Ive been doing my research on what tuner to buy , what to expect from a tuner and what to expect to pay.

It seems that the two top contenders are the Edge and the custom tuned XCAL2.

The edge seems to be the best OTS ready to go tuner. Lots of people pleased with it. However I cant find alot of information from people who actually USE their truck.

What can I expect from the edge evo while towing a heavy load?

I have a bunch of questions about the XCAL2 but it has been a little overwhelming digging through the forums. The only performance mods I have on my truck is my magnaflow cat back SIDO exhaust. Nothing else.

If I buy a xcal2 that is custom tuned to my truck will I have to have it retuned if I add a intake or other mods like electric fans etc?

Do I have to have my truck Dynoed before I buy a XCAL2? How much does that cost?

Both tuners I plan on using the standard 87 octane. I pay enough for gas and dont really want to pay anymore.

Because of this am I wasting my time with a tuner regardless of brand?


What do I expect to gain? I would be kidding myself If i expected MPG gains. I dont think that is a reasonable request to make of a 3 ton truck. However I would like to FEEL a change in take off and maybe how the truck handles when towing.

Ive read that performance tuning really wakes these trucks up. I would love to fully understand what that really means.

Anyway any advice is appreciated. I have a:

2004 F150 Fx4 Supercrew
5.4 V8
SIDO Magnaflow catback exhaust.
3.73 gears
Towing Package
18" Goodyear Stock Tires

I tow a 1800# Trailer but looking at a 5000# one.

Thanks
Tom

 

I have the edge on my truck. I have not pulled any large loads yet maybe 2500 lbs. It did fine with that. Can i tell a difference before and after edge YES.

On getting your truck dynoed I have been qouted $70 to $150 for two pulls to one hour. Will you see a better improvement with a custom tune ? Thats a big debate on here at some times. I you search there was a guy that did a comparison between the two and decided on the Edge. Now he did not do the datalogging that was needed for the custom tune though.

What a custom tune will do is get you as close to the most improvement that tuner can give you. Plus you can pick the tunes that want.

All that said I like my edge because there are some gauges that allow me to monitor trans temp, mpg, and a number of others. I would like to try out an xcal 2 to see what more I could get out of the truck. I personally can not leave anything be.

Just my take and I'm sure someone else will chime in.

 

I'd never speak ill of the Edge as I have no actual experience with it. It looks like it is a nice product.

I do have the XCAL though.

My truck is stock. I've never had it dynoed. I just ordered 3 tunes and have been happy with it. I don't race it or tow much but I do haul loads and like to take it off-roading in the mountains.

I have the 93 Performance, 87 Performance and 87 Tow. I might should have taken the 93 Tow instead of the 87 but so far no concerns.

I am very happy with my XCAL. I've never had a problem with them from the very beginning. I am going down to the Dyno Day event just to have it checked but I dont expect much change.

I have a post somewhere below here that detailed my first few miles with my tuner and I'm quite satisfied to this day.

I didnt care for the display of the Edge and I didnt want something too aggressive that may damage the truck. (I'm not saying the Edge does I just like the idea of a tune made for my truck's specs.)

Good Luck.

Troyer is hinting about another group buy so it may be worth looking into.

 

I have to recommend the XCal2 with custom tuning. I’ve been using Mikes tunes since Dec of 04 and they have been flawless and recently my tunes were updated, via email, to include the latest technology. I personally have an 87 Max, 93 Tow and a 93 Max. It changed everything about how the truck drives and responds to throttle; made the truck fun to drive and picked up a couple of mpg’s too

 

Without starting a battle, IMHO the troyer tuning is the only way to go.

Yes, the edge is cute with all its gauges and stuff if you simply want to tinker, its for you.

If you want to squeeze all the performance out of your truck, a troyer tune is the only way to go.


I guess its a form or function sort of thing....

 

Hold off on the decision for just a little while longer. The Edge Evo II will be ready for your truck soon. Along with the tune, it has gauges built in. Plus, it offers some custom tuning options as well.

 

I guess it's a matter of what you want. I got the Edge cause of all the guages(and cheap). The extra power is just a benefit. I've towed some small stuff with it, but I've yet to pull anything big any distance. I'll tell ya though, it made a BIG difference in daily driving. It shoots off the line a lot better than it did, and the shifts are awsome. They don't ******. They are smooth and quick. I notice that I can drive up a very steep hill with the cruise on and it will maintain speed. (before the edge, it would downshift when going up the same hills) I have been nothing but pleased with the Edge, even though it's a beta unit, and it has its quirks. The screen is awsome, and it changes to any color.

It has some custom tuning options that can be user-adjusted, such as octane rating, wide open throttle fuel delivery, shift firmness, shift rpms, timing advance etc.... So if you want to tweak your tune, you can. And I talked to one of the techs at Edge, and they're working on an intergrated nitrous controller that works through the edge itself. (if you're interested)

I here people on this site always talking about custom tuning, and I spoke to Mr. Troyer about what he does. He can provide more horse power because he breaks EVERY computer code. He doesn't provide a generic program. He provides a "more specific" program to meet your truck's strategy and/or pcm revision. That's what you pay for. Since there's hundreds of strategy codes and PCM revisions each year (for the F-150) it takes a lot of time to decipher every single aspect of each revison that affects your truck. So what you get with "custom" tuning is a more exact match to your computer's programming. Not a "one size fit all" deal. Now, as for how much more power gains.... Edge does most of what can be done to increase horse power. It increases fuel delivery, advances timing, increases line pressure in the tranny etc... But Mr. Troyer takes it a step further and tweaks a lot more options that may be specifically available according to your application...... So in effect, if me and you had IDENTICAL trucks, and I had the Edge, and you had the Xcal, your truck might be faster. In fact, you probably would, unless there wasn't that much that Troyer could "help" with your specific application. I imagine that Mr. Troyer's actual power gains (over stock) would be different for every truck that he tunes. Because of different revisions and strategies, I would surmise that everybody's truck (stock) has slightly different horse power.

With the Troyer tune, you also have the option to dyno the truck while monitoring a/f ratios. This gets you down to an even more specific tune. There's only so much that can be done to increase horse power before you risk lean fuel mixtures. So Mr. Troyer can dyno your truck, and if you're still running a little rich, he might lean it out a bit and give you some more horse power. etc....... Or if you're running lean, he could enrich the mixture a tad..... I suppose you could do the same with the edge, but you would have to make some educated decisions that pertain to the safety of your truck. And you're limited in what you can adjust with the edge.

In conclusion, I don't think there's any reason to continue to ask which is better. The answer is: Which do you prefer? You may get more horse power out of the Xcal. In fact you probably will get more out of it, but as for how much more, I think that varies from truck to truck. I believe that it's safe to say that you will be maximizing your truck's horse power with the Troyer tuned Xcal, because it will take advantage of EVERY single little tweak to squeeze every ounce out of your engine, that the Edge might overlook. So I guess there's the potential to gain a lot more out of the Xcal vs edge, and buy the same token, there's also the potential that the gains would be similar....

So, If you want the MOST out of your tune, and you want to beat any identical truck you encounter, then you might want to look into getting Troyer tuned. If you want a cheaper tuner that gives you some extra horse power, better shifting, and no top speed etc.... then the Edge, or superchip or whatever, would be fine. If you want to monitor your tranny, engine, mileage, speed, performance, read codes, and do it all at your fingertips, AND get more power, then you HAVE to have the Edge.

If you can't stand all the Troyer guys beating you, and you want some cool guages, then get an Xcal AND an Edge, DAMMIT!!!!!!!!!

Mr. Troyer, please correct any of my incorrect statements concerning your profession. This was merely my understanding of what you said to me and I do not claim it as gospel. You guys just call him and he'll tell ya all you want to know, and hook you up with either/or/or both. He explained a lot to me, and I can see how custom tuning could really make a BIG difference in some applications, if not all of them.

 

Well said


Mike recently updated my tunes, via email, to the latest edition and I must say, they are exceptional, definitely a cut above my old tunes. The part throttle torque is amazing, barely touch the pedal and you’re gone. Hole-shots are stronger & it pulls a lot harder at WOT because of the way the torque is managed throughout the entire RPM range

 

I just installed the Edge on my truck yesterday. I put off buying for a long time as my truck performed as well as I really needed. Actually ran pretty well. I have no intention of racing a supercrew, so all out performance has never been a quest. A friend at work put the Edge on his 2006 Screw and it definitely improved performance, plus, I really liked the guages, ability to monitor so many things as well as read and clear codes. After installing, there is noticable improvement, the truck no longer feels lazy. I only drove a few miles and it is my understanding it will improve even more with added dring cycles. I am very pleased with the Edge at this time. Had I wanted maximum performance, I would have gone with the XCal2, but I just do not see the point of going through that exercise on my daily driver that will never be fast regardless of what I do to it.

 

Jay, that's what I keep telling folks. If you want potentially more power, then you should talk to Troyer. I feel like he could get you more than the edge. How much more? Well, I think that will depend. But as for me, the edge improved throttle response, and WOT throttle at ALL RPMs. It is most noticable at initial takeoff, and above 3,500rpm. It really pulls now. I don't doubt that the Troyer tune is good. It's just senseless to continue saying "this is better, that is better". They're both good. My dad has a superchip in his V10 and it's awsome! My friend from high school had a superchip in his 2001 F-150 5.4, and it was a REALLY fast truck. He had a few other mods, but he got it up to 130 mph.

One thing that I didn't mention, is that you also pay for some friendly service, if you go with troyer. Edge has tech people that know their stuff (I've talked to them) but I feel like Troyer would take a look at your truck if you were having problems. That's why I'd suggest buying from him, even if you buy the edge.....

 

what is the evo II?

 

It's an evolution tuner for the 97-03 that is VERY SIMILAR to the Evolution for the 04-06

 

To be honest and don't take this the wrong way but...


The reason I bought the XCAL was not for more power (that may be a byproduct) but because of the assurance I was getting a well tested and supported product.

TP has been doing this for sometime and I wanted someone I could trust with my truck.

I dont care if I can get another 2 horsepower or a .1 drop in my 1/4 mile if my shifts will destroy the trannie.

I'm not saying the EDGE or any other product would but I prefer a tune that I know has been throughly reviewed and if I needed support I'm right close to his place...that never hurts either.

Good luck with the purchase.

 

I think that any reputable brand would provide tunes that are mild enough not to break the transmission. Or at least I would hope so. Superchips, and Edge sell thousands and thousands of units. If not tens of thousands. Or more.

 

I know a lot of people here have had good luck with the Troyer stuff and I don't doubt what they say. I had a different experience. I put a Troyer chip in mine that has 4 different tunes: 87 performance, 87-tow, 91-performance and 91-tow along with the stock setting. Its the one that gets installed inside the computer housing. I think it was called a 9200. Before buying it they told me I would notice a "seat of the pants" difference in power. After installing it I didn't notice any difference in any of the settings; in fact the stock setting felt better. I called to see if I had done something wrong with the install and was told that unless I could show with dyno sheets that there wasn't any improvement in power that they "didn't believe me". I was then told that they don't acknowledge "seat of the pants" feel as an indicator of the effectiveness of the chip. I can't say that it didn't improve the hp numbers on paper but I just didn't notice any seat of the pants increase on any of the settings. I put a Jet Off-Road module on a '91 Jeep I had years ago and noticed the power increase immediately.