Name a good Tuner - Subaru Enthusiasts Car Club of the Sierras

cody · 2005-05-03, 08:15 PM

Hey, I just moved here from Santa Rosa and I was really stoked to find your forum.

So who's Nate...a local tuner here in Reno or is he a tuner at that S-Squared? I really don't want to give Shiv at TurboXS my business after the bad attitude I've heard about. So yah, where's the best place to get an Ecutek tune? I don't mind driving if there's a good tuner sombody can recomend.

Dean · 2005-05-03, 08:19 PM

Nate is Subaru Specialists Motorsports, formerly S-Squared in Sac. Nobody local. I would reccomend Nate for an ECUTek tune.

Kevin M · 2005-05-03, 08:23 PM

Wow... I would love to see what would happen if you said "Shiv at TurboXS" within earshot of him!

I used to work for him, he owns his owned business called Vishnu Performance Systems in Fremont.

Nate is the tuner at Subaru Specialists. He used to be the proprietor of S-Squared before merging with Alfas & Subarus to form Subaru Specialists. He's the real reason you don't need to go see Shiv. EcuTek tunes by Nate are $650 for standard and $750 for drive-by-wire cars I believe. I absolutely recommend having Nate tune your car. Almost everybody on this board has, and you'd have a pretty hard time getting anyone to say something negative about his work, and more importantly, his customer service.

cody · 2005-05-03, 08:28 PM

Glad to hear Nate's a good guy. Thanks.

Nick Koan · 2005-05-03, 08:48 PM

Another recomendation for Nate here. He's done some minor work for me here and there, but nothing major (yet

)

Kostamojen · 2005-05-03, 08:51 PM

Nate rocks, nuf said

MikeK · 2005-05-03, 11:19 PM

Another vote for Nate here.

doubleurx · 2005-05-04, 09:35 AM

Me also. He has done a ton of work on my car.

MattR · 2005-05-04, 10:16 AM

Yeah, Nate's the man.

(SS Show car

)

Lowball · 2005-05-04, 08:18 PM

+1 for Nate.

sonicsuby · 2005-05-10, 09:10 AM

+..2? for Nate. He rocks.

cody · 2005-05-10, 09:19 AM

Ok I get the idea.

Is there any way to get a discount with Nate?

MattR · 2005-05-10, 09:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cody

Ok I get the idea.

Is there any way to get a discount with Nate?

No, in fact, now that you know all of us, you'll have to pay double too!

cody · 2005-05-10, 09:46 AM

Figures!

MattR · 2005-05-10, 09:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cody

Figures!

In all seriousness, Nate, Joe and Aaron at SS give members of SECCS and SRIC (i-club) very fair prices on parts and services, so you don't need a discount.

cody · 2005-05-10, 10:43 AM

Well Joe quoted me $650 for the Ecutek tune (including the tune and an hour of dyno time), $80/hour for additional dyno time, and $75/hr for install labor. I have a stupid question, does the $650 include the Ecutek unit and everything else I'll need for the reflash? Would I have any reason to think that it would take more than an hour to tune my car with an UP and TBE? Also, do I need an EGT gauge? Joe recomended it, but said it's not necessary since the Ecutek will protect the engine if it gets to high. Sorry to hijack my own thread.

MattR · 2005-05-10, 10:50 AM

No, you're cool. There really is no Ecutek "Unit", your actually buying the license to have the computer touched. SS is a licensed Ecutek tuner, thus you pay for them to tweak your car.

You don't need a EG guage, but it doesn't hurt. A boost gauge is a must. I think that an hour to do the tune is very realistic, unless your car is doing something funky. But I wouldn;t think it would go over that amount of time.

Matt

cody · 2005-05-10, 11:02 AM

Thanks Matt...yah I don't mind buying an EGT if it's a good idea. The gauge pod I want to get has two gauge spots anyway:

But don't I have to tap a hole into the exhaust manifold? How hard is that? Also, I feel like I should get a gauge that blinks or buzzes once it hits a threshold since I'm only human and may forget to check the gauge when I'm pushing the car hard. I like the Omori "WRX look" gauges, but I don't think they have that...any recomendations. Should I make a new thread?

MikeSTI · 2005-05-10, 11:43 AM

I hade Nate install my EGT guage and was charged $100 for the tap on the exhaust manifold. I installed the guage and with the Defi one its just plug and play

doubleurx · 2005-05-10, 12:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MikeSTI

I hade Nate install my EGT guage and was charged $100 for the tap on the exhaust manifold. I installed the guage and with the Defi one its just plug and play

Yah, but Mike isn't your EGT all messed up and it actually is reading your boost?

cody · 2005-05-10, 12:54 PM

Ewwww, Burn

MikeSTI · 2005-05-10, 03:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by doubleurx

Yah, but Mike isn't your EGT all messed up and it actually is reading your boost?

NO!!!! but I do get a strange sound at 2250 rpm and at 3250rmp

sonicsuby · 2005-05-11, 04:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cody

Thanks Matt...yah I don't mind buying an EGT if it's a good idea. The gauge pod I want to get has two gauge spots anyway:

I have that gauge setup and got it from j-spec tuning. They kick ass and I love the gauges. I had Nate install mine though..

cody · 2005-05-11, 04:51 PM

Yah, that's where that image is linked from, J-spec Tuning. Did you get that kit that comes with the pod, gauges, and sending units? I was wondering if they came with absolutely everything you need for the install, but I'll just email them probably.

So I'm convinced that a custom tune is the way to go, but I don't know if I should go to Nate or get a road tune from Ed atEquilibrium Tuning in Davis. EJ20Legacy (Jeremy) just gave a kick ass review of his tuning ability on wrxfanatics.com. I'm leaning toward Nate though.

Do you think there's any clout to Jeremy's claim that on a dyno you can't go as fast, so the upper gears can't get tuned fully and some people have issues in the upper gears...like boost spiking? I had never heard of that.

Nick Koan · 2005-05-11, 04:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cody

Yah, that's where that image is linked from, J-spec Tuning. Did you get that kit that comes with the pod, gauges, and sending units? I was wondering if they came with absolutely everything you need for the install, but I'll just email them probably.

So I'm convinced that a custom tune is the way to go, but I don't know if I should go to Nate or get a road tune from Ed atEquilibrium Tuning in Davis. EJ20Legacy (Jeremy) just gave a kick ass review of his tuning ability on wrxfanatics.com. I'm leaning toward Nate though.

Do you think there's any clout to Jeremy's claim that on a dyno you can't go as fast, so the upper gears can't get tuned fully and some people have issues in the upper gears...like boost spiking? I had never heard of that.

Not to bring that drama over here, but Ed (though he may be really smart) has yet to convince me that he is an accomplished tuner. I still think he is still learning how to tune, and I wouldn't really trust him at this point in the game. All of his reviews tend to say he takes a lot of time with his tunes. One interpretation is he really wants to get a good tune and but I'm more willing to believe he is a 'trial and error' tuner and is kind of flying blind.

He may be a great tuner in a few years, but I'm not willing to trust him with my motor yet.

But thats just my opinion. Take it or leave it. (and I wouldn't trust everything you read on wrxfanatics.com either

).

2005-05-03, 08:15 PM	#1
cody Candy Mountain Real Name: Cody Join Date: May 2005 Location: Californication Posts: 7,751 Car: 03 Pussy Wagon, now with more pink! Class: TESP OMG Internet!	Name a good Tuna Hey, I just moved here from Santa Rosa and I was really stoked to find your forum. So who's Nate...a local tuner here in Reno or is he a tuner at that S-Squared? I really don't want to give Shiv at TurboXS my business after the bad attitude I've heard about. So yah, where's the best place to get an Ecutek tune? I don't mind driving if there's a good tuner sombody can recomend. __________________ Slow and low, that is the tempo.

2005-05-03, 08:19 PM	#2
Dean Señor Cheap Bastarde Real Name: Dean Join Date: May 2003 Location: $99 Tire Store Posts: 9,294 Car: $.04 STI Class: Fast,Cheap & Reliable=STI Deal, did somebody say Deal? Oh, Dean, yeah that's me.	Nate is Subaru Specialists Motorsports, formerly S-Squared in Sac. Nobody local. I would reccomend Nate for an ECUTek tune. __________________ I am a Commodore PET --- Now get off my lawn you kids...

2005-05-03, 08:23 PM	#3
Kevin M EJ22T Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Reno Posts: 9,445 Car: '93/'01 GF6, mostly red Class: 19 FP	Wow... I would love to see what would happen if you said "Shiv at TurboXS" within earshot of him! I used to work for him, he owns his owned business called Vishnu Performance Systems in Fremont. Nate is the tuner at Subaru Specialists. He used to be the proprietor of S-Squared before merging with Alfas & Subarus to form Subaru Specialists. He's the real reason you don't need to go see Shiv. EcuTek tunes by Nate are $650 for standard and $750 for drive-by-wire cars I believe. I absolutely recommend having Nate tune your car. Almost everybody on this board has, and you'd have a pretty hard time getting anyone to say something negative about his work, and more importantly, his customer service. __________________ FWD is the new AWD

2005-05-03, 08:28 PM	#4
cody Candy Mountain Real Name: Cody Join Date: May 2005 Location: Californication Posts: 7,751 Car: 03 Pussy Wagon, now with more pink! Class: TESP OMG Internet!	Glad to hear Nate's a good guy. Thanks. __________________ Slow and low, that is the tempo.

2005-05-03, 08:48 PM	#5
Nick Koan JDM Cowboy Real Name: Nick Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Somewhere Posts: 8,642 Car: 2015 Mazda 3	Another recomendation for Nate here. He's done some minor work for me here and there, but nothing major (yet ) __________________ While a standard engine is powered by a belt connected to the crankshaft, a turbo engine runs on its own exhaust steam, making it more energy efficient. -- CNN

2005-05-03, 08:51 PM	#6
Kostamojen EJ22 Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Roseville, CA Posts: 380	Nate rocks, nuf said __________________ K-man

2005-05-03, 11:19 PM	#7
MikeK Captain Turbo Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Reno Posts: 3,318 Car: 05 STi	Another vote for Nate here.

2005-05-04, 09:35 AM	#8
doubleurx EJ205 Join Date: May 2004 Location: Truckee Posts: 1,948	Me also. He has done a ton of work on my car.

2005-05-04, 10:16 AM	#9
MattR El Matador Real Name: Matt Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Reno, NV Posts: 10,660 Car: 2012 Toyota Tacoma Class: ?	Yeah, Nate's the man. (SS Show car ) __________________ "Dallas..We have a problem.”

2005-05-04, 08:18 PM	#10
Lowball n00b Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: House of Blue Leaves Posts: 20	+1 for Nate. __________________ "Free minds, Open powder"

2005-05-10, 09:10 AM	#11
sonicsuby Wagon Ho #2 Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Sacramento, CA Posts: 657	+..2? for Nate. He rocks.

2005-05-10, 09:19 AM	#12
cody Candy Mountain Real Name: Cody Join Date: May 2005 Location: Californication Posts: 7,751 Car: 03 Pussy Wagon, now with more pink! Class: TESP OMG Internet!	Ok I get the idea. Is there any way to get a discount with Nate? __________________ Slow and low, that is the tempo.

2005-05-10, 09:46 AM	#14
cody Candy Mountain Real Name: Cody Join Date: May 2005 Location: Californication Posts: 7,751 Car: 03 Pussy Wagon, now with more pink! Class: TESP OMG Internet!	Figures! __________________ Slow and low, that is the tempo.

2005-05-10, 10:43 AM	#16
cody Candy Mountain Real Name: Cody Join Date: May 2005 Location: Californication Posts: 7,751 Car: 03 Pussy Wagon, now with more pink! Class: TESP OMG Internet!	Well Joe quoted me $650 for the Ecutek tune (including the tune and an hour of dyno time), $80/hour for additional dyno time, and $75/hr for install labor. I have a stupid question, does the $650 include the Ecutek unit and everything else I'll need for the reflash? Would I have any reason to think that it would take more than an hour to tune my car with an UP and TBE? Also, do I need an EGT gauge? Joe recomended it, but said it's not necessary since the Ecutek will protect the engine if it gets to high. Sorry to hijack my own thread. __________________ Slow and low, that is the tempo.

2005-05-10, 10:50 AM	#17
MattR El Matador Real Name: Matt Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Reno, NV Posts: 10,660 Car: 2012 Toyota Tacoma Class: ?	No, you're cool. There really is no Ecutek "Unit", your actually buying the license to have the computer touched. SS is a licensed Ecutek tuner, thus you pay for them to tweak your car. You don't need a EG guage, but it doesn't hurt. A boost gauge is a must. I think that an hour to do the tune is very realistic, unless your car is doing something funky. But I wouldn;t think it would go over that amount of time. Matt __________________ "Dallas..We have a problem.”

2005-05-10, 11:02 AM	#18
cody Candy Mountain Real Name: Cody Join Date: May 2005 Location: Californication Posts: 7,751 Car: 03 Pussy Wagon, now with more pink! Class: TESP OMG Internet!	Thanks Matt...yah I don't mind buying an EGT if it's a good idea. The gauge pod I want to get has two gauge spots anyway: But don't I have to tap a hole into the exhaust manifold? How hard is that? Also, I feel like I should get a gauge that blinks or buzzes once it hits a threshold since I'm only human and may forget to check the gauge when I'm pushing the car hard. I like the Omori "WRX look" gauges, but I don't think they have that...any recomendations. Should I make a new thread? __________________ Slow and low, that is the tempo.

2005-05-10, 11:43 AM	#19
MikeSTI EJ205 Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Reno, NV Posts: 2,354 Car: 2004 STi Class: TSM I can't complain	I hade Nate install my EGT guage and was charged $100 for the tap on the exhaust manifold. I installed the guage and with the Defi one its just plug and play __________________ Cobb Stage 2

2005-05-10, 12:54 PM	#21
cody Candy Mountain Real Name: Cody Join Date: May 2005 Location: Californication Posts: 7,751 Car: 03 Pussy Wagon, now with more pink! Class: TESP OMG Internet!	Ewwww, Burn __________________ Slow and low, that is the tempo.

2005-05-11, 04:51 PM	#24
cody Candy Mountain Real Name: Cody Join Date: May 2005 Location: Californication Posts: 7,751 Car: 03 Pussy Wagon, now with more pink! Class: TESP OMG Internet!	Yah, that's where that image is linked from, J-spec Tuning. Did you get that kit that comes with the pod, gauges, and sending units? I was wondering if they came with absolutely everything you need for the install, but I'll just email them probably. So I'm convinced that a custom tune is the way to go, but I don't know if I should go to Nate or get a road tune from Ed atEquilibrium Tuning in Davis. EJ20Legacy (Jeremy) just gave a kick ass review of his tuning ability on wrxfanatics.com. I'm leaning toward Nate though. Do you think there's any clout to Jeremy's claim that on a dyno you can't go as fast, so the upper gears can't get tuned fully and some people have issues in the upper gears...like boost spiking? I had never heard of that. __________________ Slow and low, that is the tempo. Last edited by cody; 2005-05-11 at 04:54 PM.

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