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Who is running a SAFC solo tune?

Posted: Wed Apr 03, 2013 2:02 pm
by motteram
Ok so I have been planning on running a t-25 setup on my s13 and the original idea was to go with a JWT re flashed ecu. I know that will be good for daily and reliable. Some guys around where I live though are telling me just to buy a SAFC neo or SAFC II and tune it with that. It was my impression that the SAFC only tricked the maf into thinking that there is more or less air going into the engine and that it is not adequate to "TUNE" a car. So I was just wondering who out there (if anyone) was running with JUST a SAFC as their sole tuning device? How reliable is it? And is it a safe way to tune the car if you have someone that knows what they are doing. Also do you daily your car? Whats up people.

Posted: Wed Apr 03, 2013 3:35 pm
by schmauster920
SAFCs work well if you are going for N/A or with a pre tuned ecu. You really want an ecu with the right timing and fuel maps for the turbo setup or you will be seriously limited. They do work, but if you want to make real power look at a tuned ecu, or nismotronic, nistune or even better a standalone like megasquirt or AEM EMS if you want to be able to fully control things.


A good tune is important on turbo KAs or they can easily go boom

Posted: Wed Apr 03, 2013 3:47 pm
by Freise
Your impression is correct, it's not very reliable, you will have to control timing via retard at dizzy in order to not blow motor, and even then you'll probably still blow it.
Don't go cheap on a tune, it will determine whether or not your car is reliable.

Posted: Thu Apr 04, 2013 6:22 am
by motteram
Cool. That was my thought process but I was getting mixed signals from local buddies. So when I get ny jwt ecu do I still need to retard timing at all? Or with a tuned ecu is it just plug and play?

Posted: Thu Apr 04, 2013 7:29 am
by hotbox240
Not recommended...An safc combined with a tuned ecu can be helpful though. You can make small corrections on the safc to 'smooth' out the tune.

Posted: Thu Apr 04, 2013 11:02 am
by ashy-larry
motteram wrote:Cool. That was my thought process but I was getting mixed signals from local buddies. So when I get ny jwt ecu do I still need to retard timing at all? Or with a tuned ecu is it just plug and play?
No messing w/timing if you get a "tuned ecu", thats part of the tuning process and theory of even getting one. Even safc w/retarded timing(USing the sketchy .5* for every 1lb of boost) isn't going to yield good performance b/c your timing doesn't need to be retarded prior to boost so daily driving/putting around and not beating on your car, its going to feel slower and you'll probably use more fuel b/c you'll be trying to drive it/make it perform like its at oem timing.

For what is worth, a buddy(Back before we had all the support of the internet and when afc's were releatively new) of mine went through like 10 ka's on a t25 setup and he was a decent "tuner" meaning modding cars and modding the a/f ratio's to fit his turbo setup. Like said above, eventually w/a less than decent tune every ka will go boom sooner than later.

Posted: Thu Apr 04, 2013 11:25 am
by Irresistible
From the searching I've done, no experience yet, I'll be installing my turbo kit next month, a ROM tune like JWT or Enthalpy will be great and it's plug and play. The timing is changed in the ECU, and it's tuned for your setup. As others said, an SAFC isn't a bad idea to "fine tune" in order to help get better gas mileage or just get the AFR's you're looking for.