16 replies to this topic

[Snabb T5M]

So I'm contemplating getting either a dual stage MBC or an EBC. For the dual stage MBC I'm looking at the TurboXS one. For the EBC, I'm looking at either the Greddy Profec II or the HKS EVC. The reason I want one is for the drag strip and trying to improve my 60' times. I want to bump the boost up a bit in 1st gear then really kick it in the ass in 2nd gear and so on and would prefer the BC do it automatically (hence I'm favoring the HKS). There's a speed shop about an hour away from me with a dyno and they do tuning.

Are speed shops able to tune our ECUs? The "About Us" section of the website states, "We have dedicated ourselves to assist the peformance enthusiast in choosing the right product for their Audi, ........Saab 9-2x, Subuaru or VW." I've heard good things about the EBCs, but I'm really concerned about getting it dialed in perfectly.

Thoughts on going to a speed shop..........

[850 LongBeach]

Im running an hks EVC Iv

best investment Ive made in a while!

[Snabb T5M]

Did you dial it in yourself? Can you really have the boost dialed in to RPMs or mph?

850 LongBeach, on 16 September 2009 - 08:51 PM, said:

Im running an hks EVC Iv

best investment Ive made in a while!

[850 LongBeach]

No its not like that,


Its realllllly easy to set up...

Power
Ground
and the solenoid ( which just takes over the stock TCV/BCS )


You can adjust the wastegate through the EBC so it takes longer for the boost to spool if you want, or less if you want boost to come in RIGHT away...


it has a high and a low boost setting as well as a preset scramble boost function


All in all, probably the easiest upgrade youll do to your car other than dropping in an ecu...

none of it is controlled by rpms or mph though..

if you want something that complicated get an apexi AVC-r

that thing is crazy hard to set up and use...but once you learn its worth it


personally Ive used both and I love the simplicity of my HKS EVC IV


google HKS EVC IV manual to read more

[Snabb T5M]

Not sure if I'm looking at the same HKS as what you have, I think the one I'm looking at might be the EVC V.

The HKS USA website states, "The new HKS EVC has improved boost stability for maintaining pressure at high RPMs providing increased top-end power, and a new mapping feature allows boost pressure to be precisely tuned for throttle + RPM (or vehicle speed). Or perhaps I don't understand this.....?

[850 LongBeach]

Thats HKS EVC VI (6)

just like an apexi AVC-R



http://cgi.ebay.com/...sQ5fAccessories


that is a RIPPING deal on my EVC that I have..I payed 60$ more than that used.....I would pick that up if you have the cheese..I can help u installing if you have questions

[Snabb T5M]

oh shit, the HKS I'm looking to get is like $580. Don't think its the same unit.

850 LongBeach, on 16 September 2009 - 10:16 PM, said:

Thats HKS EVC VI (6)

just like an apexi AVC-R



http://cgi.ebay.com/...sQ5fAccessories


that is a RIPPING deal on my EVC that I have..I payed 60$ more than that used.....I would pick that up if you have the cheese..I can help u installing if you have questions

[850 LongBeach]

leroystew, on 16 September 2009 - 10:22 PM, said:

oh stuff, the HKS I'm looking to get is like $580. Don't think its the same unit.

Yea your either looking at HKS EVC V or VI

all of them are good, now to what extent youll need them is up to you....

with your mods I would just grab an EVC IV or III (4 is much better though)


Im running my 19t fine with my HKS IV

[turbor850]

high rpm launch + good tires - wheel hop + good clutch = good 60'

i would start there . . .

[Snabb T5M]

In the near future though I'm going to get an 18T. My concern is with 1st gear and 60' times, so I want the EBC to help in those areas. The damn HKS website is useless in distinguishing what EVC I'm looking at, but the model number ends in -AK005, so assuming its the EVC V.

The TurboXS dual stage MBC is really tempting, but my concern is wondering if I can concnetrate enough to be able to throw the switch fast enough while at the strip and be consistent every run. Must not be that big of deal if there's 10 second cars out there using it. Guess I could put the arming switch on the shifter.

Think this Saturday I'm going to go to the 2 speed shops near me and see what they have to say, and check out the dyno at the one.

850 LongBeach, on 16 September 2009 - 10:27 PM, said:

Yea your either looking at HKS EVC V or VI

all of them are good, now to what extent youll need them is up to you....

with your mods I would just grab an EVC IV or III (4 is much better though)


Im running my 19t fine with my HKS IV

I've got a SPEC III clutch, so that's taken care of. Going to the track again Friday and going to try the higher RPM launch and ease the clutch in and see how that works. Yea, the tire thing.......using my street tires. Best 60' time so far has been 2.3ish

turbor850, on 17 September 2009 - 12:29 AM, said:

high rpm launch + good tires - wheel hop + good clutch = good 60'

i would start there . . .

[Snabb T5M]

So back to the original question also, can speed shops do much for us and our Volvos? I guess at least I can get some dyno graphs. Can speed shops mess around with the fuel curves and what not?

[S8ET6]

As a recovering muscle car addict, out of habit my first stop was Whites Pit Stop.
They had/have tons of stuff... nothing for Volvos tho.

One of my friends had a shop called Boostmasters, who focused on turbocharging Fords and Chevys.
He was willing to help, but he couldn't find an affordable program to tune the ME7.

[Snabb T5M]

I bought my helmet from White's as recommended by my Chevelle friend.

The 2 shops I'm looking at are: Genesis Research & Development, in Villa Park (has a dyno) and other other is Driver's Image in Skokie. My main concern is getting the EBC set up correctly the first time. I could probably have my Volvo motor builder help me with the install and initial setup, and then go to the speedshop for further enhancements, testing and tuning. The Villa Park shop states that it works on Audis and Saabs, don't these cars have Motronic ECUs?

S8ET6, on 17 September 2009 - 03:01 PM, said:

As a recovering muscle car addict, out of habit my first stop was Whites Pit Stop.
They had/have tons of stuff... nothing for Volvos tho.

One of my friends had a shop called Boostmasters, who focused on turbocharging Fords and Chevys.
He was willing to help, but he couldn't find an affordable program to tune the ME7.

[S8ET6]

leroystew, on 17 September 2009 - 03:56 PM, said:

The Villa Park shop states that it works on Audis and Saabs, don't these cars have Motronic ECUs?

Yep.
Don't know if they all use the same data tables though...

[hawks25]

S8ET6, on 20 September 2009 - 05:30 AM, said:

Yep.
Don't know if they all use the same data tables though...

I tried setting up a dyno day 2 years back and Genesis was on my (short) list of possible shops. At that time, they could not tune Volvo's, nor could any of the shops I called. They do have a hub dyno though, which allows AWD's.

From my memory, EPL and IPD have both successfully done one custom tune each. Never heard of any subsequent custom tunes since. They both were years ago.

[S8ET6]

You might want to try these guys...

custom tuning

[Snabb T5M]

Hmmm...their dyno prices are about the same as Genesis. I sort of like the Genesis guys after going there once and they seemed interested in playing with my Volvo, first fast one there for them. So I think I am going to have them tune in my new TurboSmart Eboost2 EBC (the one guy uses it on his 12 sec WRX) on the dyno after I install it.

S8ET6, on 24 September 2009 - 12:11 AM, said:

You might want to try these guys...

custom tuning