Where do I find a "Qualified Tuner"?
 

:noob:

I've been reading & reading & ..... trying to learn all I can about Boosting my Miata.

On this page, I read this...

"The MSPNP ECU comes pre-loaded with default base maps from months of testing on normally-aspirated Miatas. Using those maps as a starting point on your normally-aspirated car, a qualified tuner will be able to quickly dial in the settings for your unique vehicle."

Is there a list of "qualified tuners"? Or are they generally found by local word of mouth?

I'm in Southern Ontario, Canada.

Thanks for any help.

I don't think that there is a list. I'd ask around locally or ask DIYAutoTune and see if they know of anybody up in Ontario, CA.

Anyone who can tune a normal standalone ecu should have no trouble using megatune. AEM, link, motec etc all use maps and values to get the car tweaked right the remainder of witch button does what is just symantics and any tuner who can actualy tune a car should be able to figure it out your best bet is to do your own tunning, and use the dyno and tunner to help you. This thread has been posted several times in the past it should be locked and a sticky made. ;)

http://casc.on.ca/forums/showthread.php?t=13150

Call around there.

Not many will have supercharged miata experience, maybe the miataphiles will know who to call :P

Doesn't the tuner need to be familiar with the MS software?
I'm reading posts from people who seem to know (lots) more than I do and they are having troubles because they are unfamiliar with the software. Example of software problem post
Do I need to thoroughly learn the software myself?
My hope would be to install the MS, get it tuned & running smooth. Install my blower, retune the MS & until I make further changes, it should run smooth.
I'm I expecting too much?

Sorry for the Newb questions..

& thanks for any replys...

You should learn the software yourself. Then road tune the car to the best of your abilities. Then find a tuner willing to learn the super easy software and let him tune your fuel and spark maps for optimum power at whatever boost you plan to run.
I don't know if you like the idea of not being able to tune your own engine management because you didn't bother learning about it but I strongly suggest you start learning.
Megatune is incredibly easy and Joe Perez's issue is not one you will be having with the MSPNP. His setup is nothing like yours as he built his own MS and started his MSQ from scratch and forgot a setting. He wasn't having a problem with the software, a setting which should be defaulted was just left out accidentally. The tune provided with the MSPNP has all of that setup already.

There are lotsa Canadians on this forum, somebody will chime in.
Have you asked your local Miata Club?

This may help... http://www.diyautotune.com/tech_arti...yno_tuning.htm

Do you have any local car forums you can look at? Thats how I found my local dyno. I need to start learning the software myself.

have a friend drive your car, sit in the pass seat and tune it yourself.

Thanks for those replys. They explained a lot.
MS remains at the top of my list.

Kinda funny, Tony Palo told me he would not tune MS because "it doesn't do what I need it to do." lol

Get ready to get fucked on prices though. I can't find anyone with a solid state dyno who would charge me less than $600. I even told them that the only thing I want them to fuck with are spark maps. They all gave me the bullshit "you can't road tune fuel/enrichments/cold start" and gave some bullshit price.

I'm probably just going to use Alamo who doesn't have a solid state dyno, but the only place who will tune my car for a reasonable price...unless I drive down to San Antonio and see the BEGi crew.

Whats odd is that most "tuners" I know, pretty much only road tune.....

If you're talking about who I think you are, then they're really only used to starting off with a stock ECU's base map, increasing timing until they see knock, and then backing it off a bit... a really bad idea IMO.

You're going to pay more for someone with the skills and experience to run a steady state dyno, not to mention who has invested in a steady state dyno... You can get a crappy inertia dyno for $20k which is what most of these guys do-- and don't expect much out of it. Or, the guys that really care about being able to properly tune a car, they buy the right equipment, and it starts at about triple that amount and goes on up well into the six-figure range... that's going to cost you more too... but do you want it tuned right?

Don't think I'm trying to convince people to tune steady state because we have a SS dyno and do tuning-- I turn people away because I don't have the time, so commercial tuning here is kept to a minimum, typically no more than 1 day a week, often not even that. But we charge $125/hr typically.... A turbo miata in most cases takes me 3-4 hours as I know them well.

Vince,

I used to tune all the TECII, TEC3 and Link Miatas in the area for years. Recently I have been mainly tuning Hondata for Honda's but I'm sure I still have my touch.

I'd have to take a look at the software and the base map to get an idea! If they hurry up and build a 99-00 MSPNP then I would start playing with it tomorrow and would become familar quite soon.

Thanks, Marc

Marc, any help will be welcome once it's in. I pm'd our friend in Georgetown as he has a MS installed & is familiar with it.
I suspect & hope I can get it tuned (with help) on the street, but I'm wondering who has the dyno & the MS skills to take it to 100%. Looks like someone with the experience of FoundSoul is gonna cost $500.00 if I can find that someone!
While I think MS is the "state of the art" right now, I may be better off with another EMS for a while. At least until a few more Canuks catch up to our southern friends & there are a few more experienced tuners.
The expense on this project keeps climbing, so far my wife has been pretty good. I better get her some flowers or something & keep her smiling!

Megasquirt certainly is not state of the art. I would not worry about it that much. I'm sure Oreo and myself can get it going. A dyno is often not needed to get the car at 99%

Its not just him, others I know of road tune as well. The other "tuner" in the ATL sometimes throws the car on his "dyno" and "tunes" the spark with a correction factor on the dyno....:giggle:


With all the infomation in this thread, I think the best way to find a tuner is to call around to dyno shops and see who is willing to tune it.