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THIS ONE--What else can I do W/OUT a new ECU?

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Old Mar 2, 2002 | 07:32 PM
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THIS ONE--What else can I do W/OUT a new ECU?

Sorry--I screwed something up with the other post. I'm a bit short on the $ flow at the moment, but I want a couple of new toys. I can't afford an ECU, however. Given the signature below, what else can I safely do to the car without having to buy the ECU? I've got an aftermarket intake in the garage, and I'd be willing to upgrade the fuel pump (as I've read is necessary). Also, is there any real noticable control difference should I add an R1 lip & spoiler? thanks, -BN

OH--check out the below link--you may want it as wallpaper.

7 vs 7
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Old Mar 2, 2002 | 07:45 PM
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I think you can still get an exhaust or midpipe. Im not sure if the street port counts as a mod for the 3-mod-rule. If it doesnt then, you should be able to get a cb or mp.

btw, you could have edited your other post.

1FAST7
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Old Mar 2, 2002 | 08:03 PM
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no no no. no matter what you do, please do not run a midpipe with the stock ECU. you are just asking for trouble that way.

if i was in your situation, the next mod i would do would be an ECU. if you can not afford an ECU right now, chances are that you can not afford a new engine. just save up untill you can afford an ECU, then mod as you wish.
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Old Mar 2, 2002 | 08:50 PM
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Lightbulb

If you want to add something but you are trying to avoid running lean, look into some aftermarket springs for your car..

I purchased the Eibach kit, but there is also H&R. IMO, one of the best additions I did to my car...
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Old Mar 2, 2002 | 08:55 PM
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How difficult is it to put in new apex seals? Would it be wise to put some bigger ones in to start with? Stock everything so far
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Old Mar 2, 2002 | 09:01 PM
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Exclamation

Originally posted by BoOsted Seven
How difficult is it to put in new apex seals? Would it be wise to put some bigger ones in to start with? Stock everything so far
That's called an engine rebuild...
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Old Mar 3, 2002 | 12:04 AM
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Dont listen to that guy who says that you shouldnt have a midpipe unless you have an upgraded ecu, the midpipe is the best thing you can ever do for the life of that motor and the turbos. It dumps all that heat and exhaust out of the engine area and out the tail pipe, you can have 2 mods tops, anything else and you need to upgrade the ecu. I have a downpipe and midpipe and those are my only two mods, my car pulls faster revs freely with now hestiation and i can pick up quick speed with out much work of the turbos, it cuts there work time in half. Get a down pipe and midpipe for your first mods man
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Old Mar 3, 2002 | 12:28 AM
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kam,

Who the F*** are you??? You have sixty some post count and the last one about how much HP a DP makes??? And now telling people to run full exhaust on a stock ECU? Are you crazy? Or do you just like hearing about peeps going lean and blowing an apex seal.

JoeD has over 4 thousand posts. You think he has been around long enough to hear about newby questions about how to blow a motor?

Look, second turbo spike WILL KILL AN APEX SEAL FAST. You need the proper fuel from a plug in or programable ECU to deal with an open exhaust that will spike and spool much faster with no restriction in the exhaust stream. Yes, it will be fast for a while.

Later, Jeff
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Old Mar 3, 2002 | 12:47 AM
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thanks Jeff.

and kam...i have been a memeber here since shortly after this forum was launched, and i have seen the good, the bad, and the ugly. running a midpipe with the stock ECU is possibly one of the biggest mistakes one can make in the FD modification journey. the stock main cat is the biggest restriction in the exhaust system. it is what keeps the turbos from spiking to insane boost levels. once you replace this piece with a 3 inch straight pipe and have no way of controlling boost while still running the stock ECU, a nice hard run has the potential to blow the engine. ive heard of people on here spiking to 17 pounds running a midpipe and stock ECU. and FYI, the stock fuel system falls flat on its *** at 14.7 pounds of boost. so you could imagine what will happen beyond that.

bottom line...do not run a midpipe with the stock ECU. pretty simple.

or you can listen to someone who doesnt even know how to change his spark plugs.

Last edited by JoeD; Mar 3, 2002 at 12:50 AM.
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Old Mar 3, 2002 | 02:31 PM
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yo mad props to JoeD in making that as clear as possible to the youngen with 60post of stupid street knowledge to give. Also that just helped me on making that dummie move myself. I need know also, what ECU would be sufficient enough for the same set up. I dont wanna get all crazy with the heltec en stuff mann.. lol
::::i have the pulley kit from greedy on ,no air pump,and i have the cat still on so i need to now..
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Old Mar 3, 2002 | 03:02 PM
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Like someone said before just get springs or something along that line.. Or better yet.. just save up till you can either get your ecu reprogramed or get a full stand alone..
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Old Mar 3, 2002 | 03:08 PM
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You want to race the Firebird again don't you Ben? And you want to win this time so your looking for advantages. Go for a suspension or some slicks or something to help the launch. It's all in the launch Ben. A short shifter would also help.
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Old Mar 3, 2002 | 04:41 PM
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stay away from the midpipe.. Just like JoeD said.

personally, I think you should just keep the money in the bank, and save for an ECU.

But suspension is a good way to go, you could also get yourself a new radiator.
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Old Mar 3, 2002 | 04:52 PM
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If you're just dying to buy something for the car and don't want to save for the ECU finish some of the reliability mods like replacing the AST or hose job if you haven't done that already. Might be a good time to go ahead and get that door handle fixed too. Hell, I can think of tons of "little" things that I'd like to do to my car.
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Old Mar 3, 2002 | 05:25 PM
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hmm Ill sell you an ecu for $270!!
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Old Mar 3, 2002 | 06:10 PM
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I PM'ed you about the ECU--get back to me on it.

Also, CAN I SAFELY ADD THE INTAKE? THAT WOULD PUT ME WITHIN THE 3 MOD RULE. thanks for everyone's help.

-BN
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Old Mar 3, 2002 | 06:15 PM
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You can add the intake if you want to but are you sure that you can't wait to buy a ECU first? The 3 mod rule is a guideline to go by not a rule. Just don't go crazy. You have a new motor with 3mm seals so you should be ok just watch your boost.
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Old Mar 4, 2002 | 12:18 AM
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Fix the door handle first.
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Old Mar 4, 2002 | 12:40 AM
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hey, would it be dangerous to add UR full pulley set, walbro fuel pump and 1200cc secondary inectors before doing an ECU? I am stcok aside from an Apexi power intake, and when I do get an ECu I think I am gonna do the Power FC, but is the power FC programmable , or will I need to send it to be programmed with every mod?
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Old Mar 4, 2002 | 12:47 AM
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Originally posted by Enthu
hey, would it be dangerous to add UR full pulley set, walbro fuel pump and 1200cc secondary inectors before doing an ECU? I am stcok aside from an Apexi power intake, and when I do get an ECu I think I am gonna do the Power FC, but is the power FC programmable , or will I need to send it to be programmed with every mod?
do not run larger injectors with the stock ECU. the ECU has no way of knowing that you have installed larger injectors, and you will be running obscenely rich.

the Power FC is programable, but you need someone that knows what they are doing and access to a dyno to tune it. if a dumbass that does not know **** tunes the PFC, chances are you will blow your engine in no time.
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Old Mar 4, 2002 | 02:49 AM
  #21  
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Originally posted by spinrotorsspin
i have the pulley kit from greedy on ,no air pump,and i have the cat still on so i need to now..
You do realize that by removing your air pump, you just gave a death sentence to your cat don't you?
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Old Mar 4, 2002 | 10:32 AM
  #22  
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How about some reliabilty mods instead? Aluminum AST, Fan Mod, Fluidyne radiator...etc.
If working properly the stock injectors and fuel pump can handle far more output than you now require.
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