legacycentral bbs

APEXI Power FC ECU for

SUBARU WRX GC8 GF8 EJ20G A-C Version 1 and 2 92/11~96/8


http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Apexi-Po ... ccessories

Yes, but you will need to decide on which ignition system you want to run. Coil-on-plug or wasted spark.

It also requires an EJ20G/EJ22T throttlebody. (I think you've already converted yours?)

That one I linked doesn't include the FC commander unit to control it but I found it for about $890 with the commander unit too.

I have a custom spacer so I could use the EJ22T throttle body. Will that work or will I need to use the EJ20G throttle body because if I had the right harness I could use that TPS.

This may be the way to go for me for tuning and then I could use the JECS with my TD05 18g and get some injectors.

Your spacer and EJ22T throttlebody will work. Your going to use the EJ22T intake manifold harness, correct?

Don't worry about the Commander too much, IMO it's maybe worth $100 or so. You WILL be getting Datalogit. It allows datalogging and programming with a laptop and saving tunes to come back to. I consider it manditory. Google for it and you'll find reviews and an RX7 site that sells it cheaper than the $400 that Datalogit charges.

I strongly suggest you consider Rob's chip unless you really want to learn how to tune. Some folks actually enjoy tuning.....

I eventually would love to learn how to tune. I was just thinking this might be simpler/quicker as far as install and waiting process goes and also get the most out of my engine setup. I wasn't planning to tune it myself though but slowly learn how to over time.

I would love to be able to ROM tune my subaru, but its just really expensive. Ive been chipping and rom tuning hondas for 5 years now, and i still love doing it....

Rob's chip is working perfectly for me thus far!

For $890, I can think of other options that give you more control. You'd be better off with a Link G4 storm for a little more money.

Or the new Plug N Play megasquirt standalone EMS option. $420 shipped. diypnp.com

If it actually works, that would be a good deal. I have yet to see "plug and play" Megasquirt truly work on a Subaru.



Nothing is going to have the ease-of-use, functionality, and capability of a true standalone like a Link.

get this

http://www.vi-pec.com/

contact mike @ innovative tunning

ps - i went down the long path of, rom tune first, then piggy back, then better piggy back, then real deal holyfield !! autronic for the win, next for a spare vipec one in the pic.

How much is it? It's not on the innovative store website.

IIRC, ViPec is from a team that splintered off of Link. It's getting really good reviews, but is much more expensive than either Rob's tune or even the now-rare PFC.

Kimo, decide on your goals and budget now. Take it from me, it's easy to lose sight of your goals (and blow your budget) in that never-ending chain of "doing it right". Don't get me wrong- We all want to do things the right way, but sometimes when we step back and look at the big picture - we realize that getting it done acceptably well (but maybe not "the right way") and enjoying it is so much better that a car (with thousands of dollars of parts and labor) up on jackstands.

If it's truely going to be a D.D. decide if you want to go throught he "standalone process"(tm). It can be a long and tedious ordeal to get a standalone to behave like a factory ECU. A standalone cool, and has the greatest bragging rights, but it's a much more expensive path - by the time to pay for the unit, dyno time, and the inevitable return trips to the tuner for 'fine tuning' everytime you find a unforseen hiccup during your daily commute.

Good points for sure. It's not a daily driver and I don't plan for it ever to be a daily driver. That's what the metro is for. But I do need it running so I can take it with me this summer or early fall when I move out of my gf's parent's place.

So it's looking like the EJ20G from Rob is the way to go. Just need some injectors (not sure which size) and throw my TD05 18g in and the ECU and I'll be rolling for the first time.

I don't wanna dig this up from the grave but is anyone here actually running an Apexi PFC?

I was. For years.

I used it first to tune the stock EJ22T and then later used the same PFC to tune the EJ20G. Both motors used the factory wasted spark coil pack (2 channel). I also have the Datalogit unit and software. It was effective and fun.

However, progress has stopped on the development of the PFC and it never had active knock correction - so the actual tune was fairly important if you wished to push the limits. I believe there are plug-n-play options that are better these days.

Ah crazy. I'm half way through a 22d hybrid build using my 22T harness and I have a PFC I'm going to use.
Are you by chance selling the datalogit?

Get an ESL board and save yourself the hassle.

What Binn said ^

ESL is a hell of a lot cheaper option to get full tune-ability with our cars these days.

Although, if you already had a PowerFC, I would use it. They're pretty sweet, a lot of my Nissan friends run them on SR20DET and RB20/25DET setups. It's a great tool for sure. It just never prospered in the Subaru world. I do like the external controller you can have on the dash or wherever to view what's going on and make adjustments.

Does anyone have a part #? Like will this work? PFC GC8F 020 - 0433

Or which board out of what cars work for the ESL? I'm assuming anything upto the gc8 in 96 but am unsure

Abeall2 wrote:Does anyone have a part #? Like will this work? PFC GC8F 020 - 0433

You need to get one for the original version 1/2 ej20g WRX/STI (dates of production vary, usually they're listed as 1993-1996). The apexi you listed seems to be for a version 5/6. Then....They don't work as is, you need to use the info from here:

viewtopic.php?f=19&t=47252

The list of ecus on that thread are also compatible with the ESL.

Between Apexi and ESL, the latter is more modern and powerful. Apexi has a lot of limitations due to it's age. But...You really want to approach a local tuner to see what they are comfortable tuning. If they refuse to learn ESL's program, then Apexi it is.