DBW vs DBC Value
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Teching In
Joined: Jan 2021
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From: South Dakota
DBW vs DBC Value Hey guys, I have a 2001 LQ4 engine with a stock DBC (Drive By Cable) throttle body. I'm looking into the Terminator X platform for my ECU and tuning needs. I was debating on switching to a DBW (Drive By Wire or Electronic) throttle body. I'm wondering what the value is of this move? Obviously this opens greater alleys of tunability and allows for things like 2 step, launch control, throttle lag, and lots of other possibilities, but the car the engine will be going into is already a cable throttle. So I could buy a cable for $20 and be done with it... Otherwise I need a Chevy style DBW throttle body, and if I'm going that route it doesn't make sense to go stock. So for a performance throttle body in DBW configuration for $200+, plus the extra $300 for the Terminator X MAX package, plus another $100 or so for a DBW accelerator pedal... We are talking about a nearly $600 difference in parts... Is it worth it? The possibility of cruise control and other things with DBW sound very alluring, but are they actually worth the extra investment?
Thanks in advance for any advice!
Thanks in advance for any advice!
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Jan 2021
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
From: South Dakota
I was kind of thinking the same thing Sacrilege... But this car is going to go on longer road trips to different car shows and events so cruise control would be a big bonus. I'm sure tuning the DBW is much more difficult, but I've heard you can set up tunes for staging and some other things to lock the rpm at a certain throttle rate or change the acceleration curve in the tune so that you don't go from 0-100% power instantly. So you could have a more comfortable street tune, and switch to 2 step and full throttle race tune when you get to the track. Things like that. Is there any real value to those capabilities?
Holley doesn't support cruise control but there are some say that they have figured out how to make it work. I haven't tried it yet myself so you'll have to do some research. As far as the DBW/DBC debate DBW allows a lot of different strategies that you can't do with DBC.
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Jan 2021
Posts: 5
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From: South Dakota
Holley doesn't support cruise control but there are some say that they have figured out how to make it work. I haven't tried it yet myself so you'll have to do some research. As far as the DBW/DBC debate DBW allows a lot of different strategies that you can't do with DBC.
Hey guys, I have a 2001 LQ4 engine with a stock DBC (Drive By Cable) throttle body. I'm looking into the Terminator X platform for my ECU and tuning needs. I was debating on switching to a DBW (Drive By Wire or Electronic) throttle body. I'm wondering what the value is of this move? Obviously this opens greater alleys of tunability and allows for things like 2 step, launch control, throttle lag, and lots of other possibilities, but the car the engine will be going into is already a cable throttle. So I could buy a cable for $20 and be done with it... Otherwise I need a Chevy style DBW throttle body, and if I'm going that route it doesn't make sense to go stock. So for a performance throttle body in DBW configuration for $200+, plus the extra $300 for the Terminator X MAX package, plus another $100 or so for a DBW accelerator pedal... We are talking about a nearly $600 difference in parts... Is it worth it? The possibility of cruise control and other things with DBW sound very alluring, but are they actually worth the extra investment?
Thanks in advance for any advice!
Thanks in advance for any advice!
A 90mm DBW throttle body will support 700HP easily and having DBW allows for tuning of the air flow at low throttle openings, where the air flow control is most critical. Throttle blade percentage opening and air flow do not have a linear relationship.
With the Holley system it also makes dialing the TB opening for proper IAC operation a lot easier. With DBW, there is no physical IAC, but the tuning logic is still the same.
The Terminator X Max will also allow for easier VSS integration with the ECU, which opens up another dimension for drivability tuning, especially with a manual transmission.
Andrew
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Jan 2021
Posts: 5
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From: South Dakota
You can set the throttle to be open further until until reached a certain temperature after start up. You can set idle speed with a button push. You can control throttle opening percentage at certain RPMs which can help with traction or overpowering in corners or while racing.
Just lots of little fine-tuning things that you can't do with cable. Cable is damn-near an on/off switch. Sure you can be at 1/4 throttle or 1/2 throttle, but it will never be the precision of tuning down to a specific throttle percentage with DBW.
Just lots of little fine-tuning things that you can't do with cable. Cable is damn-near an on/off switch. Sure you can be at 1/4 throttle or 1/2 throttle, but it will never be the precision of tuning down to a specific throttle percentage with DBW.
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Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Jan 2021
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
From: South Dakota
I always recommend to my customers to get the Terminator X Max ECU and to implement DBW. One of the biggest mistakes I see people making is installing the sewer pipe size throttle bodies and then having issues with idle...tip in...and general drivability issues. This is especially true with a manual transmission.
A 90mm DBW throttle body will support 700HP easily and having DBW allows for tuning of the air flow at low throttle openings, where the air flow control is most critical. Throttle blade percentage opening and air flow do not have a linear relationship.
With the Holley system it also makes dialing the TB opening for proper IAC operation a lot easier. With DBW, there is no physical IAC, but the tuning logic is still the same.
The Terminator X Max will also allow for easier VSS integration with the ECU, which opens up another dimension for drivability tuning, especially with a manual transmission.
Andrew
A 90mm DBW throttle body will support 700HP easily and having DBW allows for tuning of the air flow at low throttle openings, where the air flow control is most critical. Throttle blade percentage opening and air flow do not have a linear relationship.
With the Holley system it also makes dialing the TB opening for proper IAC operation a lot easier. With DBW, there is no physical IAC, but the tuning logic is still the same.
The Terminator X Max will also allow for easier VSS integration with the ECU, which opens up another dimension for drivability tuning, especially with a manual transmission.
Andrew
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