Utec, ecu tek or something else 4 jdm sti swap?

serious · 08-17-2004, 09:30 PM

Hi all, i would like to hear some opinions on what would be a better set up for my car. It's a 96 legacy with a 03 jdm sti engine and full drivetrain swap. I've used a 02 wrx bulkhead harness and added and switched wires for the avcs. Everything is working properly so far.

I would like to mod the car in the near future and have the ability to get it tuned properly. I plan on the usual stuff for performance like intake tbe and other things, but i would like some flexability in tuning. I live about 1200 miles round trip from the near tuner with an awd dyno, so that's a concern.

What i'm thinking is a jdm utec (yes, i can get one) and then getting the utec tuner and playing with it. Then once i get my car further modded then take it to a tuner and let them at it.
Is there anything else out there that would let me tune it myself for about the same amount of cash as the utec? Anyone think i would be better off with something like a ecu tek?
Let's hear some opinions!
B

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2002WRXSTi · 08-18-2004, 09:18 AM

I have a 02 WRX with an 02 STi engine trans swap. I have the 02 STi ECU also with the full functioning AVCS. I am scheduled to have an Ecutek flash tomorrow but, the place Rallispec is only an hour from me. However I have a UTEC with a Rev6b board and from what I have been told it will work with the ECU and not bother the AVCS. I have yet to install it on my car as I have the Ecutek flash comming up and don't want to damage my car and miss my appointment.
The reason I am doing both is I did not know my UTEC would fit so I will just have race maps on my UTEC for the most part.

ImprezaRSfan! · 08-18-2004, 02:29 PM

wow did a search for ecutek becuase im about to ship my ecu off for it and saw this thread was from today lol.

i just plan on having tbe and intake for my swap nad leaving it alone. Being a twinscroll the turbo upgrade options arnt that feasible, so im just gonna get the ecutek reflash and have a nice solid reliable 93 octane map then work on exterior/interior

serious · 08-18-2004, 03:48 PM

Yeah, well you also have the sweet RA sti engine in a 2800 pound car. I have the regular (sigh) sti engine in a 3100 pound car! I think i'm going to need a little more out of it.
I also have to deal with oxygenated gas here in the winters and would like to be able to get more out of race gas when i'm willing to put it in. I read somewhere that you could get a dual map with an ecu tek setup, but i don't see how you could unless you have two different ecms.
B

Soon2Bgreat · 08-18-2004, 03:56 PM

You mentioned race gas. Probably better off with the utec. I say definitely go with the utec...and you don't need the jdm one.

serious · 08-18-2004, 04:04 PM

I know you can use the usdm utec with this setup, but you have to hardwire it in. No big deal as my car is mostly custom wire at this point, but the jdm one plugs right in.
One thing i don't know is does the jdm utec control the avcs or not? Does any utec do this?
B

Soon2Bgreat · 08-18-2004, 04:34 PM

well if you have a non rev6b utec that's true. Just find a used 6b and it plugs right in. Utec doesn't control avcs.

serious · 08-18-2004, 05:17 PM

So basically a jdm one would only benifit me in the fact that it would plug into the factory harness and that's pretty much it?
I'm pretty new to the utec, so is the revision6b the latest utec or what? Anyone know if i can get a base map for the jdm engine with the twinscroll setup?
Thanks
Brent

Soon2Bgreat · 08-18-2004, 06:06 PM

No it won't benefit you over the 6b. Yes it's the latest revision and plugs right in. I've run both, there is no difference.

You could use a stg4 basemap and build off that. I believe there is someone from australia who was running a utec map for the twinscroll if you care enough to try and find his thread. I totally forget the name so i can't help you there.

With the money saved over a new utec, get a used one and buy a wideband also, you'll be happy you did.

serious · 08-18-2004, 06:13 PM

I've been thinking about the wide band tuner too. I would like to get it and try it out. I'm not worried about saving a couple hundred bux and would rather get a brand spanking new one with a warranty and some tech support as i know relatively little about them.
So what you're saying is with the newest utec i can order from anyone of the vendors it will plug into a jdm version 8 sti engine right?
Thanks
Brent

serious · 08-18-2004, 06:14 PM

Oh yeah, with the utec i won't loose the avcs right? It will still be there with the oem ecm controlling it right?
B

08-17-2004, 09:30 PM	#1
serious Scooby Specialist Member#: 22879 Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: missoula , montana	Utec, ecu tek or something else 4 jdm sti swap? Hi all, i would like to hear some opinions on what would be a better set up for my car. It's a 96 legacy with a 03 jdm sti engine and full drivetrain swap. I've used a 02 wrx bulkhead harness and added and switched wires for the avcs. Everything is working properly so far. I would like to mod the car in the near future and have the ability to get it tuned properly. I plan on the usual stuff for performance like intake tbe and other things, but i would like some flexability in tuning. I live about 1200 miles round trip from the near tuner with an awd dyno, so that's a concern. What i'm thinking is a jdm utec (yes, i can get one) and then getting the utec tuner and playing with it. Then once i get my car further modded then take it to a tuner and let them at it. Is there anything else out there that would let me tune it myself for about the same amount of cash as the utec? Anyone think i would be better off with something like a ecu tek? Let's hear some opinions! B * Registered users of the site do not see these ads.

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08-18-2004, 09:18 AM	#2
2002WRXSTi Scooby Specialist Member#: 58647 Join Date: Apr 2004 Chapter/Region: Tri-State Location: Here for now...gone tomorrow Vehicle: 02 Exedy Carbon clutches SLIP and SUCK $!	I have a 02 WRX with an 02 STi engine trans swap. I have the 02 STi ECU also with the full functioning AVCS. I am scheduled to have an Ecutek flash tomorrow but, the place Rallispec is only an hour from me. However I have a UTEC with a Rev6b board and from what I have been told it will work with the ECU and not bother the AVCS. I have yet to install it on my car as I have the Ecutek flash comming up and don't want to damage my car and miss my appointment. The reason I am doing both is I did not know my UTEC would fit so I will just have race maps on my UTEC for the most part.

08-18-2004, 02:29 PM	#3
ImprezaRSfan! Scooby Specialist Member#: 13520 Join Date: Dec 2001 Chapter/Region: MAIC Location: Springfield, VA Vehicle: 99rs ej207 spec-c its for sale	wow did a search for ecutek becuase im about to ship my ecu off for it and saw this thread was from today lol. i just plan on having tbe and intake for my swap nad leaving it alone. Being a twinscroll the turbo upgrade options arnt that feasible, so im just gonna get the ecutek reflash and have a nice solid reliable 93 octane map then work on exterior/interior

08-18-2004, 03:48 PM	#4
serious Scooby Specialist Member#: 22879 Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: missoula , montana	Yeah, well you also have the sweet RA sti engine in a 2800 pound car. I have the regular (sigh) sti engine in a 3100 pound car! I think i'm going to need a little more out of it. I also have to deal with oxygenated gas here in the winters and would like to be able to get more out of race gas when i'm willing to put it in. I read somewhere that you could get a dual map with an ecu tek setup, but i don't see how you could unless you have two different ecms. B

08-18-2004, 03:56 PM	#5
Soon2Bgreat Scooby Specialist Member#: 2258 Join Date: Sep 2000 Chapter/Region: Tri-State Location: Irvington, New York, USA Vehicle: 1999 gc8 ver7 6mt GT35R 504.7whp;)	You mentioned race gas. Probably better off with the utec. I say definitely go with the utec...and you don't need the jdm one.

08-18-2004, 04:04 PM	#6
serious Scooby Specialist Member#: 22879 Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: missoula , montana	I know you can use the usdm utec with this setup, but you have to hardwire it in. No big deal as my car is mostly custom wire at this point, but the jdm one plugs right in. One thing i don't know is does the jdm utec control the avcs or not? Does any utec do this? B

08-18-2004, 04:34 PM	#7
Soon2Bgreat Scooby Specialist Member#: 2258 Join Date: Sep 2000 Chapter/Region: Tri-State Location: Irvington, New York, USA Vehicle: 1999 gc8 ver7 6mt GT35R 504.7whp;)	well if you have a non rev6b utec that's true. Just find a used 6b and it plugs right in. Utec doesn't control avcs.

08-18-2004, 05:17 PM	#8
serious Scooby Specialist Member#: 22879 Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: missoula , montana	So basically a jdm one would only benifit me in the fact that it would plug into the factory harness and that's pretty much it? I'm pretty new to the utec, so is the revision6b the latest utec or what? Anyone know if i can get a base map for the jdm engine with the twinscroll setup? Thanks Brent

08-18-2004, 06:06 PM	#9
Soon2Bgreat Scooby Specialist Member#: 2258 Join Date: Sep 2000 Chapter/Region: Tri-State Location: Irvington, New York, USA Vehicle: 1999 gc8 ver7 6mt GT35R 504.7whp;)	No it won't benefit you over the 6b. Yes it's the latest revision and plugs right in. I've run both, there is no difference. You could use a stg4 basemap and build off that. I believe there is someone from australia who was running a utec map for the twinscroll if you care enough to try and find his thread. I totally forget the name so i can't help you there. With the money saved over a new utec, get a used one and buy a wideband also, you'll be happy you did.

08-18-2004, 06:13 PM	#10
serious Scooby Specialist Member#: 22879 Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: missoula , montana	I've been thinking about the wide band tuner too. I would like to get it and try it out. I'm not worried about saving a couple hundred bux and would rather get a brand spanking new one with a warranty and some tech support as i know relatively little about them. So what you're saying is with the newest utec i can order from anyone of the vendors it will plug into a jdm version 8 sti engine right? Thanks Brent

08-18-2004, 06:14 PM	#11
serious Scooby Specialist Member#: 22879 Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: missoula , montana	Oh yeah, with the utec i won't loose the avcs right? It will still be there with the oem ecm controlling it right? B