Stumbled across this via a customers build. Chris Law, an engineer at Haltech USA is building these as a side gig: https://www.facebook.com/RoadsterWireWorks/
We're doing EcuTek for Kaiko but this is pretty slick. Contact him for info.

 

@ChrisLol Senpai has noticed you.

 

What would using a Haltech over the stock ECU gain me on my 2008?

 

Not enough info. Probably a good subject for its own thread so people with answers will open it. I'd start with goals, parameters, etc.

What state, emissions laws, frequency and type of testing (if any)
What mods, exactly
Min fuel octane you'll run
What you use the car for (commuting, wknds, auto-x, HPDE, TT..)

Reflash generally achieves everything a standalone will. Standalone just offer much greater versatility, datalogging and end user control.

 

This car is intended to be my track car that can be driven on the street. I have your race XIDA's on order.

NM, no emissions, no testing
2.5 swap with Esslinger Stage 1 cams, Goodwin 1.8 header, 2.5" GW midpipe, GW Super Q muffler
91 octane
HPDE with occasional street/weekend driving

 

Sorry, I don't have enough knowledge yet to give any insight. The folks here that might, will never see your question in this section and thread title.
Post your question in this section with an appropriate title: https://www.miataturbo.net/engine-performance-56/
ECU won't really make a difference so it's not an ECU question.
If you are on stock tune, or reflashed now, include details.
If you have a current dyno, post that too. Good luck.

 

I worked with Chris for the first iteration of this harness. He used my 06 NC1 for the wiring harness development, and Haltech also used my NC1 and 2009 NC2 for debug on some of the factory CAN integration. He's learned some things and made improvements along the way and it's a really great product. All of the current GLTC NCs are running Haltech now.

Haltech was a requirement for me to build an NC racecar because back when Chris and I started on this, the NC tuning options sucked. Open source options didn't exist yet, I didn't have a local tuner that could do ecutek, and the only real option was email tunes. I wanted the ability to tune the car myself or adjust the tune while at the track. For NASA and Gridlife race classes that are based on dyno hp and frequently have a dyno at the track, I'm also still a little skeptical about the stock ECU (with tons of different tables and correction factors) being able to consistently put out the exact same numbers on a dyno.

For a naturally aspirated street/HPDE build, Ecutek or any of the newer stock ECU options are just fine. The Haltech will be most beneficial for full racecars or boosted cars that want more sensors and/or more control. Emilio nailed it here:

 

A Haltech probably won't do much for you over just reflashing the stock ECU.

 

Agreed, its only when boosting where I can see a real requirement for an ECU for the NC.

Heard too many horror stories over email tunes on fresh new turbo cars than I can count.

 

Thanks for the shoutout Emilio!

This is a good answer:
I would add, real-time tuning capability. Research the difference between a "flash" and real-time programming to understand this better. Most programming changes happen instantly while connected the ECU.

Hi Jeff!