Tuner Poll...Calling all Marauders

[SlkMerc]

Hey Gents,
I have read in various posts about your " Tuners". What I would like to ask is.
#1 Which 'tune' you are using
#2 Why you chose it ( price, ease of install )
#3 Benefits of said 'tune'

I await with anticipation



Donnie:help:

[Blackened300a]

I have a SCT tune from Powersurge performance here in NY
I went with it because its all plug and play, I couldnt ask for a easier set-up.
From the tuning alone I picked up 28RWHP and32RWTQ
These cars are very de-tuned from the factory

[Grifter]

SCT Xcal2 from Torrie at FastPartsNetwork.
superb customer service, great tunes. he has nailed the tunes on my Mark and Marauder.. I cant complain at all, i got more performance and incredible gas mileage.
I like the Xcal2 because you can some change things on your end w/o needing a new file..

[Vortech347]

http://www.mercurymarauder.net/forums/showthread.php?t=27180

I asked this same question a month or so ago. Its got 3 pages of peoples inputs.

I ended up going with a Dennis Rienhart tune. Main reason I went with his company was they offered custom transmission tunes and I really liked who I talked with, they answered all my questions and didn't seem "buy or get off my phone" hurry. I saved about 35$ vs other places.

[KillJoy]

I have an XCal II w/ a DR Tune.

I chose DR, because that is who I got my S/C from ;)

KillJoy

[SergntMac]

The #1x MM has a custom SCT tune written by Zack and refreshed by Corey Simpson of DynotunesMP dot. Sweet.

The #3 MM has an off the shelf SCT tune for the CRD1 EEC, with a few adjustments by Zack. Pefect for my daily driver, 22-23 MPG city.

[fastblackmerc]

Got my original tune(s) - w/ 4.10's & w/3.55's from Dennis Reinhart (still have the Xcal if anyone is interested :D ). Got a dyno-tune and Xcal2 from Carolina Performance Racing in Charlotte, N.C.

[O's Fan Rich]

I had the Excl 1 with Lidio's tunes from Lidio ( btw it's 4 sale in tha classifieds)
Now I have the Excal 2. It came with #132

Oh, to answer the questions
1- see above
2- I liked what I heard and read about Alternatives MM work
3- Quicker shifts, better acceleration, smoother operation all around. I got the 3:55 and 4:10 programs in the EX1 came in handy when I swapped gears.,

[SlkMerc]

So. after looking at the posts, I need to buy hardware to do this. Does anyone know of someone in So Cal that does this? As I dont race this car, it doesnt make sense to buy the unit. I would like to get the shifts crisper and better mileage. I have a cat-back system, delete tips and the JLT CAI as well.

Thanks!

[KillJoy]

Most Tuners sell their Tune on a Hand Held Tuner, or on a Chip. Pricing can usually be found for <$400. This price includes the Tune AND a Handheld Tuner / Chip.

KillJoy

[DEFYANT]

My first tune was by Rick at Amazon Tuning Solutions. Why? He was local with a dyno and works wonders with local mustangs and other Fords. I was very happy with the tune and trans shift adjustments. So much so that the need for more power bug bit me bad.

I bought the Trilogy Supercharger.

It came with a tune from Lidio, who also assisted in the development of the Trilogy kit for our cars.

Last year my car was dyno tuned by Lidio. To my knowledge, my car has done the most with the least in mods. I credit Lidio.

The Defyant Marauder will be driven all the way back to Detroit during the second week in August for a few reasons. Paramount reason #1 is to have Lidio do a check up on his handy work.

Hows that for a review?

[HwyCruiser]

My Diablo Predator unleashed +200 rwhp on my Marauder. That, and a couple other things that were rolling around the bottom of the box it came in... a whistle, a few blue things, and some other stuff... I can't quite remember what they were all for. The tuner is pretty cool though!

[thePunisher]

tune from powersurgeperformance......see the sig....this guy is da man!

[MI2QWK4U]

I went with the tuner that has probably tuned more Fords in his distinguished career than the other combined. People in the know, know. Give Lidio at Alternative Auto a call, he is a vendor here, 586-463-0010. He has been tuning these 4.6 motors for years, before that custom tunes with FAST on strip Mustangs and built 5.0 L 302s.
I have Alternative Auto decals on the rear quarter windows of my Mach 1, and I cant tell you how many times I have overheard a guy telling his buddy, "Hey, I wouldnt mess with that Mach, Lidio tuned it!" Its nice being tuned by someone who's reputation precedes any car he tunes!

[Grifter]

Gotta say. The man who did my first tune on my Mark VIII is THE MAN, Jerry W. That was a nice tune...
We had him out for a dyno tune here in Minneapolis. Thats the man who has tuned more Fords than anyone, he wrote the stockers..

[ckadiddle]

Hey Gents,
I have read in various posts about your " Tuners". What I would like to ask is.
#1 Which 'tune' you are using
#2 Why you chose it ( price, ease of install )
#3 Benefits of said 'tune'

I await with anticipation



Donnie:help:
1. standard Reinhart tune for stock Marauder with premium fuel that came preloaded on xcal2 from Reinhart Automotive
2. Ease of install, and numerous happy customers on this site, Reinhart Automotive is located in FL where I am located, no need to add a chip to the ECM, can be quickly easily de-tuned for warranty visits to dealer
3. correction of constant up/downshifting of transmission at lower speeds in city driving, transforms shifts from slow and mushy to quick and crisp, addition of horsepower:)

[Marauderjack]

I also have the DiabloSport tuner and like JD I got about 200 more HP after installing the "whistler"!!:bows:

Dave Lamberson at Injected Racing and I worked for several days to get the shift schedule right and I went from N/A quick and crisp shifting at the 1-2 to quick and "mushy" with the "whistler"??:confused: :argue: Dave and I finally figured out that it was actually a quick and crisp shift and WHEEL SPIN made it feel mushy!!:banana: :bows: :beer:

Finally Mr. Scott Beer took a few minutes out of his busy schedule and made a few corrections and eliminated my stalling at idle...It has been GREAT since then!!:D Thanks Scott!!

Marauderjack:burnout:

[playbackreks]

Hey Gents,
I have read in various posts about your " Tuners". What I would like to ask is.
#1 Which 'tune' you are using
#2 Why you chose it ( price, ease of install )
#3 Benefits of said 'tune'

I await with anticipation



Donnie:help:

#1 - Stock tune from Ford
#2 - It came with the car
#3 - none :(

I plan to get a Lidio tune after my vacation in August :)

[ckadiddle]

#1 - Stock tune from Ford
#2 - It came with the car
#3 - none :(

I plan to get a Lidio tune after my vacation in August :)
You'll enjoy your vacation time SO much more if you get your tune first. ;)

[03SILVERSTREAK]

Hey Gents,
I have read in various posts about your " Tuners". What I would like to ask is.
#1 Which 'tune' you are using
#2 Why you chose it ( price, ease of install )
#3 Benefits of said 'tune'

I await with anticipation



Donnie:help:

#1 I have the Xcalibrator 2 with Lidio's tunes from Lidio's Alternative Auto Performance, Inc.
#2 The previous tunes that I used did not resolve the poor transmission shift paterns.
#3 The Idle is right were I want it , the engine response is much better and powers up much quicker , the steady highway drive is much better and much more fun to drive , and of course the transmission shift is much better without the Torque converter locking up prematurely at 30MPH on 3rd gear. the Lidio tune was not reccomended to me due to the Trans-Go shift kit that was installed over a year ago and the tune was going to be a hit or miss with terrible results.

Im quite happy to report that despite the shift kit , the Lidio tune works very very well and Im very satisfied with the results. I say Thank you Lidio , you've accomplished for me what several other Tuning experts could not...:bows: :bows: :bows: :D

[Hotrauder]

The famous and incredible LIDIO ASS Tune. Thanks to Lidio and Rick.............in Miami.:D Dennis

[teamrope]

My Diablo Predator unleashed +200 rwhp on my Marauder. That, and a couple other things that were rolling around the bottom of the box it came in... a whistle, a few blue things, and some other stuff... I can't quite remember what they were all for. The tuner is pretty cool though!

Don't forget the pop-corn. Lots and lots of pop-corn. I just got mine today and had to dig threw a ton of pop-corn and powder coated stuff to find the whistle. :)

[Master]

Can I get some definitions? What the heck is a "Whistler"? I see people talking about unleashing +200 hp. What the heck? I'm obviously brain fading as I can't imagine what you mean when you say someone's tune got you +200 hp. Do we have dyno graphs that might explain this for me? Are we talking supercharged here?

[teamrope]

The whistle is referring to the Procharger because it makes a whistling noise. :)

[JACook]

Im quite happy to report that despite the shift kit , the Lidio tune works very very well and Im very satisfied with the results. I say Thank you Lidio , you've accomplished for me what several other Tuning experts could not...:bows: :bows: :bows: :D
Was this a standard Lidio tune, or was he aware of the TransGo kit beforehand?

[Joe Walsh]

The whistle is referring to the Procharger because it makes a whistling noise. :)

I'm looking forward to my :whistle: :whistle: :whistle:

[BlownBlass]

Where can I get a "scott Beers" tune?

[SergntMac]

Over the years, my MM has been tuned and retuned by some pretty smart guys. In this order...

Jerry Wrobleski (Creator of SCT and EEC tuning)
Paul Savincki (Pauls HP)
Dennis Reinhart (Reinhart Automotive)
Lidio Iaccobelli (Alternative Automotive)
Jerry VanDerlinde (Sutton Ford)
Corey Simpson (DynotuneMP.com, and what a white bread name, eh?)
Zack McGrath (just one crazy SOB)

All of them are good, and each has his own little twist added to mix that help them deliver to you, the best tune possible for your MM. This can be quite a task. Keeping in mind that every Marauder is just like a pure bred dog, a breed gets known for it's global talent and habits, but each dog behaves differently, and a lot of that has to do with the owner's influence over the dog.

Every once in a while, someone will post glowing compliments about a particular tuner, or, his personal twist on tuning. I chuckle, because that's the way was for all of us, "the first time". When you add 28- RWHP and RWTQ, only the brain (and butt) dead would not want to offer praise. But, in reality, one tuner isn't much better than the other, because they are all good.

My advice to the freshly tuned, is to enjoy yourself, but drive it a while. Many nuances of tuning do not rise to the surface all at once. By all means, take a road trip of 100 miles, or longer. Run an MPG test from tankful to tankful. Test and monitor your downshift RPM and MPH, both in coast down in speed, and kicking down under throttle. In short, drive your new tune in every way possible, and learn what else it does, beside bark the tires at the 1-2 shift.

Just my .02C, carry on gents.

[03SILVERSTREAK]

Was this a standard Lidio tune, or was he aware of the TransGo kit beforehand?

I made him aware of the Trans-Go Shift Kit and he advised me that he may not be able to help due to the fact that in the past several other owners/operators ( unk if they are members here ) had harsh shifting problems , and was advised that the trans be as stock as possible.

Despite his warning , I decided to go foward with his program based on other members positive reviews. I don't take chances blindly , but after reading numerious threads and rave reviews , I gave it a try and if the results would have turned out with harsh shifting , he was willing to work out the problem as best as he could until I was satisfied with his work , but again he feels that the trans be as stock as possible.

To me , any person or vendor who is willing to work out any dificulties with their products , will get my business.

As I posted before , give him a call. he will not rush you on the phone and you will not be sorry for it. best of luck with your decision...;)

[Vortech347]

Installed my DR tune yesterday. Its awesome. Lightyears better than the Microtuner I had on the car.

[RoNiN77]

I put a Diablosport Predator tune in mine. I like it but it causes the transmission to shift a little hard. Not sure if that is normal or not. Went with Diablo 'cause everyone else was doing it. See any bridges around???

[SergntMac]

I put a Diablosport Predator tune in mine. I like it but it causes the transmission to shift a little hard. Not sure if that is normal or not. Went with Diablo 'cause everyone else was doing it. See any bridges around??? Any aftermarket tune is going to make some adjustments to tranny shift line pressure, shift point , ect. Even the "off the shelf" tunes from Diablo and SCT. It's what most folks want, and they find the new setting agreeable. But, it's not for everyone.

Make a list of what you want your tune to do for you (and what not to do), and contact your Diablo vendor. I'm sure it can be tweaked to your liking.

[HwyCruiser]

I put a Diablosport Predator tune in mine. I like it but it causes the transmission to shift a little hard. Not sure if that is normal or not. Went with Diablo 'cause everyone else was doing it. See any bridges around???

If you don't already have one, download the the Predator manual here:
http://www.diablosport.com/downloads/predator/manual_U7146.pdf

You should be able to modify the shift pressures to bring it more towards "stock" values. It may take a few tries to find the numbers that feel good for you. There's all kinds of good stuff you can customize for your preferences.

[QWK SVT]

#1 Which 'tune' you are using
Lidio's tune on an XCal2 (one for 3.55's and one for 4.10's)

#2 Why you chose it

Wanted an Xcal2 (waited for it's release before getting a tune), for it's ease of use, the ability to switch tunes and datalog (I also datalog the truck with it, too)
Lidio is the closest tuner to me (for future consideration)
Lidio's reputation (as a tuner and a person) and feedback from other Canuck's on dealing with him for cross border shipping
#3 Benefits of said 'tune'

Improved performance was noticable, right out the box
Gas mileage did not suffer (may have increased slightly, but my foot got heavier :rolleyes: )
Transmission finally acts like it should - far less hunting for gears, now
4.10 Tune was already installed on the XCal2, so when I swapped gears a few months later, I was good to go and felt an equal increase in driving pleasure
Much happier Marauder owner :cool:PS - Here was my little write up: http://www.qwksvt.com/MXcal2.html