Questions about tune/aftermarket chips

Red66GT · Oct 2, 2005

This electronic tuning thing is new to me since I've only been in the modular game a few months now. My user name is Red66GT afterall and I haven't even mastered the carb yet.

Anyway, mods to date on my 97GT are JLT CAI, Bullitt intake, PI heads/cam, 4.10 gears and no cats on the exhaust . I'm now ready to do something with the tune.

What are the benefits if any with having an aftermarket chip, such as the SCT 4 bank chip?
I'm interested in getting a tuner such as the SCT Xcalibrator 2, do I even need the chip?
How many tunes can you put in a stock chip (I think the afermarket ones can carry 4 ) and what are the benefits of having multiple tunes on the chip?

One more thing, how much power can I expect added to my current set-up?

sgarlic · Oct 2, 2005

Welcome to the modular side..

You can find the answer to every one of those questions on SCT's website in their FAQ section, probably explained to your satisfaction.

csledd · Oct 2, 2005

I highly recommend the SCT Xcal 2. The benefits of having multiple tunes is for running different setups. You could have a drag tune and a street tune. A lot of people have a tune for 87 octane gas and then one for 93 or maybe even higher (to use at the track of course). The SCT Xcal 2 can also pull codes, is a datalogger, and much more

Red66GT · Oct 5, 2005

Can you put 2 tunes on the stock chip? And if so, how do you switch the tunes?

I couldn't find this info anywhere.

Don 95Vert · Oct 5, 2005

First off, there is no "stock chip" - there is stock programming on the car's computer that can be replaced with either a chip that plugs into the computer's J3 port or by reflashing the car's computer with an XCal 2.

There is no difference in the programming you'd get with an SCT chip or an XCal 2. The chip can hold up to 4 tunes if you get the optional switch cable and switch - if you don't get the cable and switch it holds one program, plus the stock tune is always available plus you get an antitheft setting. Four bank refers to the memory banks in the car's computers. Early car computers had one bank, later ones two and the latest ones 4. You can use a four bank chip on a one or two bank computer.

The advantage to the XCal 2 is it will datalog and you can make minor adjustments to the tune yourself. The biggest adavantage from a dealer's perspective is the dealer can email you tunes if there are minor problems to fix or change - vs. a chip which must be mailed back and forth. The Xcal 2 also has upgradable firmware so you get all the latest features free. The Xcal 2 holds 3 programs plus the stock program.

Hope this clears up any confusion you had.

Don

mrvax · Oct 5, 2005

Or you can do this:

Get a dyno run with A/F from your local shop. Then send your EEC to Tim at Modular Powerhouse. He will reflash it according to your specs and you will have an "adaptive tune" that will correct for any future modifications you make.

jstreet0204 · Oct 5, 2005

mrvax said:
Or you can do this:

Get a dyno run with A/F from your local shop. Then send your EEC to Tim at Modular Powerhouse. He will reflash it according to your specs and you will have an "adaptive tune" that will correct for any future modifications you make.

Any SCT tune will be adaptive, as well as any tuner from anyone that knows what they are doing. The "adaptive" tune buzzword that was going around a few years ago is really nothing special. A few changes to the adaptive table, and making sure the MAF is dialed in correctly will yield and adaptive tune.

MustHang · Oct 5, 2005

Don 95Vert said:
The advantage to the XCal 2 is it will datalog and you can make minor adjustments to the tune yourself. The biggest adavantage from a dealer's perspective is the dealer can email you tunes if there are minor problems to fix or change - vs. a chip which must be mailed back and forth. The Xcal 2 also has upgradable firmware so you get all the latest features free. The Xcal 2 holds 3 programs plus the stock program.

Hope this clears up any confusion you had.

Don

So the chip version holds as much tune than the Xcal version ?
I read on MD site that for very different tunes like a NA tune and a Nitrous tune, they were recommending the chip version. Can it be done with the Xcal too ?
I mean two NA tunes for different octanes and one for the nitrous ?

Thanks by the way !

Don 95Vert · Oct 5, 2005

ANY tune whether it be by chip or XCal 2 is exactly the same. No difference whatsoever. Some vehicles such as '05 Mustang and up MUST be flashed because there is no chip port.

ANY tune done in the MAF curve is adaptive - mainly because the MAF will adapt to a variety of atmosheric and temperature changes and your A/F will remain the same. A non-adaptive tune was done, and probably is still done by some tuners - they use WOT fuel adders. It works, but if the temp gets hot, the car will go rich, if the temp gets cold, it will go lean. If a tuner requires seasonal tunes, this is what they are doing. An SCT tune done properly won't require seasonal tunes. An 'adative' tune doesn't mean that you can change things like MAFs or injectors and have the EEC adapt, it doesn't happen that way.

In case you are wondering where I get this info from, (really, I don't make it up... ) here is a little info about us - I do a LOT of work for SCT - I've done virtually all of their product manuals, software demos, tuning tutorials and did off-site tech support for them their first year. We also have been doing on-site training for SCT dealers teaching them to tune - we've been all over the country. I'm co-author of the SCT dealer's tuning manual and the SCT Pro Racer tuning manual.

twogts4us · Oct 5, 2005

MustHang said:
So the chip version holds as much tune than the Xcal version ?
I read on MD site that for very different tunes like a NA tune and a Nitrous tune, they were recommending the chip version. Can it be done with the Xcal too ?
I mean two NA tunes for different octanes and one for the nitrous ?

Thanks by the way !

The chip does the same thing as the XCal...same objective is achieved.
I'm not sure what the thinking is regarding using a chip rather than the XCal when using very different tunes...the only reason I can see the chip as an advantage in this senario is the ability to quickly change between one tune and the other...like when going to the track, then racing at the track, then driving back home.

RedDaemon · Oct 5, 2005

heres a good question...since data is being sent over using an XCal2 or any flasher...what happens if the tune becomes corrupted? its electronic and a computer...so it is possible that it happens...dont tell me it cant cuz it can...maybe in a 1/1000000000 times, however, computers and memory banks arent perfect lol...so what happens? u call up SCT and be like "bla bla bla" and they send u a new tune?

twogts4us · Oct 5, 2005

-=NightHawk=- said:
heres a good question...since data is being sent over using an XCal2 or any flasher...what happens if the tune becomes corrupted? its electronic and a computer...so it is possible that it happens...dont tell me it cant cuz it can...maybe in a 1/1000000000 times, however, computers and memory banks arent perfect lol...so what happens? u call up SCT and be like "bla bla bla" and they send u a new tune?

Well they could handle tune corruption or upload failure in any number of ways, with redundancy for starters, to avoid putting the end user out of commission.
Nevertheless, SCT is set on providing excellent customer service, so I'm sure if your tune got trashed, they'd make the situation right.

RedDaemon · Oct 5, 2005

twogts4us said:
Well they could handle tune corruption or upload failure in any number of ways, with redundancy for starters, to avoid putting the end user out of commission.
Nevertheless, SCT is set on providing excellent customer service, so I'm sure if your tune got trashed, they'd make the situation right.

ok thanks for the info...i wouldnt want to get a flasher and have it get corrupted and be left in the dust...cuz man..after this comming summer..im gunna need one

no kb tho

Don 95Vert · Oct 5, 2005

With a flasher, if the dealer you got your tune from, saves all the customer's tunes (we do) it's just a matter of eamiling you the tune again.

RedDaemon · Oct 5, 2005

phew...good thanks for the info!

just out of curiousity...im a geek...how big(in bytes) is the average tune file itself?

lol if u dont know dont worry about it

Don 95Vert · Oct 5, 2005

220 Kb

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