Is it necessary for safe use "out of the box"(Both kits).

 

if i understood your question correctly, then YES both the comptech and vortech setups are safe to use right of the box. no special tuning is needed. on the other hand , you need special tuning for most turbo kits for the s2000.

 

My Vortech was a "straight out of the box bolt on", no tuning and has been running well since last March. However, some owners have remarked that theirs have been running a bit lean.

 

Either SC kit is not an install and forget about it affair. You still need to have your ears open for detonation, and pull the spark plugs regularly for inspection. Some have said both kits run lean, every car and every kit is "slightly" different. You also have to take in account the effects of a different exhaust system/header. Both can change the A/F curve from what the SC kits where first tuned for.

 

SC will be my first mod so hopefully it will be ok. As far as listening for detonation...This is my first piston engine and have no idea what it should sound like. Hell, it already sounds like it makes a lot of clicking noises. Thought it may be the valves from what I've read on the board, but the dealership said it was normal. From what yall have said I should be ok for a few months while I save up for a programmable ECU...I hope.

 

Used to drive a rotary? In my experience, a light metalic tapping, usually at higher rpm's. You just need to be aware of the noises that it makes, and be on the lookout for new ones.

 

All major mods (SC, turbo, cams) should be dialed in with some kind of fuel managment system (AEM, eManage or at least v-afc).

 

Maybe I can just change out the plugs and run some octane booster until I get it tuned properly.

 

I'm trying to work out if I agree or not. The SC kits seem fairly safe out of the box. They use some fairly rudimentary boost related fuel (and ignition in the Vortech) tuning and in most cases run pretty safe out of the box. Perhaps a trip to the dyno would be sufficient to ensure safe running.

The other argument is that if you are going to change your engine you should have complete control over it. This of course assumes it is not running right, and you know what you are doing. Adding any of the above mentioned tuning mods is opening a whole new can of worms.

The AEM is the ducks guts but purchasing it is only 1/2 the story. A competent tuner is also a necessity. Budget $2000-$3000 for this ECU replacement.

The E-manage piggyback is nice for the SC applications as it can over drive the injectors and control ignition. These are the primary controls required of a SC application. Oh, and it also overrides the MAP sensor so you don't need the Comptech ESM or Vortech Split Second unit any more.

The V-AFC is contentious. IMNSHO it is a toy and shouldn't be used with an FI kit on an expensive car. I back up this opinion with an explanation of how it adds fuel. It does this by increasing the MAP signal. The theory is that the ECU sees more air so it adds more fuel. Trouble is that the ECU only expects to see a max of ambient pressure and the SC pushes it over this. Both kits use a device (ESM or SS) to hide the boost from the ECU because if it sees too high a value it pulls timing and then goes haywire. Depending on orientation of your ESM/SS and V-AFC you are either upping the MAP signal and then clamping it (no net effect), or clamping the MAP signal to a safe level, then upping it (and sending a too high signal to the ECU). I guess it's possible to up the FPR pressure (on the Comptech. Vortech is not adjustable) then use the V-AFC to pull fuel but the ECU uses the MAP signal for more than just fuel. It also adjusts timing based on it and if it sees a low signal will advance the timing. Not a great idea in an FI S2000.

There are some advocates of the V-AFC in FI. One of the biggest is Honda9krpm. He'll argue till he's blue in the face that the V-AFC is up to the task. However the fact that he is currently rebuilding a blown engine doesn't do much to support his argument.

 

$2-3k for the AEM EMS and tune??





My SC required very, very little time to tune with the AEM EMS. The base maps they provide needed enrichment + idle control for my larger injectors. I don't think it took more than an hour of street tuning.