Need Feedback/Help: Tork vs. JB4

[Metalmania82]

Hey all. I'm hoping to get some feedback from users here that have either the JB4 piggy or the Tork tune done to their Stinger, or feedback from users that are just familiar with how either one works.

I have a GT with Borla cat-back and DIY intakes, plan on upgrading the sparklers with whichever option I go for as well as upgrade the intercooler and PROBABLY downpipes, DP's being at least a year out. I understand HOW both products work and how they're installed, I just want to get info on positive and negative to both, from either a mechanical point of view and/or actual user experience. I had a previous Kia that I had the ECU flashed and then dyno tuned by SFR, so I'm familiar with that much of it on a personal level.

I think I'm leaning more towards the JB4 right now, mostly because of price, their previous history with high end German cars, and ease of getting the product and installing/using it.

Any info, feedback, insight, experience appreciated!

 

[Bear]

Probably best to go with JB4 if you don’t want warranty issues. Once you flash your ECU, you’re warranty is done. You can use Torks spare ECU option, but you’d be forking out a pretty penny. JB4 is going to run you about $580 fully loaded.

Because Tork’s flash and the piggyback from JB4 are so close in enhancements, it makes sense to go with JB4. Eventually, I’d say the ECU flash will out perform the piggybacks, so at that point you can void your warranty and go with performance.

My Cobra has an ECU flash and it’s great and only cost me ~$500, but the car is far beyond its warranty. So hopefully the ECU tune prices come down to make the decision a bit tougher.

 

[Ecco]

Probably best to go with JB4 if you don’t want warranty issues. Once you flash your ECU, you’re warranty is done. You can use Torks spare ECU option, but you’d be forking out a pretty penny. JB4 is going to run you about $580 fully loaded.

Because Tork’s flash and the piggyback from JB4 are so close in enhancements, it makes sense to go with JB4. Eventually, I’d say the ECU flash will out perform the piggybacks, so at that point you can void your warranty and go with performance.

My Cobra has an ECU flash and it’s great and only cost me ~$500, but the car is far beyond its warranty. So hopefully the ECU tune prices come down to make the decision a bit tougher.

From what I've seen, JB4 doesn't have an 11s car. Either way, in my opinion I would wait on tunes. They get better and become more accessible with time. Let others hit the market and spur more competition.

 

[Metalmania82]

Thanks @Bear

My previous Kia with SFR tune was $400 for the ECU re-flash and free dyno tune since my car was the first one for testing.

 

[Terry@BMS]

If you want to void the warranty, lease, and spend $800 on something that you can't change, install or remove yourself, or resell, then the flash map is a great way to go.

In terms of the JB4 it's very competitive on power, hitting a relatively smooth 440whp/500wtq on a conservative map, running 12.3@117 w/ 2.05 60' with tune and intake only (no downpipes, no special tires, no weight reduction, no meth, etc). It also offers many more features like logging to your phone, map changes on the fly, boost by gear for improved traction, free updates with new features and stronger performance as we develop them, etc.

 

[Ecco]

Don't let @Terry@BMS post fool you as a flash map can be reverted/changed and installed/removed by yourself given enough time. That is a piggybacks selling point until flash tunes catch up. If you want more details on when that is, I would contact those who are currently doing flashes like tork motorsports and pressertech. According to another post there are two more that I can't remember off the top of my head.

 

[DaJackson]

Don't let @Terry@BMS post fool you as a flash map can be reverted/changed and installed/removed by yourself given enough time. That is a piggybacks selling point until flash tunes catch up. If you want more details on when that is, I would contact those who are currently doing flashes like tork motorsports and pressertech. According to another post there are two more that I can't remember off the top of my head.

Burger is talking about what you can get today, you are talking about a point some time in the future that no one knows when/if it’s coming.

Also to your comment about Tork having an 11 sec car, their tune alone didn’t get them to the 11s.

 

[Ecco]

Burger is talking about what you can get today, you are talking about a point some time in the future that no one knows when/if it’s coming.

Also to your comment about Tork having an 11 sec car, their tune alone didn’t get them to the 11s.

I was very clear about this being a future development for flash tunes.

 

[Oryan]

...Forum after forum this comes up.. Tunes do NOT void your warranty, at least in the States. Nothing completely voids it. Now, if a dealer can reasonably say that your mod directly contributed to a part failing, then yes they can get out of covering it. Like if your touchscreen just died randomly, a tuned car won't make a difference in that claim. Blowing the motor on a tuned car, however..

 

[Kamauxx]

Burger is talking about what you can get today, you are talking about a point some time in the future that no one knows when/if it’s coming.

Also to your comment about Tork having an 11 sec car, their tune alone didn’t get them to the 11s.

Good point. Torks car is as modified as any Stinger outside of South Korea. Terry's car only has intakes and tune.

 

[DaJackson]

I was very clear about this being a future development for flash tunes.

But you used that comment to try to invalidate what Terry said. Both comments are accurate.

 

[Kato_the_kia_stinger]

I think what this post should focus on is what Tune option is working best without many other bolt ons for support

 

[Bear]

...Forum after forum this comes up.. Tunes do NOT void your warranty, at least in the States. Nothing completely voids it. Now, if a dealer can reasonably say that your mod directly contributed to a part failing, then yes they can get out of covering it. Like if your touchscreen just died randomly, a tuned car won't make a difference in that claim. Blowing the motor on a tuned car, however..

This is correct, but focusing on the big ticket items, an ECU flash can and most likely will screw you on motor and drivetrain. They can easily state that by increasing performance gains, you stressed any of those components.

 

[Oryan]

This is correct, but focusing on the big ticket items, an ECU flash can and most likely will screw you on motor and drivetrain. They can easily state that by increasing performance gains, you stressed any of those components.

I agree, Something like a tune puts anything that goes wrong from the engine to the wheels on you, basically. But so often I see people saying that doing this or that instantly makes your car untouchable for any warranty work.

And in relation to the actual thread.. IMO a bone stock car won't see much of a difference in gains between a piggyback and a reflash, especially a piggyback as involved as a JB4.

 

[Ecco]

But you used that comment to try to invalidate what Terry said. Both comments are accurate.

I was addressing his failure to do what I did. He never listed those qualities as exclusive to the present. You said he was talking about the present, but where did he? How do you know that he was? Let metal make his decision based on all of the facts including what may come in the future.

 

[Terry@BMS]

Don't let @Terry@BMS post fool you as a flash map can be reverted/changed and installed/removed by yourself given enough time. That is a piggybacks selling point until flash tunes catch up. If you want more details on when that is, I would contact those who are currently doing flashes like tork motorsports and pressertech. According to another post there are two more that I can't remember off the top of my head.

Yes some day someone will crack the code and maybe even publish at home flash mapping for free. But, flash mapping still won't be able to do everything the JB4 can, as it's confined by the ECU's logic paths which themselves present some limitations unless huge amounts of R&D is invested. The JB4 is a tuning tool that compliments flash mapping just as well as it does the factory mapping.

 

[Metalmania82]

Thanks for all the replies everyone

 

[StungBlueGT2]

Don't let @Terry@BMS post fool you as a flash map can be reverted/changed and installed/removed by yourself given enough time. That is a piggybacks selling point until flash tunes catch up. If you want more details on when that is, I would contact those who are currently doing flashes like tork motorsports and pressertech. According to another post there are two more that I can't remember off the top of my head.

Someone correct me if I’m mistaken, but my understanding is that Kia’s diagnostic equipment can see if any change was made to the ecu. I don’t believe there is a way to remove all traces of an upgrade, but it would be nice to know for sure.

I know there are other threads already debating the differences of chip vs tune, but I do agree it would be nice to get some input from the top 4 ECU tuners about their own advantages as well.

 

[Tonkabob]

If you to be fast get the ECU tune. If you want flexibility, resale, no trace at the dealer, get a box.
Tork tunes seem to be runnimg .2 to .4 faster in the quarter than a similarly modded box car.
My AWD with just a cat back, stock air box, and tork tune ran 12.44, 1.91 60 foot at 112 mph. I doubt even a box RWD with same mods is that fast in ET. I was running 12.78 at 112 mph with a race chip. Boxes make good peak power but launch like the stock car (like shit) Torks car also dropped .3 or .4 moving to the tune.

 

[Kamauxx]

Tork tunes seem to be runnimg .2 to .4 faster in the quarter than a similarly modded box car.

There are no similarly modded piggyback cars in the U.S. (to my knowledge). No one else is running full bolt-ons yet.

My AWD with just a cat back, stock air box, and tork tune ran 12.44, 1.91 60 foot at 112 mph. I doubt even a box RWD with same mods is that fast in ET.

Terry's car with just intake and JB4 is trapping in the 118 mph range.

@KLR STINGER has AWD with JB4 and I think his trap speeds are in the 113s with a 12.4xxx ET.

I think the difference is launching the car. There's something going on with non ECU tuned cars that limit (or reduce) boost off the line.