The biggest factor of getting every last hp out of your car and making sure it is reliable comes down to how good the tuning is that’s performed. Here we will talk about why it is so important and some of the workshops that will help your Toyota 86, Subaru BRZ or Scion FR-S run at it’s best. This article will cover the tuning workshops that have experience with tuning the 86, BRZ and FR-S located in the USA.
So why is getting your car tuned so important? When you add modifications to your car, the stock ecu will partly adapt to the changes but it won’t take full advantage of the benefits that the component can offer. When you’re spending big money on an exhaust, intake, or even strapping on a supercharger kit, you want to get the absolute best out of it. One tool that a tuner will use to analyze the car is a dyno roller machine. While the car is running on the rollers, the tuner can see how the car is operating and make changes accordingly so it is performing efficiently. Not only can a tune increase the power output of the car, sometimes a better fuel efficiency can also be achieved. That is very attractive at the current time with fuel prices being high.
Some of the aspects that a tuner will look at will be the timing and the Air/Fuel ratio (A:F). So while the tuner has the vehicle on the dyno, they can increase the timing, the spark will fire earlier during the upstroke motion of the piston that will make the combustion create more pressure which then means when the piston moves back downward, there is more force. This increase in force equates to creating more power. A tuner has to be careful with adjusting this because if the timing is advanced too greatly, it can create knock in the engine. If the tuner needs to decrease the timing of the spark, this is referred to as retarding the timing.
The Air/Fuel ratio (A:F) is the measurement of the units of air to the units of fuel. Tuners want to avoid the car running too lean a fuel mixture as that can cause engine detonation. A ratio of under 14:7:1 is rich whereas a ratio of over that is lean. Different fuels can also make a considerable difference in the car’s performance output as well as fuel efficiency. E85 fuel has seen impressive power figures when used in the Toyota 86, Subaru BRZ and Scion FR-S. Here is an example of someone using it in theirs.
Another aspect of tuning is the ECU. Different options will have various features that you may find useful and because the Toyota 86, Subaru BRZ and Scion FR-S have been popular among the car circles, there are plenty of products out there to choose from.
BRZedit
Their Website – http://www.epifansoft.com/
This option uses the standard ECU that is already in your vehicle. A tuner plugs into it using the Epifansoft cable and reflashes it with the new tune and features.
Cost – Tactrix Openport 2.0 $169, Personal License $499
OpenFlash Tablet
Their Website – http://www.procedetuning.com/BMW/n54/Openflash/index.html
This option uses the standard ECU as well and includes a small tablet where you can nicely see everything.
Cost – $495
Hydra EMS 2.7
Their Website – elementtuning.com
This option has features such as Sensor feed back compensation, Anti-Lag, Large Fuel Injector Compensation, Modern 3D Tuning Interface and Individual Fuel Injector Control.
Cost – EMS Plug and Play Kit $1899, Flat-Foot Shifting Harness (Optional) $79, Wideband O2 (Optional) $449
Unichip
Their Website – http://www.unichip.us/21-what-is-the-unichip
This option is what’s called a piggyback engine management system. Different tuning maps can be downloaded from Unichip’s library and then the map can be flashed by using the Unichip USB flash cable. It offers features such as being able to switch between different maps, having access to the library of maps which are free and doesn’t require a VIN license.
Cost – EMS/Piggyback unit $445, Optional Unichip USB Flash cable $45
Experienced tuners in USA
Here is a list of some of the experienced tuners located in USA that can help you tune your Toyota 86, Subaru BRZ or Scion FR-S with the above options.
Delicious Tuning
Circuit Motorsport
Moto-East
Perrin Performance
Evasive Motorsports
Kris is the founder of 86modified.com and has a love for cars and modifying them. He has owned many different Japanese cars and has enjoyed installing modifications to get more power or fitting body parts to change the aesthetics.
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