I just installed an SCT Extreme Flasher tune on my friend Michelle's 03 GT Vert Auto. She was only running 87 octane in the car, so I put in a mail order tune from MD for 87 octane. I can NOT believe how much better the car shifts and how much faster it is now. I am now totally convinced that an auto is a great option if it is tuned correctly. I can't imagine what a different stall would feel like.

If you have an auto, you need one of these custom tunes.

 

Yup......did it done it feels freakin awesome. Get some 4.10's or 4.30's put on it and i'll tell you the sucker moves. I don't know what my next big project is going to be either change my tranny to a manual or get a 3000 stall put on my car. But yeah great improvement isnt it.

 

The real upgrade is switching to 93 octane...

 

i havent run my 87 tune but i am running my 93 octane tune and it is nice

 

I already talked to her about 4.10's or 4.30's. She gets nervous and is no gear head, but wants the car to be FAST. While a cool chick who does not like rice, she can only relate to hp. You know what I mean? If I tell her "hey, buy this gizmo. It will add 30 hp for $500." She will run out and buy it. But, gears take more of an explanation for the noobe.

The other thing is she has this guy friend (not a b/f), who has a Mustang and gives here all the wrong advice. He has an old school car, and does not know the new stuff. He can paint and rebuild and do a lot of stuff I can not, but is clueless on new Mustangs. That would be fine if he kept his trap shut, but he does not.

Some of his comments have been:

1 - Only buy a Flowmaster exhaust. Everything else sucks.

2 - 4.10's! Are you crazy? You will get like 10 mpg with those things?

3 - Those chips or tuners will destroy your engine.

Need I go on?

Many of us on this site, know enough to get a job as phone tech-support selling this crap. I think I finally have her convinced to listen to me when it comes to what she wants to do.

But, back to the point of this thread. I never new an auto could be that much fun. The fun factor is soo much better with a tune. Now, to get her to put in 93 octane.

 

I just did an SCT chip and 4.10's... Jerry W. wrote the automatic calibration for SCT, and it kicks ***.

 

Is that for the chip tune or you think that would be the same with a hand-held tuner?

I'm hesitant to get the chip, but if the results are such as that it would be "worth" it, I would totally do that.

 

I went to MD, per your advice, and ran into a screen full of good stuff. If I could only understand what they are describing it would be great. But unfortunately I am like Michelle's other male friend. I have in the past completely rebuilt a flat head 52 Ford engine w/two 4 barrel carbs, but when I look at my 04 vert I am clueless!! Would it be possible for you to describe what you ordered and how you go about "flashing " the engine?? I have two screwdrivers and a "monkey wrench" and am ready to go. Thanks.

 

ROFL! You kill me. Thanks for the post.

I have an SCT 4 position Switch Chip. The device that I used to program the '03GT was an SCT Extreme Flasher (9100). They all do the same thing, but install differently.

Read this thread, as it will help you out.

http://www.mustangtuningforums.com/showthread.php?t=18

I would recomend that you consider the X-Calibrator from SCT. Mustang Tunining sells it on this site.

http://www.mustangtuning.com/computerchips.html

 

The chip and flasher both use the same software, just different packaging and the tuner has end user adjustability.

Get a dyno tune though. Its much better than mail order tunes.

 

The SCT Xcal sounds good. Before I call MT and place the order I have know about the mixture settings and how do you do that, or is that "in the tune".
In the bygone past I have fried/cracked piston heads with too lean of a mixture. Should I fear that?? .. As a tribute to you, I had previously read your thread on chips and tuners (8 - 10 times), and it is very well written and I appreciated you not using slang abbreviations that a flat head Ford man couldn't understand. Thanks, I'll sleep on it tonight.

 

Hey 29'er, thanks for the response....always good to feel the love.

The new tuning software is really awesome as you will have lots of things to tinker with if you wish. Otherwise, you can just leave it as it is with the tune that the tuner put on it.

IMO, I would NOT mess with the a/f adjustments unless you have access to a wide-band or are putting the car on a dyno with a wide-band a/f meter.

The tune that you will get on the tuner will be for your car, yet will be pretty conservative. Most of these cars run on the rich side from the factory, so most of the mail-order tunes will lean things up a tad. But, not that much.

A dyno tune will not net you much on a stock or near-stock car. You might get another 5 hp from a dyno tune unless your current tune is really dicked-up. However, if you have a good dyno tuner that is close to home that uses SCT and has reasonable rates, I would consider it.

I highly recomend the X-Cal. It is a great device and will give you the ability to data log and provide user control of a lot of different functions.

I use a chip, because I run nitrous. The chip gives me the ability to change tunes on the fly.

 

If I get one will it void my warranty?. I think I know the answer but can't you switch the tune back to factory settings? Just in case

 

chips will void warranties. tuners will not.

 

What he said! Trick is, if you use a tuner, you need to return the program to stock before taking it in. They will never know it was ever there. And, you have to be a good liar.

The well-trained Service Managers will look you in the eye and say "Do you have a chip?" and make you wonder for a second that the tune did something bad just to get a reaction. Don't get caught in that trap. Just say "No".