Flash tuners (Predator/SCT Tuner?)

[JonJon]

Are flash tuners (Like Predator) versatile enough that they're worth getting over a chip or custom flash at a shop?

I was thinking of getting a Predator or SCT Tuner soon and get gears... Then if I get cams/LTs I could use the predator/sct tuner to have a shop tune it.

Would I have to find a shop that knows how to use them?
Are these tuners powerful enough that it's a good idea or should I just do everything at once and get a custom chip burned?

 

[soonerlightning]

the predators are adjustable enough that they should be able to do what you want and you wont have to have a "custom program for it."

 

[twogts4us]

The SCT handheld tuner can be hold up to three custom tunes. Go to www.sctflash.com and use their 'find a dealer' search. Also, you can get a mail order tune based on your mods, then have that tune modified by any SCT dealer or you can have it emailed to you and download it (if you get the optional cable). Also check out www.modulardepot.com. They do alot of mail order tuning.

 

[JonJon]

the predators are adjustable enough that they should be able to do what you want and you wont have to have a "custom program for it."

Well I want to get a good tune if I get cams/LTs...

Or is it so easy with those tuners that it's just: dyno, add/remove fuel or timing or whatever, dyno again and see result
?

Or is a real dyno tune still better? Paying a shop a few hours to fine tune it perfect...

 

[propellerhead]

Handheld tuners or programmers come with generic tunes that you can tweak. Chips don't. The vendors and tuners have tunes already available for almost all combinations of mods out there. Just tell them what car you have and what mods you have and you'll get a tune tailored for your car. But since all cars are different, the handheld programmer will let you tweak the tune even more. Or you can start with the factory tune and tweak that. There are a bunch of parameters that you can adjust [+] or [-] to a certain extent. You can use a dyno to help with tweaking, but this is not required.

If you have major mods that requires tuning beyond the capabilities of the handheld tuner, you can contact the vendor or distributor or tuner and they can get you another "custom" tune that you can load via your programmer. Then you can start the tweaking all over again.

It's like buying a suit. You get a generic size based on your body and then tailor it to your specific needs. You can tailor it again and again as you gain weight. At some point, you won't be able to tailor the suit to the extent that you need. You'll need a new suit, which you can get from the store. Then you can tweak that new suit as you gain even more weight.

With a chip, you basically get a generic "custom" tune from the tuner shop and you are stuck with it. You can not tweak it on your own. Most tuner shops will continue to tweak it for you. Some will tweak it based on dyno runs. Some will tweak it based on what you tell them. Some will charge you each time. Some won't. If the shop is not local, then you'll be FedEx's best customer until you decided on not doing any more mods and have tuned your car to your liking.

Also, a chip is highly visible and detectable by the warranty nazi's at Ford. A flash tune is hard to detect.

That's my summary. Someone else chime in.

 

[JonJon]

Handheld tuners or programmers come with generic tunes that you can tweak. Chips don't. The vendors and tuners have tunes already available for almost all combinations of mods out there. Just tell them what car you have and what mods you have and you'll get a tune tailored for your car. But since all cars are different, the handheld programmer will let you tweak the tune even more. Or you can start with the factory tune and tweak that. There are a bunch of parameters that you can adjust [+] or [-] to a certain extent. You can use a dyno to help with tweaking, but this is not required.

If you have major mods that requires tuning beyond the capabilities of the handheld tuner, you can contact the vendor or distributor or tuner and they can get you another "custom" tune that you can load via your programmer. Then you can start the tweaking all over again.

It's like buying a suit. You get a generic size based on your body and then tailor it to your specific needs. You can tailor it again and again as you gain weight. At some point, you won't be able to tailor the suit to the extent that you need. You'll need a new suit, which you can get from the store. Then you can tweak that new suit as you gain even more weight.

With a chip, you basically get a generic "custom" tune from the tuner shop and you are stuck with it. You can not tweak it on your own. Most tuner shops will continue to tweak it for you. Some will tweak it based on dyno runs. Some will tweak it based on what you tell them. Some will charge you each time. Some won't. If the shop is not local, then you'll be FedEx's best customer until you decided on not doing any more mods and have tuned your car to your liking.

Also, a chip is highly visible and detectable by the warranty nazi's at Ford. A flash tune is hard to detect.

That's my summary. Someone else chime in.

propellerhead,

great info. I'm not worried about warranty, my extended one expires in less than a year. It will definately be nice to be able to make changes whenever I want versus paying a shop to dyno tune it.

I was reading about the 2 tuners and it looks like the Predator has datalogging, including A/F? If so, that's a bonus right there, just go out and do a few WOTs and come back and tune some more. No dyno needed.

 

[BCB00GT]

Predator will not log O2. You need a wideband O2/datalogger - different animal. The Predator is good to tune with on a dyno that has A/F feedback.

 

[JonJon]

Predator will not log O2. You need a wideband O2/datalogger - different animal. The Predator is good to tune with on a dyno that has A/F feedback.

I was doubtful that it did a/f logging, else it would've been a big feature list..

But the Predator PDF manual lists 'O2 SENS BANK 1 UPSTREAM" and bank 2 as monitorable paramaters... What are those?

 

[DJsZincGT]

They are good...and I have the SCT tuner with a "custom" tune on my supercharged 01 GT. However....I will soon be taking it to Modular Powerhouse to make sure the A/F is right. It most likely won't be...so they are going to do a little fine tuning. Those programmers get you pretty close and I love mine so far. But if you are looking to maximize hp, you need a dyno tune IMHO. At least get the car on a dyno after you put the tune in the car to make sure everything is where it's supposed to be.