I'm contemplating a turbo set-up. (Who isn't) The problem is that I don't live in an area with a dyno around, let alone a competent tuner. So I just want to know if I should give up on the dream of a turbo due to the lack of available tuners/dynos or if I should go ahead with it b/c tuning isn't really that necessary. Your thoughts?

BTW, if a turbo is too high-maintenance in regards to tuning, what about a SC?

 

With maybe the following and carefull adjustments, you could do w/o a dyno.

1) FP guage
2) EGT guage
3) ADJ. fuel pressure regulator
4) SAFC
5) Wideband A/F monitor w/ or instead of the EGT guage.

As long as you could get the a/f ratios good and keep the egt temps down, you would be good to go.

Go to your local 1/4 track and maybe extrapolate your fwhp from the times you get.

 

Tuning is important as you dont want to be dumping too much fuel into your engine or in need of fuel on top and then detonate since you may the risk the chance of running lean on top. It is important in my opinion. I wont lie to you it has been a year since I got my supercharger and just got to tunning the thing down. You dont have to do it right away. You can take preventitive measures like installing air/fuel ration gauge, hooking up a fuel pressure gauge or even hooking up a EGT gauge which monitors your exhaust gas temps to check and see if they are too high etc...

Turbo/Superchargers they both need maintenance in one way or another. Nothing is ever maintenance free. You will need to pop your hood once in a while to ensure everything is in proper order etc..If you dont pop your hood and something is starting to get damaged you could can prevent it from getting damaged and save you some money

 

I'm with you up to the last part about the track. While it would be nice to know my fwhp, my main concern would be making sure everything is functioning properly. Anyway, if I did go with all those recommended gauges, I'm assuming you guys would be able to tell me what the gauges should be reading. No need to post numbers now, just curious for the future.

 

Thanks for the honest post. So from what I'm gathering, dyno tuning a FI car is like jetting a motocross bike. Your basically just adjustin air/fuel ratios to get the perfect compromise between to rich and too lean.

Too rich - no real harm. Just extra smoke and lost power.
Too lean - Lots of harm. Detenation and catastrophic engine failure.

 

I understand. Guys like Mardigras, Spring, Kevin(g), the 4-gen turbo guys, should all be able to tell you what a good/bad egt is. A/F should be a little easier.

IMHO, if you get your a/f down, keep the egt in a good range and don't see any detonation, I bet you would be pulling some nasty numbers.

IMHO, SC or turbo puts a premium on the proper operation of the stock comonents. etc.. knock sensor, 02 sensor, etc.....

 

#1, #2, #3 (idle) and #5... yes.

I'm currently running the car without it being tuned. I do, however, monitor my gauges to make sure nothing looks abnormal during a sprinted run.

All my AFC adjustments points are at 0% because I have no idea what precise adjustments need to be done without being on a dyno.

 

So it appears that this is possible to do without a dyno. I just have to get the gauges and keep my eye on them.

Jeff - I'm at 75K with a stock knock sensor. Would you recommend replacing it if/when I go ahead with this.

 

Couldn't you do adj. with a wideband 02? I mean if one could get one for less than ridiculas price. ie.. Horiba etc..

 

Yes, that's possible but it's going to be hard to find an open road to take the car all the up to redline in 4th (3rd for auto)?

I have the Tomie A/F... but it isn't hooked up after the install. Not a wideband, but better than the rainbow show.