My car is finally going to be mobile after 8 long, gruesome months in the shop. I've had problems with the car for way too long so with next motor im not willing to take any chances. The B18C is bored to 85mm, along with a 12.5:1 compression. It has minor bolt-ons like MSD, CAI, fuel rail, FPR and cam gears. I got a 500 dollar budget for either a VAFC or one of the Hondata systems and hopfullysome dyno time. However i am not sure, and doubt, if there are any reputable Hondata tuners in my area. So im leaning towards a VAFC. With the amount of money im working with would a hondata be attainable? or would i maybe be better off with the VAFC? any suggestions i appreciate.

 

if you can afford it get hondata

 

Would a s100 base map suffice for break in if i couldnt get on the dyno immediatly? btw a local shop owner is taking a hondata class at the end of this month. He needs two cars for them to teach him and he suggested me bringing my car so im going with the hondata if he isnt bsn, and i might finally get a lucky break!

 

bump

 

I wouldn't count on just any start map to get you going safely. An 85mm bore requires more fuel everywhere on the fuel basemap slightly more ignition advance to accomodate for the larger bore. Even if the closed-loop oxygen sensor feedback is turned on, you can still get into trouble with the engine being too lean.

I would not trust a first time Hondata user/tuner to a built engine like your's unless they have lots of experience tuning Honda's with other EMS's.

A VAFC won't be able to pull timing (assuming you need to a little, even with a larger bore) while simultaneously hacking for a set of larger set of injectors. You really should use some sort of engine management system that allows for injector correction and independent adjustment of the fuel and ignition timing basemaps with an engine like your's.

 

tx for the reply, however the guy supposedly taking the class will have hondata pros showing him hands on how to tune and install and whatnot. If this does not fall thru i think that would be my best shot. Otherwise what EM setups would be optimal for my setup and allow for a good breakin? excluding price

 

Regardless of who's teaching him, proficiency only comes with frequent usage. It'll be even more of a gamble if he's never worked with any sort of EMS that gives you control of the basemaps or had any knowledge of the principles that guide a tuner. If he's never done anything like it before, he's probably not gonna get it done really good the first time. I'd still be skeptical about this one w/o having met and talked to the guy at length.

Any time you have to choose an engine management system, you need to consider who is available to tune it and how comfortable they are with the system. Most systems are very comparable when it comes to the fundamentals. The tuner is the key. A good AEM EMS tuner isn't necessarily gonna be a good Motec or Haltech tuner. In fact, they may dread tuning on them b/c they're not comfortable working with the software or doing the hardwiring (if necessary).

I'd stick with the Hondata. Hondata is a pretty simple system and easy to navigate, so if anybody's ever used anything more complex than it, then the learning curve should be minimal. But, it's never out of the question for anybody to screw anything up.

 

i agree 100%, however i think this might be my best bet, considering there are no other hondata tuners in my area...so ima hope for the best and tx for the help