I have a 2004 F150 4x4, with a 5.4. When I bought the truck (new), I also bought an Edge Evo. I recently dusted it off and installed it again, as I had been running with the stock tune for the last couple of years.

I have done the "Gotts" mod and have a Borla CAT-back, SIDO exhaust on it. All else is stock, including air filter and tire size.

I have been reading about the Gryphon, and I wonder, is it a real noticeable difference running Gryphon custom tunes over the canned Edge tunes? I will say that my truck can't break the wheels loose from a stop, except when I load the level 3 canned tune. So I do know that the canned tunes are doing something. I keep reading how canned tunes are crap in general, and especially Edge's canned tunes. So this has me thinking I should invest in some custom tunes. Will I be disappointed?

Also, on the PHP webpage, it looks like I can order custom tunes directly for an Edge Evo? I thought you had to pay a conversion fee to upgrade it to a Gryphon?

Is upgrading the Evo to a Gryphon an optional step, or is it required? If it is optional, what gains do you get over leaving it as an Edge Evo?

Thanks for any info.....
I do plan on giving PHP a call in the morning. Just trying to do a little research.

 

I no longer know what the conversion process is, but I can tell you that the custom tunes are worth it. On my 05, I put about 30,000 miles on it running level 3 canned, then got an 87 Perf and a 93 Perf tune. The 87 Perf was just about as strong as the level 3 and the shifting, downshifting was not even comprable. I ran the 87 Perf for about 70,000 befroe I sold the truck.

 

Thanks....good nfo

 

You probably won't get anyone at PHP for the next week. They're out of town on a well-deserved vacation.

But, you no longer have to get your Edge "converted" to a Gryphon before getting custom tunes. You just fill out the tune request and pay $60.00 each for them. The tunes are downloaded to your Evolution through a PHP app called Pegasus, that you download free from PHP's website.

So, you get to continue to run your canned tunes while you're waiting for the custom tunes to be written.

Is there a difference? I agree with Bluejay, but in my case, I'd call the custom tunes more "refined". I don't think they were as different from canned as the canned ones were from stock. Worth it? Yes.

- Jack

 

Are you talking about the Edge canned tunes, or the PHP modified canned tunes? I have read that the PHP modified canned tunes are way better than the Edge canned tunes.

At any rate, I think I'll invest $120.00 and see.

Thanks for the heads up on them being away right now. I'll wait a week and them give them a call. I want to talk to them before committing 120 bux. I'll probably go with an 87 perf tune and a 93 perf tune. (never do any heavy towing)

 

I would at least get the canned tow tune. I never thought I would be towing until I had to haul some heavy loads.

 

Yeah, I'll leave the Edge canned tow tune on it, and replace the other two. If I ever do start towing big, at that point I'll probably buy a third custom tune from PHP.

 

I see on their site, you can download a full-blown windows installer for Pagasus, and you can also download just the executable file. Any difference?

I downloaded the executable, and after correcting the ocx file, it starts and runs. (Windows XP on my home computer).

Also, a couple of questions. My Evo is from 2005, and has never had a firmware update. I read about the issue of custom tunes being wiped out and replaced with the standard canned tunes after a firmware update. Not sure if this only relates to CS/CTS units, which mine is not. I have the one they now call the "monochrome".

Should I go ahead and update the firmware on my Evo II now, before I have any custom tunes installed? Does it need it? It works just fine right now, and I am kinda afraid of "bricking" it. Also, not sure if Edge even still supports the Evolution II hardware anymore.

Any thoughts on that?

Thanks

 

Pegasus will not wipe out custom tunes like Fusion does. The "non-update" advice only applies to CS/CTS units and Fusion.

There's no real benefit to updating the firmware in your Evo if you're not having problems. Updates are created to address specific issues - if it ain't broke, don't fix it. An update COULD cause an unintended side effect, so it's best to leave well enough alone.

Bill did say once that he had made minor improvements to the canned tunes on the monochrome Gryphon. I don't know that you'd be able to detect any change without a dyno. I was talking about the difference between the canned Edge tunes and custom tunes though.

Now that you've installed Pegasus though, I'd run it, and once it is operating, try plugging your Evo into the PC to see if it will "connect". (The screen should change from red to green and Pegasus should report it "connected"). You MUST return your truck to stock before you remove the Evo to connect to the PC though.

- Jack

 

Jack, thanks for the info.

I'll plug the Evo in to my computer when I get home today (after returning the PCM to stock tune) and see if Pegasus recognizes it.

And, the executable file download gives you the same result/software as running the windows installer file? (Pegasus software)

Thnaks for the help!

 

I don't know the answer to the question you asked here. I generally download an installation file myself, because there's usually an uninstaller program with it in case I decide later I don't want the app.

There IS this installation guide: http://www.gopowerhungry.com/pegasus...user_guide.pdf, which I think is worth reading and attempting to follow. Some people have had trouble with the drivers not installing properly if these steps are not done right.

- Jack

 

You know, that's probably the difference. I'll bet the installer has all the USB drivers, whereas the stand alone executable is just the program with no USB support.

The stand-alone doesn't require installing anything, you just place the executable wherever on your drive, and click it to run it.

I'll go ahead and DL the full installer. I know all about the headaches that can come form plugging in an unrecognized USB device, and windows "tries it's best" to install it. It can be a pain to try and get it working once the right drivers are located, if windows "tried" to install an unrecognized USB device.

Thanks for all your help. I'll be all set and ready to go once I order some custom tunes from PHP.

 

I installed the full on Pegasus program last night, and it recognized my Evo, and was successful in communicating with PHP's server. I couldn't help myself, went ahead and updated the firmware, and the canned tunes. I knew it might be asking for trouble, but it all went smooth, and now it's a Gryphon!

And, the Gryphon tweaked canned tunes are far superior to the Edge canned tunes. At least the 93 tune, anyway. Didn't try the others.

At least I now know the Pegasus software and my old Evo are happy together, and I don't foresee any issues with it loading up my custom tunes from Bill's server, so I went ahead and ordered two custom tunes.

I read enough about this process that it may take a couple of months or so, especially since they are out for the last week or so and will probably be waaayy backlogged.

Also, I signed up on the PHP forum, and stored my serial and hex in my CP there. So I should be all set.

Jack, thanks for all the assistance with this...it's appreciated!

 

Actually, I'm happy you did what you did. Shows it works without problem (at least for you). I get frustrated with the number of folks who seem to have nothing but trouble using Pegasus and there are times when I begin to think the software is problematic.

But then, too many people, like you, have no trouble whatsoever, so my faith is restored. Thanks for letting us know.

I'm also happy to hear you liked canned the tune from PHP. Bill never told us what he did, and I've never used it, so I assumed it was mostly a minor tweak.

- Jack

 

Well, the canned Edge #3 was 91 octane, and the new one is 93 octane, so maybe a little more spark advance?

At any rate, I can sure feel a difference. Just for kicks last night I reset the PCM to stock, and drove around a little while. OMG, I hope I never have to do that for any length of time! While the Edge #3 tune was maybe a tad better than stock, this one is waaay better.

And I can't hardly wait for the little bit more "refinement" a custom tune will add.

This is great....8 years later and I'm all excited about my truck again!