Dominator vs Fast vs GNECU

[yarbeau]

I've been scouring the net to find a breakdown of pros/cons of each system. Hoping someone can point me in the direction or even break it down. Not building a racecar just want the safety and reliability of a new ECU. A little background on the car.

Stock 87 GN. Wiring harness seems to be in rougher shape so I may be looking at replacing it entirely with the new ECU. New dash system would be a nice add on as I am not a fan of gauge pods littered around the interior. Goals are reliable 9-10 second street car on pump gas and meth that i can hop in and never worry how its going to react. $$$ is of course a factor, i know nothing is cheap but if one system is 2k more but offers the value I'm only doing this once. I am not a tuner so the less I have to tinker with on a computer the better.

Pulling the motor this week to send in to have it machined and long block assembled. This isnt going to be a quick turn around I am in no rush just want to make the best choice.

 

[Mr.Spool]

$$$ is of course a factor, i know nothing is cheap but if one system is 2k more but offers the value I'm only doing this once. I am not a tuner so the less I have to tinker with on a computer the better.

That factor is the main one.
These computer systems are alot and depending on how many sensors and what you wish to look at costs will jump alot.
The systems are only as good as the tuner period.
All of them including a stock ecm are fast enough to reach your speed goals.
It's how much you have to spend and who tunes and supports the computer setup

 

[Mr.Spool]

Goals are reliable 9-10 second street car on pump gas and meth that i can hop in and never worry how its going to react.

9 What?
10 what?
Major differences in those 2 digits money wise from the car to build.

 

[TType85]

If:
a) you don't have some one to tune and you don't want to do it yourself
b) money is an issue
c) running gas and meth (not e85)

Get a new stock harness from Caspers Electronics and an appropriate chip from TurboTweak and be done with it.

I have had an ECUGN and currently run a Holley Dominator with a 12.3" pro dash. I love the Holley system and the dash lets me not have any other gauge pods and clutter which really cleans up the interior.

The ECUGN is more than capable but for me the software leaves a bit to be desired. In my opinion the Holley software is easier to use but you have to build some of the safeties that are already in the ECUGN yourself (more tinkering). If you want to use

Cost wise it is not cheap either way (prices are approximate and probably have gone up).
TurboTweak chip $125
Caspers Harness $1250

ECUGN $2100
DD-EFI Dash $700
Caspers Harness w/ECUGN addons $1400
If you want coil-near-plug add $325 + the cost of coils

Holley HP Kit (from Cruz; includes harness, coils, etc) $3500
Holley 12.3 Pro Dash $2000
3d printed dash/bezel/wiring $600

Prices just go up from there. I went with the Dominator over the HP due to wanting the trans controller and not being limited to 4 input/4 output. The ECUGN has more I/O than the HP but less than the Dominator.

 

[Mr.Spool]

The xoat have gone up quite a bit since you bought
And the labor lol

 

[yarbeau]

If:
a) you don't have some one to tune and you don't want to do it yourself
b) money is an issue
c) running gas and meth (not e85)

Get a new stock harness from Caspers Electronics and an appropriate chip from TurboTweak and be done with it.

I have had an ECUGN and currently run a Holley Dominator with a 12.3" pro dash. I love the Holley system and the dash lets me not have any other gauge pods and clutter which really cleans up the interior.

The ECUGN is more than capable but for me the software leaves a bit to be desired. In my opinion the Holley software is easier to use but you have to build some of the safeties that are already in the ECUGN yourself (more tinkering). If you want to use

Cost wise it is not cheap either way (prices are approximate and probably have gone up).
TurboTweak chip $125
Caspers Harness $1250

ECUGN $2100
DD-EFI Dash $700
Caspers Harness w/ECUGN addons $1400
If you want coil-near-plug add $325 + the cost of coils

Holley HP Kit (from Cruz; includes harness, coils, etc) $3500
Holley 12.3 Pro Dash $2000
3d printed dash/bezel/wiring $600

Prices just go up from there. I went with the Dominator over the HP due to wanting the trans controller and not being limited to 4 input/4 output. The ECUGN has more I/O than the HP but less than the Dominator.

Thanks so much for the breakdown. My hands were leaning to the Ecugn simply because of cost and this not being a race car/needing traction control/transmission access.

What was so negative about the ecugn that’s caused you to switch to Holley? In my situation I wouldn’t be looking at playing with the software and would leave it how TT sets it up for me. Is that reasonable?

Cheers!

 

[TType85]

Thanks so much for the breakdown. My hands were leaning to the Ecugn simply because of cost and this not being a race car/needing traction control/transmission access.

What was so negative about the ecugn that’s caused you to switch to Holley? In my situation I wouldn’t be looking at playing with the software and would leave it how TT sets it up for me. Is that reasonable?

Cheers!

As stupid as it sound the main reason I switched was I wanted the 12.3 dash, separate coils and the better (in my opinion) software. I also like how Holly handles the boost control and the advanced tables for tweaking stuff. I was also able to get a custom harness from Cruz to put the ecu under the passenger seat with the powermaster stuff deleted, boost solenoid wiring and flex fuel sensor already in place. Caspers does not do custom.

I have nothing bad to say about the ECUGN; it does the job really well and can use the stock harness. If you have and doubts about your wiring harness replace it. Mine was bad.

TT will set it up with a base tune but it can still be refined further. You can can integrate the alky system in with it and get rid of the extra box but that is more tweaking.

 

[BEATAV8]

If you have an ECUGN shop/tuner nearby then that’s the way to go. Same for the Holley. First and foremost you want an experienced turbo buick expert, then go with whichever system they’re recommending. Where are you located?

 

[yarbeau]

If you have an ECUGN shop/tuner nearby then that’s the way to go. Same for the Holley. First and foremost you want an experienced turbo buick expert, then go with whichever system they’re recommending. Where are you located?

I am in Edmonton/Canada I'll do some digging. Great advice.

 

[Turbo1dr]

I bought the Dominator because I swapped to a 4L80e and needed transmission control. I also bought it so I can control 2 injector sets and get rid of my old way of doing it. I bought the 12.3" Pro Dash to get rid of any external gauges and to replace my boost controller. Those things in itself is icing on the cake. The software is easy to use.

Holley's are used everywhere in all kinds of engine combinations from slower cars to all out full-tilt race and drag-n-drive cars. The info for just about any engine combination is easy to find. Granted, there's not a lot of info about a Holley on a Turbo Buick engine that's publicly available. If you're willing to learn about using the Holley, you can find more info about it than on this site. For example, take a look at the Performance ECU Forum on this site. The first 10 threads date back to Jan of this year. There's hardly anyone on TB.com asking questions about any ECU. Social media has killed the days where you can easily find answers to questions from 5-10 years ago.

Also, if you're always relying on a "tuner" and paying them money each time, consider that a payment plan with any ECU.

 

[THensley]

I started because I needing a wiring harness. Probably the hardest part is setting the Holley up the ignition system.
With Holley you have 4 different options.
1. OE
2. truck coil
3. LS coil ( I chose this)
4 Holley smart coil
then there 2 (that I know)ways to set cam and crank signal strategy . may be 3 what I did worked for me using LS coil
I will gladly share any thing on my laptop to any body I have no secrets. I don't think I have any secrets from any body that has helped me along the way.
It was a very hard choice, I have been a with Eric and Bob from the beginning. It was not support from any one vender but software, I downloaded both Holley and a MegaSquart and the Holley was easier for me.
after that I chose a vender I have been with for a long time. Caspers and Fullthrottle has given me 5 star support and you have Cruz that has been doing Holley for a long time that has 5 star reviews from loyal customers.
If you chose ECUGN or Holley you will get excellent Suport for the Buick venders snd community.

 

[norbs]

The only known issue is ALL 3 series of holley products if the battery gets weak will cranking there is a chance of the current tune in the ecu getting scrambled. This will result in a no start situation. You have 2 options reload a previous saved tune from the sd card or the laptop. I am on all the holley FB groups and read this happening at least once a day to someone. If you boost start it There is a good chance to fry the ecu, but that can happen to any ecu. Currently there is no fix for the tune loss problem. Just be ready if it ever happens to you. The software is excellent, even though the datalogging speed is not as fast as the ECU-gn which can go to over 200 frames a second on 64 sensors. Where I think the holley is capped out to around 100.

 

[outatime86]

The only known issue is ALL 3 series of holley products if the battery gets weak will cranking there is a chance of the current tune in the ecu getting scrambled. This will result in a no start situation. You have 2 options reload a previous saved tune from the sd card or the laptop. I am on all the holley FB groups and read this happening at least once a day to someone. If you boost start it There is a good chance to fry the ecu, but that can happen to any ecu. Currently there is no fix for the tune loss problem. Just be ready if it ever happens to you. The software is excellent, even though the datalogging speed is not as fast as the ECU-gn which can go to over 200 frames a second on 64 sensors. Where I think the holley is capped out to around 100.

Your the man Norbs!!!~!!!

 

[TType85]

The only known issue is ALL 3 series of holley products if the battery gets weak will cranking there is a chance of the current tune in the ecu getting scrambled. This will result in a no start situation. You have 2 options reload a previous saved tune from the sd card or the laptop. I am on all the holley FB groups and read this happening at least once a day to someone. If you boost start it There is a good chance to fry the ecu, but that can happen to any ecu. Currently there is no fix for the tune loss problem. Just be ready if it ever happens to you. The software is excellent, even though the datalogging speed is not as fast as the ECU-gn which can go to over 200 frames a second on 64 sensors. Where I think the holley is capped out to around 100.

That is where it is nice having the dash. I copy my tune from the ecu to the dash so I can re-flash it when that happens. I haven't had the issue since I started using a battery tender on the car.

 

[norbs]

That is where it is nice having the dash. I copy my tune from the ecu to the dash so I can re-flash it when that happens. I haven't had the issue since I started using a battery tender on the car.

The Holley dash sure is nice addition to have. Also i forgot to add the way the holley applies the learning is excellent. However if you o2 sensor gets screwed up so will be learned data, so you need kind of limits its control once the car is tuned close maybe save that tune in case you have issue's one day. The o2 sensor can die slowly over time or it can be instant, but that happens to all ecu;s too.

 

[TType85]

The Holley dash sure is nice addition to have. Also i forgot to add the way the holley applies the learning is excellent. However if you o2 sensor gets screwed up so will be learned data, so you need kind of limits its control once the car is tuned close maybe save that tune in case you have issue's one day. The o2 sensor can die slowly over time or it can be instant, but that happens to all ecu;s too.

HP and Dominator you can use the better NTK sensor that isn't killed as fast with leaded fuel and will read lower for alcohol. The annoying thing is on the Holley you can't just grab a sensor from the auto parts store.

 

[norbs]

That is true, and the sensor must be bought from holley for the HP and Dom. If you really want to spend the money you can buy a Can bus or analog controller that works with the NTK and shut down the internal bosch CAN o2 input. However this will add $550-600 to the cost of the unit, but you can buy any WB Ntk sensor 24302 or 24300 and it will work, so you not locked into a $350 sensor like Holley does. I can go on on forever with this stuff. You just buy a system that you feel comfortable tuning with, and then you will be happy!

 

[TType85]

That is true, and the sensor must be bought from holley for the HP and Dom. If you really want to spend the money you can buy a Can bus or analog controller that works with the NTK and shut down the internal bosch CAN o2 input. However this will add $550-600 to the cost of the unit, but you can buy any WB Ntk sensor 24302 or 24300 and it will work, so you not locked into a $350 sensor like Holley does. I can go on on forever with this stuff. You just buy a system that you feel comfortable tuning with, and then you will be happy!

MAD racing makes a NTK sensor that works on the HP/Dominator for around $250 NTK O2 SENSOR CALIBRATED FOR HOLLEY HP AND DOMINATOR

 

[Turbo6inKY]

I've been scouring the net to find a breakdown of pros/cons of each system. Hoping someone can point me in the direction or even break it down. Not building a racecar just want the safety and reliability of a new ECU. A little background on the car.

Stock 87 GN. Wiring harness seems to be in rougher shape so I may be looking at replacing it entirely with the new ECU. New dash system would be a nice add on as I am not a fan of gauge pods littered around the interior. Goals are reliable 9-10 second street car on pump gas and meth that i can hop in and never worry how its going to react. $$$ is of course a factor, i know nothing is cheap but if one system is 2k more but offers the value I'm only doing this once. I am not a tuner so the less I have to tinker with on a computer the better.

Pulling the motor this week to send in to have it machined and long block assembled. This isnt going to be a quick turn around I am in no rush just want to make the best choice.

Your goal is a Bugatti. You are not dealing with Bugatti hardware here, You're dealing with forty year old GM stuff.

If the harness is suspect, the computer doesn't matter, It's all going to be crap.

You don't need a new ECU, You need a new wiring harness. And a a realistic set of goals.

A 9-10 second "street car" is a fantasy. A few have done it. They did it with careful tuning a top notch components. Everybody else is lying.