GIAC X Chip with adaptive tuning. When the car is started, the ECU takes a minute to determine type of fuel in the car (91/94/100) and adjusts a/f, timing and boost levels accordingly (boost is electronically controlled in my car).

End result with 94 octane is ~320hp, 385tq @ 18psi; up from 250hp/260tq @ 7psi stock. With race gas, guys are getting an extra 10hp and close to 20 ft/lbs.

To say it now feels like a completely different car would be a huge understatement. It's now the first car I've owned that litereally sucks you into the back of the seat when accelerating. I cannot fathom why the car did not come stock like this.

Now where can I get me some race gas?

VP fuels ?
From Karbelt or Straight Line Racing on Bayly, just west of Brock.

Can i get a ride?? I'll buy you a tank of 94's .

Or just call up REZA! j/k.

Where did you get it done Grant?
How is the clutch holding up with all that torque??

Pah. Doable with the Talon, and for a lot less.

You know why the car didn't come tuned like that stock. Stupid people that dump 87 Octane fuel into their high-performance car, don't change the oil for 50k kms, and are just generally abusive. All while expecting full factory warranty support.

*Sigh* Can't wait until I get my chip installed next year. 150hp is KILLING me!

Reza/Rob - thanks, how would I transport it though?

Joe - for sure man. My office is closer to you now as well, just at Dundas & 427.

Brian - I bought the entire ECU with the chip used so it was just a direct swap. Took all of 7 mins total - then another 10 mins to figure out how to enter the security code for my stereo, haha. The clutch is holding up great as it was actually a Stage 2 clutch I had put in. I don't think it would hold much more than this though as I didn't want to go to the 6 puck.

Troy - I just gained 70+hp and over 120ft/lbs for $500. I honestly don't think you could match that; even in a DSM You have some details on your chip?

I think proper transportation is just a matter of having it in an approved container. It's no different than getting some fuel for your lawnmower.

Heh. Still can't compare to the 1G DSMs... Just crank the boost up on the stock turbo to 18psi and adjust with an S-AFC, and you'd probably get gains close to that.

I've got an APR 93 Octane chip (same as you, used full ECU for an easy swap). Supposed to take mine to 200-210hp, ~200lb/ft torque (DSM stock ) from 150hp. I'm not working with a V6 twin-turbo, though...

Even in the DSM you would need a chip.
With the VW/Audi you just keep your hands a little more clean or less dirty. Classy

If you're a smart shopper, you could match that in a DSM for sure. Especially if you do your own work.

Gratz on the chip though! Glad to hear it worked out nicely.

Yes, I suppose that is true.

Next mission is finding a boost gauge so I know what's going on now. Arrg.

This is where I get my 110 ocatane from all the time for the Road Runner. As someone else already said, all you need is a regular gas can, just as if your trasporting gas for a lawn mower.

Only thing to becarefull about is that the gas evaporates alot faster, so make sure you have both the caps tight as can be... as well as don't leave it in the sun for long and then try and open it. If you do leave it in the sun...just looking at the container alone will give you a hint to not open it lol.

Great. Ill take you on that offer!

Damn Grant, that's extremely sexy. All that new technology is amazing though. All us DSM owners are suckers having to tune our cars ourselves, your car tunes it while you're drinking a latte from starbucks

Ya, it just feels a bit too easy. I'm used to working for hours installing CAI's, turbo upgrades, exhausts all to gain a fraction of what the chip did in 7 mins. It's a weird feeling.

Next up is a good Seafoam treatment and an oil change as I'm due up for the 6 month interval.

Next year is cat-back (another 15hp or so) and hopefully some new shoes - the deep dish variety.

Seafoam = overrated from what I've heard.

It's overly-exagerated in the VW world, especially since motors like my 1.8t are so prone to coking/sludge.

Most VW people don't have a CLUE about the real workings of turbo cars compared to this DSM crowd. The 'chip' is exactly what Rob said it is, a way to get more power without really getting your hands dirty. But they charge you an arm and a leg for it and largely, IT'S NOT USER ADJUSTABLE. Anyone who ever cracks the CPU code immediately re-encrypts it so it can't be copied, so they can re-sell it for a similar markup.

WAY unlike the multitude of tools available to tune DSMs. The VW chips are SO restrictive that they don't even permit MBCs (to a point) or ANY type of 'add-on' devices, like an S-AFC or whatnot. Want a bigger turbo (VW guys consider a T25 big.)? Prepare to pay $1000 for a completely new program. It's not that the concept of a 'chip' is bad, but it was tried in the DSM world (remember JET?) and rejected. With extra control, you can get so much MORE power for your money...

There are some manual tools, like Lemmiwinks, but 'the crowd' immediately screams, "NO! You might hurt something!!!"

My GIAC X chip is actually configureable using my VAG-COM software.

However, given that they are the engineers who spent hundreds of hours tuning this and I sell auto insurace, I'm going to pretty much leave it alone, haha. I just log to make sure everything is running as it should.

As for the Seafoam, trust me, I'm not expecting a night/day difference - I just want a nice, clean start with the engine. It's been drivin for 9 years and 139K now so I'm sure there are some unhealthy deposits built up inside, that's all.

Or maybe they are healthy deposits which are keeping the siv from leaking? I guess you will find out

I found that out with my cavalier! Never get anything flushed in that engine, ever again.

Mind you, it's a cavalier, and I really shouldnt have wasted the money in the first place.

Haha, that's an excellent point!

I guess if it starts leaking, I'll have to wait till they build up again.

*cough* Or some serious engine maintenance... wasn't fun.

Well, it's very well reviewed on the VW/Audi boards. Even a lot of Porsche guys recommend it.

I guess we'll see in two weeks.

Albeit, you have a MUCH MUCH ( I can't express how much )nicer car than a crapalier. I dont see any problems for you.

I'm limited to the older VAG-COM software, and I haven't gotten it to the point where I can actually adjust anything. Just read codes and such.

now you just need a couple of KO4's

Grant, you're my new best friend! I bought a Jetta that kicked me some codes that I can't read with my OBD-II scanner, and I was hoping I could find someone with the VAG-COM software in Toronto. I would by it myself, but that would mean paying more for the software than the car Can I run the car by you some day?

Typical DSMer mooch.

Not so, Mike. If all you want to do is read and reset the codes (most of them, at least) than all you'll need is the shareware VAG-COM software and a $30 EBay cable. The problem comes in finding a notebook to run it, or you could use a REALLY long serial cable to a desktop PC.

I just came back in here to say: VAG-COM

That is all.

Dennis - that's the 2010 goal

Michael - sure, I just cleared 2 fault codes from my buddy's 02 TDI so he can go get his etest done now. PM me with your availability.

Troy - ya, my cable was only $20 and I'm using the shareware version of the software. I was thinking of buying a license as it's only $99

Rob - I swear, no matter how many times I say it or read it, I ALWAYS chuckle to myself afterwards.

I guess I was the cheapest of all dsm'r with a VW. On the wife's beetle I just soldered in a diode, disconnected the wastegate and called it a day.

Thanks Grant, we'll definitely talk soon. I felt kind of funny posting to a VW forum, "Does anyone have a VAG I can use for a few minutes?"

What would that do, Todd? The last guy that saw my car and disconnected his wastegate (clamped it, actually) to try and imitate it ended up blowing his motor sky-high...

^^^
http://s90139951.onlinehome.us/vw/diodemod.htm

Would that not cause lean conditions with the computer left in the dark of what it is actually boosting at?

My guess is the ECU uses the MAP sensor for safety & limp mode, and it uses a separate MAFS of some sort (karman, hotwire etc..) to get the airflow and calculate fuel.

Reading that was rather informative.. but I did get a kick out of "HARD LIMP MODE".

'VAGs' are full of contradictions...

I'll have to look it up. As long as you did good logging during testing, I'm sure you could manually up the boost slightly and still be playing safe...

Just filled up on 94 yesterday for the first time since chipping it.

Haven't got on it too much, but it feels a little quicker. I'll try to do some nice 2nd and 3rd gear runs to gauge it a little better.

Boost gauge and turbo timer are on their way as well. I never really pushed the Talon hard enough to warrant a turbo timer - what do you guys recommend - 30 seconds, 2 mins, 5 mins?