noob question 1 where is the ecu located? i have an ea mpi 5 speed.

question 2: benefits of running an xr6 ecu as opposed to the normal one?
have a 2.5 inch cat back and possibly a cam from wade cams (most likely the 1673 profile) and 3.45 diff and pacemakers in the not too distant future.

Waste of money or worthwhile? How much should I be paying? Which ecu is best (will el ones work since no bbm? eb or ed xr6 one?)?

Thanks in advance.

Located in the passenger kickpanel.

No speedlimiter.
Slightly more agressive tune.
Slightly better idle with some cams.
Those are the main benefits.

Waste of money for you because unless you find one from a non smartlock EB XR6, you are going to need a smartlock bypass to use one.

you can get the bypass for it i thought but seems like money could be better spent elsewhere for a budget tune. Thanks for info on where its located.

actually the ea mpfi manual ecu doesnt have a speed limiter..
the speed limiters werent introduced untill the ea4 speed auto..

i personally wouldnt bother with the xr6 ecu unless you change the cam and fuel pressure regulator..

easiest upgrade for you is the wade cam, and a modified EL auto ECU. It will make it a lot more responsive and give a fair bit more torque than the std ecu.

yeh im gonna go the 1673, just hoping it comes up for sale 2nd hand on the forums - there was a 977b one recently but wasn't after that profile.. otherwise guess i'll do the exchange cam thingo

modified el ecu auto? modified in what way? my car is a manual though.. wouldn''t the intake be a bit iffy since i don't have the bbm?

aha any advice on budget build please i'd love your input!!

Can someone shed light on the air intake side of things - i don't really understand it too much. I see threads on installing pod filters and others on removing the airbox lid and cutting holes into it.. And others replacing their own with the xr6 ones or AU or X-series ones.. which would be most effective for my EA?

Maybe move to 6 cyl forum i dunno how to change though..

thanks in advance..

i have done a fair few ecu swaps with modified el auto ecu's (ie disable smartlock, disable speed limiter, and trick the auto side of the ecu)

All had 1673 cams, as far as performance vs cost goes its cost effective and well worth doing (cam and ecu).
Matched with a 3.23 diff, extractors etc, it will be a quick, and cheap combo.

ok ecu seems a bit difficult since I've got no idea really other than plug and play.. Still dunno why you suggest auto EL ecu rather than manual though seeing how i have a 5 speed manual?

anyway, I'll be keeping an eye out for that 1673 profile as well as a set of extractors and maybe a 3.45 diff.

because the el manual ecu's (or any manual ecu > EB) are very uncommon, and if you do find one your paying heaps for them

I modify the auto ecu's to work on manuals, if your interested in one, pm me and we can discuss the options.