Unichip?
#1
Thread Starter
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 902
From: Long Island
Unichip?
house of scion has the unichip out for the tc. on unichips site it shows on a stock tc the unichip pushed out about 5hp and 6lb of torque at 4000rpms and 6hp and 6lb of torque at 4500 rpms. with the trd exhaust and header at the same rpms it pushed about 4hp and 5lb of torque. at the higher rpm(4500)the hp barely went up and torque actually went down-5.4 to 4.9. I'm trying to figure out if i should get this or the camcon. it doesn't say what the price on this thing is, but would this be better or would the camcon be better? my concern with the camcon is that everytime u add something u have to retune it. is that the same with the unichip?
#10
Thread Starter
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 902
From: Long Island
do u have to tune the unichip everytime u add something also? if that thing is $700, i think i'd just get the camcon intsead since they both have to be tuned the same way. it's like half the price, and the camcon added like 12hp. the unichip is adding 5 or 6hp.
#12
Instead of buying something now just keep saving for another mechanical upgrade. Save the camcon for last so you only have to tune it once or twice. You don't HAVE to buy the camcon or unichip right now do you?
#13
The Unichips comes pre-tuned w/ base maps. As you can see, they have 2 base maps available, one for stock and one for header and exhaust. Looking at their own dyno numbers, and the fact that they reference a "TRD Header," I find their product to be suspect, at best. Regardless, if you order it with a basemap tuned for a stock tC, that's what it will be optimized for. It does not automatically adjust for changes. It does come a jumper switch for a Type A and Type B maps, one being more aggressive and possibly not suitable for all climates. However, to get the most out of the unit after a mod, you'll still have to get it tuned. For the Unichip, you'll have to take it to an authorized Unichip installer/tuner, ie someone that has the software and hardware to interface w/ the ECU. They are also quite expensive, ranging from $600 - $900 depending on the application. The tC was around $800, I believe, when I last checked the prices for it. Not sure about that, though.
The CamCon is a universal unit that comes with no settings. There are base maps available from Power Enterprises for the 2AZ, but those will be far from optimal. So, yes, you will have to get it tuned, and after each mod that you add after the unit that modifies the airflow in or out if you want to get the most out of it (and ensure a safe A/F balance). It only controls adjustments to the VVT-I function and A/F maps. The Unichip claims it can control anything the ECU can control, including speed a rev limiters. However, whether those claims are true or not have yet to be seen. The gains they show on their own website are sub par, while independently tested gains w/ the CamCon for the 2AZ have been impressive thus far. The CamCon can be tuned by any shop w/ a dyno that has a tuner w/ experience w/ cam timing and a/f ratio adjustments. It will also be nearly 1/2 the cost. For most of the supposed functionality of the Unichip, I would go elsewhere, such as w/ an Emanage and have it tuned. For simpler functionality for a fraction of the cost, I would go w/ the CamCon. Probably the best piggy-back bang for the buck for Bolt-on, n/a, tuners.
Basically, with any piggy back ECU, its best to tune it last, after you've done all of your mods. None of them adjust to differences in airflow like the stock ECU. For those of you wondering why bother at all w/ a piggy back if that’s the case, the answer is because the stock maps programmed by Toyota are not optimized solely w/ performance in mind. They’re a balance of performance, fuel economy, and emissions. Nor can the ECU fully adjust to make the most out of all of the mods one can add. A tC w/ an intake, header, and header back exhaust system using the stock ECU is not going to show the gains of a tC w/ the same setup except using a well tuned piggy back ECU. Even Scottsdale's tC w/ only a DC header an axle back showed some impressive gains across the entire powerband w/ a CamCon.
The CamCon is a universal unit that comes with no settings. There are base maps available from Power Enterprises for the 2AZ, but those will be far from optimal. So, yes, you will have to get it tuned, and after each mod that you add after the unit that modifies the airflow in or out if you want to get the most out of it (and ensure a safe A/F balance). It only controls adjustments to the VVT-I function and A/F maps. The Unichip claims it can control anything the ECU can control, including speed a rev limiters. However, whether those claims are true or not have yet to be seen. The gains they show on their own website are sub par, while independently tested gains w/ the CamCon for the 2AZ have been impressive thus far. The CamCon can be tuned by any shop w/ a dyno that has a tuner w/ experience w/ cam timing and a/f ratio adjustments. It will also be nearly 1/2 the cost. For most of the supposed functionality of the Unichip, I would go elsewhere, such as w/ an Emanage and have it tuned. For simpler functionality for a fraction of the cost, I would go w/ the CamCon. Probably the best piggy-back bang for the buck for Bolt-on, n/a, tuners.
Basically, with any piggy back ECU, its best to tune it last, after you've done all of your mods. None of them adjust to differences in airflow like the stock ECU. For those of you wondering why bother at all w/ a piggy back if that’s the case, the answer is because the stock maps programmed by Toyota are not optimized solely w/ performance in mind. They’re a balance of performance, fuel economy, and emissions. Nor can the ECU fully adjust to make the most out of all of the mods one can add. A tC w/ an intake, header, and header back exhaust system using the stock ECU is not going to show the gains of a tC w/ the same setup except using a well tuned piggy back ECU. Even Scottsdale's tC w/ only a DC header an axle back showed some impressive gains across the entire powerband w/ a CamCon.
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