to find a source and it seems that no one has the solution to my dilemma. So please, even if you don't know the answer, just say you don't know, not like those Super Street guys, who just ignore my thousands of emails and pretend to never get to them. That's the reason I stopped buying that magazine, and subscribe to Import Tuner instead. I hope you will not fail me like those SS guys did!
-Desperate
via importtuner.com
Uh . . . have you tried sourcing your pulley through Vortech Engineering? They list multiple pulleys on their website. You can also call them for custom pulleys at 805.247.0226. Use some common sense-I'm not too surprised you keep getting blown off on this one.