Is it worth it to switch to a chipped ECU on a completely stock engine? Will tuning with the chipped ECU yield any significant horsepower gains over the stock tune?

 

you're not going to see any decent gains that's worth the trouble.

 

this is somewhat incorrect... i have seen stock engines make 12hp more with a decent tune... there is may things you can do ahead of time to yield, more power...

IF THE VEHICLE IS COMPLETELY STOCK

1. Remove the air box silencer from the front bumper ( this part attached to the the air box unit it self...probably a good idea to leave the air box on over the filter
2. Drop in a better flowing filter ( K&N, Spoon, ect )
3. Remove cat... install test pipe
4. remove power steering ect.

personally i would just do 1,2 and maybe 3... then get a good, dyno tune... a generic chipped computer wont really give you what your looking for in a difference... just my .02

 

Well I currently have an intake and an exhaust. I don't really want to switch the cat with a test pipe because then I have to deal with passing the emissions test. Otherwise, the engine (B16A) is completely stock.

So you think that if I got a Hondata chipped ECU, and took it to get dyno tuned that I could get an extra 10 to 12 horsepower?

 

i think if you save up for a ctr intake cam then tune you could see a 10+hp increase

 

Well my long term plan is to do a B18C1 engine swap, and then install either Skunk2 Tuner1 or Pro1 (undecided on which) cams.

So since I will eventually need a chipped ECU anyway, I was thinking about getting that first and getting my current B16A tuned to see if I could pick up a little extra power.

 

It will never hurt, and more than peak power, you can pick up some decent midrange by smoothing out the vtec crossover. If you already have an intake and exhaust, you'll only benefit from a tune from the slight increase in airflow.

Keep your stock cat or switch to a high-flow if you want to free up a little more.

 

evans tuning stock type-r with IHE
http://forums.evans-tuning.com/viewt...hp?f=39&t=3091

http://forums.evans-tuning.com/viewt...hp?f=39&t=2877

 

That is impressive, they got like 30 extra horsepower from tuning a stock engine.

 

intake and exhaust if made for emissions, so it kills some power, but its more environment friendly... humans need air to survive respetk the air u breathe it might not last( at least not fresh air)