Drivetrain The Official ALTA AccessPORT Thread
Why did you decide to go with lower compression JCW pistons?
1st Gear
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
I believe that the JCW pistons are forged- far greater strength. So although it has lower compression, it can handle far greater pressures in the combustion chamber from mods, resulting in the capability of making much more power! 
The MCS pistons are forged as well...only the shape of the piston crown differs, resulting in the lowered compression.
1st Gear
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
If that's the case- every piece of information I've ever read since 2007 is incorrect.
I have only ever been aware that standard pistons are cast, whereas the JCW pistons are forged.
But anyway- I wouldn't use JCW pistons for upgrading anyway...
Standard "S" pistons are forged??
If that's the case- every piece of information I've ever read since 2007 is incorrect.
I have only ever been aware that standard pistons are cast, whereas the JCW pistons are forged.
But anyway- I wouldn't use JCW pistons for upgrading anyway...
If that's the case- every piece of information I've ever read since 2007 is incorrect.
I have only ever been aware that standard pistons are cast, whereas the JCW pistons are forged.
But anyway- I wouldn't use JCW pistons for upgrading anyway...
3rd Gear
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 190
Likes: 0
From: somewhere in texas
can your friend part out her turbo? lol
ok i forgot i didn't mention numbers and how i got them or what they were for 16 psi map... i had 221whp and 223 wtq with 16 psi extremely broad toruqe too from 2300 -6300 for the torque hp was practically as broad itself... the 252whp was the 19psi map. all that was done on Helix13's Heartbreaker Mustang Dyno... for reference, we had stage 3 JCWs coming in for an RMW tune day in March of 2010, they were only putting out 230wtq and 215whp on that dyno with similar temperature and weather conditions. so the bump in whp and torque at 19 psi (where the JCWs were getting 21-22psi) really shows the power increase from hybrid... seems that my personal setup doesn't like torque as much as other setups, but i made mine to be more of a linear setup rather than torque monster. so it spools a little later (about 300 rpms) than stock but makes it so there is no torque steer issue, just globs of power :P
as for the brakes, i was completely stock brakes ( i know not a good idea, but i had warrantee to spare :P ) post upgrade was Ferodo DS2500 pads with stock rotors in the rear and same pads for front as well as trying out Hawk HP+ pads for the last day and drive home... HP+ pads were decent as a double duty pad, takes a little bit to heat up on the street normal drivng though so HPS might be better for daily driving or those carbos pads... i don't think i spelled that right..
as for the 02 sensor going bad... i had my high pressure fuel pump go bad a few months back which was covered under warrantee, my turbo wasn't exactly put together perfectly which was the wastegate issue, and after waste gate was fixed i found my stock BPV had failed miserably, quickly replaced with WMW replacement, and now with the upgraded Forge one Way's selling, and the O2 sensor, well my car has 83,599 miles on that O2 sensor (and my car for that matter), i think it's about time it went bad :P i have some upgraded internals on their way (JCW pistons with custom connecting rods and a lighterweight custom crank shaft, and no displacement was not changed i'm staying at 1.6L, i have a friend with a 2.0L stroked R53, and that thing just destroys most cars, but is completely undrivable on the street :P
as for the brakes, i was completely stock brakes ( i know not a good idea, but i had warrantee to spare :P ) post upgrade was Ferodo DS2500 pads with stock rotors in the rear and same pads for front as well as trying out Hawk HP+ pads for the last day and drive home... HP+ pads were decent as a double duty pad, takes a little bit to heat up on the street normal drivng though so HPS might be better for daily driving or those carbos pads... i don't think i spelled that right..
as for the 02 sensor going bad... i had my high pressure fuel pump go bad a few months back which was covered under warrantee, my turbo wasn't exactly put together perfectly which was the wastegate issue, and after waste gate was fixed i found my stock BPV had failed miserably, quickly replaced with WMW replacement, and now with the upgraded Forge one Way's selling, and the O2 sensor, well my car has 83,599 miles on that O2 sensor (and my car for that matter), i think it's about time it went bad :P i have some upgraded internals on their way (JCW pistons with custom connecting rods and a lighterweight custom crank shaft, and no displacement was not changed i'm staying at 1.6L, i have a friend with a 2.0L stroked R53, and that thing just destroys most cars, but is completely undrivable on the street :P
However, sounds like you have quite the engine in that car and your friends 2L sounds insane.
Alta's sample dyno charts say I might get in the 210 - 215 Hp range for the mods I have. Modest by your standards but probably plenty for me 
.As for brakes, I had thought about using the HP+ on the track, but concluded that their temp range was too low. I had problems with the HPS on the track (over heated them) and they are both rated for 900 degF. My track buddies talked me into a set of Carbotech XP10s for the front (XP-8 rear). These are rated 1600 degF. The temp sensing paint I put on the rotors said I was hitting a little above 1100 degF. I guess I am hard of brakes.
These carbos are a true race pad that I drove on both the track and the street. They made more noise than an old bus, but the have a broad temp band with very constent friction so they are really nice on the track. I am currently using the HP+ on the street and find that they are not as friendly. They warm up quickly but they get grabby, so they are kind-of like a light switch in that regard. They might be good in the autoX I do where that stickyness might come in handy.I think with the amount of power increase the AP makes, a brakes upgrade is a must for me.
Question, I got my accessport and this thing is sweet!!!!! However I noticed two things that changed and I wanted to know if they were normal or pure coincidence. First, I noticed that when I shift now the rpms jump a tiny bit as if the car had a throttle blip system (I have a manual and no i'm not giving it gas). And second, I gave the car a run for it's money yesterday and without the AP I know my fan would've been going crazy like a turbine but it didn't even go off yesterday and my car got pretty hot. Any input on this? Thanks guys
Question, I got my accessport and this thing is sweet!!!!! However I noticed two things that changed and I wanted to know if they were normal or pure coincidence. First, I noticed that when I shift now the rpms jump a tiny bit as if the car had a throttle blip system (I have a manual and no i'm not giving it gas). And second, I gave the car a run for it's money yesterday and without the AP I know my fan would've been going crazy like a turbine but it didn't even go off yesterday and my car got pretty hot. Any input on this? Thanks guys
Former Vendor
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 660
Likes: 1
From: Hillsboro, OR
Chris,
What is the difference between stage I and stage I plus? The reason that I ask is because when I got my AP, Jeff had to email me files and I had to manually place them into the AP. How do I know if I have stage I or stage 1+ maps? I sent Jeff an email but didn't hear back. Thanks!
What is the difference between stage I and stage I plus? The reason that I ask is because when I got my AP, Jeff had to email me files and I had to manually place them into the AP. How do I know if I have stage I or stage 1+ maps? I sent Jeff an email but didn't hear back. Thanks!
ALTA- in one of your previous replies you gave this response, "That is part of the body module and at this point the AccessPORT only talks to the ECU".
Does this mean than some time in the future we could see the AccessPORT interacting with body modules?
Like interaction with the DSC, and possibily having some control over the ALL4 system in the new Countryman????
Does this mean than some time in the future we could see the AccessPORT interacting with body modules?
Like interaction with the DSC, and possibily having some control over the ALL4 system in the new Countryman????
So a question to Alta on this subject - you seem to be willing to customize the tunes to an individual's needs/wants. Can you give us an intial tune that won't throw codes on the track but still make reasonable Hp? It seems that we can always record data, send it to you and you can fine tune it from there. BTY, for me I would like it to be streetable too, like these other tunes seem to be.
Former Vendor
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 660
Likes: 1
From: Hillsboro, OR
Question, I got my accessport and this thing is sweet!!!!! However I noticed two things that changed and I wanted to know if they were normal or pure coincidence. First, I noticed that when I shift now the rpms jump a tiny bit as if the car had a throttle blip system (I have a manual and no i'm not giving it gas). And second, I gave the car a run for it's money yesterday and without the AP I know my fan would've been going crazy like a turbine but it didn't even go off yesterday and my car got pretty hot. Any input on this? Thanks guys
We don't change the operation of the fans, so it must have been just colder out that day, or you were getting more airflow over the radiator.
5th Gear
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 739
Likes: 9
I noticed the same thing. However I just think that it's because the throttle mapping is different. So I'm used to having to compensate for a laggy (stock) throttle by giving more gas between shifts. The TPS map from Alta is more linear which does away with that issue.
I think your answers pretty much have been answered, but we are willing to help customers out if they need a special map! We want our maps to work like the OEM maps, where they can be daily driven, and driven to the track and back home without any problems. If anyone has any problems at all, we want to know about it, so we can fix it.
Neutral
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
When I purchased the AccessPORT, I was sent two maps (technically 4 maps since different ECU versions apparently need different maps). One map was an Alta tune with the sport button's throttle response left as it was originally, the other was a tune with more linear throttle mappings (regardless of the sport button's setting). Since then, I requested map with the linear throttle mapping when the sport button isn't engaged and the twitchier stock mapping for when the sport button is engaged. Jeff promptly made me a custom map, sent it to me, and I've been running that map for the last few weeks.
I'm picking up an '11 Clubman S with an auto trans and am trying to get them to throw in the JCW tuning kit.
If I were to then run your tune, would it be too much for the trans to handle? Down the road, I may also add the JCW turbo - Again, would this be too much for the auto with your tune?
Thanks for your time.
If I were to then run your tune, would it be too much for the trans to handle? Down the road, I may also add the JCW turbo - Again, would this be too much for the auto with your tune?
Thanks for your time.