i just bought my 93 rx-7. mods: PF exhaust, PF intercooler, GReddy BOV and Elbow, midpipe, downpipe. do i need an upgraded ecu? if so what kind?

thanks,
Jordan

 

I think most people say that an ecu is a good idea when you have a full exhaust (but I'm not there yet, so I can't say for sure). There as been ALOT written about this. Try a search.

 

I'd say yes. LOTS of stuff on this. I love the PowerFC but haven't used any others to compare other than stock.

 

I think you definately need one because with a full exhaust you are most likely spiking. The stock ecu really cant account for that much flow increase. Do you have a boost gauge? If not you should get one.

 

If you don't have an aftermarket water temp gauge, I would definitely recommend one of those too

 

Get more stickers.

 

Yes stickers are the answer! By adding more stickers you create a slip stream thereby reducing the counter productive air resistance on your vehicle. This in turn gives you a cooler running engine as it doen't have to work so hard to accelerate to the sound barrier. Also if you add even more stickers in precisely the right places you may be able to overcome gravity itself but then you'll need a larger turbo to keep up with the F-15's & F-18's.

Hope this helps. lol

 

Jordan, the main concern is how much boost your are running. Using the stock turbos, the stock ECU is fine if you stay at stock boost levels with bolt on mods.

Once you start increasing the boost, that's when the ECU will not correct for the air/fuel mixture that has changed.

If you keep the boost at stock levels, then you are fine where you are at. If you are boosting over stock levels, either get an upgraded ECU or a boost controller to bring the boost back down to stock level.

 

If your car is running properly, you should be over boosting with those mods. Get an ECU and a boost gauge.

 

Or you could linearize the stock water temp gauge. There's a really good "how-to" on this here:

http://www.iluvmyrx7.com/3rdgen/how-...auge%20mod.pdf

But you definitely need a boost gauge if you don't already have one.

 

Howdy,

he's running an open exhaust and an intercooler, and you're recommending he stick with a stock ECU at ten psi?

I strongly disagree. Jordan--if it was my car, I would get a Power FC and get it tuned as soon as possible. I would probably put on a high flow cat to keep boost stable and combat creep. In my opinion, you're very lucky that all six of your apex seals are in one piece.

FD RX-7s aren't known for stable, consistent boost. One cold morning, you may put your foot in it, see 12 psi, and then be stranded on the side of the road. Not trying to scare you, but show how strongly I feel about this. The motor you save may be your own .

 

If he sticks at stock levels, sure. Based off Wade's data, that's safe.

However, keeping the boost at stock levels is a completely different problem.