ECU advice
ECU advice Hi everyone,
I am starting to collect parts for a FI build on my 98 camaro. It is currently a cam/bolt on car with built suspension, 12 bolt, stock t56/monster stage 3. I am leaning towards beating on a 5.3 with either a tc78 or D1...undecided currently but this will not change my fueling or ecu decisions. I understand the limitations of my 98 ECU and will be upgrading this now versus later when the boost bug truly bites. I also wish to purchase tuning software now to start learning the science on my current NA setup....this leads to my "what would you do" question. Purchase and install a 0411 ECU and software or install an aftermarket system such as the Holley HP EFI. I respect the holley option has more upfront costs and current boost-GM coil issues but have been looking at the software and looks like a nice system to learn on.
Thanks for reading.
I am starting to collect parts for a FI build on my 98 camaro. It is currently a cam/bolt on car with built suspension, 12 bolt, stock t56/monster stage 3. I am leaning towards beating on a 5.3 with either a tc78 or D1...undecided currently but this will not change my fueling or ecu decisions. I understand the limitations of my 98 ECU and will be upgrading this now versus later when the boost bug truly bites. I also wish to purchase tuning software now to start learning the science on my current NA setup....this leads to my "what would you do" question. Purchase and install a 0411 ECU and software or install an aftermarket system such as the Holley HP EFI. I respect the holley option has more upfront costs and current boost-GM coil issues but have been looking at the software and looks like a nice system to learn on.
Thanks for reading.
Hi everyone,
I am starting to collect parts for a FI build on my 98 camaro. It is currently a cam/bolt on car with built suspension, 12 bolt, stock t56/monster stage 3. I am leaning towards beating on a 5.3 with either a tc78 or D1...undecided currently but this will not change my fueling or ecu decisions. I understand the limitations of my 98 ECU and will be upgrading this now versus later when the boost bug truly bites. I also wish to purchase tuning software now to start learning the science on my current NA setup....this leads to my "what would you do" question. Purchase and install a 0411 ECU and software or install an aftermarket system such as the Holley HP EFI. I respect the holley option has more upfront costs and current boost-GM coil issues but have been looking at the software and looks like a nice system to learn on.
Thanks for reading.
I am starting to collect parts for a FI build on my 98 camaro. It is currently a cam/bolt on car with built suspension, 12 bolt, stock t56/monster stage 3. I am leaning towards beating on a 5.3 with either a tc78 or D1...undecided currently but this will not change my fueling or ecu decisions. I understand the limitations of my 98 ECU and will be upgrading this now versus later when the boost bug truly bites. I also wish to purchase tuning software now to start learning the science on my current NA setup....this leads to my "what would you do" question. Purchase and install a 0411 ECU and software or install an aftermarket system such as the Holley HP EFI. I respect the holley option has more upfront costs and current boost-GM coil issues but have been looking at the software and looks like a nice system to learn on.
Thanks for reading.
I am trying to base my decision coming from a newb perspective. From the research I have done it sounds like the holley is the most user friendly to get up and running safely respecting the self learn is a base to fine tune from. I don't want to make this decision based solely on my current knowledge level but moreso on what will serve my needs in the future (Assuming the gm COP-boost issues are resolved for the Holley). I guess I need to sit down with the numbers and decide if the benefits outweigh the cost.
INTMD8- I would appreciate your rationale understanding that the majority on this site use the GM ECU with great success
Cheers
INTMD8- I would appreciate your rationale understanding that the majority on this site use the GM ECU with great success
Cheers
FormerVendor
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 2,444
Likes: 2
From: WWW.SPEEDINC.COM
Much of my opinion is based on a car being dual purpose and not just raced, but basically for most applications the stock PCM does everything I need it to do and does it very well.
You can get very good driveability out of the aftermarket engine management systems but nothing beats a well tuned stock PCM in my opinion.
Going aftermarket you will still need to keep the stock PCM to run the stock gauges.
So what's the advantage to aftermarket? Closed loop wideband? I usually leave it off. Self tuning? I suppose that would be an advantage to a beginner. For me I would need a lot more time to familiarize myself with the Holley system before I could tune one in the same amount of time as stock or BS3 as I'm used to working with a VE table and not a fuel flow table.
Only time I would personally install aftermarket over stock would be if I wanted staged injection.
You can get very good driveability out of the aftermarket engine management systems but nothing beats a well tuned stock PCM in my opinion.
Going aftermarket you will still need to keep the stock PCM to run the stock gauges.
So what's the advantage to aftermarket? Closed loop wideband? I usually leave it off. Self tuning? I suppose that would be an advantage to a beginner. For me I would need a lot more time to familiarize myself with the Holley system before I could tune one in the same amount of time as stock or BS3 as I'm used to working with a VE table and not a fuel flow table.
Only time I would personally install aftermarket over stock would be if I wanted staged injection.
There is just no comparison. First and foremost, the Holley does EVERYTHING in one box and logs EVERYTHING together. That means that all data is in one place and can be viewed vs all other data. Can't emphasize enough how useful that is. Specially when trying to diagnose a problem.
In order to really determine the cost, you have to weigh it against all the other things that you would have to buy to do the same job. So with the Holley you get a fully integrated wideband. You get a fully programmable 3 step, boost controller (w/ AMS2000 type control), Meth Control, Nitrous control, they are working on launch control also. It also has a few pretty good safety features for loss of fuel or oil pressure.
With regards to driveability, it's perfect. It's also a lot easier to get right.
In order to really determine the cost, you have to weigh it against all the other things that you would have to buy to do the same job. So with the Holley you get a fully integrated wideband. You get a fully programmable 3 step, boost controller (w/ AMS2000 type control), Meth Control, Nitrous control, they are working on launch control also. It also has a few pretty good safety features for loss of fuel or oil pressure.
With regards to driveability, it's perfect. It's also a lot easier to get right.
Trending Topics
LS1 Tech Stories
The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time
Topdon ONE vs. Artidiag 800 BT2: Which is the Diagnostic Tablet For You?
Pouria Savadkouei
Gas Monkey Built a 6-Wheel Ferrari Testarossa With a Corvette LT4 Engine
Verdad Gallardo
7 Most Reliable High-Performance Engines GM Has Ever Built
Verdad Gallardo
Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin
Verdad Gallardo
6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them
Pouria Savadkouei
Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked
Pouria Savadkouei
Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!
Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP
Verdad Gallardo This was my next question...also considering I am working with a '98.
Thanks for the input so far. GM made a solid system but for what I want to do (scare myself on quiet roads on Sunday mornings...track couple of times per year) Holley has put together a nice package that can manage what is needed.
Considering a single power adder with meth, I am thinking the HP should be sufficient?
Thanks for the input so far. GM made a solid system but for what I want to do (scare myself on quiet roads on Sunday mornings...track couple of times per year) Holley has put together a nice package that can manage what is needed.
Considering a single power adder with meth, I am thinking the HP should be sufficient?
Staging Lane
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 67
Likes: 0
This was my next question...also considering I am working with a '98.
Thanks for the input so far. GM made a solid system but for what I want to do (scare myself on quiet roads on Sunday mornings...track couple of times per year) Holley has put together a nice package that can manage what is needed.
Considering a single power adder with meth, I am thinking the HP should be sufficient?
Thanks for the input so far. GM made a solid system but for what I want to do (scare myself on quiet roads on Sunday mornings...track couple of times per year) Holley has put together a nice package that can manage what is needed.
Considering a single power adder with meth, I am thinking the HP should be sufficient?
I guess "just" another 700 bucks buys the LCD to take care of monitoring all parameters...I probably don't need to preach to the choir about the snowballing within this addiction.
Some sensors share better than others so besides the wiring clusterfuck with the 2 ECMs, you may also need to double up on some sensors. I wouldn't recommend it.
The programmable Holley Gauges are about $100 each. The Touch screen can display any 6 gauges at a time.
The programmable Holley Gauges are about $100 each. The Touch screen can display any 6 gauges at a time.
