Mail-order custom tune for a F/I setup?

[Kolby]

I know most people go with an SCT Tuner for their boosted setups, but I was curious how reliable or driveable mail-ordered "custom tuned chips" are. Are they designed to simply get you to a dyno-tuner or are they good enough to drive WOT on?

I'm speaking of legitimate shops like found HERE by C.U.N.D.N. Racing. (Actual performance shop)

Note: This is for a near BONE-STOCK (aside from Catback) 2001 Mustang GT with a low-boost (7-8psi) Procharger P1SC, 38lb injectors and 255L pump.

 

[KBExperience]

Get a dyno tune. It's a small price to pay for your peace of mind.

 

[d98gt]

Kolby where are you located?

I am from the Houston area (where Pearland is) and have never heard anything about that shop other than their ebay sales. I think you would be better off bringing the car to an actual shop and getting it dialed in that way.

 

[srtthis]

if you have a local dyno you can use with a wideband and can datalog, you can set up a remote tuning day with Rick@amazon racing. PM me if you need some details on it

 

[2002BLGT]

Mail order can be done , but you will need a wideband on the car to get it dialed in right ...

 

[GDawg]

Mail order can be done , but you will need a wideband on the car to get it dialed in right ...

Excuse my ignorance but what wideband are you guys talking about? wideband O2 sensors? Do you need one or two?

 

[trinity_gt]

Excuse my ignorance but what wideband are you guys talking about? wideband O2 sensors? Do you need one or two?

Yes. One should probably do as there is little reason to think the left and right banks will be fueled much differently.

A mail order tune (MOT) can work if done properly. Kenne Bell does it (I'm running one in my car). They wanted to know everything about the car -- all mods, gears, desired idle etc -- and they crafted one for my setup. But this is KB doing a tune for one of their blower kits and they know their equipment and their stuff. They set it up conservative. Yes, it runs fat at WOT but I don't worry too much about running over the shiny parts because of that.

If the MOT you're looking at is set up for anything other than safety (e.g. they run more timing and/or less fuel to make more power) I'd walk and get a proper dyno tune. If the MOT is setup conservatively, I don't see what you couldn't run that.

Just be careful and vigilant when getting a MOT from an outfit that doesn't build the blower under the hood...

 

[2002BLGT]

Excuse my ignorance but what wideband are you guys talking about? wideband O2 sensors? Do you need one or two?

There are plenty of different brands , this is one of the best deals out there on one , shows you the actual air/fuel ratio just like the dyno shops use to tune with , except you can use this to street tune with

AEM Power 30-4100 - AEM Power Digital Wideband Air/Fuel UEGO Gauge Kits - Overview - SummitRacing.com

 

[2002BLGT]

I actually have a copy of the tune file that Vortech sends with their base blower kits with the stock MAF and 38lbs injectors on their 8lbs kits , it only has 6 degrees of timing at WOT , LOL talk about being conservative

 

[trinity_gt]

I actually have a copy of the tune file that Vortech sends with their base blower kits with the stock MAF and 38lbs injectors on their 8lbs kits , it only has 6 degrees of timing at WOT , LOL talk about being conservative

That is conservative.

I could be wrong but I believe the KB MOT is ~18-degrees or so.

 

[2002BLGT]

That is conservative.

I could be wrong but I believe the KB MOT is ~18-degrees or so.

I think its 18 on the race tune , and 14 to 15 on 91 octane tune

 

[GDawg]

Can a KB switch chip be viewed and reflashed or do you need another chip?

 

[Don 95Vert]

The KB chip is just an SCT chip - it can be reburned. Can't be read though (with SCT hardware).

 

[Kolby]

Just as an update for future forum-searchers .... installed the Procharger system yesterday! (Was MUCH easier and quicker than everyone made it out to be!) I'll post pics in another thread later.

I had 2002BLGT (dirtydirtyracing.com) write me a tune for my setup on an SCT Handheld Tuner. So far it's been dead on smooth with no hesitations or problems. Plenty quick for my needs on 8psi but traction is more of an issue than I was expecting though.

I'm using an Innovate LM1 to track the A/F ratio and as soon as I figure out how to sync it to my SCT Tuner I'll record some runs and email them for any fine-tuning needed.

 

[jzhgt19]

what kind or hp gains would i see in a 02 gt with a JLT CAI and SCT tuner combo from AM? and will i gain or lose mpgs??

 

[2002BLGT]

what kind or hp gains would i see in a 02 gt with a JLT CAI and SCT tuner combo from AM? and will i gain or lose mpgs??

What does there advertising say LOL , most of the HP gain will come from the tune , unless you have an ungodly built engine the CAI is most likely WAY OVERKILL , local dyno tune is usually worth a few HP over a mail order tune but nothing wrong with a mail order tune , I am sure the tunes from them are better since they have Doug and Mike there now.