Unichip is installed

[Professor MSP]

I am curious about this as well...I am thinking that the Unichip might be my final mod, but I don't know how I feel boosting that high on a regular basis, especially since I have resisted the temptation to turn the boost beyond stock so far...

Hopefully some of you Unichip users can help those of us on the fence about this come to some conclusions based on your experiences...

I am happy to pipe in here. Might I suggest that you take a peek at the thread http://www.msprotege.com/forum/showthread.php?t=105998 in the MSP engine & performance subforum if you have not done so already. It has numerous comments and excellent information about Unichip, both from the users of Unichip and a Unichip technician. In that thread I also provide a link to another thread reporting on the details of my experience at a dynamometer.

On the high boost concerns. Please note that just because the boost switch is ON does not necessarily mean you will be hitting 13 PSI all the time. That is a choice you make when you decide how far to depress the accelerator pedal. Only at WOT will you peak at 13 PSI, and then only for a second or two, in my experience.

I am happy to answer other questions about my 6-month experience with Unichip.

 

[FSDET]

I was looking into the unichip for about a month now but prior to installing that I wanted to pick up some Forged interals (Pistons/Rods). Ive aslo heard that a slight mistake on the install with the piston/rod could f up s*** really bad. Im really kinda clueless on what to do if I really can't do the unichip with out the internals and buy doin the internals I risk disaster. (blah)

u have to have alot of tools and need to be mechanicaly inclined to build an engine... your making it sound like its an easy mod haha

 

[WillisW555]

1. Don't... DON'T build your own engine unless you know how.
2. I had the EBC on high-boost for a month and the only negative was that I was hard on the gas more because I loved to feel it pull.
3. Install is not too bad. I happened to have been unlucky enough to get 2 bad harnesses, but UniChip was great with helping me get it resolved.

The car runs great and pulls like a beast on high boost. If you roll onto the throttle you don't get the spike. People keep saying that it's supposed to do that and I used to believe it too, but I read that they had to either have it 'overboost' slightly or you would have terrible lag.

 

[Fede_italiano]

The unichip package is "beautiful" but It will void my warranty so badly.

Guys great buy.

 

[rizzo]

Does the Unichip come with all the instructions? Was it easy to follow them?

 

[Reffoxel]

Hey man, if you really like the product please take the time to send em a email. [font=Helvetica, Geneva, Arial, SunSans-Regular, sans-serif][size=-1]info@unichip.us [/size][/font]

Its really awesome that there doin this, there isnt really alot of money to be made for em. Plus, it could give them a kick in the ass to develope the other parts of unichip that we dont even use (5th inject., nitros, assis launch, i/c spray, etc.)

Alot of this is already built into the Unichip. It can already control nitrous and water injection (which you could use to control i/c spray instead) I believe it can also be setup to handle extra injectors. I believe they already have a 2 step module. Unichip are not exactly car specific. They have different piggy backs for different groups of cars. (ie mazda's, nissans and subarus might use the same unichip model and hondas, toyota's a different one....I'm not say this is the actual grouping but along those kinda lines) The Unichip is a VERY versatile product. But can be rather complicated to setup outside of what a plug and play package has been setup as, so should be setup and tuned by a Unichip trained tuner. Only one I know of in Texas is in San Antonio. Justin Bloomer at SCI Motorsports.

 

[mazdaowner123]

The unichip for the MSP is actually tuned just for the MSP. Pineapple racing did the tuning, and the only places you can get the MSP unichip is through them and corksport apparently. That would be cool to unlock the other settings though.

~brian

Alot of this is already built into the Unichip. It can already control nitrous and water injection (which you could use to control i/c spray instead) I believe it can also be setup to handle extra injectors. I believe they already have a 2 step module. Unichip are not exactly car specific. They have different piggy backs for different groups of cars. (ie mazda's, nissans and subarus might use the same unichip model and hondas, toyota's a different one....I'm not say this is the actual grouping but along those kinda lines) The Unichip is a VERY versatile product. But can be rather complicated to setup outside of what a plug and play package has been setup as, so should be setup and tuned by a Unichip trained tuner. Only one I know of in Texas is in San Antonio. Justin Bloomer at SCI Motorsports.

 

[Reffoxel]

The unichip for the MSP is actually tuned just for the MSP. Pineapple racing did the tuning, and the only places you can get the MSP unichip is through them and corksport apparently. That would be cool to unlock the other settings though.

~brian

According to the Unichip dealer here in San Antonio, he can get the plug and play MSP kit (unichip module,harness,boost controller and tune) as well. Also the settings are not locked down, but that you have to have certain equipment to download tuning maps to the unit. Any authorized Unichip tuner can do that. The Unichip Tuner here in San Antonio, has even looked at the tune for the MSP and says it's a good safe tune but by no means an optimal tune. Mainly because since it's sold as a plug and play, it has to be safe for varying elevations and humidity levels depending on where the purchaser lives compared to where the tune was created (Oregon...Pineapple racing is just down the road from Unichip facility). So really for max power, one should get it fine tuned by you nearest Unichip Tuner on a load bearing dyno.

 

[atticus1398]

I received it today and also installed it. Installation took about 2 hrs. Getting the kick plate back on is a PITA like everyone else already said. Also the vacuum lines are a pain. The car pulls very hard under boost. Boost is about 13-14 psi in the midrange and drops to 10-11 at redline. I also installed Denso copper plugs 1 step colder to be safe. I'll be driving a bunch this weekend!!

which sparkplugs did you use(part #)?

 

[UnNaturalinc]

If you are running 14psi then something is wrong. You should get that figured out before you keep running it at that.

There is a ton of Unichip info on this board by the way.

 

[jeffmsp]

would the car run like crap w/ fmic and uinchip without getting it fine tuned? there are no unichp guys in canada that i know of so i am interested of the results if anyone has one with a fmic.

 

[UnNaturalinc]

would the car run like crap w/ fmic and uinchip without getting it fine tuned? there are no unichp guys in canada that i know of so i am interested of the results if anyone has one with a fmic.

It shouldn't run like crap with that setup... It just won't be 100% tuned to it's full potential. Just as any car with bolt-ons and no engine management. But I can't imagine things being that much different with FMIC maps.

Any of you DSM AFC guys have any input on this? I know maps are out for FMIC's for those now.

 

[jeffmsp]

i think with a fmic and the normal map with the dsm afc it didnt work too well, but it can be changed to the fmic map. the unichip however would have to get tuned by a unichip shop, so for someone with a fmic and no local tuner that could suck i thinks.

 

[UnNaturalinc]

Yes, I'm very familiar with the Unichip and the tuning of them.... What I'm saying I don't think there's a huge difference between he maps of a car with and w/ out a FMIC. It's not going to run "bad" it's just not going to be at 100% full potential.

 

[low_psi]

I'm going to be running the UC w/ a FMIC in a few weeks and I don't plan on tweaking it unless I feel the need. A few other people are already running the preset maps with FMICs w/o any problems.