JET Performance ECU recalibration?

[Safety Guy]

Here's a thing I found on ebay and here is the company's word on Mazda 323 engine ECU recalibration:

http://www.jetchip.com/products.asp?pid=14478

They say:

The JET Performance Import Computer Upgrade Package is the solution to performance tuning import and domestic sport compact vehicles. Import computers do not have computer chips that are easily removed, making it necessary for JET engineers to either reprogram the vehicle’s existing chip or remove and replace the chip by desoldering it from the circuit board. The kit provides you with all the materials required to safely send your vehicle computer to JET’s lab for a high performance software upgrade. Once we receive your ECU it will be programmed according to the information you provide on the vehicle specification sheet to optimize performance and mileage to match your specific modifications. JET's exclusive Dynamic Spectrum Tuning provides optimal performance across the entire power band-not just at full throttle. Programming includes extensive modification to air/fuel ratios, ignition advance and boost pressures for turbo applications.

Computers received at JET by 12:00 PM PST will be programmed and reshipped the same day to minimize down time. Next day air return shipping is included in the price of the kit*. For the quickest turnaround time we recommend shipping the ECU to JET via UPS, Fed-Ex or DHL next day air.

After doing header, intake, and fuel & ignition system mods, might this be a good way of optimizing your engine performance, or might it be a waste of money? This runs around $215 on ebay:

http://search.ebay.com/search/search.dll?query=Mazda%20323%20ECM%20Recalibration%20Kit&srchdesc=y&fcl=4&fci=0&fsn=Faster+Than+Them+Corp&fcd=2&sofp=0&from=R10&sasel=35562597&fsop=1&fsoo=1&submit=Search

What do ya'll think?

Karl

[darkdan]

I always wondered about that company.

I'm sure it might give a small bump, but not much.

On my V8s you gain 15 to 20 hp with a custom tune. Of course, that's about an 8% increase by changing A/F ratio and bumping the timing to a 93 octane setting.

On our motors, it'd be a whopping 5 hp!

Is 5 hp worth $200+?

Plus, since we have distributors we can advance our timing pretty easily. It's just the whole A/F ratio thing we can't change ourselves.

I have heard plenty of people complain about the little universal plug-in one.

[Safety Guy]

I'm wondering if any increase in fuel economy might add to the value of that procedure? Over another 100K miles you might get most of your money back, plus have that ~5 extra ponies.

Any thoughts, Dan?

Karl

[festivagt]

...

Forget the teeny tiny increase of power you would get out of the custom tune for N/A. If they have hacked the ECU, that means that we can have them reflash that particular computer to support custom maps for boost, nitrous or just in general - anything we can do to our motors. Most tuners only support flashes for specific ECU numbers - not all of them so that would make a particular ecu more desireable due to the fact that they can 'flash' it for a new program. This would remove a GIGANTIC barrier for anyone seeking to build a nightmare of an engine. They could remove any sort of limits on boost level, rev limits or even fuel cut too. Probably be alot cheaper than going to a unit like the AEM EMS or megasquirt too.
HENRY

[darkdan]

Yeah, if they could remap it for just about anything and you had a monster B3 it would be worth it.

But I doubt it.

MOST people don't get an increase in mileage, but rather a drop in mileage after a tune. Some do. I know plenty of crown vic/F150 people that got a gain in mileage, but it's not offseting the cost of gas.

However, considering most get remapped for 91 or 93 octane they're now spending more for gas.

We won't know sure how our motors react to their tune until someone tries it and reports back! =)

After all, it's hard to get more mileage when you're advancing timing and dumping MORE gas into the engine. Maybe you should ask them for a fuel economy tune!