A/M ECU chice

[merc-blue]

G'day guys
Im looking at ECUs for my 3TGTE build i only have aobut 1K for a ECU, so am looking at items like a microtech LT8, but would i be better off looking at a second hand wolf 3D or MTX8 or even a autronic unit?
i have heard great things about the LT8 but also that becasue of a low refresh frequency or somthing it can have a jumpy feel on turbo engines is this true?
the car is being built for club sprints and hillclimbs maybe a drag or two (mostly not drags though)
What are peoples experiences with cheaper.lowermarket ECUs, is it worth holding of a few months and hoping i have money for a motec or autronic when the time comes? casue i dont want to be desperatly searching for one when the car is waiting for it i would rather buy one earlyer and have it waiting, so that i dont have to rush into buying a particular model

[SLO-055]

well it's a two sided story in my veiw, you get what you pay for with an aftermarket ecu, but it also depends entirely on who tunes it/how they tune it.
the ecu that came with my car was an OLD (i swear noah ran this on the ark, it's that old.) motec, it's 2d, runs map sensor only an is a pain to tune, but with perserverance it's now runnin the 4agze quite well, aside from issues with cranking enrichment, cos i took it to someone who'd used them before.
so basically if you do skimp a bit on the ecu you buy, save like hell and get it tuned by someone who knows the brand and type of computer really well, and you'll be amazed of the outcome. alot of my friends now buy their ecu dependant on who they are getting to tune it and have reaped good results.
jus my 2c worth

[camrygt?]

MT ecus are a bad option they are not supported anymore and cannot be reconfigured for different engines if you do find one it will need to use the same trigger setup as your 3T for it to ever work.

LTX and MTX ecus have issues with the ignitors getting to hot and most stop working at some point. All microtech ignitors are external now to stop this.

don't forget to reconfigure a LT ecu to suit a different engine can cost up to $330ish so factor that in when you buy one second hand. Also be prepared to wait for it.

Probably the tune has more to do with any issues than speed of ecu, I have seen them run turbo motors very well.

check out adaptronic www.adaptronic.com.au they are powerful, pretty straight forward and in your price range.

[1jzracing]

you can bugger around with all sorts of cheep ECU's but you get what you pay for and will soon discover its limitations .... get an autroinic and youll never want for anything more! they are a little more dificult to configour but one of the most powerful and accurite ecu's available

..... shameless plug but i just updated to one and love it, its just awsome, and so easy to tune

[sideshow]

what is most u want to pay

these are rough prices supplied fitted wired with new loom and tuned



microtech/ems up to 2000

autronic up to 3000

motec up to 4000

as u can see even a cheap microtech will cost abit if u cant fit it or tune it

never buy 2nd hand ecus too many people have been bitten and then have to spend more to get them mdified
so stay away from ebay shit

[oldcorollas]

if you had half an idea (or more like 3/4) a Megasquirt 2 will do what you want and be a lot of fun.

[SLO-055]

a megasquirt 2???
sounds like a modified tomato sauce dispenser...

[1jzracing]

autronic is more like $2000 and there is NO comparison to the other ones like haltech, EMS, microtech etc ...

if you want to get a lower/ cheeper type then for around $1200 a wolf3D is in my opinion far better than a lot of the other more expensive ones, it has super fine resolution, built in MAP sensor and there is no mods to fit different engines, wolf is configourable to every type of trigger, igniter, injector etc

[CrUZida]

Hahah, just ask anyone who's tried to get a wolf working on a toyota how 'easy' it was.

[sideshow]

i agree cruzida about wolfs
i couldnt find anyone easily enough to buy parts for them

prices i quoted were what i might chagre for supplied, wired, and tuned

in my opinion autronic rules
prob has the best and most stable tuning software

[1jzracing]

yeah noticed that with your prices after, Autronic is king

on a side note i ran a wolf on a my 1j with all std ignition and sensors for over 2 years made over 300rwkw never had a problem ..... people get the set up wrong and blame the wolf, it was peice of cake on my engine so i really dont know why everyone has so much trouble with them!!!

[oldcorollas]

a megasquirt 2???
sounds like a modified tomato sauce dispenser...

ahh you're from tassie.. i hear they got the internet down there

www.msefi.com

download the Megatune tuning software.. you will wonder why you'd bother with anything less user friendly (unless you need many extras)

[merc-blue]

i might have a look at the megasquirt,
im not building a super fast racing machine, now it seems it probly wont even be FI,

so a little NA 1800 daily that i can take to the hillclimbs/sprints/motorkahna for abit of fun,
i cant tune a ECU but i deffently know people who can help me/do it for me, i can wire one up though

aslong as it can match carbies

[merc-blue]

i know im digging up a old tread, but say i went down the Megasquirt route and got it "tuned", would a pro be able to tweak it still if they familerised them selves with the software?

[mullett]

yup Someone who knows about ECUs will be able to learn about anything, and from what i hear those are really user-friendly anyways...

RM.