Roush tuning question

I'd get the chip and have it tuned on a dyno.

Here's a link with a lot of info on the Series II: http://www.corral.net/forums/showthread.php?t=629507

IMO, SCT XCal II is the way to go. The device can retain your original Saleen tune if you ever need to return your car to stock (no other tuner can read the Saleen tune which forces you to loose your stock tune and, in most cases, get a stock GT flask/tune before you can begine to use their devices). Additionaly, the XCal II allows you to hold 3 programs on the device at once. So, if you are forced to put different octane rated feul in your car, you just download the correct tune. I personally run a conserative tune which is for low octane fuel, a mid power tune which is for higher rated octane fuel but conserative with the timing, and then a program that just goes for the gusto. It takes about a minute to switch tunes with the device. Another benefit is that, for the most part, a SCT Ptogrammer for a Ford fits most Fords. So, if you sell your car, just return it to stock and plug the device into your next Ford. The Predators are most usually vehicle specific. I've used both the Predator and the SCT XCal II, and will continue to only use the SCT. As far as getting a tune, some companies (JMS CHip & Performance) will send you 3 base tunes based on your car configuration when you buy the device from them. You can then continue to take dyno runs and e-mail them the results and then let them send you a new program or take the base tunes to someone in your area and let them complete the fine tuning. You'll never really get the best tune possible going via e-mail, but you can get close. I would recommend getting the base tune(s) when you purchase your device and then get it fine tuned locally. I did it that way because the hourly charge to get a car dyno tuned here exceeds $300\hr.

Good luck! It seems that you should be putting down some pretty good power in the near future.

Billy, which car or cars did you use the SCT XCAL II on? The h1 S281 SC you sold?? WHat other mods did you have on the car?? What does the SCT cost and wheres the best place to pick one up??? How was the car or cars reliablity! Any computer problems?? Issues?? Using the SCT XCAL II??

gonen20 said:

Billy, which car or cars did you use the SCT XCAL II on? The h1 S281 SC you sold?? WHat other mods did you have on the car?? What does the SCT cost and wheres the best place to pick one up??? How was the car or cars reliablity! Any computer problems?? Issues?? Using the SCT XCAL II??

Click to expand...

I used the XCal II on my '01 SC and on my '05 NA that I just supercharged. The mods I had on the '01 S/c car are as follows:

Chicane RIPP Kit
66 MM Blower Pulley
Ported & Polished Blower
MAFterburner Stage 1
3:73 Gears
Magnaflow Stainless Exhaust w/ High FLow Cats ( 2 Cats)

The mods on my '05 N/A are as follows:

Vortech V2 S-Trim w/ 3.5 in. pulley
39# Fuel Injectors
KB BAP (to be installed next week)
Magnaflow Stainless Exhaust w/ Flowmaster Series 40 Mufflers (to be replaced next week with custom 3 in. exhaust inclusing X-pipe and Flowmaster Super 40's)


I think that was all of them....

The best place I found after a lot of research was JMS Chip & Performance. Those are the guys whole developed the SCT Software/Device (Chris Johnson- I think). The reason I bought from them other than them being the developers of the system was because I got the XCAl II for $350 including the tunes. I got a discount because of one of the other forums I belong to, but I can't remember which one. The are pretty awesome with their tuning. I was able to gain around 60 rwhp & 70 rwtq (the numbers are starting to elude me after so much dyno time with my various cars).

The device/tunes didn't change the reliability of my cars. Some of the common problems Mustang owners encounter I ecountered as well, both with and without the tuning.

I have no complaints using the device or performing the tuning. The first programs I tried to download on to my '05 after we installed the supercharger failed. The problem was due to a bad download from my computer to the programmer. The problem was resolvded by red-ownloading the tunes. Sine then, it has been troublefree and the tunes I got from JMS have my car running straong & hard! I was supposed to have some dyno time/tuning session this pas Wednesday, but I had to cancel. I will finally have it done this coming Thursday, and will post the results for all to see. We're expecting right at or above 500rwhp w/ 3 1/2 pulley.

Hope this helps!!

Chicane RIPP Kit
66 MM Blower Pulley
Ported & Polished Blower
MAFterburner Stage 1
3:73 Gears
Magnaflow Stainless Exhaust w/ High FLow Cats ( 2 Cats)

Billy, Thanks for taking all the time you did to give me information on th SCT Tuner! I just recently purchased a Bone Stock Original 2000 S281 SC that I've been going rounds on about whether or not I should modify the engine or not? I think that I gotta do it, if it makes her run healthier/stronger! The Performance additions you added to your Past 01 S281SC were tasteful! I was thinking of the exact same items to add on! Was the 66MM Blower Pulley Joe's make at Chicane??? Did you have to change the belt to a different one?? Did it add any Boost?? Did you have to change the computer settings for the pulley?? How much did porting and polishing the blower cost and help with performance?? I've thought about doing this also! What is the MAFterburner and how does it help the car?? Whats the stage1 part!! What ever you can answer here would be greatly appreciated! Hope you had a Great Superbowl weekend!

gonen20 said:

Chicane RIPP Kit
66 MM Blower Pulley
Ported & Polished Blower
MAFterburner Stage 1
3:73 Gears
Magnaflow Stainless Exhaust w/ High FLow Cats ( 2 Cats)

Billy, Thanks for taking all the time you did to give me information on th SCT Tuner! I just recently purchased a Bone Stock Original 2000 S281 SC that I've been going rounds on about whether or not I should modify the engine or not? I think that I gotta do it, if it makes her run healthier/stronger! The Performance additions you added to your Past 01 S281SC were tasteful! I was thinking of the exact same items to add on! Was the 66MM Blower Pulley Joe's make at Chicane??? Did you have to change the belt to a different one?? Did it add any Boost?? Did you have to change the computer settings for the pulley?? How much did porting and polishing the blower cost and help with performance?? I've thought about doing this also! What is the MAFterburner and how does it help the car?? Whats the stage1 part!! What ever you can answer here would be greatly appreciated! Hope you had a Great Superbowl weekend!

Click to expand...

Hey Todd,

My answers to your questions are in the order they were asked:

-The blower pulley was purchased from Chicane.
- The pulley almost doubled, but not quite, my boost. That made a big difference for me because I'm at over a mile above sea-level and wasn't making more than 5-6 lbs. of boost stock
- The air/fuel mixture had to be adjusted on the computer to accomodate a substantial increase in the air with the smaller blower pulley
- the porting/polishing of the blower cost around $375 and added around 25-30 rwhp
- the MAFterburner is a device accompanied with some software that allows you to fine tune your air/fuel mixture w/ your laptop, monitor your Mass Air Flow and a host of other variables. I made the mistake of using the MAFterburner to make up to 16% adjustments in my A/F which screwed-up my load scaling tables which screwed-up my overall performance. The device/software can be handy for making small adjustments and monitoring the voltage on your MAF sensor. The monitoring of the MAF saved me a bunch of $$$. I've have seen many people upgrading to the 90 MM Lightning MAF. I almost did, but decided to monitor the voltage on my stock MAF and never came close to maxing it out. I should also state that I used the MAFterburner because there wasn't many people at the time doing custom tunes locally. If there is someone locally that can do the SCT tuning (including MAF monitoring), you might want to save your money for something else. I should state, thought, that a lcoal highly respected Diabloo tuner was quite impressed at how well I was able to dial-in the A/F.
- I can't actually remember the difference between a Stage I MAFterburner and a Stage II, but you can find the information on their website.

Hope this helps!!

Thanks Billy for answering all my questions your awesome! Did you ever dyno that car with all those performance add ons???? I'd be interested to know what numbers you produced with what performance options you had on that car at that time! I'm at sea-level also and I haven't really got on the car yet to check its power and boost! My New addition 2000 S281 SC, It's about as stock as they come and currently I'm having my mechanic go through her with a fine comb to make sure everything is sound! I've contacted Joe already and asked him about the pulley $ and information on it and he too did recomend a tune on the car after putting it on! He said The Chicane Pulley it good for 30HP but its his product he's promoting! Did you have to change the stock belt out?? And also you said your boost almost doubled but not quite??? What number Boost did your car produce?? What about changing the MAF Sensor to a 95MM one??? And changing the injectors??? I see some people do this but you didn't, does this not really help or is it more of an issue of getting the cars computer dialed in with these type of mods??

gonen20 said:

Thanks Billy for answering all my questions your awesome! Did you ever dyno that car with all those performance add ons???? I'd be interested to know what numbers you produced with what performance options you had on that car at that time! I'm at sea-level also and I haven't really got on the car yet to check its power and boost! My New addition 2000 S281 SC, It's about as stock as they come and currently I'm having my mechanic go through her with a fine comb to make sure everything is sound! I've contacted Joe already and asked him about the pulley $ and information on it and he too did recomend a tune on the car after putting it on! He said The Chicane Pulley it good for 30HP but its his product he's promoting! Did you have to change the stock belt out?? And also you said your boost almost doubled but not quite??? What number Boost did your car produce?? What about changing the MAF Sensor to a 95MM one??? And changing the injectors??? I see some people do this but you didn't, does this not really help or is it more of an issue of getting the cars computer dialed in with these type of mods??

Click to expand...

Todd,

I replied to the private message you sent in which I answered all the questions you asked except one. Did you receive it?

What I didn't answer was the size of belt I went to. I did have to install a smaller belt. I believe it was a 111.5 or 112. The smaller the better because I started to run into belt slip with the smaller pulley.
Also, I didn't need to upgrade my MAF sensor. My peak voltage was around 4.4-4.5V I bellieve.

I did eventually upgrade my injectors to 42# because I planned on making some big power. Pushing 400 rwhp with the stock injects put them at around 97% capacity according the my dyno data.

Let me know if my e-mail answered all your questions. If not, I can post them here on the forum.

Billy, Thanks for all the info! No private message received though!