looking for a tuner in seattle area
Thread Starter
REDLINE JUNKIE
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 48
Likes: 0
From: Lake Stevens WA.
looking for a tuner in seattle area
Im looking to get my fd tuned before summer, and I would like it done rite the first time... and would like to know if anyone could recomend a shop in the greater seattle area or just in wa. at all?>
ive searched and it seems like portland has a few shops with dynos and people that know what they are doing,
I just cant find any shops in washington....
any help would be great
thanks
ive searched and it seems like portland has a few shops with dynos and people that know what they are doing,
I just cant find any shops in washington....
any help would be great
thanks
What engine management are you using? In WA there is no one unless you fly in someone. However you could contact BDC and most likely work with him to get a tune like TweakGames did, or you could wait until Steve Kan returns which will be this Spring/Summer sometime. Ask zack4173. Or if you are using an AEM system I know of someone who did a super awesome job tuning their own car
It's not that we don't know anyone here that tunes cars, it's that no one hear knows tuning rotaries. There is no longer a place in Portland worth the drive to get tuned... GrounZero shut down. Your best bet is to wait for the Summer tuning session that zack4173 is trying to orchestrate with Steve Kan. The NW is not really a great spot for us rotards.
There is a DIY write-up thread on tuning with the Power FC but it's geared toward the single turbo guys so it's a little different than tuning a stock sequential car
There is a DIY write-up thread on tuning with the Power FC but it's geared toward the single turbo guys so it's a little different than tuning a stock sequential car
Yep yep I should have Steve Kan up before summer. I havent contacted him yet but thats my plan. Tims right there is no one around here to tune our cars at least no one I would really trust. Steve is definately worth the wate though just search the name you will find lots of satisfied customers.
Ill post up a thread later this week to get him out here im sure we can get enough people together to bring him up again.
Ill post up a thread later this week to get him out here im sure we can get enough people together to bring him up again.
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 7,301
Likes: 3
From: District of Columbia
I heard that Steve blew up another FD since the last time he was in Seattle. That's just what i heard on the forums though. I don't like his tuning style. Just strap it on the dyno and go. didn't even ask what turbo setup or engine or port that was in the car. seemed like a nice guy when I met him though.
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I heard that Steve blew up another FD since the last time he was in Seattle. That's just what i heard on the forums though. I don't like his tuning style. Just strap it on the dyno and go. didn't even ask what turbo setup or engine or port that was in the car. seemed like a nice guy when I met him though.
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 2,897
Likes: 2
From: Renton/Bellevue/Seattle WA
Yes, BDC is where it is at. Most turners can go out, beat on your car on a dyno, and get it working decent and fast. The difference with BDC is his work ethic and the fact that he cares. He really does.
"Steve is definately worth the wate though just search the name you will find lots of satisfied customers."
I am not saying that Steve doesn't do some good work, he has obviously tuned many cars with great success. For some reason, this forum has a weird way of making Steve seem better than he really is. I think that's because he is more widely known. People are going to say, "oh you should get a real tune, by Steve Kan" by default, just because that is the only name name they have heard. Even without having any information or experience with him. Many don't even know that there is any other options for tuners to come to you than Steve. Even those that have been tuned by Steve might even think that he is great and that his manners and work ethic are exactly what a tuner should be. In that case I have to say ignorance is bliss. I used to be in that SAME exact boat, in the Steve Kan band wagon, until I saw his work compared to BDC. He tunes the car, it will most likely run fine and make the power you wanted, but was it the best tune you could get, especially for your money? I don't think so. Comparing BDC and Kan in my eyes is like comparing McDonalds (Mass produced, quick, but lower quality food) to Black Angus (or a nice restaurant with much nicer food, hand cooked, made specifically for you, and fresh), but where Black Angus'es menus items costs the same OR LESS than McDonalds. Where would you get your food/tune in that situation?
I also think that the image of Kan has been falsified by the fact that people don't want to say negative things about something they spent a lot of money on. Would you take your time and hard earned money to buy something, and then after receiving it tell everyone that it was bad? I think for some products yes, but for car tunes it seems to be more personal. Telling someone that you just spend $500 on a tune and it was complete crap makes you look a less intelligent. Why did you spend money on something bad kinda thing. This idea and the fact that people don't know that there is a better tuner out there, I feel, leads to the higher than should be image of Steve Kan.
You have spent a considerable amount of money and time working on your car. You have most likely spent extra time and money installing parts that will make your car more powerful, and reliable, even if it was to the smallest amount. You have tried your best to to pay attention to the smallest details, tighten and re-tighten every nut, bolt, and clamp, do research and order the best parts, ect. We all know that something as stupid can cause our engines to knock and blow. We don't normally get second chances. Do you want to continue that theme of careful precision, or do you want someone to come in, copy over a generic map, do 15 minutes of WOT tuning, give you a dyno sheet a few minutes later, and then work out some of the bugs in the map, all in less than an hour? I wouldn't settle for that, your baby deserves better.
BDC was in my car for countless hours. (We did street tuning, when he comes again I will get on the dyno) We went through almost two tanks of gas. We started a little after lunch, and ended deep in the night. I was so tired of driving I was just happy to get to bed lol. My car drives smoother than your friends stock kia rio, I have ZERO complaints, any questions I have had he has been able to answer. When I first built my engine, he helped me over AIM, by making a map FOR my car (while he was in tx) just to get it up and running nicely. He watched how things were running (over remote desktop over the internet) and told me what change to make it run nicer. It's really hard for me to explain how awesome he is over text, but the point I am trying to get across is HE CARES. His work ethic reflects the same, and ask anybody that has been tuned by BDC, he goes the extra mile, if you like it or not.
I even got a free story of ALL the star wars episodes without even asking. 
Saved me tons of time having to watch the movies lol.
But in all seriousness, I will DEFINITELY be setting up a time, mid to late summer, for BDC to come in again. Spots are limited as BDC does not tune 10-12 cars in one weekend. Problems happen, and instead of just tuning around it (with a lesser than perfect tune), he will either help you fix it, or if you can do it yourself tune someone else while you fix your own car. (happened with me and mort, I had a few things I needed to fix to get the full tune. Boost controller, TPS adjustments, my main pulley was completely out of wack had to get a different set, ect.)
Anyways I need to head out, but PM me or call me if you want any more details on things. There is a good chance that we will have to have 2 tuning sessions setup this season.
Laters
~Tweak
(If you have been tuned by Steve Kan, congrats, I am not attacking you or saying anything bad about you or your car. I am simply stating my observations and experiences with the two tuners. Please don't PM me complaining, it will do no good.)
"Steve is definately worth the wate though just search the name you will find lots of satisfied customers."
I am not saying that Steve doesn't do some good work, he has obviously tuned many cars with great success. For some reason, this forum has a weird way of making Steve seem better than he really is. I think that's because he is more widely known. People are going to say, "oh you should get a real tune, by Steve Kan" by default, just because that is the only name name they have heard. Even without having any information or experience with him. Many don't even know that there is any other options for tuners to come to you than Steve. Even those that have been tuned by Steve might even think that he is great and that his manners and work ethic are exactly what a tuner should be. In that case I have to say ignorance is bliss. I used to be in that SAME exact boat, in the Steve Kan band wagon, until I saw his work compared to BDC. He tunes the car, it will most likely run fine and make the power you wanted, but was it the best tune you could get, especially for your money? I don't think so. Comparing BDC and Kan in my eyes is like comparing McDonalds (Mass produced, quick, but lower quality food) to Black Angus (or a nice restaurant with much nicer food, hand cooked, made specifically for you, and fresh), but where Black Angus'es menus items costs the same OR LESS than McDonalds. Where would you get your food/tune in that situation?
I also think that the image of Kan has been falsified by the fact that people don't want to say negative things about something they spent a lot of money on. Would you take your time and hard earned money to buy something, and then after receiving it tell everyone that it was bad? I think for some products yes, but for car tunes it seems to be more personal. Telling someone that you just spend $500 on a tune and it was complete crap makes you look a less intelligent. Why did you spend money on something bad kinda thing. This idea and the fact that people don't know that there is a better tuner out there, I feel, leads to the higher than should be image of Steve Kan.
You have spent a considerable amount of money and time working on your car. You have most likely spent extra time and money installing parts that will make your car more powerful, and reliable, even if it was to the smallest amount. You have tried your best to to pay attention to the smallest details, tighten and re-tighten every nut, bolt, and clamp, do research and order the best parts, ect. We all know that something as stupid can cause our engines to knock and blow. We don't normally get second chances. Do you want to continue that theme of careful precision, or do you want someone to come in, copy over a generic map, do 15 minutes of WOT tuning, give you a dyno sheet a few minutes later, and then work out some of the bugs in the map, all in less than an hour? I wouldn't settle for that, your baby deserves better.
BDC was in my car for countless hours. (We did street tuning, when he comes again I will get on the dyno) We went through almost two tanks of gas. We started a little after lunch, and ended deep in the night. I was so tired of driving I was just happy to get to bed lol. My car drives smoother than your friends stock kia rio, I have ZERO complaints, any questions I have had he has been able to answer. When I first built my engine, he helped me over AIM, by making a map FOR my car (while he was in tx) just to get it up and running nicely. He watched how things were running (over remote desktop over the internet) and told me what change to make it run nicer. It's really hard for me to explain how awesome he is over text, but the point I am trying to get across is HE CARES. His work ethic reflects the same, and ask anybody that has been tuned by BDC, he goes the extra mile, if you like it or not.
I even got a free story of ALL the star wars episodes without even asking. Saved me tons of time having to watch the movies lol. But in all seriousness, I will DEFINITELY be setting up a time, mid to late summer, for BDC to come in again. Spots are limited as BDC does not tune 10-12 cars in one weekend. Problems happen, and instead of just tuning around it (with a lesser than perfect tune), he will either help you fix it, or if you can do it yourself tune someone else while you fix your own car. (happened with me and mort, I had a few things I needed to fix to get the full tune. Boost controller, TPS adjustments, my main pulley was completely out of wack had to get a different set, ect.)
Anyways I need to head out, but PM me or call me if you want any more details on things. There is a good chance that we will have to have 2 tuning sessions setup this season.
Laters
~Tweak
(If you have been tuned by Steve Kan, congrats, I am not attacking you or saying anything bad about you or your car. I am simply stating my observations and experiences with the two tuners. Please don't PM me complaining, it will do no good.)
Thread Starter
REDLINE JUNKIE
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 48
Likes: 0
From: Lake Stevens WA.
yes I think when any quality tuner is in town everyone with the time and $ will be trying to get there ride tuned...
I just hope its sooner than later..
I wanna be all hooked up for summer...
I just hope its sooner than later..
I wanna be all hooked up for summer...
as far as power fc
i would go with lawrance from intec racing. talk all the **** you want but he has been tunning with power fc for a long time. his mentor is a known rotary tuner from japan and tought him everything. not only that but its a full tune not just for power but for driveability and lots of midrange.
i would go with lawrance from intec racing. talk all the **** you want but he has been tunning with power fc for a long time. his mentor is a known rotary tuner from japan and tought him everything. not only that but its a full tune not just for power but for driveability and lots of midrange.
HAN-SOLO
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 335
Likes: 0
From: Federal Way, Washington
as far as power fc
i would go with lawrance from intec racing. talk all the **** you want but he has been tunning with power fc for a long time. his mentor is a known rotary tuner from japan and tought him everything. not only that but its a full tune not just for power but for driveability and lots of midrange.
i would go with lawrance from intec racing. talk all the **** you want but he has been tunning with power fc for a long time. his mentor is a known rotary tuner from japan and tought him everything. not only that but its a full tune not just for power but for driveability and lots of midrange.
if he has proof of tuning ROTARIES specifically, and those people with rotaries that have been tuned by him give good feedback, then i'd recommend it also...but until then he'll be just like 99% of the "i've worked on the apexi pfc and tuned rx7's before" people." not to say he's a bad tuner, as i have a friend who just had a tune done at intec (not an rx7) but piston and rotary tuning are different ballparks...
+1 Intec Racing
Authorized Apexi Power FC Tuner
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 2,897
Likes: 2
From: Renton/Bellevue/Seattle WA
haha, I am going to be moving up, I really don't there would be anything to gain by going any slower. I'm actually really sure it would just choke your exhaust with almost no response gain. Just my opinion. Also, if you are trying to drift below 4,000 rpm in a rotary car, you are doing something wrong.
Check out http://ppo2performance.com/docs/