AEM EMS vs Stinger

[turbo87targa]

which one has the better benifits? which one can give a better tune, without being completely complicated to set up in an 87 7mgte. the EMS is almost $600 more than the stinger, but seems to have more features, are they worth the extra 600? does either one run on the stock wire harness? or will one need a supporting harness? (id rather not have it run on the stock harness) which one eliminates the MAF? (both?)

[Boosted Supra]

which one has the better benifits? which one can give a better tune, without being completely complicated to set up in an 87 7mgte. the EMS is almost $600 more than the stinger, but seems to have more features, are they worth the extra 600? does either one run on the stock wire harness? or will one need a supporting harness? (id rather not have it run on the stock harness) which one eliminates the MAF? (both?)

I just recently got into the AEM and here's a few pro's and con's.

AEM Pro's:

Plug N Play to stock harness(just need to wire up map/air sensors, recommend purchasing new engine harness)
Lots of tuners (you'll more likely fine one in your area)

Con's:

Engine specific (can only use it on the engine harness type you purchased it for)
Can only fit in stock ECU location without glove box inner backing


Stinger Pro's:

Eliminates (old and busted) engine harness if needed replacing, keeps engine bay looking cleaner
Works on any engine type, pack up and go type if you ever decide to sell your car.

Con's:

Trial and error learning curve(very limited amount of tuners), learn on your own type of standalone

Also, all Standalone's eliminate MAF

That's all I know, sorry. Some of the other guys will chime in later.

[turbo87targa]

huh. thank you boosted, this is pretty much exactly what I was looking to find out. My stock harness is a pos that's been hacked and slashed since I bought it. I plan in the future to go 1j or 2j so I'd like a non engine specific ems. The shop that I would go to for tuning uses all kinds of standalones for their cars (mostly domestics tho) so they should b able to figure out stinger, plus bigaaron has a base map for 550's so that should help a ton. Not to mention stinger being $600 cheaper is a nice bonus :)

[bmoss85]

bigaaron could probably do a plug and play harness for you for the stinger.

[suprahero]

bigaaron can definately do a plug and play harness for you for the stinger.

FTFY.......:icon_bigg

[Boosted Supra]

huh. thank you boosted, this is pretty much exactly what I was looking to find out. My stock harness is a pos that's been hacked and slashed since I bought it. I plan in the future to go 1j or 2j so I'd like a non engine specific ems. The shop that I would go to for tuning uses all kinds of standalones for their cars (mostly domestics tho) so they should b able to figure out stinger, plus bigaaron has a base map for 550's so that should help a ton. Not to mention stinger being $600 cheaper is a nice bonus :)

Glad I can help

[Boosted Supra]

FTFY.......:icon_bigg

I'm new to these internet acronyms, define please.

[The Dude]

I'm new to these internet acronyms, define please.
FTFY=Fixed That For You, was over my head too, had to google it. :icon_razz

[Zazzn]

if your harness is in decent condition i'd get the AEM.

If not and you need to replace go with stinger.

I went AEM because I know just about every tuner knows AEM down pat and won't be learing on my car.

[Boosted Supra]

FTFY=Fixed That For You, was over my head too, had to google it. :icon_razz

Oh, thanks

if your harness is in decent condition i'd get the AEM.

If not and you need to replace go with stinger.

I went AEM because I know just about every tuner knows AEM down pat and won't be learing on my car.

The only reason I went AEM was because I had a new engine harness sitting in my basement and as you said, there's lots of tuners out there.

[figgie]

Just keep in mind.

harness conditions will not be NEW unless you recently reoplaced the harness.

So from a time perspective you are looking at 21 years for an 87 and 16 years for a 92. That is a lot of heat cycling time and usually ends up making the wire jacket a brittle mess.

Now on to the standalones in question.

AEM is Plug and Play (PnP). What this means is that you take out your old stock TCCS and plug in the AEm and that is it. It is installed. On the other hand what PnP does NOT mean is Plug and run the crap out of it. It is still a full fledged standalone so it requires tuning. PnP also does not mean that it is easy to tune. A tuner will find it simple enough but to think that ANYONE can install the AEM and tune it themselves is short of silly. That is where MOST of the problems appear from when the buyer thinks that because it was easy to install it will be easy to tune when it is nowhere near the truth.

The stinger is a good system (they all are).

The real question is does one provide something you need that the other standalone does not? IF they both do the same thing than the more pertinent question is, which system has more local tuners available that KNOW the system or if remote tuning is an option, how easy it is for the "remote" tuner to tune your car?

btw. Keep in mind that a dyno is nice but think about this. How do the Pro-stock. Pro-mod cars etc get "tuned" as their power level is beyond any dyno out there? ;) Think about that for a bit.....

[turbo87targa]

well im not looking for anything crazy really. the car will probably never see power levels over 600. 2 step would be nice, but i can live without it (it would really just be a show thing) i just need something more dependable than an safc and a lex afm (which is actually what i was going to go with, till i decided i want to go all out....well as far "all out" as you can go to 450hp lol)

[figgie]

well im not looking for anything crazy really. the car will probably never see power levels over 600. 2 step would be nice, but i can live without it (it would really just be a show thing) i just need something more dependable than an safc and a lex afm (which is actually what i was going to go with, till i decided i want to go all out....well as far "all out" as you can go to 450hp lol)

something to keep in the back of your mind.

The two step might look cool but you are shortening the turbo's life span (depending on how severe the timing is) every time you use it ;) Nothing is without it's price.

[bmoss85]

you could always go maftpro if you're not wanting to go to crazy on hp.

[turbo87targa]

something to keep in the back of your mind.

The two step might look cool but you are shortening the turbo's life span (depending on how severe the timing is) every time you use it ;) Nothing is without it's price.

haha I know. That's why I said I could live without it LOL. It's like a wonderful power that takes a little of your life each time lol.

I would go with mart pro but I'd just like to get rid of as much of the old electrics as possible,ecu and wire harness are first in line.

[turbo87targa]

Just keep in mind.

harness conditions will not be NEW unless you recently reoplaced the harness.

So from a time perspective you are looking at 21 years for an 87 and 16 years for a 92. That is a lot of heat cycling time and usually ends up making the wire jacket a brittle mess.

Now on to the standalones in question.

AEM is Plug and Play (PnP). What this means is that you take out your old stock TCCS and plug in the AEm and that is it. It is installed. On the other hand what PnP does NOT mean is Plug and run the crap out of it. It is still a full fledged standalone so it requires tuning. PnP also does not mean that it is easy to tune. A tuner will find it simple enough but to think that ANYONE can install the AEM and tune it themselves is short of silly. That is where MOST of the problems appear from when the buyer thinks that because it was easy to install it will be easy to tune when it is nowhere near the truth.

The stinger is a good system (they all are).

The real question is does one provide something you need that the other standalone does not? IF they both do the same thing than the more pertinent question is, which system has more local tuners available that KNOW the system or if remote tuning is an option, how easy it is for the "remote" tuner to tune your car?

btw. Keep in mind that a dyno is nice but think about this. How do the Pro-stock. Pro-mod cars etc get "tuned" as their power level is beyond any dyno out there? ;) Think about that for a bit.....
So I just re-read this and just wanted clarification about the harness situation, if my stock wire harness is shit and and I plan on getting stinger would it b a good idea to replace the harness?

[bmoss85]

you could just build a new harness for the stinger. i think you can still buy new connectors from toyota. you would be able to eliminate the stuff you didnt need from the old harness. plus it would look really clean!

[quake]

Oh, thanks



The only reason I went AEM was because I had a new engine harness sitting in my basement and as you said, there's lots of tuners out there.

off topic but look at my daughter. Your son looks like her big brother :biglaugh:

[Boosted Supra]

off topic but look at my daughter. Your son looks like her big brother :biglaugh:

Sent you a PM, FYI your baby looks so much like mine. Even my wife thinks so

OK, back on topic......sorry guys.

[turbo87targa]

you could just build a new harness for the stinger. i think you can still buy new connectors from toyota. you would be able to eliminate the stuff you didnt need from the old harness. plus it would look really clean!
so the pnp harness from driftmotion replaces the stock one and eliminates the sensors/wires that are no longer needed?

As for the off topic stuff, no need to apologize, I think we all agree that is awesome how much alike they look.

[Zazzn]

really an EMS is an EMS you need to choose the features and go with that one.

Aem has everything i want/need

Boost control, Launch control, Meth control via NOS or tirggers and traction control.

Also works with stock auto!

[turbo87targa]

yea I just don't see me using launch control or nos. I think stinger should suit my needs.

[bmoss85]

so the pnp harness from driftmotion replaces the stock one and eliminates the sensors/wires that are no longer needed?


you would really need to talk to bigarron about that. im pretty sure it just makes so you can use your exsiting harness.

i was saying that you could build a completly new harness and eliminate all the stuff you didnt need and it would look really good. i dont know about you but i dont really like wiring to much, so i would probably pay some body to do it for me. but thats just me.

[turbo87targa]

you would really need to talk to bigarron about that. im pretty sure it just makes so you can use your exsiting harness.

i was saying that you could build a completly new harness and eliminate all the stuff you didnt need and it would look really good. i dont know about you but i dont really like wiring to much, so i would probably pay some body to do it for me. but thats just me.

yea I think your right. It looks like it does just adapt to the stock harness. I definitly do not like wireing Lol.

[avp23]

well heres my situation. Im wondering what ems i want to use. I already have a brand new harness on my 91 motor. so i dont want to be hacking that. the only thing i want out of a ems is to tune. I dont know what else that i could get from a ems that i wouldnt need. i just want to adjust spark air fuel timing and get rid of the stock AFM. thats all.

I saw some one was selling a stinger in the for sale section for cheap (600's i thought) thats a great price compared to 1600 AEM's ems.

is there some thing else that i would want to adjust that i cant think of right now?

[figgie]

well heres my situation. Im wondering what ems i want to use. I already have a brand new harness on my 91 motor. so i dont want to be hacking that. the only thing i want out of a ems is to tune. I dont know what else that i could get from a ems that i wouldnt need. i just want to adjust spark air fuel timing and get rid of the stock AFM. thats all.

I saw some one was selling a stinger in the for sale section for cheap (600's i thought) thats a great price compared to 1600 AEM's ems.

is there some thing else that i would want to adjust that i cant think of right now?

you mean the tuner right?

sometimes an EMS is the right tool for the job and other times, the user in question should not be allowed within 1 mile from a car with an EMS. So what makes you think that adjusting timimg and fueling is a user adjustment?

[avp23]

you mean the tuner right?

sometimes an EMS is the right tool for the job and other times, the user in question should not be allowed within 1 mile from a car with an EMS. So what makes you think that adjusting timimg and fueling is a user adjustment?

Yes, i agree. I should not be allowed to do any thing with it I'll admit that. the tuner is the only one that will be making the adjustments. but i also would like to learn a little bit about it.

[figgie]

Yes, i agree. I should not be allowed to do any thing with it I'll admit that. the tuner is the only one that will be making the adjustments. but i also would like to learn a little bit about it.


Well a tuner will show you bits and pieces but more specifically they will show/tell/instruct you were NOT to go. Also, it would be unwise to tune a motor without knowing what the motor is looking for in the EMS in particular to Injection pulse width (be it in degrees, time, percentage, VE etc) ignition timing, dwell, battery offset. If those words seem "chinese" to you then definetly let an experience tuner take care of it :)

[Nick M]

really an EMS is an EMS you need to choose the features and go with that one.

Aem has everything i want/need

Boost control, Launch control, Meth control via NOS or tirggers and traction control.

Also works with stock auto!

AEM says it doesn't. The A340E has input from the TCCS. How did you do yours? Or did you use a stand alone on the A340E itself? That is an asuummption that you are auto. I guess I don't know that you are.