Piggy back ECU

How many have knowledge/experience with piggy back ECUs? They seem like a simple and reasonable way to tweak AFM and timing. Even if you have mild mods like intake and exhaust, assume this would maximize those add ons?

Here is the Unichip X:

https://www.unichip.us/product/unichip-x/

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I've always had horrific experience with Piggybacks. If you're looking for major adjustments a modern standalone will do a much better job (but requires a lot of fine tuning no pun intended).

 

Can you expand? What brand piggy back? How along ago? What car? Stand alone is the best way to go, but price can be 10 times the cost.

 

I just went to the website for unichip it really doesn’t say much about working with our ECM’s or any mid 90’s tech most of what I read only talked about early 2000’s and later where you can write to the ECM’s through the DLC connector




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The idea that piggybacks 10 years ago were primitive comparted to today is tempting to try and rationalize. Perhaps there is 40 whp for little money with modern piggy backs. Expect very little from a 90's car. If anything.

For $300 just buy it and try it, it its a dud return it. It will take less time than this course of action.

 

I am ignorant regarding piggy backs, but it would seem that adding a little timing and modifying AFR would benefit cars with mods? I know that F355Bob used a Unichip Q and was pleased with results.

 

That's good news actually. One thing often cars feel faster depending on how power is delivered and sound it makes but can be slower, and cars can actually be faster but feel slower, dyno results would be in order. That said for $300 its worth doing and if your pleased then that's great! Go for it!

 

Just trying to gather info. More important things pending. It just "sounds" like an inexpensive way to squeeze some juice. Would not expect anything beyond minor increase (8-10HP?) but thinking it may move power band down and add some mid range torque/ (and probably loose some top end)

Looking for info from people who have used piggy backs....

 

I would expect to be able to count 355 piggy back users on one hand. Who know though, best of luck with tour analysis!

 

Agreed. LOL. Really hoping to get general feedback from anyone that has used a piggy back in any application.

 

If someone has pics of a 355 ECU (cover off, showing the circuit board, both 2.7 and 5.2 variants) I can probably shed some light on this. Very similar to the 993, where I have some chip experience. If the 5.2 uses a cc460 chip, it should be straightforward to desolder it, solder in a socket, and then you can R&R the chip for dyno mapping. This is how you do it on a '97 and up 993. I just have no idea what a 355 ECU looks like with the cover off.

 

Yuuup, rekon

https://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/posts/148478587/

 

I used one in my gmc truck in late 2000"s worked fine. Had several tunes, towing, gas mileage etc. Was it really noticable, ehh not really felt over stated on the NA engine, now on the turbo diesel it was different but bump boost and throw timing and it was very noticable. Would it get another one if I had another gas truck, probably not.

Check the Nissan z forums, the engines are NA and I'm sure you can find Dyno results from the OBD chip tuner modules like the unichip. Gauranteed.

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I guess if you really wanted to wring every HP out of a 355 after you'd deleted the cats and installed an aftermarket muffler, you could do all this. But the socket install is going to cost $500 and then you have to find a tuner local to you who's got the gadgets to flash the cc460 chip. Probably not worth it for 15 hp unless you've got time and money to burn.