Debating the predator;

[propellerhead]

.... The big draw to the Predator seems to be the big screen (game boy effect).

I'm sure four flashing LEDs is a much better interface to most people, than readable text on a multi-line LCD screen.

[That was sarcasm.]

 

[jrc_03_gt]

You'll be in the same situation with the Xcalibrator. You'll get an off-the-shelf tune to match the mods you specify. When it comes to tweaking the tune, where do you begin?

You can get a dyno-based tune with either tool.

PS. They've told me two months ago that the QuickTuns software will be released "next week".

If I do a base dyno and have the sct I can have the tuner burn the tune to my own flasher. The preditor will not allow me to do this. So I think Im leaning towards the sct.

 

[propellerhead]

If I do a base dyno and have the sct I can have the tuner burn the tune to my own flasher. The preditor will not allow me to do this. So I think Im leaning towards the sct.

Any tuner that uses the DiabloSport products can do the dyno pull, create the tune and load it into your Predator, or email it to you then you can load it onto your Predator. Check with a DiabloSport tuner.

Both the Predator and the Xcalibrator are tools that load the tunes into your car. One tool has a bit more extra features.

If you're looking for the best HP/torque gains, the difference is in the shop doing the tune. The handheld tuner is just the tool to load the tune into your car. Nothing more. Also ask the vendor that you choose. Will they be giving you an off-the-shelf tune that was pre-made for all 04 Mustang GTs with the mods you have? Will they create the tune based on a dyno pull on your car? How custom is the "custom tune" that they are selling you?

Get the facts and ignore the cheerleader like posts. I could post here and say "Diablosport all the way!" and not substantiate my post. But what good will that do?

 

[jrc_03_gt]

I have been told you cant tweek a diablo as much as the xcalibrator. The diablo does not have the flexability like the sct. You are limited on the parameters with the diablo. If I go with the sct, a tuner can custom tune specifically to my car and not have the limitations that the predator has.

This is what I have been told.

 

[propellerhead]

I have been told you cant tweek a diablo as much as the xcalibrator. The diablo does not have the flexability like the sct. You are limited on the parameters with the diablo. If I go with the sct, a tuner can custom tune specifically to my car and not have the limitations that the predator has.

This is what I have been told.

As it stands, you can tweak the tune with the Predator. How much adjustment do you have? Enough to be able to break your engine if you don't know what you're doing. You can't do jack with tune with the Xcalibrator. You can load the tune. That's all. I've seen a claim that the QuickTune software is available. I haven't found it. I was told this was ready to be released two months ago. *shrug* How much adjustment will you have with the QuickTune software? I don't know. I'm guessing it will be the same, or close. Enough to where you can be dangerous. But until that becomes public, any claim of one product having more adjustability over another is pure speculation.

Either way, if the adjustability of the end-user tool (Predator or Xcalibrator) does not meet your needs, you can still go to a profesional tuner. Their tools have 100x more control over the tunes. DiabloSport or SCT. That's why they are professional tuners. It's stuff that's not really meant for the end user.

Once they build you a custom tune, you can use your end-user tool to load it into your car. One tool has a human readable screen, a datalogger and an OBDII code reader. The other holds 3 tunes and has 4 flashing LEDs. One has been called a "Gameboy". I guess that make the other one an "Atari".

Plain English.

Get the facts, dude. It's your money you're spending. I spent about three months shopping and comparing the two. I dealt with at least two dealers from each camp. I suggest you do the same.

 

[GTsleeper]

Like propellerhead has been saying do your own studies. How many mods do you have, if you are super charged you can e-mail Diablo and they can send you a custom tune for a s/c 4.6 2v. Also you can use data logging on your predator to see which tune best suites your needs. I have done it plenty of times, keeping a log of each setting. Also I have the Oct. issue or Sep. from 5.0 which helped explain the Predator tuens a little more. They did a whole article which helped out a lot. If you ask me I love my Predator due to the mods I have, if in the future I do s/c my 4.6L I will just send away for a custom tune. I do believe you can't lose with either one again look at your mods and choose wisely. Even if you have cams with long tube headers and plan on staying n/a you can still get a tune thru Diablo figured I would let you know just in case your curious.

 

[jrc_03_gt]

Depending on the cost I just wanted to start out with a custom tune by a sct dealer that puts my car on a dyno. I was just thinking it would be better to get a custom tune from the start rather than going with the basic tune that comes with the predator. Im debating what would be better for me.

 

[GTsleeper]

Right on just keep doing some studies and remeber its what best suites your needs. But just so you know www.rpmoutlet.com has the Predator pretty cheap, plus it comes with a thermostat.

 

[propellerhead]

Depending on the cost I just wanted to start out with a custom tune by a sct dealer that puts my car on a dyno. I was just thinking it would be better to get a custom tune from the start rather than going with the basic tune that comes with the predator. Im debating what would be better for me.

Talk to several dealers. I bet most will tell you that you don't really need a custom tune with your basic bolt ons. The basic off-the-shelf tune from either manufacturer will do you fine. Custom tunes generally for those with power adders.

But, it sounds like you've made up your mind. That's cool. Good luck!

 

[jrc_03_gt]

no Im still up in the air on this one.

 

[jrc_03_gt]

What is the cheapest price you guys have found for a predator????

 

[Darkhorse845]

What is the cheapest price you guys have found for a predator????

www.modulardepot.com

 

[moreause]

What about any Ford warranty issues with either programmer? Can the stock program be flashed back in should you need warranty work? Does the ECU have a counter that counts the times it's been flashed? I know that when the dealer reflashed my ECU he put a sticker with the reflash program date on it under the hood.

I still have almost 1 year left on the 3/36 warranty.

Thanks

question about the warranty is us and canada the same...i got a 2002 GT and its 3/60000km all and 5/100000km engine group

and i think it's not the same from year to year

and from what i know the less the dealer know's the better you are

 

[propellerhead]

Check out this thread and download the sample tune and the Xcalibrator's tweaking software. It should give you a feel for what the Xcal offers.

http://www.modularfords.com/forums/showthread.php?t=20435

I just checked out the SCT Extreme Tune (also known as QuickTune) using the sample tune file posted in the thread. It allows you to adjust for gears and tire size. It allows you to adjust spark timing from -5 to +2 degrees. It allows you to set idle RPM. It allows you to set part throttle and WOT air/fuel ratios. It allows you to set the speed limiter to stock, none, 30 MPH or 70 MPH.

The SCT Extreme Tune software does NOT allow turning off the Traction Control. It does NOT allow adjustments to the Cooling Fan On/Off temperatures for High and Low speeds. It does NOT allow you to turn off the EGR System. It does NOT allow you to turn off the rear O2 sensors, which means you'll still need to buy MIL Eliminators.

I did not see any adjustments to the auto trans shifting at all in the SCT Extreme Tune (also known as QuickTune) software. No shift pressures. No shift points. No torque modulation. Nada.

None of the help screens work.

The Predator lets you do all that directly from the Predator unit itself, plus data logging and OBDII code reading. Not bad for a "Gameboy"...

 

[propellerhead]

Still want more? Here's another thread where tuners themselves say that when it comes to custom tunes, it's not the hardware or the software but the skills and experience of the person doing the tune.

http://www.modularfords.com/forums/showthread.php?t=18449

When it comes to the end-user tool to receive and load tunes, well that's been covered in this thread already.

 

[jrc_03_gt]

Still want more? Here's another thread where tuners themselves say that when it comes to custom tunes, it's not the hardware or the software but the skills and experience of the person doing the tune.

http://www.modularfords.com/forums/showthread.php?t=18449

When it comes to the end-user tool to receive and load tunes, well that's been covered in this thread already.

Thanks for the info . Im still not sure what to buy. I may go with a predator, but not 100% sure yet.

 

[Darkhorse845]

Yes thanks for the info! I would go
with the predator.

 

[02mingreyGT]

It does NOT allow turning off the Traction Control. It does NOT allow adjustments to the Cooling Fan On/Off temperatures for High and Low speeds. It does NOT allow you to turn off the EGR System. It does NOT allow you to turn off the rear O2 sensors, which means you'll still need to buy MIL Eliminators.

I did not see any adjustments to the auto trans shifting at all. No shift pressures. No shift points. No torque modulation. Nada.

None of the help screens work.

The Predator lets you do all that directly from the Predator unit itself, plus data logging and OBDII code reading. Not bad for a "Gameboy"...

Looks to me like it does most of ithttp://www.modulardepot.com/product_info.php?cPath=21_47&products_id=82

 

[propellerhead]

Looks to me like it does most of ithttp://www.modulardepot.com/product_info.php?cPath=21_47&products_id=82

Download the software and the sample tune. Maybe the stuff will appear for you. If it does, I'm not gonna argue. The items in question did NOT appear for me. I clicked on everything too. I was bummed out. I was expecting to see all that's listed in the ad. When the software right in front of your face doesn't have the items you expect, do you still believe what the ad says?

Looking at it again, the ad lists what the Xcalibrator tune can do -- the tune provided by the dealer. That ad is not stating what the software can do. I'm sure some future revison will have it...

 

[mnbf]

Check out this thread and download the sample tune and the Xcalibrator's tweaking software. It should give you a feel for what the Xcal offers.

http://www.modularfords.com/forums/showthread.php?t=20435

I just checked out the SCT Extreme Tune (also known as QuickTune) using the sample tune file posted in the thread. It allows you to adjust for gears and tire size. It allows you to adjust spark timing from -5 to +2 degrees. It allows you to set idle RPM. It allows you to set part throttle and WOT air/fuel ratios. It allows you to set the speed limiter to stock, none, 30 MPH or 70 MPH.

It does NOT allow turning off the Traction Control. It does NOT allow adjustments to the Cooling Fan On/Off temperatures for High and Low speeds. It does NOT allow you to turn off the EGR System. It does NOT allow you to turn off the rear O2 sensors, which means you'll still need to buy MIL Eliminators.

I did not see any adjustments to the auto trans shifting at all. No shift pressures. No shift points. No torque modulation. Nada.

None of the help screens work.

The Predator lets you do all that directly from the Predator unit itself, plus data logging and OBDII code reading. Not bad for a "Gameboy"...

When you order your custom tune you tell them that you want all that done and they do it ... or all you have to do it email your tuner telling them you would like that done and they will do it for you ... the Xcal works great for me and the only reason i went with it over the diablo is because of the experience of the tuners at MD.