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Hey guys, there is now a plug-in chip available that works in the stock SS ECU. I helped work on it with a local company called Revtronix Tuning. Basically, my car was the test vehicle.

EDIT: Stage 2 Chip is now available, see link below. Partial dyno results on page 5 of this posting.
www.revtronix.com

I've been using the chip for 3 months already and it works great! I'm running 13 psi without needing an aftermarket boost control and the fuel cut limit was raised so I don't need an FCD.

Anyway, just wanted to let you guys know in case anyone might be interested.

Have they done anything with Subaru TCU's?

hmm, very interesting since I'm to the point to to consider it. Does the company have any dyno / numbers for the upgrade? What bout the state 2 and 3 stuff -- whats the status of those? I'd like to know the nitty-gritty details of what ECU changes it makes...

The TCU has been looked at, it would require soldering and an adapter board to modify. If there's enough interest I'm sure they would have a closer look.

The tuning was done using a custom-built accelerometer. I can post the graphs up for those tonight. We found that each gear would give a different AFR. It was tuned to give the best average performance in each gear, while preventing excessive EGTs in 4th and 5th. The stock AFR was around 10.5 - 10.8, the 91 octane chip usees about 11.0-11.5 AFR and the 93 octane uses 11.4-11.8 AFR (more timing added to lower EGT).

The stage 2 stuff should be done in a few weeks. I'm just waiting to install new injectors, pump and a different MAF. You'll be able to select which MAF and injectors you have in the Stage 2 and up chips.

Sounds pretty cool.

What mod's do you have that they based the stage 1 around?
Are you going to get to an actual dyno? and do you have EGT results for your car with the chip? Some kind of loging would be nice to see the IDC, timing advance, knock, etc...

I'd need a stage 2 or maybe 3 chip if I were to go this route. So for now I'll put it in the maybe file. I like set it and forget it - especially for $2-300 (if it's safe and works )

thanks for the info!
-Chad

i definately want to see this at the meet, nice work.

do you have something for my car? mods below

Is this using the factory boost control solenoid to adjust boost to 13 psi, or 18 psi, or whatever you program, or do you use an aftermarket boost controller still? This seems like a good deal. I'm interested

TurboBeater wrote:The TCU has been looked at, it would require soldering and an adapter board to modify. If there's enough interest I'm sure they would have a closer look.

A friend of mine is interested, as should anyone else with an auto and a decent setup using higher flowing heads. The main thing with the TCU is being stuck at the 6500 rpm redline whether you like it or not, even if you have a standalone.


Otherwise one could get a full-manual valve body, but that gets a little out there for a daily driver. Full line pressure all the time is not fun.

Im fine with 6500rpms, the heads im using are from an RS and saw redline at 6500RPMS, im going to look into this, SOmething finally good came to Canada!

However, Stage 3 is considered a Turbo upgrade?

That is awesome! Now I need a SS dammit!!

93forestpearl wrote:Full line pressure all the time is not fun.

Why not? Lots of detriot iron guys do it.

If this is as promising as it sounds, sign me up for 2! Few questions:

Does the Subaru Select Monitor port still function? It would be nice to see some stock readings vs. the changes with this chip (primarily timing and IDC).

How do they plan on performing the stage "x" custom work?

Any other plans for utilization of the dual maps other than just 91/93 such as race gas or to control boost levels as well (I may not need tons of boost all the time)?

What's up with the stage 2 plan of "up to 18psi"? Intercooler or not, I don't think the VF11 is good for anything beyond the Stage 1 of 13PSI.

Would definitely like to see some charts and dyno numbers, maybe if someone from Revtronix chimed in here as well.

94SS_Canada wrote:Im fine with 6500rpms, the heads im using are from an RS and saw redline at 6500RPMS, im going to look into this, SOmething finally good came to Canada!

However, Stage 3 is considered a Turbo upgrade?

If someone is still on a VF11 or TD04, 6500 is fine. When you are running a GT3076R or a GT3782, a 6500 rpm redline is a bit annoying.

James614 wrote:Why not? Lots of detriot iron guys do it.

LOL, I'm not saying it can't be done, but damn, its a serious bitch on the street. Barking tires in traffic would get old, imo. lol

Very interested... I would really like to see some documentation.

Wow, I wasn't expecting this much interest, cool!

Ok, I'll try to answer some questions.

For mods, I have a 3" catless downpipe, 3" exhaust, snorkel delete and coffee can mod. I'm still using the factory wastegate solenoid, the duty cycle and boost targets in the ECU have been remapped.

EGT gets up to 865-875C in 4th and 5th. Injector duty cycle peaks at 84%, and of course there is no knock! I can have data logs up tonight maybe. I could see if Revtronix would pay for a dyno, that would be interesting.

The 91/93 octane switch could be configured for other parameters. They are 2 completely separate calibrations so you can do boost, rev limit, etc.

The Select monitor still works so you can see what's going on, we used that to monitor knock and some other internal parameters.

Stage 3 is planned to be for turbo upgrades. Stage X would be for setups where you want to use your own boost control, then you can pick your injectors, MAF, boost cut limit, etc.

They're not saying 18 psi is what they plan to use for stage 2, but we'll test up to 18 psi and see where the gains max out. We hit 17 psi by accident during testing and it felt great in 1st gear but would knock in 3rd gear. An intercooler would help for sure. Also the boost should be brought back down to 13psi by redline to keep shaft speed reasonable, so most gains would be torque I think.

OK, here's the accelerometer data. The graph is displayed in G's x 1000, so 500 on the graph = 0.5G's.

yea keep the infow flowin , Im in.

You caught my attention I'm interested in this. How long until they get around to stage x? lol

93forestpearl wrote:

94SS_Canada wrote:Im fine with 6500rpms, the heads im using are from an RS and saw redline at 6500RPMS, im going to look into this, SOmething finally good came to Canada!

However, Stage 3 is considered a Turbo upgrade?

If someone is still on a VF11 or TD04, 6500 is fine. When you are running a GT3076R or a GT3782, a 6500 rpm redline is a bit annoying.

James614 wrote:Why not? Lots of detriot iron guys do it.

LOL, I'm not saying it can't be done, but damn, its a serious bitch on the street. Barking tires in traffic would get old, imo. lol

Get a 6 speed for more gears, easiest solution from my point of view.

Also im seriously interested in a stage 3 chip, As ive done, turbo, heads, Exhaust, injectors, fuel pump and lots to come.

Could these chips be remapped? Say if someone went with the stage 2 chip, and then did upgrades that warranted stage 3?

I think you'll be surprised with how much interest you get. This is something a lot of people have wanted for a LONG time.

It would be nice to be able to build some sort of "calculator" that based the most effective chip upon your current mods, say if someone had a TD04 with 440 injectors VS. another with a VF8 and STI 550's. There are a few "standards" that most guys seem to be running, and it sound's like these stages will cover that, but just for those that deviate from the norm a little.

How in-depth of changes could this chip make? Launch Control, Antilag?????

Stage-2 up to 18psi on VF11?! That's insane. The VF11 blows molten hot plasma at anything over 14 psi. Personally, I think the stage-2 chip should be for mild turbo upgrades like the TD04. Then make the stage-3 chip for more substantial turbo upgrades/modifications like the TD05-16G, VF-8, VF-39 etc.. Then the stage-x would be for the bigger GT series turbos, 18G/20G's etc... Just my opinion as the VF-11 is worthless at those higher boost levels.

Great job though and keep up the good work!

94SS_Canada wrote:

93forestpearl wrote:

94SS_Canada wrote:Im fine with 6500rpms, the heads im using are from an RS and saw redline at 6500RPMS, im going to look into this, SOmething finally good came to Canada!

However, Stage 3 is considered a Turbo upgrade?

If someone is still on a VF11 or TD04, 6500 is fine. When you are running a GT3076R or a GT3782, a 6500 rpm redline is a bit annoying.

James614 wrote:Why not? Lots of detriot iron guys do it.

LOL, I'm not saying it can't be done, but damn, its a serious bitch on the street. Barking tires in traffic would get old, imo. lol

Get a 6 speed for more gears, easiest solution from my point of view.

Also im seriously interested in a stage 3 chip, As ive done, turbo, heads, Exhaust, injectors, fuel pump and lots to come.

Its not about how many gears you have. If you have heads that flow very well up top and a much larger turbo, your power band extends furthur than the 6500 rpm redline. I have a 6 speed and a standalone, so I can set whatever redline I want. My friend has nice heads, a large-frame Garrett, and a well built auto that is a manual valvebody and spool conversion from being the full setup from BMS (Rigoli's tranny supplier). He is limited by the TCU to 6500 rpm even though he has a Hydra, which is annoying when the motor and turbo are good for much more.

Hey, I Emailed the guy, Sounds like progress is good!

Progress on the Stage 2 should begin this weekend if all goes well. That will take at least 2 weeks to get perfect. Then we'll be able to start on the Stage 3 chip after that. The Stage 3 plan is to have a separate map available for each turbo, and then let the user select between medium and high boost with the program switch. There will be more customizable options too. We'll be starting with a VF22, which we have sitting here waiting to put on the test vehicle. As for other turbo maps, it will depend on interest and availability. We hope to map out the most common ones that Legacy owners use.

Damn

This is awesome.

I would be interested, but I am stage ??.

Intake, turbo, exhaust, stock MAF, stock injectors (still only running wastegate boost on the 16g, and I have 550 STI injectors and rails waiting to go in)