SR20 ROM ECUs. JWT/Enthalpy

[silverbullet]

I'm looking at various ROM tuned ECUs and have spoken to both JWT and Enthalpy and have gotten different opinions on tuning. Wanted to bounce those ideas here.

I know both are reguarded as reliable tunes but its interesting and suprising to hear JWT tell me that they don't change the programming depending on the cams installed. Their justification is the MAF will always adjust the right amount of fuel based on air reading and there is no need to accomodate for cam upgrades.
I think in terms of air fuel ratio, that is correct, but what about ign timing to squeeze out extra HP?

Martin at Enthalpy told me that was flat out wrong which is why they adjust the tune based on what cams are in the car. Other parameters they account for are if the MAF is blow through or OEM draw through style and bottom end upgrades.

To me, it would seem like Enthalpy's tune would be more refined as it is accounting for these other factors?

Any feedback?

[Def]

Enthalpy is 100% right. While a tune will run just fine with different cams, you could easily be down 20-30 rwhp by having retarded ignition timing. Basically a stock cam tune will be seeing a load cell you’d only hit at say 20 psi with stock cams, but you could hit that at 16-17 psi with mild drop in cams, or 14-15 psi with really aggressive cams. So you’d want to run way more timing on the cam tune.

that said, don’t do a closed off rom tune. Either so one of the usb flashable daughterboards like Nistune/Nismotronic? Or just get a stand-alone. IMO, I’d spend the money to go stand-alone, as it’s just easier to integrate a ton of stuff into it and have 99% of your car’s thinking and tuning done in one place.

[silverbullet]

Makes sense. Cams change the power curve. I'm just a bit surprised at JWT's stance on it. They believe tuners that ask for cam specs are just letting the client feel like they are getting a bit more custom-ability.

[Def]

I mean, they’re not entirely wrong, as two brands 264s are going to want about the same time. Whether you run a cat or not likely has a bigger effect on how much timing you can run.

But stock to 264s is a decent tune difference.