Ok guys I usually do my own mecha-neckin' but I have never really worked with anything newer than about an '84. From what I can see here, a guy can either go with a Chip, or use a programmer......... Am I right? And how does a Dyno fit into this?

 

You can go either route, but I would suggest a programmer because if you want to make changes you don't have to take the chip out, send it back to wherever and have it burned. With the programmer you can change whatever needs to be changed and go!

When you order a programmer, the company you purchase it from will ask what mods you have and then try to create a tune that will work best for you....this is called a "canned tune". Since every car is different it's pretty damn hard to get an accurate tune with a "canned tune". The dyno comes into play after you get the tuner and want a custom tune to make sure everything is perfect...A/F, timing...ect..... A dyno tune is really the only way to get an accurate tune on your car. The cool thing about the programmer is that it reads codes and gives you the ability to change gear ratio's, turn your rear o2 sensors off, check and clear codes ect....so a programmer is well worth it.

I'm assuming your next question would be...."what programmer should I get". Either Diablo Predator or SCT xcal II......but my advise to you is check to see what software (either diablo or SCT) tuners in your area are using because if you get a SCT xcal II and all the tuners in the area are using Diablo or vice versa your going to be pissed cause they won't be able to use the programmer you have.

Hope this helps.

 

Thank you. EXACTLY what I was asking. I will get a cold air kit, the pullies, the programmer and then dyno yune. That should be more than enough to keep the wife happy on her daily commute.

=D

 

glad we could help

 

The wife happy??? now if i could make my wife appreciate horsepower...



NO HORSEPOWER YES HORSEPOWER

 

ha ha ha....I hear that man! All I ever hear is....ARE YOU LOOKING AT CAR STUFF AGAIN!!! after that all I hear is BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH

 

I know what you mean. usually it's "what's in the box? it better not be car parts" Usually i look for the UPS man and meet him halfway in the driveway and walk to the back of the house to the shed.

 

hahaahaha

 

That's classic! ha ha ha.

 

XCal 2 is the way to go. I just got mine yesterday and I wish I had gotten it in the first place. Before this I had an SCT chip. The data logging software and everything is really cool. Its also VERY helpful to data log stuff while racing. You can interpret the info and make small adjustments as needed. For the things you cant adjust you can just send the log file to your tuner and have him make any additional adjustments. I also had the Predator at one point along with an old Superchips tuner. IMO, youd be wasting your money going with either of those.

 

I've had spotty results with the older predators but I haven't used any recently distributed units. The Xcal-II always provided spot on repeatability and was easy enough to use.

I'd still find out what your local tuner shops use so they can upload a custom tune to your handheld and then you can make modifications to it as needed. Ideally you should avoid making too significant a change to anything without putting the car back on a dyno or at least hooking up a wideband O2 sensor& guage to it to keep an eye on the A/F ratio.

 

my wife just bought me a set of main bearings for my 5.4 build up... then she had her family put in for the rod bearings for a B-day present for me. Same as the zigzagg.. she's happy with it cuz 1. at least I'm not smoking crack on a street corner and 2. it makes me happy to play with my car stuff.

I do have to keep the car money separate from the household money but that's just good financial practice in a super expensive hobby like hot-rods.