nillviod

Well... After careful consideration I think I've made up my mind on what to do with my car.

If you'll look at this site:
http://www.m2performance.com/pengpak.htm

I currently have the 3'' DP, 3'' exhaust, and the m2 cold air intake - so the next logical step for me imo is to get the m2 ecu upgrade

I decided that I'm not going to have the money or time to really go into getting my car to 350RWHP, and would be perfectly content to sit nicely at 270RWHP. I need to save my money to be prepared to pay for maintenance, new tires, new clutch, etc.

So I have three questions:
1) Do you guys think this is a good idea? *note I don't plan any future performance mods aside from tires, wheels, new clutch, etc.
2) How does the stock clutch handle 270RWHP?
3) Would you recommend getting one of these used?

Just Bring It

yeah i think the best thing for you to get is ecu. However if you are really planing on keeping the boost at 10psi and not modding it any more than it is right now, You don't even need the ecu then. I don't know what you mean by 3" exhaust. If it is midpipe and catback than you definetely need ecu, if it's just catback, and if you can keep the boost at 10 psi you don't need an ecu.

tgriesel

If you don't have a boost guage, get one. With the mods listed and no boost control you are already at 12-13 psi (with the stock cat in place). I had the M2 ecu and it worked great with those mods. It's good for 13 psi with 92+ octane gas. Tom

Wargasm

When you say "3 inch exhaust", you are still keeping the main cat right? Do not try to run the M2 ECU with a midpipe... engine will go bye bye eventually...

Furthermore, I would not get the M2 ECU anyhow... you're paying about 700 bucks for it and you can't reprogram it yourself. I think you can buy PowerFCs (with no commander) for around 900 and it's WAY more useful. To make the most of it you will need to know someone with a laptop computer and a Datalogit, but it's not terribly hard to find someone nearby with this stuff who's willing to help you out for a few minutes to reprogram something for you.

Brian

rynberg

True, but a used one is a GREAT investment. They sell for around $400 and you can turn around and sell it for the same damn price when you're done with it. Not bad.

Wargasm

rynberg you are right I did not see "used" in the post. If you can pick one up for under 400 used, I think that's a fairly good deal (I sold mine for like 300 I think last year).

Brian

Sprockett

I'll sell mine for $350

nillviod

I will gladly buy a used one. I have a 3'' CATBACK - sorry for the confusion. I have a 3'' DP and the M2 Performance Cold Air Intake as well. I boost too high right now, and instead of buying an electronic controller like the profec B, I thought I'd just get a new ECU.

I have a boost gauge and I can potentially boost around 14-15psi under WOT in this damn cold weather, which is why I need either a controller or a new ECU. I figured I might as well get the ECU since it will complement my other mods and let me boost 12-13ish psi safetly.

nillviod

Anyway - anyone have any answers regarding what type of power the stock clutch can effectively handle? Thanks for the answers so far guys I appreciate it...

Str8Down

I don't think that the ECU will stop your boost spikes though. I could be wrong, but isn't the stock ECU only set to boost 10 psi? But that doesn't stop spikes.

nillviod

Well the M2 ECU... Isn't that designed to operate safetly with the mods that I have? I mean they sell the package with the exact 3 mods I have so ...

nillviod

From their website: "The major parameters reprogrammed on the OEM ECU include the boost, fuel, and timing maps. Reprogramming is done on your ECU to ensure 100% compatibility."

Okay, unfortunately I can't use the search because "m2" is two letters. Can anyone tell me more specifically what exactly they reprogram?? Thanks.

EviLPeNeviL

iTrader: (2)

Yup yup and I'm the perfect example. I just got miy M2 ECU used a few days ago and it's a damn great mod.

-Dan

nillviod

Are all m2 ecu's programmed the same? or does their programming differ depending on the mods the person has? If so woudln't it be necessary to make sure I bought a used one from a guy that had the exact same mods as I have?

Sorry for all the questions guys but I want to make sure I'm doing everything right before i throw 400 bucks away...

Mahjik

iTrader: (1)

The stock clutch is good up to around 300rwhp. Nothing definite there, but most people seem to have the stock one fail around and above that number.

If you need a new clutch, the ACT Street/Strip clutch will fit the bill. Feels basically like stock but a lot stronger.

nillviod

Thanks Mahjik.

Well, I found this little gem while searching around:
" "The stock ECU is mapped for stock boost and back pressure levels. Once these values are altered through modifications, the stock ECU can no longer compensate for safe operation," Richards explains. "Our remapped ECU solves this problem by compensating for the increased flow by retarding timing, altering boost controller values, and increasing fuel supply. The net result is a engine than can safely run higher power levels on premium pump gasoline, while still maintaining a margin of safety." "

(hes talking about the m2)

ROTARYFDTT

iTrader: (4)

I've been running an M2 stage 3 for a year and a half now with the mods listed in my sig. I've been very happy with it and feel as though it would be a worthy mod in your instance. As rynberg stated above, once you are ready to move on to the likes of a Power FC. You can simply sell the M2 ECU for the same price you paid for it. I think it would be beneficial to run the M2 ECU while you save up for the Power FC if you are in fact planning on doing additional mods. Once you have accounted for the difference in price, simply sell the M2 unit and use the money toward a Power FC if you intend on going that route. Inherently, you are not loosing any money as well as gaining an M2 ECU for the time being rather than running the stock unit.

I also believe they are a conservative tune up to 14.7psi

mecman

iTrader: (11)

I have a stage III ECU and love it. It works very well. If you are not planning on making any radical mods like going single, it works well. I would buy it used from someone on the forum and save some $s. I bought mine for $500 from a forum member. $350 is a good deal!

Mahjik

iTrader: (1)

nillviod,

That's basically all reprogrammed ECU's.

The M2 is a good, safe upgrade when used "within spec". What I mean by "within spec", use it the way it's designed. Don't run 850cc primaries with it or run it at 17 PSI of boost.

The PowerFC is a good option *IF* you want tunability of your car. The guys that never have their car tuned or do "tuning by mail or internet (downloading maps)" IMO are basically doing the same thing as buying a rechipped ECU (as it's programmed before they get it). The difference is the "re-programming" part. But if they never do that, it's not really any different (aside from a little addition monitoring).

If you have specific technical questions about the M2 ECU, you really should contact M2. It's their technology, who else better to give you the correct answer?

tgriesel

With 93 octane gas you're going to be ok with the M2 ecu and and boost up to 14 psi based on my experience and conversations with them. You need to install some form of boost control (manual worked fine for me). M2 ecu and 14+ psi is not a good idea. Tom

nillviod

Well it's official. I'm on the lookout for a Stage I used m2 performance ecu. Thanks for the help guys.

EviLPeNeviL

iTrader: (2)

Would 100 octane be okay to run with this ECU, along with the basic bot on's @ 12psi?

-Dan

Mahjik

iTrader: (1)

Well, the ECU is not going to adjust anything per octane. It will help reduce the risk of detonation, but that's about it (not a bad idea to run something like that on a dyno, drag strip or road course).

It won't do any harm to the car, only to your wallet.

Senna

http://www.sportcompactcarweb.com/projectcars/

You may want to check SCC Rx-7 project car out if you haven't already. The write up is pretty informative re: M2 and mods.
Personally, I like their philosophy of being somewhat conservative in the management of mods. To me as I get thru the initial reliability mods (AST & RAD then DP, Intake, CB) the M2 ECU will get a lot of consideration.
Then again what are your goals? Seems to me it doesn't take much to blow an engine under the right (wrong!) conditions.

nillviod

When you say the clutch lasts until around 300hp - do you mean RWHP?