What is involved in Dyno Tuning a CTSC?

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22 April 2012
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Sorry for the noob question :redface:. Most likely I'll be taking my car to Driving Ambitions for the dyno tune.

What is involved in dyno tuning a CTSC? Do they run the car on the dyno to get a baseline, adjust the fuel pressure regulator to get the ideal A/F ratio then dyno it again? Or is it much more involved than that? I don't have have an AEM just the stock setup that came with the CTSC (whipple 1.6).
 
The fuel pressure regulator can only increase fuel pressure so much.

What size fuel injectors are you running? What is their duty cycle?

What size fuel pump are you running?

What is your ignition timing set at?

Those are all things you should "tune". If you have one of the older setups, then most likely you have a rising rate fuel pressure regulator, which is pretty archaic by today's FI setups/options.
 
I am running the old Whipple 1.6 CTSC with the Vortec RRFPR. Fuel pump and injectors are stock. Should I "upgrade" these items? I'm happy with the low boost and I just want to make sure its reliable and running as it should.
 
There are some that would argue that "ignorance is bliss" and that you're running, fine.

However, I would argue that the first thing that NEEDS to be done when add FI to a car that did not come from the factory with FI is to:

1. Upgrade fuel system
2. Upgrade ignition (the NSX's coil-on-plug setup was ahead of its time, you should be OK here)
3. Run the best EMS you can afford to.

If it were my car, I'd go:

  • RDX or ID1000 injectors
  • Upgraded fuel pump
  • AEM EMS

I understand that the above is expensive, but then again, so was the SC system to begin with, as is a new engine.

If you're going to go FI, do it right and make sure you're making all the (safe) power you can. Who knows how much power you're leaving on the table, and who knows how close you are to grenading your motor...

Good luck.
 
Hey man, we have the same 3.2 motor, same whipple and are looking for the same thing, safe and reliable on low boost. I am going to keep as much oem as i can so i won't be using any of the electrical items from the kit except the alternator and only the fuel rails and one hose of the fuel parts of the kit. Going with larger injectors RC550. Lots of good info in my FI thread.

Mike
 
For both you guys you will be fine. If you upgrade the injectors you must upgrade the ecu as the stock the way you sit now can't compensate. If you do that it will not run as good IMO. The car is meant to run flawless. I've taken the car back to my tuner several times. Most isn't his fault. He tunes, car has to learn, retune, new o2 sensors retune, change in mod possible retune. If you are looking for the most reliable care free mod, ctsc and leave it the way it is. I did the same thing you did, get a base tune to see my levels. My advice would be to get a a/f gauge and boost gauge. I have both in the SOS ashtray holder. Having these will answer both "am I running safe a/f" as well as "my car feels slower/faster, oh wait, the boost gauge is right there". I had no issues with my 1.6, just did the dyno to see my a/f for piece of mind. Plus, using your own aem a/f usually reads better as you can tap the exhaust pipe or test pipe like I did and that is more accurate than them sticking it in your exhaust tip.
 
For both you guys you will be fine. If you upgrade the injectors you must upgrade the ecu as the stock the way you sit now can't compensate.

Agreed. AEM EMS in CA is a whole other can of worms on OBD2 anyway... Better to keep it simple and keep the electronics out of the eyes of the law :wink:
 
I am running the old Whipple 1.6 CTSC with the Vortec RRFPR. Fuel pump and injectors are stock. Should I "upgrade" these items? I'm happy with the low boost and I just want to make sure its reliable and running as it should.

you should clean and balance the injectors and get a new fuel pump. check your timing, fpr, and boost to make sure it is to spec for the CTSC. that will make sure it is running as it should.
 
I upgraded my fuel pump because I was running lean at 7500+. I have the boost and af in the cigarette spot so I can keep an eye on it.
 
Yeah, i got the same gauge pod as you guys but haven't got the gauges yet. NetViper are you using aem or the comptech parts? What injectors?



Will i need another hole on the exhaust for a sensor or will it just use my oem o2's? I will be using aem FIC on my '02.

Mike
 
Yeah, i got the same gauge pod as you guys but haven't got the gauges yet. NetViper are you using aem or the comptech parts? What injectors?



Will i need another hole on the exhaust for a sensor or will it just use my oem o2's? I will be using aem FIC on my '02.

Mike

All comptech parts. Oem injectors. Running the setup as it came from them. There is really no need for an arm unless you want to run more boost. I am sure you can probably tune the car better with one, but it is not needed. Part of the beauty of the CTSC is its simplicity.
 
I am going larger injectors and FIC because i don't want to use the comptech parts. It will be low boost.

Mike

If you are going to get injectors and fic, mind as well get 1-1 for and high boost pulley. It makes no sense to upgrade for no reason to stay low boost. If you gona run the risk of problems mind as well make it worth your time. Like my turbo, I want to run my 9 psi, because at 6 psi I'm almost at ctsc power levels and what would be the point of selling ctsc to get turbo and mess with all the tuneing stuff to be at the same level as before?
 
I am going larger injectors and FIC because i don't want to use the comptech parts. It will be low boost.

Mike

There isn't really a reason to do this unless you have problems with the stock setup. It will be safer I think because you can get a better tune, but there will be very little roi on the $1500 to do all that.

I would probably go to an 8 lbs pulley to get something extra out of it.
 
Sorry for the noob question :redface:. Most likely I'll be taking my car to Driving Ambitions for the dyno tune.

What is involved in dyno tuning a CTSC? Do they run the car on the dyno to get a baseline, adjust the fuel pressure regulator to get the ideal A/F ratio then dyno it again? Or is it much more involved than that? I don't have have an AEM just the stock setup that came with the CTSC (whipple 1.6).

.well then you are taking the car to the guy who helped design that system for your car......he can answer every question and help optimize performance within the oem aplication that your blower was designed for.
 
I am going larger injectors and FIC because i don't want to use the comptech parts. It will be low boost.

Mike

Just talked with a tuner today and he just did this. The car picked up about 20-25rwhp going to new injectors and AEM. Figure about $2500 for that.
 
Just talked with a tuner today and he just did this. The car picked up about 20-25rwhp going to new injectors and AEM. Figure about $2500 for that.

Picked up 20-25 changing the comptech low boost to FIC w/injectors? If so that's great! I couldn't find where anyone else has went this direction so i had no point of reference.

I already have all the parts.

Mike
 
Picked up 20-25 changing the comptech low boost to FIC w/injectors? If so that's great! I couldn't find where anyone else has went this direction so i had no point of reference.

I already have all the parts.

Mike

Just rode in the car and it is pretty sweet. It pulls pretty hard and runs very smooth. I can't honesty say it was much faster than mine, but it was very nice.
 
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