So I'm looking around for an ECU as I'm going to need one in the next couple of months and from what I can tell everyone defaults to the PowerFC. Sounds like its great but it also sounds like it targets the high end build as well and really requires a tuner to get the most out of it.

In reading a bit about the Pettit ECU it sounds like its plug and play for the stock twins as well self learning etc and good to 14 pounds of boost with basic bolt on's.

Does anyone have some good experience with it who could comment if its a sensible alternative to the PowerFC for the average build doing bolt on's and keeping the sequential twins?

 

I'm a huge Pettit fan... but I think even Cam will tell you to go with a Power FC instead of their ECU.

There are plently of maps out of the box that will have your car running well and a good tuner can just get more out of it.

However, give Cam a call and see what he says.

-M

 

Old post, but still good:

https://www.rx7club.com/showpost.php...0&postcount=10

I've been running a Pettit ECU since around 2002. If you can find a used one, go for it.

 

It depends on how far you want to take the car. But really, new vs new, you're only looking at a $200 difference or so to step up to a fully tuneable PFC that will grow with you. There are plenty of maps out there to get you running relatively easily- it's not like setting up a standalone ECU from scratch at all.

Usually used Pettit ECUs go for cheap (or other "chipped/reprogrammed" factory ECUs) so that would be a good option

 

When you guys say plenty of maps available.. where do I obtain them. Does Apexi offer them up, or maybe the shop from where I would purchase? I'm considering doing the ECU entirely myself if it all possible. That being said I don't have experience with it but am reading as much as I can. I'm not hung up on tuning for 5% more power etc. I just want to make SAFE solid power based on modifications to the car.

 

https://www.rx7club.com/power-fc-forum-47/

Post your mods in there, ask for a PFC map....

 

I ran the Pettit ECU on my last FD and I loved it. My FD had a ll the bolt on mods and I was running 14 psi on high setting with a supra pump. It was simple and you didn't need to touch it.

Now I run a PFC and the only thing I like about it is that I can fine tune it, but some times I miss the simplicity of the Pettit ECU.

 

If it is a stock ported engine I love the Pettit ECU. Combine that with an Water/Meth kit and go run 14lbs all day everyday assuming you have a good fuel pump. Pettit runs rich at idle and will dilute the oil with fuel requiring oil changes around every 1500-2000 miles. Still a great plug and play setup.

 

The Pettit (or M2) ECU's work very well, and are a much cheaper alternative than a power FC. You can probably find a used one in $300 range. If you decide to get a power FC, a good tuner will charge you at least an additional $300 for a tune.

 

It's a tradeoff. With the remapped factory computer you have a lot of the factory driveability tuning to your advantage, like for cold starts and throttle response. You also have the factory knock retard which isn't as advanced as a modern turbo car but is better than nothing (PFC has no knock control).

However with a chipped ECU you don't have a datalogging capability, boost control adjustment, or any way to customize for differences in octane etc.

 

I used the pettit med street port templates, and have a pettit ecu. That is where it sucks having a street port cuz it will idle like crap, until warm and even then its not perfect. I really regret doing a street port for minimal gains at 14psi.

 

This may be a silly question but does the Pettit ECU actually raise the boost to 14, or just make it safe to run 14 psi by raising the boost in some fashion?

 

It doesn't "raise" boost per say. It has fuel/timing mapped to run higher levels of boost and either removes or raises fuel cut (whether using their unlimited or limited chip).

 

Just makes it safe.

I have been running the Pettit ECU for as long as I can remember. I just wish they offered it to accept bigger injectors. If I didn't have it I'd probably buy a PFC or an AEM but it works so perfectly I've never been motivated to swap it out.

 

What is the difference between the limited and unlimited pettit ecu?

 

Fuel cut at 14.7 PSI or no fuel cut.

 

What is the benefit of having fuel cut above 14.7? Wouldn't it be an extra margin of safety to not have any fuel cut?

 

I've been running the M2 ECU for the last 40k at up to 13.5 PSI on the stock seq twins and love it. My FD is a DD for 9 months out of the year and the M2 performs great in hot or cold weather. I run it with an M2 large SMIC, CAI, Bonez cat, EBC and colder plugs (all 9s). It seems to run a little rich at WOT based on my wideband A/F readings but as long as the cars in back of me don't mind-I don't mind I would rather loose a little in the top end for a better margin of safety. My wastegate is not ported but I do not seem to have any issues with boost creep (might be based on the fact I have a Bonez CAT and not a midpipe.) I also run with a single oil cooler but the car is for street use only, no track. Make sure you don't get a Californication ECU otherwise you will be dealing with the infamous CEL. I've been very happy with my setup for the street and I don't really need more than a properly running set of seq twins at 14psi.