Steve

Well I spoke to James yesterday - he is trying to bring the Signal guys over around the time of the next drift day. So around 15 May. Bai, their driver will be coming too, so with luck we might get to see him thrash James car around Mallala for a couple of laps. - now, how to see if I can score another ride with him:)

9krpm, which thread are you reading? Bai isnt even employed by signal as a tuner, he is one of signal's D1 drivers, and a mechanic with them - I know this, so I cant see why I would even call him a tuner. I think perhaps you may be guilty of this also. The point I was trying to make, that one of their mechanics, knew enough about tuning of japanese cars, that, just by looking at my hand controller for about 30 seconds pegged the tune pretty much spot on - I have never seen a mechanic do this before? have you. If this is what a mechanic can do, I am expecting good things from Signals head tuner (not Bai) - especially when you consider they will have full laptop programming and access to base fuel maps - note this is not just FC Datalogit. I am damn sure, given a FULL tune, using the correct software, by guys that have a proven track record (signal), and show to be very, very competent at tuning these cars (signal's head tuner), that I will have a killer tune, and my car will run better than it does now. Not just at WOT, but everywhere - there is no where else to get a full laptop (not just fc datalogit) tune - nowhere here anyways, and that is a fact, as no one here is an Apexi excel dealer, and given access to the full tuning functions available only through excel software. So, no one locally can do the same thing.

I really dont understand fully what you hope to achieve by posting the link up? Hardly constructive. If that is indicative of the mentality of the clubs members, I cant see them becoming very succesful - someone makes a very valuable contribution to this forum to get slammed on another - what a bunch of c0cks.

Thanks for that.

sydneykid, any chance you could share your formula for calculating spring rate? cheers

Check out the earls website here in aust for adaptors. They also sell inline thermostats.

and what about a bad batch of fuel, or a fouled spark plug? also, at the end of the day, how do you prove you didnt thrash it. Once you start modifying a car, all bets are off - would be nice if one day they could build and engine that was indistructable and could make as much power as you want - then again, I would like to win lotto too. I wonder which will happen first:)

Dean, Bai didnt see my dyno, he picked the problems just by looking at the maps on the power fc hand controller. he said it was using too much fuel, but at the same time the AF mixtures were too lean (they tune to 11:1, so different to most here). As for tuning on the fuel here, well whenever a car is tuned it will be different. Just like when your car is tuned, they dont just say 'ok, i have a map now, I can use this on all similar cars' each tune has to be adjusted to the car in question. So although the fuel is no where near the quality it is in Japan, I am sure they would have tuned enough cars with different fuel setups, running different fuel, and be able to get reliable results. Bl4cK32, I can understand why a tuner wouldnt offer a warranty - too many vairables from the car owner (or even someone given access to the car) playing with maps, to someone taking a cold engine and flogging it. If you try hard enough it would be possible to blow up just about any engine (deisels excepted:p)

greddy monstor, www.d1garage.com can get just about any parts.

Sounds like the car may be in 'limp home mode'. this could be due to a fualty connection coming out of the ecu, AFM not plugged in or working properly or a few other things. check your afm connection, check the ecu is plugged in properly, check none of the wires from the SAFC being disconnected are causing an earth. make sure all the hoses are plugged in. then do an ecu reset. If all this fails to rectify the problem, run ECU diagnostics, which may shed light on the problem.

have you got some contact details of whom I should approach? cheers

Hey Martin, maybe HPI (and assoc magazines) can sponsor them, to do a series of articles on the differences between Japan and Aust - might help reduce the cost a bit:D and make for an interesting read.

gee thanks Martin, so no you compare my car to a VB commodore, biatch:p I think Bai drives an S13 anyways (or perhaps that is just in the US part of the D1 circuit?), so he would have been blinded by the science:)

Martin, cmon, you know its not that easy to build an 8 second car.

Cheeky, if you dont want to spend $1500, I will vouch for Shaun too;)

martin, it may be that the japanese came to have a look at how aussies were tuning the GTRs, but that was along time ago, and since then the japanese have gone from strength to strength with their cars, spending millions in R&D. They picked up the ball and ran with it, australia on the other hand, dropped it like a hot potato. Matt, if it was so straight forward, V8 supercars would be down at your local tune up masters before a big event, no? Why do large companies like Top Secret, HKS, Jun, Signal, etc have top tuners? If it was so straight forward, why dont they teach 1st year apprentice mechanics to tune and get them out earning some money early in the piece? I think you yourself have noticed that mechanics aren't mechanics, engine builders arent engine builders, and I definately believe tuners arent tuners. As martin pointed out, some people seem to get it better than others. If they had a company in australia, that competed in national competition to the level of the japanese, with japanese cars, then perhaps there would be tuners in australia with the runs on the board. Keir Wilsons car is no ordinary car, it is a purpose built drag car. the team that built and tune it have every right to be very proud of a great job, but I dont think there is really too much in common with Kier's car and any other skyline here in this state - so really, I dont believe their achievements to be valid. God knows I have already spent thousands on getting my car tuned. And each time, I dont get the results I want, or believe are possible. I dont think my expectations are unrealistic, I just want a car that is crisp, responsive, makes good power with a safe tune that doesnt ping. And it wouldnt be bad if the car didnt drink 20L per 100km. Bai turned to me and said my car is using too much fuel and that the power curve isnt smooth (both spot on the money, and just by looking at the fuel and ignition maps) then went on to say he was concerned that there wasnt enough fuel in up top, and asked if it was ok to make some adjustments. Of course I was keen for him to do this, as he had picked the other things about my tune without even driving the car. When I told him how much power I was making at 1.2bar, and that it made 1.2bar at 4000rpm, he seemed to think it was not enough power and that boost should be in a bit earlier! he gave me a couple of tips that he said should make a big difference. He told trent and me why the idle wasnt stable, and was spot on the money. Well hey, he is only a mechanic with signal (and driver), but probably did his apprenticeship on the cars we now drive, and worked on their drag cars and drift cars, plus built hundreds of customers cars too - they may not be any better than anyone else here in aust, but my money is that they are light years ahead - so many people here seem to be guessing, and its always the car owner that ends up wearing the bill when things turn to custard - too easy to blame the driver. something else to consider, who here can change the base fuel maps on the power fc but an excel dealer? No one. Is it worth $1500??? well is it worth spending alot of time and money taking your car back repeatedly to get different problems sorted, and then perhaps to have to do a rebuild because the tuner 'thought' it would be ok? I suppose thats for the car owner to decide:)

Because its in a Japanese car, that the guy has many many years of experience with. Plus, at the end of the day, if the guy is Signal's top tuner, a population of nearly 10 times that in australia, and a many many years of playing with Japanese cars - I think you would be getting a very, very good tune. Arguably they do after all understand their car's their engines, the limitations and how to get relaible power, optimum response, and street driveability much better than anyone who has been playing with them occasionally for the last couple of years. Japanese cars are their bread and butter, not a sideline. Bai managed to tune Jame's car via phone to this guy, and when richard checked it he was amazed that this was the first time he has seen a full tune, with no correction in the AFM, everything was safe and optimised, without seeing a dyno. They know their shit with jap cars. James said the tune was better (more responsive and better top end) with 1.2bar than it was with its previous tune at 1.4 bar when he destroyed the engine. If you are talking holdens, get an aussie to do it. If you are talking Japanese cars, get a Japanese to do it - and if that guy tunes japanese cars for a living at the highest competative level in japan, you can be assured you wont get a better tune regardless of the management being used. but hey, each to their own.

N/A, not sure, I would expect in the next couple of months. I will find out more exact details. I am assuming that the numbers (at least 5) would have to be firm before getting him out. Martin, why would you get one of Japans top tuners to tune a commodore? Just go and see Mr Keen at Turbo Tune if you need some hints:) EDIT: have you actually ever seen any commodores in Japan?

Oops forgot, he can also tune motec too:)

Thanks Dean, I will check with my RAAF connections first, so I may be in touch soon Cheers

Maxx, get a loan (I think I may have to ) Slyr33, absolutely, power fc pro (full excel softwar), HKS fcon Pro V, e-manage every japanese ecu. N/A®, James told me it was their head tuner. I will try and find out the name. They will also be bringing Bai back out again, he is not only a Signal D1 driver, but also a mechanic for them too.

shall do - hopefully get it sorted some time this week.

Most likely - I am sure anyone can come and have a look

Hi all seeking expressions of interest D1 Garage are looking like getting Signal Japan's top tuner out here to perform their magic, they will be bringing all the laptop software for Japanese ECUS. It wont be cheap, expect to pay between $1000 and $1500 for a full tune - not just power, but a full map from idle. Whilst this isnt cheap, it is quite good value for a japanese tuning guru to come over and get the best possible safe performance from your car. Numbers available, currently need 5 cars to make it worth while for the tuner to come out - air fairs hotel accomodation etc. currently 3 spots are pretty much spoken for Anyway guys, please put the word out, I would really love to see what these guys can do with my car - this is pretty close to a once in a lifetime opportunity.

think your right about the 400r being an RB28 or something - I probably would have been better off saying the 400r is a limited edition GTR:) very very limited. But Nismo do sell crate motors, so you can buy a fully prepped engine off them, I have only seen them in RB26 form though. Maxx, only using fully forged and balanced internals eh? how weak:p But seriously, this is how RB series make good power, built the bottom end tough, balance it, bolt on the good bits and rev the tits off them. I think the initial limiting factor is the turbos in the case of the 400r. Intercooler might not be helping either if it is a stock GTR item.