Vortec Tuner

[workingdog]

Does anyone have a recommendation for tuners for vortec engines. I see there are things like the Bully Dog and the Diablo, which I think are just elaborate chips and then there are PC based programs like HP Tuner which I assume allows you to mess with everything.

I'm looking to make some adjustments to the 4l60 lock and unlock on my 5.3/4l60 set up in my FJ60 and to my 5.7 that's going in my FJ40.

Peter

 

[spotcruiser]

I don't know that you really want to buy a tuner. Ping Brendan at
lt1swap@centurytel.net about programming it for you. For $75, he'll program it twice and you'll save a bundle.

 

[Elbert]

THe full blown tuner software is pretty expensive and in my mind involves a pretty step learning curve. I can say this...don't buy anything that says "jet".

There are handheld tuner type progammers that simply plug into your aldl port and you check options off that you want to change. Then there are some tuners that interface with the diesel engines, where you can simply dial up power at will.

The full blown tuner packages are pretty complex and allow you to change jsut about anything and with that goes the idea that you can really screw up. They generally load on a laptop computer and you have a special cable that interfaces between the computer and PCM.

I would talk to one of the the guys who does this for a living or part time $$ and get them to do it for you.....Its one tihng to buy one of the handheld tuners and select options off that...its a lot bigger deal to buy one of the full up tuning pkgs like EFI live where you can edit modify about anything in the PCM/ECM.

Make sure you understand how the software package controls the number of PCM's you can modify and so in case you were to screw up and decide to simply buy another PCM you would be able to modity it as well under your same licenses/initial purchase cost.

Of course it goes without saying...job one would be to understand how to save the stock programming off the OEM PCM/ECM.

 

[workingdog]

If I knew what I wanted, I send it off, but I mostly am looking for something that can tell me what the transmission is up to - when it's locking and unlocking and if it's getting got and going into 'hi temp' mode.

 

[Elbert]

a regular diagnostic scan tool can tell you about lockup, one that displays live data.

These programmer software tools don't have a left and right limit...or any "do this or do that"....you basically jump off into it head first (based on what I saw a year or two ago when I was looking at them), as much as you might could improve something you could also go int eh opposite direction and screw up.

Go look at EFI Live to see what you can off their web site.

I don't know if the GM transmission sets a code or if it has a "hi-temp" mode...I assume it does based on what you are saying....

Are you expecting the transmission to be a problem?

I think there are some other tools that interface with the ALDL connector and can display live data to a cell phone, maybe to an IPAD or laptop....and they are not programming tools, but more of display or diagnostic tools, not sure how much they show in regard to the transmission..

 

[mookie]

If i was you i would find a local shop that specializes in LS engines and pay for a tuning session with them, a lot of places offer a one time fee and then free unlimited tuning for a year after that.

 

[workingdog]

Thanks Elbert, that' s helpful. With a supercharger on the 5.3, the power curve is radically different that it was originally, even at low throttle, and it seems like the transmission is doing things based on a stock 5.3 rather than using the torque I have at hand. Know from personal experience that the diesel pickups rarely downshift, they just use the torque and go. But mine is either down shifting or unlocking all the time on hills even when it clearly not needed - especially climbing Donner Summit - but it may be doing that because it's getting warm after climbing steadily for an hour and it's trying to cool itself. I want to see what is going on, and from there, see if I can modify the shift points and lock/unlock to make it a little more usable.

None of the scan tool/programmers I've seen show lock, but perhaps I haven't been looking at the right ones. I'll look at EFI Live.

Peter

 

[Elbert]

My take on the progammer tools like EFI...I may be wrong or things may have changed...I'm too lazy to go out and read through all the stuff again.

THe programming tools like EFI and others are used to edit the parameters in the PCM/ECM to modify fuel delivery, change the R&P value, change tire size, adjust cooling fan temps, adjust auto trans shift points, adjust or delete torque management, edit or control various emissions related functions, edit or remove certain trouble codes, allow for larger injectors or other "hot-rod" type changes...ie camshafts...etc, allow for certain adjustments to electronic theft control, allow for changes from auto to manual trans. Basically the ability to edit or remove just about anything the PCM / ECM controls or has hard data loaded in it that it assumes is right.

Good example...when you change from 3.73 to 4.11 or lower...the PCM/ECM has no way to know that and its programming assumes the stock ratio....same way with tires ..etc.

I don't recall but I'm not sure if the programming tools also come with diagnostic displays too or the ability to clear codes and see all the data in real time, it would make sense that they would.

The best course of action is to get up with a local guy that does programming if such a person is local to you...and as noted.

I assume there is some programming when you put that supercharger on the truck? Is the engine entirely stock with stock transmission and all electronics present just like it rolled off the dealer lot...exhaust stock...etc?

Surf around on those web sites.... avg guy does not just pick up a fully functional programming software suite and be off and running with it, even in a matter of a months...in my view. If you are going to take that route...you might as well get on ebay or other source and buy a few spare PCMs that match your donor vehicle from where the engine came from.

 

[workingdog]

There was some programming done, but I have no idea what it was. My guess it was only engine and not transmission. But I've sent an email off to Magnusen.

I've also joined the EFILive forum and asked them what they suggest for me.

I've used these kind of programs in the past when I had a Cummins in a '68 Ford pickup.

I'll see what the folks at EFI suggest.

 

[Elbert]

major difference between hand held programmer that has only certain optons, a piggy back setup like used in the recent generations of diesels and a full blown engine tuner/programmer software suite like EFI live. The hand held programmers give you a certain set of choices...you select that and you can eaisly move back and forth between settings. The diesel stuff is similar (the piggy back type), where you have a display and select certain modes based on modifications to emissions/turbo/exhaust...etc

A tool like EFI is a complete different breed of cat, no hand holding, no lmits, you can screw with just about anything.... of course the "magic" is knowing what values to alter and by how much and then how to react based on engine performance or symptoms...

I would assume mods to a auto transmission behind a supercharger would involve potentially firming up the shifts, seems like the lockup function is based on speed too. So it you increased torque/power you certainly would not want lag on the shift...i wonder if you should consider a chage in the torque convert. I would assume that most of the supercharge kits are setup for street stuff. Of course if your torque/power output is beyond what the auto trans is designed for....thats something else.