Accel DFI 6.0 - worth it?
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 2,152
Likes: 243
From: Northern VA
Accel DFI 6.0 - worth it?
I see a 6.0 version for sale on Ebay and current bid is $700. Assuming it is complete and goes close to current bid, is it worth it? How much better is the 7.0 version? Thanks
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 1,088
Likes: 0
From: Lakeland fl
Re: Accel DFI 6.0 - worth it? (jerkyboy)
I have no experience with accel DFI, but I just wanted to say why would you be interested in this when the DIY-EFI community is breaking new ground? Have you checked out ThirdGen.org's prom section? You can now tune on the fly with most popular gm computers.
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 109
Likes: 0
From: Ft. Lauderdale FL
Re: Accel DFI 6.0 - worth it? (jerkyboy)
Yes, even with your old '89 computer.
Believe or not, the stock General Motors ECM's are extremely powerful units. They have alot of capability and are probably even better than the Accel or any other aftermarket ecm. I believe what you pay for in the aftermarket unit is the "packaging" ie: the human to ecm interface. Aftermarket units spoon feed the user as to where he needs to go to change something. With the GM units, you have to read the hacks or use trial and error to determine if a particular table or constant affects the particular performance characteristic you wish to tune. Most of the common stuff has been pretty well sorted out, but there are some unusual tables many have not yet explored.
Plus, the cost of equipment to tune a gm ecm is ALOT cheaper than what you will ever pay for that Accel DFI.
Believe or not, the stock General Motors ECM's are extremely powerful units. They have alot of capability and are probably even better than the Accel or any other aftermarket ecm. I believe what you pay for in the aftermarket unit is the "packaging" ie: the human to ecm interface. Aftermarket units spoon feed the user as to where he needs to go to change something. With the GM units, you have to read the hacks or use trial and error to determine if a particular table or constant affects the particular performance characteristic you wish to tune. Most of the common stuff has been pretty well sorted out, but there are some unusual tables many have not yet explored.
Plus, the cost of equipment to tune a gm ecm is ALOT cheaper than what you will ever pay for that Accel DFI.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 1,088
Likes: 0
From: Lakeland fl
Re: Accel DFI 6.0 - worth it? (jerkyboy)
The best thing to do is download tunerpro for yourself. It may or may not be the best, but its free to try out (actaully indefinately free), And it has the ECU file for your 89 which is 6E. Get yourself an 89 bin and check out the tables you can modify and see for yourself. Basically, you have a '165 ECM, which uses a 6E definition file which is like an interpreter/translator for the actual tuning file, which is called a bin because it is a binary file (all hex/code). When you download tunerpro it comes with the 6E definition file, so you will just need to search for a bin for an 89 since you can read yours without some hardware. I among many others can send you an '89 vette bin. Then the learning begins. If you like what you see, and think its something to try out, get yourself an Autoprom or Prominator (both are on thirdgen.org) and you can make program changes on the fly with a laptop. Tunerpro has a recent topic and link on thirdgen.org by the way.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 2,152
Likes: 243
From: Northern VA
Re: Accel DFI 6.0 - worth it? (SBNova)
OK, I looked over at Thirdgen and am definately intrigued. It looks like the Prominator would be my best option. It looks like they have just released it. I have a lot to learn as most of what they were talking about is way above my head. As I understand it, I can purchase the Prominator Pro which is tune on the fly for around $275 and send them my ECM and they will install it for around $25. Do you know if the creators have a website?
Intermediate
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 48
Likes: 0
From: Baton Rouge LA
Re: Accel DFI 6.0 - worth it? (jerkyboy)
I've developed the AutoProm using an 89 Vette computer as the test mule. It has a lot to offer. Might want to look into it. Does everything.:reddevil
http://www.moates.net
[Modified by Craig Moates, 9:01 AM 1/29/2004]
http://www.moates.net
[Modified by Craig Moates, 9:01 AM 1/29/2004]
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Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 2,152
Likes: 243
From: Northern VA
Re: Accel DFI 6.0 - worth it? (Craig Moates)
Thanks Craig. I am a complete novice at tuning and I have to learn all of the acronyms and what they mean!! Will your device allow me to do anything that a "DFI" system would let me do? Do I need a separate chip burner? I see it can make changes on the fly but they don't actually get saved to the Prom as it is installed correct? Sorry for all the dumb questions. My modded '89 is in dire need of this sort of tuning. I would like to learn how to do this. $1500 for an Accel DFI is out of the question. Thanks
Pro
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 603
Likes: 0
From: 84 383 XFire Chandler, AZ
Re: Accel DFI 6.0 - worth it? (jerkyboy)
The prominator can be found at http://misterbill.homeip.net/aboutprominator.asp. I am using one with my 84 and the 7747 ECM. It works great.
Pro
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 557
Likes: 0
From: Taxahoma
Re: Accel DFI 6.0 - worth it? (jerkyboy)
Don't make the mistake that gm ecm's are slow useless pieces of junk, they're ahead of the game even compared to high $$ aftermarket stuff and with things that Craig has done has made tuning a whole lot easier.
