Aem or Powerfc
01-06-11, 02:43 PM
#1
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Aem or Powerfc
I kno some guys that love the aem stand alones on there subarus, why dont more people have them on there fds? Isnt the powerfc a little outdated? i understand the idea of "tried and true" but i dont know if i want to stare at an old gameboy screen in my car. Let me kno what you think!
01-06-11, 04:18 PM
#2
Do you do your own tuning? If not, go with the standalone your chosen tuner is most familiar with.
If you do your own tuning, I think you'll find the most support and knowledge base with the PFC. And tuning a rotary is a much different animal than a piston engine.
Apex'i also has a new commander out. Same dimensions but with a higher contrast "EL" screen.
Regardless..if you choose a standalone based on a more stylish screen, then you probably need to re-examin priorities.
If you do your own tuning, I think you'll find the most support and knowledge base with the PFC. And tuning a rotary is a much different animal than a piston engine.
Apex'i also has a new commander out. Same dimensions but with a higher contrast "EL" screen.
Regardless..if you choose a standalone based on a more stylish screen, then you probably need to re-examin priorities.
01-07-11, 09:22 PM
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i looked for the updated powerFC and couldnt find anything. Do you know where its available? i just ordered my bnr stage 3's so it will be a bit before i can get a computer.
01-08-11, 07:08 AM
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^ Disagree. However, it is always better to have a tuner who has experience successfully tuning rotary engines as opposed to a tuner who hasn't.
http://www.rx7store.net/Apex_Power_F...power%20fc.htm
01-08-11, 07:14 AM
#5
If money is an issue, remember the older design Commander functions just fine. I'm still using mine. It's just harder to see in bright light conditions but will likely cost alot less.
Regardless of the Commander design, IIRC you want a PFC who's serial number begins with FD3S4. That's the newest version and ostensibly the best Base Map.
If you haven't already, there's a great sticky thread from DaleClark on the newer version PFC here: https://www.rx7club.com/power-fc-forum-47/
01-08-11, 07:31 AM
#6
All of the Power FCs we sell come with the new (OLED) EL Commander, we also sell them seperately if someone is looking to upgrade.
http://banzai-racing.com/store/93-95...APEXi_pfc.html
http://banzai-racing.com/store/93-95...APEXi_pfc.html
01-08-11, 04:18 PM
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Just like others have stated the power FC is proven itself time and time. Ive installed a couple AEM's and loved them. You cant beat having 2 much more sensative knock sensors, 2 EGT's, the choice to run seperate trailing coils. I mean really when it comes down to it you can nearly do anything with this computer. However i know with my shop the installs/ tuning can tend to be considerably more. Especially when runing all the new sensors. With a power FC you rely strictly on the tune and really have no OH **** safety. With the aem you have the egt's, knock sensor's, and the 02 feedback ( which is nice for daily driving. I could go on for days about the difference but honestly im sure theres a ton of data/ testimonials on this forum and others. Either way good luck with you mods. 
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01-08-11, 07:26 PM
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PFC who's serial number begins with FD3S4. That's the newest version and ostensibly the best Base Map.
If you haven't already, there's a great sticky thread from DaleClark on the newer version PFC here: https://www.rx7club.com/forumdisplay.php?f=47
If you haven't already, there's a great sticky thread from DaleClark on the newer version PFC here: https://www.rx7club.com/forumdisplay.php?f=47
01-10-11, 02:41 PM
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01-10-11, 09:02 PM
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Havent gotten an AEM to work properly meaning?
I ran one on the Pikes Peak car and it started the car perfectly and held a steady idle with no IAC and running on E-85, 366whp@ 12psi, with reasonable to excellent throttle response and powerband, all with one hour of tuning. We literally started the car in the shop to do a leak test, trailered the car to tech, trailered it back to the dyno, ran the dyno for one hour, loaded it back into the trailer. No previous tuning and I worked with a basemap I created "on the bench". Obviously, this is not the average case, as there was no OMP to mess with, no IAC, etc. but its not that unusual either.
I ran one on the Pikes Peak car and it started the car perfectly and held a steady idle with no IAC and running on E-85, 366whp@ 12psi, with reasonable to excellent throttle response and powerband, all with one hour of tuning. We literally started the car in the shop to do a leak test, trailered the car to tech, trailered it back to the dyno, ran the dyno for one hour, loaded it back into the trailer. No previous tuning and I worked with a basemap I created "on the bench". Obviously, this is not the average case, as there was no OMP to mess with, no IAC, etc. but its not that unusual either.
01-11-11, 12:06 PM
#13
Meaning I haven't read of too many people here on the forum getting it to "work" on an FD w/o pulling their hair out. I have never seen one in person either. I'm not saying it is not possible but from what little info I have seen here on the forum, it is not as easy as the PFC which is plug and play (if you are able to read the instructions).
The car you ran it on is/was an FC race car so I'm assuming you didn't need to worry about the FD's sequential turbo system controls, emissions, a/c etc. not sure how much of a difference that makes since I have little aftermarket ECU experience.
Having a local shop to support and tune whatever ECU installed (as SGTBlue recommended) can be important for these reasons.
01-11-11, 12:57 PM
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Ok I can see that, but I think a lot of the"mystery" surrounding the AEM and FD's has more to do with the fact that when it first came out it was pricey and it is very complex, so some installers had issues with it.
Also, to be honest, the first few years it was buggy as ****, EEPROMS dieing randomly, com errors, you name it they had it, just like everyone else. The difference, and why I back AEM so much is that they fixed it. And they fix it every single day. EX: I had an STI here which we put big cams and AEM on. Ran perfect until the owner did something stupid and it needed a rebuild. Rebuilt it and put in larger cams. The S1 AEM hated the new ams and would lose synch at idle. Call AEM up and they sent me out a prototype ECU the next day using the STI daughterboard and the S2 ECU and new firmware. Works flawlessly. Honestly, I doubt any other ECU manufacturer would have done that.
As to the FD, I have basemaps that will start, run, and drive the car fairly well, just like the PFC, and just like the PFC, it will still need to be tuned, preferably on a dyno.
Also, to be honest, the first few years it was buggy as ****, EEPROMS dieing randomly, com errors, you name it they had it, just like everyone else. The difference, and why I back AEM so much is that they fixed it. And they fix it every single day. EX: I had an STI here which we put big cams and AEM on. Ran perfect until the owner did something stupid and it needed a rebuild. Rebuilt it and put in larger cams. The S1 AEM hated the new ams and would lose synch at idle. Call AEM up and they sent me out a prototype ECU the next day using the STI daughterboard and the S2 ECU and new firmware. Works flawlessly. Honestly, I doubt any other ECU manufacturer would have done that.
As to the FD, I have basemaps that will start, run, and drive the car fairly well, just like the PFC, and just like the PFC, it will still need to be tuned, preferably on a dyno.
01-15-11, 02:19 PM
#16
..... The difference, and why I back AEM so much is that they fixed it. And they fix it every single day. EX: I had an STI here which we put big cams and AEM on. Ran perfect until the owner did something stupid and it needed a rebuild. Rebuilt it and put in larger cams. The S1 AEM hated the new ams and would lose synch at idle. Call AEM up and they sent me out a prototype ECU the next day using the STI daughterboard and the S2 ECU and new firmware. Works flawlessly. Honestly, I doubt any other ECU manufacturer would have done that.
As to the FD, I have basemaps that will start, run, and drive the car fairly well, just like the PFC, and just like the PFC, it will still need to be tuned, preferably on a dyno.
As to the FD, I have basemaps that will start, run, and drive the car fairly well, just like the PFC, and just like the PFC, it will still need to be tuned, preferably on a dyno.
But I am happy with my PFC because:
*I'm old and not very tech savy. I could change plugs, points and condensor, set timing and adjust the carb in just about anything that rolled when I was 12...but still trying to master the touch-tone phone.
*My car isn't heavily modded and the PFC is entirely adequate.
*The PFC was simple to install and there was alot of info here to help me initially.
*A trusted good friend who is a big-brain can tune it with his datalogit.
*I'm masochistic and like squinting like Mr. MaGoo at that stupid green screen on the old-style Commander.
