Topic: custom tunes

[NorthJerseyAvalanche]

alright i know theres probably a post here about these somewhere but i can never find stuff geared to the newer avis so i figured id just make a new thread.


ive been looking at programmer and really like the EDGE Evolution CTS, but my friend recommends me to get someone to do a custom tune for me.

Anyone know anymore info on these custom tunes and how i can get one if they are that much better then the out of the box ones.

Or if anyone has anythign else they can reccomend!!

thanks
Tom

[MyBigToy]

You will definitely get more out of a good custom tune than out of a canned programmer. However, you can get someone from Diablosport to do a custom tune for you also; I believe OhioBellBoy had a custom tune done. I don't know much about the Edge programmer.

I'd suggest you go over to PerformanceTrucks.net and research their GM Tuning section to review some of the information. It should help you make your mind up. Unless you find someone local you will either have to send your PCM to them or you will have to purchase a second PCM. If you purchase a second PCM you will most likely have to have someone do a crank relearn on the new PCM (an additional $90-$100).

Black Bear, Nelson Performance, and Wheatley Performance Tuning are the most-often recommended custom/mail order tuners. There's a good custom tuner in Bridgewater, MA - he goes by Slowhawk on PT.net. Here's a link to his website:
 
http://www.slowhawkperformance.com/

Whatever custom tuner you use, if you are doing a mail order tune it's extremely important that you tell them exactly what modifications you've done to the truck, how you like your shifts, etc. They typically have an order sheet that they require you to fill out.

[oHIobellboy]

MBT is correct. I have done a lot of tinkering with my Predator but had to have Monte write me a custom tune to control the fans. I think OldNo7 plays around with HP Tuners but I'm not positive. He's on Long Island. I'm not sure how far that is from you but it's closer than others.

[06MonteSS]

yeah, the diablosport predator or Trinity will give ya a nice bump in performance... 

and as was mentioned, you can also get a custom tune written for them, which you can't with the Edge as far as I know... 

and yes, I am a diablosport custom tuner and I do custom tunes for any GM gas vehicle...

using the preset tunes that come with the predator or trinity, you will gain over stock...  but getting a custom tune written for your predator/trinity made specifically for your vehicle, you will gain even more - quicker throttle response, accleration, stronger/harder pull, and better mileage.


Oh... and do not get a second set of ecm modules to swap back and forth... the dealer can tell and knows when this is done... because on these new vehicles, GM is storing other info on the ecm's - one item being the vehicle's mileage - so when you go in for service and there's any warranty issue question, they can check this in the ecm and if the mileage stored in it doesn't match what's on your odometer/bcm, then you're screwed.

[MyBigToy]

Oh... and do not get a second set of ecm modules to swap back and forth... the dealer can tell and knows when this is done... because on these new vehicles, GM is storing other info on the ecm's - one item being the vehicle's mileage - so when you go in for service and there's any warranty issue question, they can check this in the ecm and if the mileage stored in it doesn't match what's on your odometer/bcm, then you're screwed.

I understand it's even worse than that; they can tell that the pcm has been flashed, period. So if you get a dealer that wants to be a prick, they can try to deny warranty coverage just for that. Needless to say, it's not an issue for me, but I would probably think twice today about installing any type of programmer if I was still under warranty.

[Main One]

I myself wouldn't pay for a custom tune if you haven't added much more than a lower restriction muffler to improve performance.  You could get a good out of the box tune with any of the handhelds.

[NorthJerseyAvalanche]

yea i got a single to dual muffler but i also have a K&N, but my dealer was already being pricks about those so if i get a programmer im probably done.. maybe ill just wait on that haha.. how much do these custom tunes cost verse an out of the boxer

but also with the magnuson-moss warranty act....cant they not void the warranty unless it fries the computer or causes some other damage?  and in your guys opinions do most dealerships tend to honor this or do they bypass it and what can you do about it if they do

[Iceberg]

 06MonteSS,
 I have the new version of the U7193 predator.  I have already adjusted the injector slope using the program from the other site but what else can I do?  What else would a custom tune for the Predator do?  My only mods are a GM perfpormance exhaust and a K&N drop in filter.

[Main One]

yea i got a single to dual muffler but i also have a K&N, but my dealer was already being pricks about those so if i get a programmer im probably done.. maybe ill just wait on that haha.. how much do these custom tunes cost verse an out of the boxer

but also with the magnuson-moss warranty act....cant they not void the warranty unless it fries the computer or causes some other damage?  and in your guys opinions do most dealerships tend to honor this or do they bypass it and what can you do about it if they do

I sold my Hypertech 3 on ebay for around $200.  Seems they sell on ebay for about half of what they go for new.  I've never bought a custom tune, but I believe they go for at least that much, depending upon the reputation of the guy doing it.

Regarding the Magnuson-Moss act, given how much you could screw up a transmission or engine by changing shift settings such that you over revved the engine, not to mention that you could disable some of the emission controls, which would be a violation in itself, I wouldn't count too strongly on protection from Magnuson-Moss.

The dealership that replaced my y-pipe due to a bad cat converter, told me they would do it, even though I had aftermarket shorty headers.  Service manager told me not to mention them being on there to GM.  Unfortunately, that dealership has closed.  It was the last GM dealer, as well as last new car dealer of any brand, in the county.

[06MonteSS]

06MonteSS,
 I have the new version of the U7193 predator.  I have already adjusted the injector slope using the program from the other site but what else can I do?  What else would a custom tune for the Predator do?  My only mods are a GM perfpormance exhaust and a K&N drop in filter.

with a custom tune, I have access to everything in the tune file, not just the specific parameters that you have available via the handheld unit...

I tweak a bunch of different things, that give you even better throttle response, acceleration, stronger/harder pull, etc etc.