I am installing a Whipple SC on my 06 FX4 and I cant find a dyno shop anywhere unless I go over to the Seattle area. So I am wondering if anyone knows of someone who is good at custom tuning vehicles with a Whipple or if they know of a dyno shop in the Missoula to Spokane area? Only other mods I have is Gibson headers and Exhaust and Troyer Valve Body. Also, I have the Diablo Predator Tuner. I wont be able to get over to the Seattle area till May or June for a dyno tune. So unless someone knows of a dyno shop in my area or of a good tuner I guess I will have to stick with the tune that comes with the Whipple. I'll also post this on the tuner page and see what they say.

 

I may seem crazy but you are not far from Calgary. I highly recomend Techmotion in Calgary.

 

Troyer Performance...

 

Troyer or VMP. I have tunes from both. I think you'd be happy with either one. Both have enough experience that they don't need to get you on a dyno. Get an SCT tuner and datalog. Lots of tuners can use data logs to get the tune dialed in better.

 

Do you know of a place that can tune a Diablo? I might have to end up getting an SCT, does that come with a data log or is it seperate? I have a edge insight which I think keeps track of a lot of different things. The only problem I have with Troyer is that I read they are 6 months behind on their tunes and I dont want to wait that long.

 

Sorry, no I don't know any diablo tuners. Both the Xcal2 and Xcal3 can datalog with a laptop. There is a newer device that datalogs on the device. There are always Xcal2 tuners in the "for sale" forums here on this site. I've picked up a spare unlocked Xcal2 for $200. VMP can have you a tune in a couple weeks or in a couple days if you want to get their expedited service.

 

Thanks, I'll look into it. So is there much of a difference between the Xcal 2 and 3?

 

SCT no longer produces the Xcal2, and replaced it with the 3, but it's still a good unit. It'll do everything you need it to. The Xcal3 has a few enhancements, but a lot of folks still prefer the Xcal2, including some tuners. Stay away from a unit that is locked. It'll cost you a least $150 to get it unlocked. Some guys trade their trucks and don't return them to stock. When that happens the device is VIN locked to the vehicle. Just a word of caution.

 

Go with an SCT X3. Check sctflash.com and search for a tuner in your area. Personally I'd run the Whipple tune until you find someone to dyno tune it. Any tune you get otherwise is gonna be on the cautious side cause the person doing it won't know if the truck is leaning out or running to rich under load. Yes a tuner can go a bit farther then Whipple/FMS but not as far as if the truck is sitting right there on the dyno with their O2 sensor in it. Just my 2 cents. Congrats on the Whipple!

 

Yeah right now I'm between getting a custom tune from either Troyer or VMP and having to sell my Diablo and get a SCT or just driving down to the horse power ranch here in Washington and getting a dyno tune and keeping my Diablo. Debating which one is more cost effective and better for my truck. The guy at the horse power ranch says he normally charges $300 for dyno and everything.

 

Most of these kits have known parameters and timing curves have been figured out for boost. Tuning on a dyno might be necessary for some strange combination of components, but lots of guys have these things down with similar applications. I think you leave a lot on the table with just a dyno tune, if you're only interested in A/F ratios. There are a lot of different parameters in that PCM that can make your truck more fun to drive. No reason you couldn't take that $300 and invest in a wide band and add that to your data log. One thing I would not want to walk away from with a dyno tune, is the ability to change my truck back to the Whipple programming. If he loads his program in the PCM, your Whipple program is gone, unless it came with a programmer of some sort.

 

He would be loading the tune to my Predator which I dont think is any different then having a custom tune put on a SCT and then loading that into my truck. So are you saying a Custom tune from Troyer or VMP is better then a dyno tune?

 

The Whipple comes with a flash tuner from Ford Motorsports. It contains one tune for the supercharger and will store your factory tune. There would be no reason to lose any tune. It could be added to your new flash tool as a stock file. And yes there are a number of things that can be adjusted without the truck being on a dyno that will make it more fun. Also I strongly recommend anyone with any type of forced induction obtain a wide band A/F ratio gauge. The wide band can even be used to aid in Dyno tuning.

I started out with a tune based on the known parameters. This allowed me to drive the truck till I could get it dyno tuned. I bought my Whipple used and couldn't use the Whipple tune. Anyway the truck started out with 400rwhp. After the dyno tune I had 427rwhp. But to each his own. Personally I prefer to have the truck tuned to its specific needs regardless of the combination of parts. Its also nice to know how much power your making.

 

So are you recomending a dyno or custom tune? And cant you do everything and more with a dyno over getting a custom tune from Troyer?

Also, you say the Whipple comes with a reflash tuner, I dont have the kit with me, its at my dads shop. But I called Whipple this morning and it sounded like I had to send in my factory PCM to them for them to flash it. So which way is it? Is there a PCM reflash tuner that comes with the kit and I send that in or do I send in my factory PCM (however that works) and they flash it (and I wont be able to drive at all for a couple days).

 

Good question. For a long time Whipple sent a handheld flash device from FMS with the blower. Infact you can buy this part from FMS for $150. They may not be including them anymore. Sucks you won't be able to drive it for a few days. There doing it the way Roush does now. And yes you can do everything with dyno tune and more then just getting a custom tune sent to you. Plus you'll have a dyno chart to show off with the truck.