HKS A/F Knock Amp

A

Airvtec

Member
Car
2006 FX35
My car is at GTM right now. Sam suggested that I get the HKS a/f knock amp while my transmission is out. He said it's easier to get to, cuz they have to drill holes for sensors. Also, I will be getting the s/c kit down the road. He said the knock amp is a must when going force induction. He also said this will help in tuning my car, cuz it'll give me more exact and detail reading of the a/f. I have asked him to dyno tune it while the car is there.

My question is should I get it now? Will it make a noticeable difference when tuning my car? I realize it's something I'll have to get later down the road when I do go FI. However, will I benefit from it right now while I'm NA, with a tune? Or I should just have him tune it without it for now?
 
Are you installing a piggy back or is he going to flash the ecu? The knock amp is ideal for tuning and if you're running something that will do something if knock is sensed. All VQs have an existing knock sensor already.
 
Hi Rookie,
It's just an ECU flash with dyno tune. He did a base line dyno pull, and said my car is running really lean. He said he can use the existing sensors, but he'll be able to do more if he has the knock amp because the reading will be more accurate.

I do plan to go with the HKS s/c kit down the road, so Sam said it's something I'll have to get anyways. His arguement is to get it now so he can better tune the car with, and it'll be used with the FI kit later. I just don't know if it justifies spending $1700 for the knock amp, harness, wide band, and install for it right now. Honestely I'm not very familiar with this knock amp, and don't know how beneficial it'll be for tuning my car.
 
hmm.

This is just from an outsider looking in. GTM is a great shop, they can make a lot of cool stuff happen. I hear of a lot of upsell for parts and pieces and misc stuff.

I would want to see the baseline dyno with the AF before I committed to 1700 of "stuff". I can't even fathom a CAI and exhaust on a stock ecu going lean.

Say you get the knock amp and other stuff now, what happens if you don't get the SC later? 2k for basically nothing. I personally would pass on this stuff until you know you're definitely going to get boosted. Sounds like the GTM HKS SC package really is going to be 10-12k. :eek:
 
my tuner kinda recommended similar to me & I thought it made sense, to install all the supporting hardware first, get a base line tune & get everything kinda zero'd out, & then add the SC. I already did my utec, doing my headers & exhaust & I'm going to upgrade the fuel system with a return setup too, all while stock normally aspirated. there are a lot of benefits to this way of doing it & also I see your guys point of it being all opened up already so you'll save some labor installing the knock sensors now I guess...

but, I had no question I was definitely doing the SC, I already bought that too, so yeah, good advice not to do much unless it's really set in stone that you are indeed doing the SC... of course most of what I did would be a waste if it didn't wind up going sc afterall...

in the end a shop like that is gonna want to do things all out, & of course it's at your expense while they profit, but, that's part of the reason you're dealing with a top place too, to have the guidance of doing it "right" I guess, & being prepared to pay the price. I'm sure there are ways to economize here & there, but depends on the approach your taking really... I'm doing as much as I can myself to not have to spend huge $$$
 
14.7 under full load is starting to get lean even for NA.

Looking at Will's dyno
scan00030ed0.jpg


I think the different between your exhaust side mods would be headers on Will's, and a true dual on yours. I've always had a weird suspicion about the LMS CAI integrated maf bung, I've never had the time to measure the LMS maf diameter vs the stock maf housing diameter. If the LMS is larger even in the smallest bit the measured air coming in will be off and thus making you lean.

I would want to know why you're lean before throwing money at it.
 
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