Can't find a decent Apexi PFC tuner

[gotta240]

I don't know why this is so hard, but NO ONE in San Diego knows how to tune a PFC or has the software to do so. Does anyone have suggestions on GOOD tuners who can efficiently and safely tune a PFC anywhere in SoCal? I'm willing to travel for a good tuner. Would rather not go past LA but will if I have to. Anyone?

[rc1honda]

I have a PFC for my car. To be honest if it didn't sink so much money into already for the PFC, dataloggit, dyno time, and the yahoo group I would of sold it long ago.

This forum loves to recommend it and it a popular choice and I can't figure out why. Though it can definitely do the job there are much better options out there nowadays.

Any one thinking of going full stand alone. Heed my advice, DO NOT BUY A PFC. They
are analog tool. The process of even getting it to pair with a laptop is unbelievable.

Go AEM, Haltech, Megasquirt, or any other of the modern day tuners and you going to have much easier tuning experience than the PFC.

My advice to you is that you sell it and buy a Halltech or AEM. You'll thank me in the long run.

[Kingtal0n]

I tune pfc all the time. its easy as pie. Ive done 800rwhp rb26 engines with it and daily driver sr20det @ 500.

No problemo. You just need to know what you are doing

[gotta240]

Originally Posted by Kingtal0n

I tune pfc all the time. its easy as pie. Ive done 800rwhp rb26 engines with it and daily driver sr20det @ 500.

No problemo. You just need to know what you are doing

So......feel like a San Diego vacation?


I already have the PFC and am confident in my choice.....I'm just looking for a GOOD tuner who can work with it. Thanks for the replies though.

[fliprayzin240sx]

Originally Posted by rc1honda

I have a PFC for my car. To be honest if it didn't sink so much money into already for the PFC, dataloggit, dyno time, and the yahoo group I would of sold it long ago.

This forum loves to recommend it and it a popular choice and I can't figure out why. Though it can definitely do the job there are much better options out there nowadays.

Any one thinking of going full stand alone. Heed my advice, DO NOT BUY A PFC. They
are analog tool. The process of even getting it to pair with a laptop is unbelievable.

Go AEM, Haltech, Megasquirt, or any other of the modern day tuners and you going to have much easier tuning experience than the PFC.

My advice to you is that you sell it and buy a Halltech or AEM. You'll thank me in the long run.

Kicker is its for the RB25. For a while there, there wasnt a whole lot of US option to tune it with. Now you can get plug and play AEMs, and IIRC, there are Haltech kits out there too. Before, its alot more pain in the ass to run anything else due to the rewiring you'd need to run standalones other than PFCs. Then you'd still need to find a tuner for it. Between rewiring and tuning, it ends up costing alot more to tune with a PFC.

Originally Posted by gotta240

So......feel like a San Diego vacation?


I already have the PFC and am confident in my choice.....I'm just looking for a GOOD tuner who can work with it. Thanks for the replies though.

Have you dealt with Steve Shadows? I can't remember if you did at one point and had shitty experience with him. Folks seems to be hit or miss with him.

If you just need a decent base map...PM me and I can give you my base map.

[Kingtal0n]

Originally Posted by gotta240

So......feel like a San Diego vacation?


I already have the PFC and am confident in my choice.....I'm just looking for a GOOD tuner who can work with it. Thanks for the replies though.

Im in school here in Florida or I would. You can always send the car here

I've had people send me their cars. One sent his Skyline GT-R from jamaica for a tune and turbo installation.





tuned it a few years ago, still running great

Found the dyno graph file as well:


I think it was 18psi on pump gas, all wheel drive dyno.

[e1_griego]

It's recommended because it's the cheapest standalone and it works well for what it is, especially since you find them for 400-600.

The maf versions tend to work better than the D-jets, in my experience.

I have one in each s13 and I've never had a problem.

Originally Posted by rc1honda

Go AEM, Haltech, Megasquirt, or any other of the modern day tuners and you going to have much easier tuning experience than the PFC.

Its not modern. Its relatively inexpensive, reliable, fairly simple, and more importantly, it works. This is why people have been recommending it for over a decade.

Originally Posted by e1_griego

It's recommended because it's the cheapest standalone and it works well for what it is, especially since you find them for 400-600.
The maf versions tend to work better than the D-jets, in my experience.
I have one in each s13 and I've never had a problem.

Agreed.

Originally Posted by Kingtal0n

I tune pfc all the time. its easy as pie. Ive done 800rwhp rb26 engines with it and daily driver sr20det @ 500.
No problemo. You just need to know what you are doing

Agreed.

[Dboyizmlg]

Koji!

He is the best when it comes down to PFC, period!

I have a few friends that have their PFC tuned from Koji, and they are all awesome!
He is currently in SoCal at Auto talent.

I will be getting my pfc Tuned next month.

Hope this helps

[Dboyizmlg]

I'll PM you his email

[OnTheChip]

When comparing standalones, have a look at what NismotronicSA offers. Most stand alone functions/features with stock ECU plug-n-play.

NismotronicSA Demo Download

[bardabe]

I have the Apexi Power FC Pro Tuner software, if you are willing to take a trip to drop off your car in Perris I can handle it for you, shoot me a PM for details.

-Juan

[Mikester]

Yea, finding a decent PFC tuner is not easy these days. I was excited to get tuned by AMS... but they only tune their builds or super high-end cars now. Touge Factory's datalogit shit the bed, and they are switching to AEM... There is a place here in St. Louis, and not another between here & Indy or Atlanta that can do it.

Like many, the PFC is simple and does a great job when properly dialled in... but it IS old, and many 'modern' standalones although more expensive, are the better option and offer more functionality to boot. I'm sticking to my trusty PFC for the time being... but there will likely be an AEM Infinity in its place in the next few yrs.

Good luck to ya!

[steve shadows]

Power FC is fine if you're looking at sub 425 or so whp.

I've done these remotely all the way up to 400 whp on stock bottom ends with L-jetro unite (i.e. I wasn't even at the dyno physically - via remote desktop/join.me sessions).

So they are definitely solid units. The thing you have to take into consideration is the price. The Power FC L Jetro (used) is a great great value and I would recommend it over any other option (please don't use a piggy back on your car...if you're spending less on your EMS than what you spent on your rims you have engine failure in your future...I can almost guarantee it).

The catch is, from my experience, the FC Logit (Data Logit) fom New Zealand is really the most user friendly way to tune these (Not the PFC software in my opinion). However they both work.

If you're looking at a pfc that is going to run around the same cost as a Haltech EMS then I say go with the Haltech with the plug and play package.

I usually recommend Haltech if the build is going to be above 400 whp goals. The unit is a lot more detailed to use, it's not a simple cell matrix for each map (although it does have that as the core output for cell by cell for the map either in VE or by injector flow rates) but you can get the hang of it.

Otherwise there are dyno shops that will help with Haltech almost anywhere in the US and Canada now.

One of the reasons I started offering support remotely for DIY'ers and other tuners is because in some cases they don't have a shop that is local to them to help them tune the more complicated units properly. There is a big difference between a dyno operator and a dyno tuner and frankly a mechanical engineer.

So all in all, PFC, easy way to start, i.e. my first EMS/Standalone is great for sub 400 whp and will get you a long long way on the SR. If you go D-Jetro you'll have no problem going up to 500+ whp if the base point and tuning is solid.

If you're ready to take the plunge go for the Haltech EMS. I can email Haltech in Australia in the evening and get a response back within minutes there if there is every a hardware issue etc.

AEM is a good unit but the CAS dizzy swap thing on a lot of the past units is not exactly plug and play but I do understand they rushed the units to market. I have been to a few of their training classes and it is a great EMS. Haltech and AEM basically go back and fourth tit for tat copyin each other.

For units that are not PFC, Haltech or AEM. Again I really recommend thinking hard about rushing into more horespower. Save the money, do it right.

Megasquirt has come a long way. But I haven't seen anything else so far that is a true standalone EMS (apart from the ones I just mentioned).

If you guys have other questons feel free to email me directly, have a lot of experience and although I am not very active on the forums lately I am still doing consutling on buids and happy to answer specific questions for free if I have time.

Good luck in choosing your EMS!

[Kingtal0n]

Originally Posted by steve shadows

Power FC is fine if you're looking at sub 425 or so whp.

I've done these remotely all the way up to 400 whp on stock bottom ends with L-jetro unite (i.e. I wasn't even at the dyno physically - via remote desktop/join.me sessions).

So they are definitely solid units. The thing you have to take into consideration is the price. The Power FC L Jetro (used) is a great great value and I would recommend it over any other option (please don't use a piggy back on your car...if you're spending less on your EMS than what you spent on your rims you have engine failure in your future...I can almost guarantee it).

The catch is, from my experience, the FC Logit (Data Logit) fom New Zealand is really the most user friendly way to tune these (Not the PFC software in my opinion). However they both work.

If you're looking at a pfc that is going to run around the same cost as a Haltech EMS then I say go with the Haltech with the plug and play package.

I usually recommend Haltech if the build is going to be above 400 whp goals. The unit is a lot more detailed to use, it's not a simple cell matrix for each map (although it does have that as the core output for cell by cell for the map either in VE or by injector flow rates) but you can get the hang of it.

Otherwise there are dyno shops that will help with Haltech almost anywhere in the US and Canada now.

One of the reasons I started offering support remotely for DIY'ers and other tuners is because in some cases they don't have a shop that is local to them to help them tune the more complicated units properly. There is a big difference between a dyno operator and a dyno tuner and frankly a mechanical engineer.

So all in all, PFC, easy way to start, i.e. my first EMS/Standalone is great for sub 400 whp and will get you a long long way on the SR. If you go D-Jetro you'll have no problem going up to 500+ whp if the base point and tuning is solid.

If you're ready to take the plunge go for the Haltech EMS. I can email Haltech in Australia in the evening and get a response back within minutes there if there is every a hardware issue etc.

AEM is a good unit but the CAS dizzy swap thing on a lot of the past units is not exactly plug and play but I do understand they rushed the units to market. I have been to a few of their training classes and it is a great EMS. Haltech and AEM basically go back and fourth tit for tat copyin each other.

For units that are not PFC, Haltech or AEM. Again I really recommend thinking hard about rushing into more horespower. Save the money, do it right.

Megasquirt has come a long way. But I haven't seen anything else so far that is a true standalone EMS (apart from the ones I just mentioned).

If you guys have other questons feel free to email me directly, have a lot of experience and although I am not very active on the forums lately I am still doing consutling on buids and happy to answer specific questions for free if I have time.

Good luck in choosing your EMS!

tl; dr

wheres your pictures and dyno graphs? Guy is looking for a tuner not a book.

I have tuned cars over 800RWHP with power FC. Sounds like you need more experience.

[TheRealSy90]

Originally Posted by Kingtal0n

tl; dr

wheres your pictures and dyno graphs? Guy is looking for a tuner not a book.

I have tuned cars over 800RWHP with power FC. Sounds like you need more experience.

Steve Shadows needs more experience?

GTFO noob who are you even.

[fliprayzin240sx]

OH SNAP....

[aga]

i ve been tuning power fc's for years, i have an L-jetro in my car...

the fc is a fine ecu, but because its not modern, you have to live with the car and correct its quirky behavior whenever it arises, until you reach the perfect tune.

thats why i'll recommend you get a new AEM infinity ecu. it just works on its own, like magic. even a monkey can tune it and have perfect results.

[RB2.5]

These are suppose to be real easy also: http://zilvia.net/f/advertiser-annou...n-skyline.html

[aga]

im not advertising or anything , but adaptronic are similar or pricier than aem, and the new infinity is light years ahead of anything on the market...

[bardabe]

Originally Posted by aga

im not advertising or anything , but adaptronic are similar or pricier than aem, and the new infinity is light years ahead of anything on the market...

Agreed the price per dolalr on the Adaptronics units doesn't make sense, if you wanna go cheap and you are a DIY guy go with MS3x, dual core processor, fully universal expandable EMS for under $800.

IMO the PFC is fine for high HP builds. not ideal but it'll work. if we can run 700-900whp Z32's on a stock Nissan ECU, a 5-600 whp RB/SR will be OK on power FC.