Hey guys,

Here’s the situation,
I’ve got an XCalII loaded with troyer tunes that was for my 97 F150. I crashed it in January and was fortunate enough to find a great 98 F150. Currently the xcalII is doing nothing but sitting in the troyer box in my basement, and I would like to plug it in!

I know the 98 will need new custom tunes, especially since my mods are different from the mods that were on the 97. I returned the truck to stock before it was taken away from me so I’m pretty sure my xcalII can be reprogrammed. Question is, do I want to wait till next year for a tune, seeing that I know the wait for troyer tunes is already extremely long, OR try another performance shop like VMP or bama chips?

I already know what troyer does, and his skill and commitment to quality are reflected in his tunes; however maybe other tuners are just as good, right?
Could anybody with a bamachips tune or VMP explain to me why they like their tunes so much, and do those tuners consider the modifications that already exist and create power with the custom tune based on the combinations of modifications - much the way Mr. troyer does?

Thanks everyone for their input and suggestions, I look forward to your guys’ responses they always help make my truck better!!

 

I've got Justin with VMP's tunes. I am 100% please with them and couldn't ask for anything more. I put down 241 rwhp and 301 tq/ft with 37x13.50 on 20x10s with Flowmasters considering this with stock tires my numbers would be a lot higher not to mention the torque number would be a lot higher. I've since than switched to a larger piping and Dynomax mufflers with a H-Pipe. I've got amazing driveability, better than factory and much better than the Edge.

 

hey thumper i was just checkin out VMP's website and saw their website. checked out a link to their ebay store, and i guess they are selling their mobil dyno. I think your truck is in the pics he was with the dyno on ebay - pretty cool! didn't know if you knew. heres the link! thanks for your input too, they seem like a good shop.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Dynoj...spagenameZWDVW

 

the vmp tunes will be great. and it is just an email away. mine took two weeks and well worth the wait. you will need the usb cable that hooks to the xcal. i did have the troyer tunes before.

 

What made you go from the Troyer Tunes to the VMP Tunes? What are the differences, etc......

 

Yeah I saw it a while back. Justin is in the process of building a new mobile dyno, he could possibly be done by now.

I can't say theres a difference as I have never had the chance to have Troyer tunes. I was actually going to go with Troyer. I had called to get some information and to try to talk to Mike T but was just handled by a woman who wanted to get my fax number so I can fill my order and place it even when I told her I wanted to talk to him before choosing them. So therefore they lost my business.

 

interesting stuff guys and thanks for your responses. VMP sounds pretty good, maybe i'll try calling them.

I'm still wonder if anybody with a bama chips tune has any opinions?!

does VMP change the shift pressure the way troyer does? also, would you say their customer service is exactly what it should be? helpful and knowledgable?

 

Yes and Yes.

 

well first i didnt want to wait forever to get some updates and was told no updtaes (or changes) till datalogging was done. i didnt want to go to a dyno and to log it to have some changes made. i called up justin at vmp and after a nice conversation and some emails she is spot on perfect and i am alowed to have changes made and he will email them to me. and i like the way the vmp tunes reacted when i installed them. i guess that part is left up to the end user. but the driveability of the tune to me is better.

 

Is it even possible to change tuners without having the original tuner unlock it?

Can you just call up another tuner for tunes to replace the ones you have?

 

all i had to do was put the stock tune in and then download live link. once i did that i hooked up my xcal to the pcand erased the module.then rehooked it upand loaded in my new tunes from vmp. took about 30 minutes total.

 

Ok, I'll bite... I've had custom tunes from Troyer, VMP, and Bamachips... Here are my observations:

Troyer: Best all-out wide-open power. But also worst everyday driveability. MAJOR pain was that that TC would lockup way too soon under light throttle. Very irritating! Plus he wouldn't update the tune without datalogging.

VMP: Good driveability, and very good power improvement. Overall a GOOD tune; not great, not bad.

Bama: This was my favorite. Yes power improvement was on par with Troyer tunes, but the driveability was what I really liked. I even went back to Doug 2 times requesting very little tweaks, and he had absolutely no problem with that. He also gave me the tunes in the .xtr format. That allows you to use Xtremetune (free from SCT) to make safe changes to your shift pressure & points, plus alter your TC lockup schedule (which you can't do with the on-device adjustment)... Doug was very easy to work with, and really seemed to know his stuff... One drawback is that you have to purchase your tunes via Jusnes Modified. I guess Bamachips has Jusnes sell their stuff for them. Kinda a pain in the butt to go that route, but after the initial purchase, I dealt directly with Bama.

 

wow i need to know more about the xtr format and the extreme tune deal.

 

This thread has me thinking about ordering a single tune from Bama or VMP...only till I can get Troyer tunes ordered and in though Im a little leary about filling 7 things on a website and hitting submit though... Not near as into things as I know Troyers worksheets are.

Do any of you guys know what the turn-around time is for VMP.
Ive done a little searching and Bamorris almost has me convinced to go with Bama, plus only a 2 day turn around time...

 

hmmm,

now i'm interested in hearing more about bama also. but going through that other company, jusnes modified - whats that about? do i have to call them directly and are they easy to talk to about what i have done and what i'm looking for?

my biggest concern is that my truck is set up the way troyer has recommended trucks to be set up, with the AF1, magnaflow exhaust, and i even have his underdive pullies. I want all th extra power i can get from a tune that utalizes having that combo of mods. I wonder if i should just order one tune also, while at the same time place an order with troyer and just wait it out with the other single tune. I only run one tune all the time anyway.
but any more info on bama chips, and specifically they company they work with, would be great!!
thanks guys