MonteCarlo31, you done patting yourself on the back yet? The bottom line is, Troyer has specialized in tuning F150’s for 13 years, have you?

 

jpdadeo, are you done kissing mikes butt? How much of a kick back does he give you? He's been doing this for 13 years and all he can do is F 150s? Come on, look at the big guys in the mod motor games, JLP etc, thats who you need to go to. Open your eyes to new ideas, afterall if we didn't we'd be driving around in carbed cars and not know anything about fuel Injection or forced induction. I'm not gonna start a flame war, I answered this guys question honistly and fairly, putting out no fales information but yet here in the trail court of F 150 land, Iis what confoming people say that goes spewing information without facts to back them up. Again I ask, who has and can prove they have used a pred and it sucked as it was designed to be used (making a custom tune) dynoed and tuned by a true professional? Untill someone can prove it with factual evidence, I will stand my ground.

 

Whatever, but I’m sticking with Mike; he’s done a superior job for me.

 

People, CHILL OUT…

There is NO difference between the Predator, Xcalibrator1, 2 or any other SCT product. They can ALL have custom tunes.

Many people who purchase a Predator for $400 get a CUSTOM tune (included for the $400) by vendors such as Mike. Most the vendors that I know of tune specifically for Lightning’s, as well as Mike.

So, the Predator is not “necessarily” on off the shelf tune. Read, search and learn about ALL the options available to you.

What is BETTER about the Predator AND Xcalibroator2 is the FACT they offer MUCH more, they offer the ability of “custom” tunes AND the ability of data logging (real time) and OBDII code readers.

You can not beat that for $400 and hopefully the Xcalibroator2 will be priced for the market correctly or in other words around $400 because its competitor will be the Predator. Currently, the Predator can only hold ONE custom tune, where I believe the Xcalibrator2 will have the ability to hold 3.

Not a big deal with tunes that are emailed. If you had a Predator you simple download any of your stored tunes into the Predator off your computer and then into your truck, a pain yes, but not impossible. However the Predator may be improving soon so it can hold more then one tune.

IT IS NOT ABOUT THE DEVICE but rather what tune is in the device or more specifically, WHO is doing the tuning. Hand held’s are simply a tool for uploading a program into your vehicle and some, like the Predator and Xcalibrator2 will offer MUCH more then just a device for uploading a program…

There are several tuners who are supporting vendors on F150 they can supply a custom tune for the Predator except I think they only offer tunes for Lightning’s rather then NA F150’s.

It is true that no tune is custom UNLESS you have been to a dyno to collect data such as A/F ratios, because no two vehicles will ever act the same to the same program. If you haven’t been to a dyno to collect data then your tune could be considered a “shelf” tune like some are referring to the tune provided in the Predator off the shelf previously known for blowing up Lightning’s.

Mike has down a LOT of research and testing and by far provides the safest and most consistent tunes and I have read many posts in where he makes references to people about providing data to him so he can get them the best tune possible. The Predator is nothing different and as I stated, many supporting vendors of F150 provide that same type of service…

 

XLT,
You just said a mouthful. Truth of the matter is that competition in any market is healthy...Kevin

 

True, and misspelled Xcalabrator2 a few times as well…

I hope no one takes my post as a knock towards Mike because that is the last thing I wanted that post to portray. I am simply trying to say that a Predator has the ability to hold true “custom” tunes as does Mikes SCT products.

And custom tune is just that, one that is programmed based on “data logging” your vehicle. If your vehicle has not been data logged and that data given to the person doing the tune then you do “not” have a custom tune…

 

Well mike did not data log my Expedition, but he is giving me a CUSTOM TUNE " I have 37 inch tires, custom exhaust, custom intake, 456 Front and Rear gears " So I am getting a custom tune. As long as the person doing your tune knows all the aftermarket things you have put on from stock, and he adjust for them then you are getting a CUSTOM TUNE.

 

Instead of slamming someone who helps everyone with his abundance of valuable knowledge and years of experience about how he does, or perceives, custom tuning, why not just buoy up your own guy if he’s that good; be positive.

 

 

I haven’t slammed anyone. Please re-read my post and I don’t have my own guy. For the record I don’t have a Predator either. If my post came across that way then I apologize but I would really like to know where you or anyone thinks I slammed Mike.

True, you might have a custom tune if someone gave a tune based on wheel sizes, exhaust and gears, and with Mikes years of experience he has a great deal of knowledge of these trucks. However, for a true custom tune, in the sense of a performance tune, or more specifically, racing tune, it can only be done by data logging and I have seen Mike mention that time and time again.

So, I am not knocking Mike or stating he don’t provide custom tunes based on data logging.

My intention was to set a few people straight that don’t seem to have a good idea how hand helds actually work in the first place. There was a comment that Predator’s where not a device with custom tunes but a “shelf” tune. That is true, they come with a “shelf” tune based on someone’s experience, or in Predators case for the Lightning’s before the new upgrade recently, inexperience that was blowing some Lightning’s up. However, most people, at least that visit these types of boards, don’t stay with the “shelf” tune and have a custom tune done, and can do so for the price of approx. $400.

Now this “shelf” tune was based off some “average” data someone logged. I refer back to the tunes that people say they get for their tire sizes, exhaust, etc, if there is no data logging then that too could be considered a “shelf” tune. It is based on “average” data information and NOT specific vehicle data that can ONLY be done by data logging.

My Lightning will NOT react the same to a tune by Mike or anyone else as another Lightning might and thus the reason Mike would need for me to do some data logging IF I was looking for a race tune rather then just “performance”.

There is a difference between a race tune and performance tune in that a performance tune is generally on the safe side of A/F ratios.

Now, this is where Mikes experience comes into play because his “custom” tunes or “shelf” tunes for performance are by far better then most other places someone could go to get one and that is due to his experience. I am willing to bet if someone asked Mike to provide them a race tune he would not do it unless he got some data back from the person asking…

Again, I don’t have any hand held device at the moment as I am waiting to see what will come of the Xcalibrator2. I want a device that NOT only uploads programs but can also be used to do real time data logging and the OBDII feature is just a plus in my book.

If the Xcalibrator2 is priced in the right neighborhood, like the Predator, then I see myself shortly purchasing one and most likely that will be from Mike himself based on years of me reading his post. So again I apologize to anyone that thinks I was taking shots at Mike as that was not my intention. I know as well as many others that Mike has not only top notch customer service but “real” experience with Fords with working with them for many years, and has been a great contribution to F150online…

 

I didn't see anywhere that you slammed Mike. I will have to Data Log for the Ported Eaton I'm putting on. I have a Autotap and a Laptop and getting some Dyno time for the A/F. All in the same day of course.

 

01 XLT SPORT
"QUOTE"
True, you might have a custom tune if someone gave a tune based on wheel sizes, exhaust and gears, and with Mikes years of experience he has a great deal of knowledge of these trucks. However, for a TRUE custom tune, in the sense of a PERFORMANCE tune, or more specifically, racing tune, it can only be done by data logging and I have seen Mike mention that time and time again.

I am getting a TRUE tune and a PERFORMANCE tune from mike, He knows the stock truck like the back of his hands. As long as you let him know EVERYTHING you have done to your truck from stock form he adjust for that. So why would someone need YOUR TRUCK to do a data log when he has already done them hundreds of times " So he has found the sweet spot on these trucks " and add'd compensation for the MODS you install. You dont have to go to a race shop and have your truck or car dyno'd and data logged and re-tuned a hundred times to get it right. Mike at troyer performance has already done that and streamlined the process down to adjusting for your mods. In a way he is smart for doing it that way.

 

I think your reading too much into it.

 

ditto

I for one believe Mike when he tells me he gave me a custom tune specifically for my truck

 

Ok, let me try this and see how it goes.

Performance tune is just that, it adds better performance over what the stock tune was. It can be had across the line on specific models of trucks, engine types, particular modifications etc. It is a safe tune that is not necessarily getting everything it possibly can from a “particular” motor, but rather getting everything it possibly can within a safe range.

This is Mike’s specialty since he has many years experience with these trucks and as was stated know them like the back of his hand and because of that his performance tunes are better then you could get anywhere else.

A Race tune is a custom tune. A custom tune is a special tune for a “particular” motor. It can be a 5.4 supercharged motor but no two 5.4 supercharged motors will respond to a tune in the same manner thus the reason for “mandatory” data logging IF you really want to get every last bit of horsepower possible AND remain safe. You have to data log to see among many parameters, specifically A/F ratios. A race tune, or custom tune is just that, it is custom around all the parameters in a specific motor and the ONLY way to know what the parameters are in a “specific” motor are is to data log in order to get all that information.

Mike is indeed a “speed” shop or “performance” shop because Mike DOES do that type of tuning because I have read many times where he had told people who want a custom tune to data log and send him that information…

I can also tell you that 9 times out of 10 people who data log and send that information to Mike will have a bit better tune then those who do not data log. It’s the nature of the beast or business. If you can’t provide all the necessary information your tune will be a “safe” tune based on the “average” information on many vehicles of the same make up, or what some call a “shelf” tune…

A “safe” tune does NOT nor should it imply you are only getting a marginal tune. Well, it would by some means depending where you get the tune from, but not if you’re getting that tune from Mike. If you get a tune from Mike it won’t be marginal by any means, it will be a good solid performance tune based on many years experience and it will beat anything out on the open market. However, if you want the absolute max. in a performance tune that is safe it WILL require data logging…