Ok, here is the deal. I got a stage one kit from Troyer and it is basically the mods that I want to put on the truck. However, I am struggling with the idea of the custom tune or just simply installing the 1715. Everyone here seem to indicate that the custom xcalibrator tune if far superior to the 1715 that comes with the kit. Basically, from what I have read here, it seems like I would be making a big mistake by installing the 1715...

I know that the custom tune itself is only a little more expensive than the 1715. However, after recieving some information from Mr. Troyer, I realized that I have no idea how to collect the data for the work sheets so that I could get a custom tune done.

The only thing I found on the net were a few data loggers that hook up to a laptop like the Raptor from SCT. The Raptor is about $425.00 and this would obviously add to the cost of the tune. In fact, if I have to buy the data logger to get the necessary data, the custom tune will have cost me $500.00 or so more than the 1715. I guess I could have some justification for the data logger as I also have a 2005 Mustang GT and I want to eventually get a custom tune ( and a few mods ) for it as well...

I am missing somthing?

How did you guys collect the data necessary for your custom tunes? I did a few searches on the site, but could not seem to find anything info about this.

I guess I am a little confused about the whole thing...

 

Sranger, all the questions on the “Custom Program Worksheet” you can answer without a scan gauge or data logger. They are very basic questions for instance, year, make, model, engine size, transmission, computer code, how does your vehicle idle?, what engine modifications do you have? etc. etc. It’s real simple stuff, you’ll be able to do it no sweat.

I got the Xcalibrator and my tunes are
87-octane - performance
93-octane - tow preferred
93-octane - max performance

The Xcalibrator (9300) will get you about 50% more hp & torque than the 1715 and you can switch from one tune to another in less than 10 min.

 

Thanks for the quick reply...

I understood all of the work sheets until I came to the "DataLog Parameters.doc" and the "Datalog.xls" spread sheet. They seemed to indicate that you had do do a bunch of data logging in order to get your custom tune. ( maybe that is where I went wrong... )

Does that mean that you DO NOT have to fill out the Datalog.xls spread sheet in order to get the xcalibrator custom tune?

If so, that would be a big relief....

 

My situation is a little different. I run my truck on the dyno and fax the dyno sheet to him. I have the SCT9100 with the 3 custom tunes. I am going to buy the LM-1. I am like you I really don't want to spend the money but I think it's going to become an necessity because I keep on adding mods and my tunes need to be very accurate.

 

sranger

The “Custom Program Worksheet” that I have is three pages and page 3 is just vehicle maintenance history. I don’t have the "DataLog Parameters.doc" and the "Datalog.xls" spread sheet. Everything on my worksheet is simple straightforward questions.

Probably the easiest way to get your worksheet figured out is to give Mike a call tomorrow and find out what all he needs to fix you up with a custom tune.

 

Hi sranger,

We send those datalogging instructions out to anyone who orders a custom tune from us who has modified their vehicle - actually, everyone who gets a custom tune from us is supposed to get that info.

You do NOT need to datalog that vehicle before we can tune it, due to the specific types of modifications that are in our Stage 1 kit, that is not required.

We provide that information so people will know what is required for us to make any *changes* to our custom tuning once it's done, and for those who have *significantly* modified vehicles with a mechanical configuration that actually requires proper datalogging before tuning can begin - that's not you.

Any time you have questions about our custom tuning, etc., just give us a quick call at our number listed below & we'll be happy to go over it with you, OK?

Talk to you soon,

 

I look forward to getting everything installed....

Sorry, for all the confusion on my part....

 

Hi sranger,

Don't give it a thought, & my apologies if the info we sent out with our CPW's (Custom Program Worksheets) caused your confusion!

I had originally made a much more detailed response to you, but I was having some trouble posting a day or two ago, and wasn't able to get that up here for you - I actually meant to have more details & a better explanation here for you!

At any rate, we send the datalogging info to just about everyone that gets a custom tune from us, even if they don't need to datalog for us to really dial things in - either before or after. We do that so people will know what';s involved, basically, and so they'll have that info on hand IF we need them to do that.

When you get your custom tuning from us, you will find inside that box our supplemental documentation, that explains this in a bit more detail - we may need to give some thought to putting some of that in our initial email that has the CPW's, just so as to hopefully not confuse others like we confused you!

Thanks for your understanding, & talk to you soon!

 

I did not get a chance to send the 1715 back because I went on a Ski trip this week. I will get it to UPS on Monday.

I completely understand what you need for the custom tune now. I usually research things like this more in depth before I jump in, but to be honest, buying from you guys seemed like the obvious choice based on the posts from your customers here. I also understand that to truly tune a truck ( or car ) with a lot of mods, the data sheets would be necessary.

I am thinking about getting a data logger because I also want to tune my 2005 Mustang GT. From what I am reading, this new 4.6l v8 ( similar to the new F150 ) responds quite well to a tune. Most people seem to be getting 25-30hp with just a tune and removing the carbon air intake trap. It would also be interesting to see how the engine dynamics change in the truck while towing. It seems like to really nail a towing tune, it would be best to collect data while actually pulling the desired load.

Thanks again.....

 

Hi sranger,

Sounds like you've got a nice "fleet" of FoMoCo's at your house!

Unless the truck is *significantly* modified, we do NOT need any datalogging for a towing tune. We've tuned many thousands of F-150's, 250's,. 350's, etc with every engine Ford has ever made, and unless there are significant modifications that actually throw off the transfer function or cause other real problems, datalogging isn't' necessary, just as I said before. Your truck isn't any different from any other truck pulling a load in terms of what happens inside the engine, the A/F's aren't going to suddenly & magically just jump all out of whack, etc. Give credit to Ford for already having done what is appropriate for safe towing in your factory tune for their OEM purposes, and to us for knowing what is and is not appropriate for getting more performance in a towing tune in these vehicles - if we didn't know our our work that well, we'd be out of business pretty quick.

We already know all we need to know in order to be able to do any kind of tuning you're ever liable to need on that F-150 - the only exception would be if you did really *significant* modifications.

Now on the 2005 Mustang with the 4.6 3V motor, you need to beware there, it's a different beast with different requirements, despite the fact that it has a very similar MAS system to the 5.4 3V F-150, it's air intake tract is vastly different than an F-150's. DO NOT REMOVE the hydrocarbon trap from the intake on that new Mustang, you CANNOT do that safely as doing so will vastly alter the MAS transfer function and cause the engine to run very lean. Fixing that will require several rounds of detailed datalogging & A/F ratio testing and tuning changes to get the A/F's back in line - as will installing something as seemingly simple as the popular Steeda air intake kit for the 2005 Mustang GT, that too will cause that 4.6 3V motor to run lean. Unlike the newer F-150's, to date nobody that we know of makes an intake kit for the 2005 Mustang GT that does NOT require datalogging & custom tuning to get the A/F's back in line, due in no small part to that hydrocarbon trap's elimination as part of installing most of those CAI's. Whereas there *is* a great intake kit for the 2004 & up 5.4 3V F-150 that uses the exact same type of MAS setup and will NOT cause those problems - again, that's why we do the R&D we do, so we'll *know*.

If you want to remove that trap, that *will* require some detailed datalogging & tuning, which costs more than just buying a tuner.
We can easily do the tuning required on the 2005 Mustang GT (or just about any other FoMoCo vehicle) to correct for things like removing the hydrocarbon trap and using an intake kit, etc. Just give us a call for any details on all of this - we can also provide a datalogging package that will allow you to be able to datalog the info required or that kind of tuning.

Just FYI - give us ac all to go over any of this further, & good luck with that nice fleet of FoMoCo vehicles you have there!

 

Hey Mike!

I see where Sranger has a 2000 F-150. I was under the assumption that the xcalibrator was for 2003-2004 and later F-150s. Am I wrong? Please tell me I am as my 2000 F-150 would love a chance to rub elbows with ol' xcalibrator!

Thanks!

ragarm

 

Superchips Custom Tuning Xcalibrator for ALL OBD-II FoMoCo vehicles 1996-2005

 

Thanks jp!

 

Thanks for the info on the 2005 4.6L 3v. I have read enough to know that that any mods to this car seem to require some dyno time and a custom tune...

I am holding off on any mods until a little more time has passed. I want to make sure there is not going to be any wide spread "bugs" in the new design...

 

Hi sranger,

Sounds good - so far we don't see any real pattern of significant problems with the new 2005 Mustang GT, Ford did a bang-up job overall in terms of a well made & reliable platform. IOW, we don't see a lot of the typical "1.0 syndrome" on this car to near the degree we usually do.

With the 2005 Mustang, Ford (for a change) had a number of those vehicles made available to various aftermarket performance companies for the specific purpose of developing aftermarket parts for them - performance, appearance, handling, etc. Kinda like Nissan started doing a few years ago, when they were trying to turn declining sales around - this was just one of the ways Ford wanted to insure a successful & *big* launch for the new Mustang. Smart move, as it has served to help owners like you by making a lot of parts available that have already been sorted out that would ordinarily take anywhere from 6-24 months in most other new redesigns. We really have to hand it to Ford on the new Mustang.

I did have a thought with regard to your comments about towing & datalogging on the truck, etc - one thing that gets overlooked in many cases are the exhaust gas temperatures. For example, we have to take that info consideration when making a "towing-compatible" type of tune. We run EGT gauges in most of our vehicles even though they have gasoline engines instead of diesels (which is where you tend to find EGT gauges (pyrometers) being used much more often).

I wouldn't think of running my high-boost Lightning without an EGT gauge, as it's the one gauge that tells me *instantly* if the conditions in the combustion chamber are safe or not (as long as the driver knows what EGT's are safe & appropriate for a given application & probe location, etc.).

Now in all of these FoMoCo vehicles (and many other modern computer controlled vehicles), there is an EGT temperature model in the PCM's program - in the FoMoCo's, it's primarily used for things like dumping in extra fuel if the PCM thinks the catalytic converters are getting too hot. But even with that provision, I still like to see the EGT's on our vehicles that have "significant" modifications.

Just a thought..........