UM tune... Want more!!

[jaso028]

So for those of you running a UM tune..

have you guys hollowed out your cats and running it succesfully without a CEL??

only asking becuase when my tune was done we werent sure if they forced readiness in NY so went a different route.. now I am looking to get some more out of my car and this is the cheapest 1st step I am looking to take...

I know when mine was done there were 2 versions of the 24v tune... but anyone else has some info please let me know...

[MachtSchnell]

If you must, do a test pipe. But I honestly don't understand what is with everyone wanting to delete cats, I'm pretty sure you loose back pressure resulting in loss of low end torque (unless you are turbo). Not to mention that it makes your car illegal, but your car will belch out more emmisions than any big SUV. Just my opinion!

[jaso028]

agree on the emissions part, but if I am going to do a test pipe it will have the same overall end results except my pocket will be about $200 lighter...

Now as far as my question.. which was not answered regarding my UM tune and a free flow or hollowed cat or test pipe...

from what I hear and understand the cats on the 24v are very restrictive..

I am just trying to optimize my tunes ability...

[RmL1.8T]

If you must, do a test pipe. But I honestly don't understand what is with everyone wanting to delete cats, I'm pretty sure you loose back pressure resulting in loss of low end torque (unless you are turbo). Not to mention that it makes your car illegal, but your car will belch out more emmisions than any big SUV. Just my opinion!

I would agree with this. A test pipe MIGHT get you another 2hp. In my opinion, thats not worth the hassle of trying to pass inspection without a cat.

[jaso028]

I would agree with this. A test pipe MIGHT get you another 2hp. In my opinion, thats not worth the hassle of trying to pass inspection without a cat.

2 reasons I would not buy a Test pipe.. too much money, and then you need to make it look like a fake cat...
I agree with both and everyone on emissions..


anyways, anyone else with UM running a hollowed cat sucessfully??

[focusfuri75]

Well, I'm running the UM tune, but I have the (California-legal) Techtonic hi-flo cat/downpipe combo.
I've never gotten a CEL, and after having my car dynoed with my current setup, peak hp numbers were minimal...HOWEVER, the midrange and driveability have increased significantly, throttle lag is virtually nonexistent and the sound of the exhaust is more pronounced.

The OEM downpipe and cat are very efficient and a lot more hi-flo than other cars' setups.

Gutting out the cat is is NOT a smart thing to do.
If you want more power, get a supercharger or turbo kit.

Just my $.02

[jaso028]

Geesh not looking for power like that... lol

again not looking to squeeze out tons of power by removing a cat. not new to this, looking to see how efficient the tune is with a gutted cat..

my friend has a swap tune performed by Jeff @ UM's shop and 1s thing Jeff told him was gut your cat its very restrictive.. obviously this guy knows VR's more then all of us..

also have never had luck with TT's cats.. last couple I bought on my MK3 all lost there insides...
very weird.. they covered it evertime.. but it was annoying..

[Ld7w_VR]

A test pipe MIGHT get you another 2hp.

And that 2hp would only really matter in a race car application. I would go high flow, but going w/o a cat is a risk. You know how high the fines are if caught?? $10,000+.

Regardless with a tune or not gains will not be much.

[GTIVRon]

Simply gutting the cat with the stock DP and everything will just make your car sound like ****. I tried that when I blew cat to pieces and it sounded so horrible I bought a TT downpipe and cat. I then had a test pipe made with another resonator where the CAT is supposed to go. Still loud but sounds a lot better.

Also, with the cat hollowed and going from that small to big to bigger and back to small then through the catback actually hurt performance. After the downpipe and resonated test pipe, it was SUCH a nice improvement in how the car drove. Still have plenty of down low torque. When just pulling away with traffic I shift at 2200 rpm into 2nd, and lower RPM as im shifting up and end up in 6th around 40 mph. Tons of torque still.

[jaso028]

I would like to however do this right so am considering going with a free flow cat.. but are there any options besides TT's?
I guess I could always do universal...

I would like to do UM's Downpipe that they made for our cars, but I cant seem to get anyone on the phone there or even an email response to see what the cost of that is.........

[GTIVRon]

TT's downpipe is pretty nice, though they could have done some work on the inside. Probably not needed but I cleaned mine up some. (At the Y, on the inside)

No idea about the UM piece, but yea, I've gotten a hold of him after trying for 2 months before, made a statement about the crappy customer service on a post somehwere and received a PM like a week later.

[jaso028]

A friend of mine had gotten a tune done on his 24V, Jeff is calling it a "swap tune"...
I guess the tune is an R32 program for the 24V.. his car feels beastly with this done..


he inquired about the swap tune working on my 24V and that I already had a generic tune..
I sent out a couple of emails, 1 directly to Jeff and then one to there Sales email.. Still have yet to hear back from them.. Disapointing...
I guess Jeff told him he would do this to my car, and he was expecting my email and or call.. its been like 2 months now... sucks!

Now I am interested in this Swap Tune as well as there DP... but I am sad to not get anywhere there...... I guess I will be patient...

[MachtSchnell]

A friend of mine had gotten a tune done on his 24V, Jeff is calling it a "swap tune"...
I guess the tune is an R32 program for the 24V.. his car feels beastly with this done..

The "swap tune" is for cars that have the 3.2L vr6 to replace the 2.8L. It's done so the whole ecu and instrument cluster will not have to be swapped in.

[jaso028]

The "swap tune" is for cars that have the 3.2L vr6 to replace the 2.8L. It's done so the whole ecu and instrument cluster will not have to be swapped in.

negative... not the same program...
he is running the same BDF motor as all of us.. Jeff @ UM performed what he told my friend is a swap tune. his purpose of going there was to get Jeff to tune his ECU to his cams, Jeff told him this program is what they use in the R32 modified to work with the BDF...

He had asked Jeff if without cams the program will work and Jeff said yes, tell your friend to contact me... All direct words from Jeff and my friend Morgan who had this done to his BDF @ UM's Shop in CT back in August...

[jaso028]

edit...

[PhReE]

Honestly a 2.8L tune will run a 3.2L motor and vise versa. Just need to make sure that the injectors, and maf housing match your tune (as well as o2 sensor config). Everything else is fairly dynamic.

[jaso028]

Exactly what Jeff has done!

[Jefnes3]

Honestly a 2.8L tune will run a 3.2L motor and vise versa. Just need to make sure that the injectors, and maf housing match your tune (as well as o2 sensor config). Everything else is fairly dynamic.

Its not that simple.

Jason, Just come on down. I'll get you sorted.

-Jeffrey Atwood

[jaso028]

Its not that simple.

Jason, Just come on down. I'll get you sorted.

-Jeffrey Atwood

Ah yes there you are...
Do I need to set up an appoinment with you guys? or you there on Saturdays for a nice walk in?

[Road Boss]

Jason how did this workout for you?

[jaso028]

Jason how did this workout for you?

I havent been able to make it up there... I am looking to get this swap tune done, but @ the moment I am trying to sort out some other issues with my car...

but I do know in my friends 24v its pretty beastly!!

[stevegt21]

I have the United Motorsports Tune for my 24v VR6. I also have a test pipe and have no check engine light. To compliment the test pipe I recommend a largeer case muffler on your exhaust to keep the volume to a resonable level which also muffles any rasp. Overall MPG have gone up by 3-5 per gallon highway. The car has gained power from 3k rpm on upward. Below 3k not much noticeable has changed. The tone of the exhaust has change which I love, a lower growl and raw scream at higher rpms

Hope the information is helpful

[jaso028]

WOW 3-5mpg really caught me there... I could care less about power @ this point but to gain some gas mileage!! thats awesome..
I am running an Autotech Exhaust and she is pretty quite... sounds awesome but so quite compared to what my nephews 12v with a 42DD sounds like.. lol but then again 12v are generally louder!

I am still up in the air on a Test Pipe, @ this point I need to sort out either my chain issue or a clutch issue.. Which all in all SUCKS!!!!

would love for my chains not to be bad, since its like a few hour job for the clutch and like a 14hr job for the chains.. Well thats book time @ least.. I am sure I could shave some time there...

but I am still considering this Test Pipe as well as a 4bar FPR...

[stevegt21]

I have the test pipe paired with a 4bar fpr which may also help with the 3-5mpg. I have a resonated 2.5 borla 14"length muffler of techtonics tuning for mk4 gti which i removed the small rear muffler and installed a magnaflow muffler 18" length. If i run the car hard it will shoot flame out of the exhaust on upper rpms between shifts. Test pipe completely eliminated any drone that was in the exhaust as well.

[jaso028]

Oh this is very nice info!

thanks for the input on this!!

[Road Boss]

Damn that sounds like a beast!

[vdubb24v]

I really need a UM tune... I've been running around with a GIAC tune and a test pipe...and I HATE IT. CEL... horrible drive ability, and crappy warm stall.


JEFF, I'm sending you my ECU! lol.

[02vwgolf]

I really need a UM tune... I've been running around with a GIAC tune and a test pipe...and I HATE IT. CEL... horrible drive ability, and crappy warm stall.


JEFF, I'm sending you my ECU! lol.

You will not regret it

[vdubb24v]

You will not regret it

Well... almost a year to the day and I just now got the UM tune. Holy crap guys... you weren't kidding. I have no idea why I waited so long to get this tune... I spent over three years driving around on a less than stellar GIAC tune w/ test pipe... and well, it ran like complete piss.

The car is alive... it pulls hard in the mid range without really getting on it, which is a huge shock to me. Responsiveness is excellent. MPG is looking like it will increase. And time will tell if the warm stall went away.

I'm beyond pleased.


Thanks Jeff!!!