The CTSC kits were designed to run safely on the ESM and FPR tuning at stock boost. It's been proven hundreds if not thousands of times. That's not to say it's IDEAL. But they will run safely.

 

so i should be able to bolt on SC/AC with stock boost and be able to run it smoothly with maybe a clutch upgrade? and just make sure the a/f isn't too off?

 

NOOOOO.

The ESM limits the voltage going to your ecu from the map and tricks it into not seeing any boost. You engine will go into "limp mode" setting your limiter at 3k and running like shit if you don't have the black box

I used a VAFC to tune when I had 7psi and it was fine with the 550's. I heard that the NEO had a lot more tunning points so get that over the VAFC.

 

Oh and yes a clutch/flywheel is a MUST for any higher boost application. I dropped .2 of a second with just the comptech clutch and flywheel, on stock boost.

Comptech clutch/flywheel works for me. Have had it on for 35,000 miles and been through a lot of drag races, clutch drops, and every form of abuse you can think of.

The clutch disk actually stays the same but the pressure plate and flywheel is whats different.

 

Not true!

I put a stock CT SC & AC on mine with just an Amuse Dual on it. Mine ran quite lean just before VTEC. It only showed on a Dyno ( I have an AEM wideband in the front of the CAT). I was able to flatten the AFR line with the FPR (4 turns in). Others have not and have ended up going back to stock or upping the game with aftermarket ECU's.

I also get occasional clutch slip at high revs in 3rd on a 11k mile 05 car.

I will probably ended up "upping the game!"