We have two "base" maps for the PowerFC at our disposal: Base Stock and Base Mod. The INJ (fuel) sections of these two maps are not very different, however the IGL and IGT are quite a bit different.

I purchased a PowerFC that was shipped directly to me. It was in it's virgin state, i.e., no tuning had been done. On the insert included with the PFC it says the following: "The base map within the POWER FC will support the American market FD3S RX-7 with both catalytic converters in place, a free-flow intake, and a free-flow catalytic back exhaust system..."

I took it for granted that the Base Stock map would be a representation of the PFC tuning as it is shipped, and that those maps would essentially support only an intake and cat-back, as indicated above. This is not the case! What is floating around as Base Mod is actually the way a PFC arrives untuned (I did an All Data Init to be sure). This is important because upon searching I saw recommendations to use Base Mod for cold air induction, IC, DP, hi-flow cat, and cat-back.

So what is Base Stock? Who created it and for what mods is it intended? Perhaps somewhere along the way the filenames got swapped. As a side note, the link labeled Base Map 2 (Hedge Hog) in the maps section represents the settings for a virgin PFC.

Please tell me if I'm off my rocker on this one. It seems very important to me.

-Scott

 

Mine came with the base stock numbers.

 

As a point of reference, let's look at P20, N01 of the IGL map. Base Mod has a 1 in this location, Base Stock has a 9. My PFC (again, even after an All Data Init) shows a 1. Are you saying your's shows a 9, and it wasn't tuned before you received it?

 

My PFC came from Ray of Shane Racing programmed for the mods that I had at the time. It is listed as the first Houston map. It's timing maps are exactly the same as the "mod base" set. Klye's timing maps for his large port single turbo engine are exactly the same.

Some PFCs have come with the "base" set. The mod set 's timing is safe for modified engines.

They both have been included in other discussions here.

 

Skotx,
Your observations are correct. I purchased my PFC in the last group buy that Jason had and I went through the maps and I too have the Base "mod" maps installed for the timing maps. I don't know why, but that's what's there and the thing was never tuned. I now have some custom maps in my PFC that I made by using a piece of the ignition maps from the Base "stock" maps and a piece of the Base "mod" maps which were already installed. If you compare the two, the base mod maps have a lot more advance during the transition from primary to secondary, and at higher rpms. These are both very bad for a highly modified engine. Plus, the split between the IGL and IGT is not always optimal ans sometimes negative. I made my new maps with the help of Chuck (Cewrx7r1), who is the most knowledged on this board when it comes to PFC tunning. If you plan on running your car hard then I advise you take a look at the maps that are in there and set up some of your own using all the information that is available in this section.

 

Mach2, I appreciate your input. It turns out that I jumped the gun a little bit. I had done some searching, but had not gone all the way back to August or so when discussions about the "Base" maps took place.

So it looks like PFCs can come with one of two different sets of maps, one for Intake and CB, and one for Intake, DP, MP or high-flow, and CB (or so I've read on the forum). The insert that comes with the PFC is very misleading. In fact, it's downright wrong. I do indeed intend to run my car hard, but don't yet know enough to tweak the maps.

Are your maps posted here on the forum? I'd love to include them on my site if you want to send them along.

skotx@hotmail.com

 

I seem to remember that some of the earlier PFC's boost readings don't go up as high as the later PFC's.

 

Um not readings but the boost numbers were different in the maps. row 20 wasn't 17 PSI it was 14 PSI or something similar to that.

 

I just purchased a PFC and haven't yet installed it, so the matter of correct timing maps is very important to me.

Since I purchased a used PFC from someone with a highly modified FD, the first thing I did was to "initialize all settings" on my PFC. I found that it initialized to the "base mod" settings not the "base stock" settings. My car falls under the definition of "base stock" since my mods are only downpipe, cat-back, and a stock air box with K&N filter. I will be inputting the "base stock" maps into my PFC before ever running my engine. For those of you not familiar with the significant differences between "base stock" and "base mod" maps, see skotx's very informative site:

http://www.exorzero.com/skotx/powerfc/

I had simply assumed that the initialized settings for all PFC's would be for a "base stock" car not a "base mod" car. That would have been a costly assumption! This Forum disclosed the differences and I'm sure saved me from a blown engine. I wonder how many "stock" FD owners installed a "base mod" pre-programmed PFC into their "base stock" cars without knowing it and that alone resulted in major engine problems?

I believe that the main lesson here for all new PFC owners with "stock" FDs is "PFC is not plug and play" despite what you might have read or been led to believe. At a minimum when you first install your PFC and before you ever start your engine, view the maps programmed into your unit, compare them with the maps on skotx's site, and determine if you are mapped correctly for your car. If not, make changes accordingly. I suppose if you want to be extra cautious ($$$$$$), have your PFC pre-programmed specific for your car by an expert prior to installation.

 

Running a base mod set when you engine only needs a base stock set will not endanger your engine. The mod set runs a richer fuel map and the IG maps have more retard under boost conditions. Thus it is a safer set.

 

It seems ridiculous that we can't get some sort of official response from either APEXi or one of its resellers (XS) attesting to the reliability of the PFC V2 base "mod" map.

Otherwise, since I am running just a DP and CB I might just go back to the stock ECU until this whole issue is resolved.

 

Chuck (cewrx7r1),

Thanks for your response to my input to this thread. You clearly have more hands on experience than anyone else with the PFC on this forum. I really appreciate that you so willingly share your experience and what you've learned with the rest of us, unlike XS and the other "for profit" PFC programmers.

I have nothing against the free market system, but I have never experienced owning a product with so little, or should I say absolutely no, background information on how the product works or total lack of operator guidance as appears to be the case with the PFC. Especially since this product "by design" is intended to be reprogrammed specific to end user needs. Maybe I didn't have my "eyes open" when I decided to purchase a PFC, but I thought I was getting a product that I could easily learn and adjust, not something that required me to always go to a commercial PFC programmer or otherwise risk blowing my motor.

Anyway, in response to your comment, my comparison of the base stock and base mod maps is that the base mod IGL timing map is not always more retarded than the base stock map under all boost and rpm conditions. Neither is the IGT timing map. Am I missing something here?

 

Aren't the fuel maps identical? I too am trying ot figure what to do, ad I get higher knock readings just when base mod advances timing during transition, I think I am not getting optimal power and need to retard it a bit, but so many people are running these timing maps with no problems. What do you think chuck? shoud I bother?

 

To KZ1,

How do you know for sure that "so many people are running these timing maps without any problems"?

The way I see it, there are a number of people running these maps and reporting problems on this forum. I have no way to judge how many people are having problems and not reporting them on this forum or how many people are having no problems at all and not sharing their success on this forum.

 

just from people I have talk to on and off the forum. I am talking about guys with non-ported engines. My understanding is that a lot of people run the base timing maps then just tweak the fuel out. I have been running them for 5 motnhs with no problems(not yet anyway). i am not saying they are the best for power or optimal, obviously they shoudl be tweaked, but I don't see it blowing an engine, if you just have standard bolt-ons like me.

 

Go to my site, print out Base Mod and Base Stock, install your PFC, and start comparing numbers. It'll become apparent which one you've got, but I'd bet my lunch money that you'll have Base Mod.

[Edit] Well, of course my site is dead right now, since my friend has been messing with his server. In that case, wait till tomorrow.