lotech49

Hey Dirty, Do you know why there doesn't seem to be an open source tuning option for pre2000 ecu's when Ecutek tuners overseas and companies such as Mines can tune them? I know Ecutek seems like a BS price however when compared with the aftermarket options (PowerFC or Link combined with ZS controller) its in the same ballpark. And the usual moding without a tune ultimately doesn't give the mechanical mods a chance to realise their potential. Cheers

Mid 2000 the ecu's changed, both can be re-mapped, however in New Zealand (AFAIK) Torque Performance are the only re-mappers with their Ecutek software, however they have only purchased the software for the later version so if your after a GTB/B4 I'd recommend the mid2000 onwards and build a tune into your budget... http://www.torqueperformance.co.nz/ecutek.php. A retune is definitely a good way to boost power, its odd that Subaru seemed to have turned out cars with such a sub-optimal tune over this period but there you go, an excuse to mod.

Hmm yeah sorry about that, such is the auction process. I had an auto-bid on up to $600 although I think $450 is about what they're worth, that Prova three plug went for $295. They do come up regularly and I keep an eye out, I'll pm you next time I see one come up. Ultimately I'm going to do a single turbo conversion, and then I'll sell all these parts again I'll let you know. I've booked dyno time at Torque Performance for Monday morning, I'll post results....

Ring these guys to talk about ecu tuning http://www.torqueperformance.co.nz/subaru.php , however from my research the later BE ecu will not fit (if anyone knows different please let us know) and the guts of it is that in New Zealand only post mid 2000 Legacy ecus are tunable as TP havent purchased the ability to tune earlier ecu's from Ecutek. I believe there is a place in Wellington offering open source Evo and Wrx tuning however this does not extend to pre mid 2000 Legacys (again please prove me wrong with a tuners contact number). My B4 is on the wrong side of 2000 so I asked about using a ZS controller to control the sequential turbos and a four plug Apexi Power FC or Link Ecu for tuning. Torque said they had seen this done 'but not very successfully'. Read this as 'would take some time to tune and cost $$$'. Bare in mind the ZS controller is around $500 new or $350 on TM, an Apexi PowerFC and contoller would go for around $850 to $1000 on TM or around $1500 new. I just picked up a Mines tuned ecu (reprogramed Subaru) on trademe for $450 and after one drive last night I'm pretty excited about the performance increase and big reduction in VOD. I'm not so excited about potential detonation due to its tuning for Jap 100 Octane. I'm booking some dyno time at Torque to listen for issues before giving it a/more of a trashing. These ecu's seem to go for $300 to $500 on tardme, here is an example from Prova that just sold http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=209143181 for $295. Here is a BD series Prova ECU review http://homepages.ihug.co.nz/~ccgrant/prova.htm thanks Colin. Please note the Mines are generally thought to have 'much more agressive timing advance', Prova are considered to be a safer option. After the usual BEB failure last year I had a rebuild with forged 8:1 compression ratio pistons so am hoping this will keep the detonation under control, failing this I'll look into water injection. Other cheap mods I've picked up on trademe, a Greddy Profec B Spec II Boost controller $250, Prova extractors for $300, Rage downpipes for $200, intercooler water sprayer with 20 litre tank $100, and I'll purchase an HKS Hi-Power Silent Exhaust from Redline http://www.redlineperformance.co.nz/?action=products&part=18138 $495 diff back and $495 Cat back when funds allow. With these mods I feel like I'm driving a new car, and I feel it was the ecu upgrade that has made the biggest impact. If you drive a post 2000 Legacy I'd recommend the TP Ecutek tuning, if not I'd say look out for aftermarket tuned ecu's on trademe for best bang for buck power/drivability increases...