Tuner info

[Marauder131]

Despite purchasing my 300A 2 weeks ago, I am already curious about exploring some of its untapped power by means of a hand held tuner. I am not looking for a tuner so that I can manually alter various settings, but rather, a tuner that will automatically program the car to a new overall setting. I have read various threads relating to tuners, but would appreciate help with the following questions:

1. Does a tuner, like the superchips 1725 set the the performance setting make increased power mostly, or even exculsively, through a change in shift points? Or by way of other mechanisms also?

2. What, if any, effect could such a modification have on the long term reliability of the drivetrain components, in particular, the transmission?

3. Is it really realistic to experience increased fuel economy with a change to a new performance oriented setting? My impression thus far, has been that a stock tune has a predisposition towards early upshifting in the pursuit of fuel economy. Would changing this not result in a reduction in fuel economy?

Any help is greatly appreciated.

[StevenJ]

Just look up Alternative Automotive. Lidio makes awsome tunes. I know someone who ditched his superchips programer because he was so unhappy with it and went with a professional tune. His car dropped .7 seconds et. in the qautermile. Of course, he's running a custom Diablomotorsport tune from Scott Beer but you get the idea. Get a pro tune from an experienced tuner.

[CRUZTAKER]

I am not looking for a tuner so that I can manually alter various settings, but rather, a tuner that will automatically program the car to a new overall setting.You as the end user will never make manual changes yourself other than loading one of the preloaded programs.
1. Does a tuner, like the superchips 1725 set the the performance setting make increased power mostly, or even exculsively, through a change in shift points? Or by way of other mechanisms also?Your tuner will come with what you ask for, but for the most part, they will have a generic program that has appealed to the MM tune consensus. It will consist of minor changes to engine tuning and transmission behaviour characteristics. This will tap into otherwise shelved power that was always there.

2. What, if any, effect could such a modification have on the long term reliability of the drivetrain components, in particular, the transmission?
With the generic tune offered to the masses, despite the slight differences between the programs offered from one vendor to the next, none.
These cars were always able to function and perform in the fashion the aftermarket general reprograming provides, it is just a case of the manufacturer taming everything down to appeal to the masses. (However crappy that stock program may be.)

3. Is it really realistic to experience increased fuel economy with a change to a new performance oriented setting? My impression thus far, has been that a stock tune has a predisposition towards early upshifting in the pursuit of fuel economy. Would changing this not result in a reduction in fuel economy?
You are unlikely to experience decreased MPG from just a tune, and not modifying the drivetrain. However, the new found performance may cause YOU the driver to drive a little more spirited than not, which WILL effect your MPG.

Any help is greatly appreciated.

Hope this helps.;)

[ckadiddle]

Cruztaker took the words outta my mouth. I am sorry I waited so long to order an Xcal2 with tune. The xcal2 also will read trouble codes from most later model Fords. It also has several other functions that I have not explored yet. The tune I received from Dennis Reinhart does allow me to fiddle with half a dozen or so settings. I like the standard tune so much I have not bothered to play with them.

[gpfarrell]

I can't speak for your other options, but Lidio's tune - right out of the box - really woke up our car.

Check the dyno results under Alternative Auto... the car runs better because a bit more low end power gets you into the higher rpm band that much quicker... its not a drastic hp increase, its getting to the hp you already have quicker.

The tranny is much better... I'd venture it might last longer with Lidio's tune because it spends a lot less time jumping from gear to gear.

Again, I can't speak to the other options, but Lidio's tune is the best modification I've ever done to any of my vehicles... all good, no bad.

Welcome to Marauderland!

[Rider90]

I love my Diablosport tuner with Scott Beer's tune, I wouldn't go any other way unless I can duplicate the parameters EXACTLY.

[merc6]

I hated the tranny till I got the tune. (03) tranny is just irratic and tune fixes that.) Now i'm afraid of the wot 3/4 shifts on cvpi rims cause they sometimes break loose! he tune and proguard combo was mpg noticeable. I now have K&N FIPC and MF's to take a toll on mpg. The fact I can hear the car is happy at 3k and over thats what tends to explain my mpg unless traffic is presesnt. to and from work s my best mpg's cause I work close to rush hour.

[Blackened300a]

1. Does a tuner, like the superchips 1725 set the the performance setting make increased power mostly, or even exculsively, through a change in shift points? Or by way of other mechanisms also?.

Save your money on the 1725 tuner. It was my first Mod and I ended up selling it because It just didnt feel like it made a big difference in power.
Also after the 4.10 install, The Speedo was correct but I would throw gears way too fast. The shift schedule has a Superchips setting or you can go ahead and keep playing with the shift schedule, But you may end up hurting yourself then improving.
IMHO
Getting a SCT Xcal2 from one of our Vendors is a good idea. You'll get alot more power and a proven shift schedule out of a SCT tune then the Superchips Generic tune.
IMHO, If possible, Try to locate a SCT tuner with a in-house Dyno. You can see for yourself the Horsepower Gains and it takes the guess work out your A/F mixture from a mail order tune.
A local SCT tuner can also e-mail you tunes to compensate for whatever mods you plan to do later on.

[Marauder131]

Thanks everyone for the replies. I am of the nervous variety I guess, and was having a little trepidation about making any modifications. I have heard a few people like the 1725, but as some have stated here, that there are better options. I imagine the vendors that are popular on this forum likely ship to Canada. Would take a little longer to get, but would be worth the wait from what I am hearing.

[QWK SVT]

Thanks everyone for the replies. I am of the nervous variety I guess, and was having a little trepidation about making any modifications. I have heard a few people like the 1725, but as some have stated here, that there are better options. I imagine the vendors that are popular on this forum likely ship to Canada. Would take a little longer to get, but would be worth the wait from what I am hearing.

Lidio shipped the Xcal2 to me, and it took all of a couple of days to get to me, through CanadaPost. I was really impressed with how quickly it crossed to border, and without any tax / duty issues. I was as impressed with the product as I was with the service! You will NOT be disappointed! :2thumbs:

Just realized you're in Sask, or I'd offer to show you the difference with just minimal mods...

[ckadiddle]

Thanks everyone for the replies. I am of the nervous variety I guess, and was having a little trepidation about making any modifications. I have heard a few people like the 1725, but as some have stated here, that there are better options. I imagine the vendors that are popular on this forum likely ship to Canada. Would take a little longer to get, but would be worth the wait from what I am hearing.


I went ahead with it because it is an easily REVERSIBLE mod.

One of our local members (who shall remain nameless at this point:shake: ) won a drawing for an Xcal2 with tune from one of our mm.net vendors (Dennis Reinhart) who attended our local meet six or eight months back. He was afraid to install the tune for months untill I purchased mine and saw how much it improved the car's driveability and fun factor. I walked him through installing it in Dec. at our meet/xmas party and now he kicks himself for not doing it much sooner. It takes maybe five to ten mins to make the change if you have never done it before. Locate the ODBII port, plug it in, punch a couple buttons, the rest it pretty much does automatically. It uploads the new custom tune to the car's brain and saves the factory tune in the Xcal2. If you need to take your car to the dealer for any issues where warranty might be an issue, it will swap the tunes back for you so you can take the car to the shop with the boring, annoying factory tune in place.

[merc6]

try doing it way before time if you can. When you reset pcm it is't able to be tested for emmitions before 1st 50 starts/cycles and fails iirc

[Sully008]

I'll echo what QWK SVT said ^ there. I got the Xcal 1 from Lidio last May. No problems getting it across the border, and he's been very helpful when I had some little "issues". I think QWK SVT and I have pretty much the same mods.

I'm a little closer to you, Marauder131, but it's still quite far from the 'Peg to Saskatchewan. If ever you're out here, give me a shout!

[Tallboy]

I love my Diablosport tuner with Scott Beer's tune, I wouldn't go any other way unless I can duplicate the parameters EXACTLY.

I'm with Rider on this one. Plus, in my opinion, the Predator is light years ahead of the XCAL2.

[Marauder131]

Lidio shipped the Xcal2 to me, and it took all of a couple of days to get to me, through CanadaPost. I was really impressed with how quickly it crossed to border, and without any tax / duty issues. I was as impressed with the product as I was with the service! You will NOT be disappointed! :2thumbs:

Just realized you're in Sask, or I'd offer to show you the difference with just minimal mods...

Yeah, it's kind of too bad, as I would be very interested in seeing what kind of difference it makes to the car. When I test drove the car, the dealer had been putting regular gas in it, and it experienced significant hesitation off the line. After switching the premium, performance was noticably improved. I really don't find the performance with the car to be bad, but like others, I guess I'm interested in squeezing a little more out of it.

[merc6]

Just the 03 tranny change is worth it imho! Rest is just "perks".

[Marauderjack]

I had the SCT tune like Lidio's with the TC locking in 4th only at 50 MPH and always had a WOT "BOG" when accelerating from 20-30 MPH!!!:argue:

I got a "Stock" Ford engine tune from SCT with their trans management file and it was PERFECT for me...Acceleration was linear with no "BOG"!!!:banana: :banana:

I have the same type of trans management program from DiabloSport with the ProCharger and it is also PERFECT for me....ABSOLUTELY NO "BOGS" HERE!!!:burnout: :burnout:

Marauderjack:beer:

[HwyCruiser]

I'm with Rider on this one. Plus, in my opinion, the Predator is light years ahead of the XCAL2.

Not to mention that Diablo's supercharged Marauder tune kicks butt! ;)

[Tallboy]

Not to mention that Diablo's supercharged Marauder tune kicks butt! ;)

Roger that, brutha! I love mine!!!!!:up:

[MENINBLK]

try doing it way before time if you can. When you reset pcm it is't able to be tested for emmitions before 1st 50 starts/cycles and fails iirc

It only takes aboput 3 - 5 drive cycles to clear the reprogramming.
The errors present are the same as they would be, if you were to
disconnect the battery for any period of time.

So if you were asked, you could always say the engine was running funny
and you disconnected the battery to reset the computer.

Driving it for at least a week should clear things up
and have it prepped for Emissions Inspection.

[tmac1337]

I think it's great that people with other blower kits are using Diablo tuning and products. I know that their tuning is second to none in the industry. The more people use them, the more rightly deserved credit they will recieve in reference to the MM. We all want performance gains in our cars, and there is strictly not only one way to go!