ECU talk

[Ben Fenner]

I didn't know that I'd start this sort of disscusion. I'm sorry about that.

I realize that JWT does great work, and Jim was my first choice, and up 
until recently, the only choice I considered. The reason I'm leaning 
towards a tunable ECU has little to do with any normal situation. I want 
to learn more. I want to tune myself. I have friends who've done it, and 
I'm not affraid to jump head first into it. Also, the idea of re-wiring 
my engine bay, or building a wiring harness from scratch is not a 
deterent. I can do wiring in my sleep.

My friend with the e30 will need a tunable ECU (VEMS most likely). We're 
going to learn this together, and that's the number one reason for my 
considering a tunable ECU. If this worn't the case, and I weren't so 
eager to learn, I'd go with JWT in a second.

There is also the issue of downtime. Apparently Calum has a better 
turnaround time than JWT. On top of that, I can put the Calum ECU in my 
N/A sentra, and learn it with my current engine. Then when the turbo 
goes in, I'll have already solved the ECU problem. And lastly, if I 
decide my transmission can handle more power, or for what ever reason I 
want to do more power upgrades, I'll be in a better situation being able 
to do things myself.

Maybe I'm just naive, but it seems I'm being told that engine tuning is 
considered too lofty of a goal for normal car guys. I don't understand 
this thinking, as I was able to grasp the concept of all of the engine 
parameters, and how they all work together, resulting in a smooth, 
reliably operating engine pretty quickly once I took the time to ask. 
How hard can it be to keep a/f ratios within spec, EGTs in check, and 
knock at bay? =]


-Ben Fenner
1994 Black SE-R (going turbo)
1994 Black SE-R (with sunroof)



Raymond A. Kawski wrote:
> wc701lists at bellsouth.net wrote:
> 
>> Never heard of it.  Looks nice, but I'd be leery of something coming 
>> clear from Europe.  JWT ECUs are grossly overpriced, and non tunable.
> 
> 
> Great the whole JWT debate again.   I don't think getting an ECU that 
> you can plug in and start right up is over priced.  Who cares if it's 
> tunable?  Are you trying to win some sort of HP prize?  These are all 
> things to weigh when thinking about this.
> 
>> people with the same setup, instead of reinventing the wheel with the 
>> VEMS thing.
> 
> 
> This I will agree with.  If you feel the need to go other then JWT I 
> guess Calum would be the next best bet.
> 
> Again don't see the need.   350whp GT28RS Sentra SE JWT ECU.  See's the 
> roadcourse regularly and has water injection.
> 
> I have a friend with a GT2871R with JWT ECU that makes 400whp/400tq. 
> Which no has H2O injection and launch control.  This ECU has 4 different 
> programs in it.
> 
> Overpriced?
> 
> RK
>