[Aussie Mike]

That sounds very expensive. What do you get for your $3K?

You can buy a new engine loom directly from Holden for about $300 if you talk to the parts guy nicely.

There are a few options for the ECU. You can buy an ECU outright with an HSV R8 program and the VATS disabled for about the $500-$600 mark. There are a couple of places offering these in Melbourne.

At this stage I'm set on getting an ECU from Dicks Electronics. They have developed a modified ECU and a software suite that enables you to change the settings in the ECU real time and has full data logging much the same as a MoTec. As far as the authorities are concerned it's the factory ECU so meets all the emissions rules (as long as they don't look too hard at the ethernet port in the side).

The big advantage of the real time ECU over LS1 Edit is that you can tune on the road with a lap top PC. LS1 Edit requires you to make changes and the re flash the ECU which requires a programming loom and can't be done on the car.

At this stage the real time ECU is only available to tuners at a hefty $20K price tag. However They will be releasing a single user version soon that will go for about $1200.

I'll keep you posted.