[InFrA]

Hi guys,

This is my first post here since I joined, been reading a lot since I got my Tib two years ago, I live in South Africa, basically it is the same spec as the GT V6 in US/Canada, 2.7l V6, 6pd manual, ABS, Leather & all the rest.

A couple months back I decided to do my exhaust, I felt quite a difference, it is basically a locally manufactured, custom-built system which is very similar in design and layout to the Injen SES exhaust, luckily being a 2005 model, legislation was not yet in place which forced manufactures or importers in South Africa to install Cats so I didnt need to worry about those when having the exhaust installed.

Unfortunately, at the moment, due to pricing, it is difficult to get decent AEM or equivalent CAI's into South Africa and/or headers, it is just not cost-effective so those will have to wait for some time in the future... fortunately though, we do make the Unichips locally!

I have a reputable tuner who can fit as well as dyno tune the Unichip for me as he is one of the local Unichip suppliers and deals directly with the manufacturers.

My questions are as follows:

• Is it going to be worth it?

• What sort of gains am I looking at?

• From experience are there any users here who have done a Unichip on a largely standard car?

• Lastly, what are the risks? The guy doing the work is highly recommended so I am not too worried about the workmanship but I do not want to harm the ECU or any other engine components.

I might be a newbie but please don't spam me with a lot of useless info, I have done a lot of reading and searching on the forum before posting this.

Any insight would be much appreciated, thanks!

 

[ShamanKJM]

the question is not "to chip or not to chip", but instead what type of dip should you dip?

mo, hes actually asking about the one chip available for our car...


OP, as far as I know, if done well (and your guy sounds legit) you could get a better, smoother power curve and some more HP- how much HP is up to your tuner, but i wouldnt say any more than 15-20 or so...dmdicks would be the guy to inform since he has experience with Unichip IIRC.

Good luck and let us know how it goes

 

[crockersblutib]

so how does this chip work

 

[breeechan]

most a/f controllers on N/A cars can get up to 10 HP. Wait for or PM member dmdicks however, he is well versed in the unichip.

 

[dmdicks]

My questions are as follows:

• Is it going to be worth it? YES! The Unichip Q Plus chips is one of the most advanced piggybacks I've ever used and one of the ONLY piggybacks that can advance and retard ignition timing on the V6 Delta engine. Look through www.unichip.us for more details.

• What sort of gains am I looking at? This really depends on the skills of your tuner. Back when I was with Alpine we got just over 10WHP on a 100% stock V6. I imagine with your mods you should be between 10-15whp above whatever you currently make. Being able to add timing makes a HUGE difference!

• From experience are there any users here who have done a Unichip on a largely standard car? Yup, see above.

• Lastly, what are the risks? The guy doing the work is highly recommended so I am not too worried about the workmanship but I do not want to harm the ECU or any other engine components. As long as the Tuner knows what he's doing the risks are minimal. Make sure to fill up on the highest RON/Octane level you can afford and keep using that level after the tune is done.
  
  And lastly no I'm not affiliated with Unichip or sell their products, but I do have a lot of experience using their products gained when I worked for Alpine.
  

 

[crockersblutib]

so beside timing what other feature does it have compared to the aem fic or neo for instance

 

[dmdicks]

first of all the NEO is garbage for any real tuning. The Unichip can do most of what the F/IC can do except the modifying the injector pulse width, which isn't needed for N/A tuning. One thing that is cool is that you can get software for a smart phone from Unichip that allows you to monitor and tune via bluetooth on the phone.

I don't know the F/IC very well so I'm not sure of all the differences. I know the Unichip has a ton of inputs and outputs that can modify almost anything on your car from TPS signals, to Lambda signals. Plus each input/output is fully programmeable in the software. Plus its small enough to just stick on top of the OEM ECU....no need to have a big bulky box in the glove box..lol

 

[InFrA]

Quote:

Originally Posted by InFrA View Post

My questions are as follows:

* Is it going to be worth it? YES! The Unichip Q Plus chips is one of the most advanced piggybacks I've ever used and one of the ONLY piggybacks that can advance and retard ignition timing on the V6 Delta engine.

* What sort of gains am I looking at? This really depends on the skills of your tuner. Back when I was with Alpine we got just over 10WHP on a 100% stock V6. I imagine with your mods you should be between 10-15whp above whatever you currently make. Being able to add timing makes a HUGE difference!

* From experience are there any users here who have done a Unichip on a largely standard car? Yup, see above.

* Lastly, what are the risks? The guy doing the work is highly recommended so I am not too worried about the workmanship but I do not want to harm the ECU or any other engine components. As long as the Tuner knows what he's doing the risks are minimal. Make sure to fill up on the highest RON/Octane level you can afford and keep using that level after the tune is done.

And lastly no I'm not affiliated with Unichip or sell their products, but I do have a lot of experience using their products gained when I worked for Alpine.

Thanks dmdicks, you make perfect sense.
I have read about being able to add on the Bluetooth module to be able to run multiple maps etc... as well and I also saw a handy Plug & Play harness which is available now so that you do not need to do any cutting/splicing of wires for the installation which is something I would prefer.
As for our petrol, in SA our standard is 93 Octane Unleaded so I'm safe there, we're kinda third world but it does come with some perks... :3_nosthum
Please excuse my inability to quote properly :3_frown:

 

[dmdicks]

I HIGHLY doubt that Unichip has a PnP harness for Hyundai vehicles. When I worked for Alpine Unichip had no interest in support a PnP harness for Hyundai. They said there wasn't enough interest. I doubt that's changed.

 

[InFrA]

I HIGHLY doubt that Unichip has a PnP harness for Hyundai vehicles. When I worked for Alpine Unichip had no interest in support a PnP harness for Hyundai. They said there wasn't enough interest. I doubt that's changed.

I find the same "problem" locally with finding any sort of aftermarket modifications. Over here they still manufactured the MK1 VW Golf until early last year, its about as safe as a sardine can... but because it has been around so long here, and people here LOVE VW, aftermarket parts & accessories are aplenty.
Ask most places for Hyundai performance parts... let alone for a Tiburon and you are usually greeted with confusion, at one stage I was asked "What type of Golf is that?" ...pity the fools, I guess ignorance is bliss.

Anyway, back to the Unichip, I will only know pricing this Monday (10th) because that is when the guy opens his shop and when his suppliers open so that he can get me pricing and compatibility on the Unichip(gave me a rough estimate via email), the bluetooth module as well as the PnP harness.

As an aside, dmdicks, what ever happened to Alpine?

 

[duds03tibby]

As an aside, dmdicks, what ever happened to Alpine?

Bad Business Practices in the US. They are still Abroad but I would never buy from them.

 

[crockersblutib]

it sound pretty good from a noobs point of view lol kinda sucks you cant really use it for FI though since that seems like the oonly real way to make power with our cars

 

[crockersblutib]

damn that sucks dont you hate when a buisness dosent come through as far as cosyomer support and tech support on their products for instance

 

[InFrA]

it sound pretty good from a noobs point of view lol kinda sucks you cant really use it for FI though since that seems like the oonly real way to make power with our cars

Although I do not have experience with the product, the Unichip demo vehicle in South Africa is a twin turbo Gallardo LP 560-4 so I wouldnt say it cannot be used for FI.

 

[InFrA]

If the HP gains are estimated to be 10-15 whp with my current mods, what kind of torque increases am I looking at? Over here we use Kilowatts and Newton Meters to measure power & torque, converting everything you read is forever a pain in the...

 

[dmdicks]

you should have similar torque increases as well.

I never said the Unichip cannot be used for forced induction it just doesn't modify pulse width like the F/IC does. The unichip can drive up to 10 auxiliary injectors to supply extra fuel for boost.

Another option you can look into is Perfect Power. They are in S.A. as well and I know the lead technician there. He's been looking for another V6 tiburon to install on to try and get the ignition timing issues fixed for V6 owners. I'm sure I could get you a really nice discount on installation and tuning from Perfect Power. Plus they are prototyping a new unit that can modify pulse width like the AEM F/IC and it will be able to advance and retard ignition timing.

As for Alpine. DO NOT BUY FROM THEM. They scammed me out of 82,000 USD as well as robbed several other people and businesses in the US. They went back to South Africa because I was suing them and they are nothing but a bunch of scam artists and cowards.

 

[InFrA]

you should have similar torque increases as well.

I never said the Unichip cannot be used for forced induction it just doesn't modify pulse width like the F/IC does. The unichip can drive up to 10 auxiliary injectors to supply extra fuel for boost.

Another option you can look into is Perfect Power. They are in S.A. as well and I know the lead technician there. He's been looking for another V6 tiburon to install on to try and get the ignition timing issues fixed for V6 owners. I'm sure I could get you a really nice discount on installation and tuning from Perfect Power. Plus they are prototyping a new unit that can modify pulse width like the AEM F/IC and it will be able to advance and retard ignition timing.

As for Alpine. DO NOT BUY FROM THEM. They scammed me out of 82,000 USD as well as robbed several other people and businesses in the US. They went back to South Africa because I was suing them and they are nothing but a bunch of scam artists and cowards.

I would be more than happy with those gains then. I know of Perfect Power and the guy in my city who supplies and tunes them, he also comes quite highly recommended, think I will give him a call in the morning and see what he has to say.

I tried in the past to look for Alpine locally but they don't seem anywhere near as "big" as they used to be so I gave up on that search a long time ago, pity though when it happens like that, where you have a good product but screw your customers over, sorry to hear about your loss. Hope it doesn't put a bad light on the rest of us, we're not all bad!

 

[dmdicks]

Well here's my contact information. Garth is a great guy and extremely helpful. It would be cool if you could somehow have him do the install and tuning.

Garth Aubrey
Digital Data Systems (Pty) Ltd
Manufacturers of Perfect Power Automotive Systems
22 Arbeid Avenue, Strijdom Park, Randburg, Gauteng, South Africa, 2194
PO Box 35872, Northcliff, Gauteng, South Africa, 2115
Tel: +27 (0) 11 792 9805
Fax: +27 (0) 11 792 9818
Tech Support: Cell 078 023 4919
Email: garth@perfectpower.com
Skype: Garth@PPower
MSN: garthaub@hotmail.com
GPS: S26°05.410' E027°58.162'
Websites: www.perfectpower.com

 

[crockersblutib]

Well here's my contact information. Garth is a great guy and extremely helpful. It would be cool if you could somehow have him do the install and tuning.

Garth Aubrey
Digital Data Systems (Pty) Ltd
Manufacturers of Perfect Power Automotive Systems
22 Arbeid Avenue, Strijdom Park, Randburg, Gauteng, South Africa, 2194
PO Box 35872, Northcliff, Gauteng, South Africa, 2115
Tel: +27 (0) 11 792 9805
Fax: +27 (0) 11 792 9818
Tech Support: Cell 078 023 4919
Email: garth@perfectpower.com
Skype: Garth@PPower
MSN: garthaub@hotmail.com
GPS: S26°05.410' E027°58.162'
Websites: www.perfectpower.com

now all i need is his social and bank account info lol

 

[InFrA]

Well here's my contact information. Garth is a great guy and extremely helpful. It would be cool if you could somehow have him do the install and tuning.

Garth Aubrey
Digital Data Systems (Pty) Ltd
Manufacturers of Perfect Power Automotive Systems
22 Arbeid Avenue, Strijdom Park, Randburg, Gauteng, South Africa, 2194
PO Box 35872, Northcliff, Gauteng, South Africa, 2115
Tel: +27 (0) 11 792 9805
Fax: +27 (0) 11 792 9818
Tech Support: Cell 078 023 4919
Email: garth@perfectpower.com
Skype: Garth@PPower
MSN: garthaub@hotmail.com
GPS: S26°05.410' E027°58.162'
Websites: www.perfectpower.com

Thanks, for the help so far. I contacted my local distributor, Garth's offices are a bit far away from my city, 11 hour drive, but local guy will contact Garth's office today to collect as much information as possible before getting back to me later today.
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2005 Hyundai Tiburon 2.7l V6