I run a 91 Acura Integra LS in SCCA ITA class. This is a strictly track-only race car with a 1.8L B18A1 engine bored to 20 over, with Hondata ECU.

Due to rule changes (allowing standalone ECUs) the 1.8L Miatas with Megasquirts are now able to pull me on the straightaways, which pisses me off no end (200 lbs lighter with 145HP, while my car last dyno'd at 147HP).

So, it's time to find more horsies. I have very little knowledge and/or experience however with ECUs, chipping etc. so am looking for advice from the forums on what system to install in my car.

Which is the best system for the money? Specifically for race performance, not street. What kind of HP gains can be gotten?

I have a local shop that can do a complete Megasquirt build, install, and dyno tune for around $1800 and was going to go with them but then started reading the forum and saw some mentions of Megasquirt not being proven on Honda/Acura. Hence my hesitation, and this post. I really cannot spend much more than that though.

Real world advice from experience would be supremely helpful.

 

http://www.megasquirt.info/
system works fine and is fairly cheap....$1800 to build install and tune a megasquirt system is a complete ripoff
The megasquirt system itself is about $200 in parts (or less depending on where you buy it)
I cant see someone charging more then $200 to build it.
Installing it is a piece of cake because of how flexible the system is (maybe a couple hundred to wire it up)
So lets say $600 - $700 for the megasquirt built and installed in the car....thats over $1000 for the tune LOL

Now im going to tell you this once so read this word for word
That hondata system works just as well as any other system out there for tuning honda's....this is NOTHING special about megasquirt and it will NOT make more power then hondata.
One system does not make more power then another....what makes more power is finding a better tuner.

 

What engine regulations are there in your class? If you're looking to make more power changing your tuning platform should be a last resort...

 

Everything that can legally be done to my car has been done. Ecu is only thing left due to new rule change.

Don't understand how Hondata could make the same power. It can't control fuel/air across the rpm range can it?

 

not sure why you would even bother with megasquirt really. hondata/neptune/aem/etc can do just about everything you need it to, especially being n/a.

 

lol. have you ever tuned the car? yes. hondata works very well

i like AEM.

 

No, I have never tuned my car. It was already setup when it was purchased form the previous owner. I have no problem working on most things myself on the engine, tranny, etc. but have no experience with ECUs. That is the reason why I posted this question. I am looking for helpful insight into deciding on the best way to go to recapture the advantage I had before the Miatas begun adding Megasquirts.

So, let me ask this about your comments:

1. "Hondata works very well." - Does it have fuel/air maps that can be tuned all the way across the rpm band like a 3rd party ecu?

2. "I like AEM." - What do you like about it? Is it more tunable than the Hondata ecu? Is it worth the money to upgrade?

 

hondata can do everything you need it to do, best thing would be to contact alocal tuner and put the car on a dyno and get it tuned.

 

Just spoke to John at LHT Performance. He said the same thing. Looks like I'll be taking the car down there next week unless anyone knows of a better (race) tuner in the Tampa Bay area.

 

Name: John Vega
AKA: mtber
Shop: Phearable.net
Location: Tampa, Florida
Phone: (888) 236-9831
Web: http://www.phearable.net

I would talk to john first

 

^x2 on John Vega. The dude knows his ****

 

Moates Demon + Neptune or eCtune

 

Thanks guys!

Spoke to worthyking today and gave him my advice on his setup & ways to improve the power on his vehicle while still being legal in his racing class etc.