Well, budget as well as your willingness to "play" will determine the best course for you to take. First and foremost, decide how much money you are willing to dedicate towards engine management. From there, visit some local tuning shops, and see what standalone units they use. While everyone loves to claim theirs is best, it comes down to the tuner. While many ecu's have hardware and software that is leaps and bounds above others, it all comes down to the person tuning it. A $10k Pectel doesn't amount to squat is the guy tuning it is clueless.

That being said, what are you looking for out of your car? On my ZX ('79, turbo's), we were able to run mid 12's on a stock block (non turbo), N42 head, stock manifold and downpipe, and a modded T3/T4. We concentrated our mods to the air flow meter, and were able to get significant gains here. We also coupled this to a very capable Bosch pump, as well as 480cc injectors, and a Starion FMIC.

When the time came to turn up the wick, we went with Electromotive, and have since become a dealer. It allows you full control over fuel and ignition curves, and can do boost if you so choose (though I use an EVC IV to do boost..I prefer a standalone controller). We now run 20 plus psi on a full T4, HUGE FMIC, etc. All in, a TEC3 will run you around $2500 or so. Injectors are fairly easy to come by, depending on your rail configuration. Right now, we are tuning the new setup in my car, since the turbo, IC, and motor are all new to me (we finally did a built motor, cam, massive head work...fully done). I ams ticking with the 480's for now until we get it all dialed in, then we will be building a custom rail and using 720cc injectors, which we have already.

Attached are some pics of mine:

 

Motor shot

 

rear 3/4 view

 

picture showing the FMIC

 

ive brought a LINK engine management system for my car, cost was $1400 new zealand dollars ($700 us dollars) does everything you will probably need, no where near the best but has been used in 850hp drag skylines down here
to have a bit more of a read go to this website http://www.link-electro.co.nz/home.html

i havent yet had the time to to work on my car so i dont have it running, but looks easy as to install, and you dont need a laptop to tune it.

good luck with your car its looking better then mine is at the moment.

jeremy

 

hey, S130T. Was that a solid state ignition system that I saw on your Z? how did you rig that one up? Also, what kind of wheels are on that thing? they look sweet!

 

What you are looking at is the computer that runs the car. it is an Electromotive Tec II. Though it has since been replaced in Electromotive's range as the TEC III, you can read about it at www.getfuelinjected.com, or on our site, www.z1auto.com

Basically, it is fully mappable fuel and ignition, that requires a laptop. Easily the single best mod I did to the car.

Wheels are Simmons custom forged 3 piece units; 18x8 up front with 245/40/18's, and 18x9.5 rear, with 285/35/18. Tires are P Zero Asymetrico's.

 

Those are with out a doubt the best wheels Ive seen on any Zx.
Props.

 

I'd like a nice set with the deep dish in the rear, and not as deep in the front. It's a very nice custom look I saw on a z32 not too long ago.

 

yes the wheels were custom done for my car, as are all Simmons wheels (liek Fikse, HRE, and a few others).

I went to a Simmons dealer our shop deals with, and they spent 2 hous on a buddies 280 ZX we have ton alot of work on (a turbo conversion like mine used to be), taking meaurements, etc. When the wheels showed up about 6 weeks later, they were exactly what a good wheel should be...no spacers needed. Size is 18x8.5 front, 18x9.5 rear, with 245/40/18 front and 285/30/18 rear P Zero's. They are also full forged and 3 piece units...cost me alot, but were well worth it. They are just as you described..a deeper dish (aka staggered) rear than in the front.

Ecu is an Electromotive TEC2 (we are their NY dealer). I will be moving to the TEC3 soon, as the TEC2 is going to one of the guys that works for us, who has an immaculate yellow '77 with a nice custom turbo setup.

 

Hey, sweeeet wheels. What kind of offset do you have on the front and rear? How close are they to the shocks?

 

No idea of the offset, as they were measured for, and built to wat the car reuqired..so I would suspect one could back themselves into the offset number by knowing the stock offset, and knowing the dimension of these wheels, which i posted above.

Adam