Tuner Wannabees!

[weather man]

Idea HP Tuners 2.25 BETA Release (2011+ Mustang supported + others)


HP Tuners' is proud to announce the release of late-model FORD tuning support! Ditch the handheld and tune it yourself with VCM Suite 2.25! Take complete control of:

2005-2014 Ford Mustang
2004-2013 F-Series (Except EcoBoost)
2005-2010 Crown Victoria
2005-2010 Lincoln Towncar
2006-2010 Ford Fusion
2006-2010 Mercury Milan
2006-2010 Lincoln Zephr / MKZ
2005-2007 Ford Freestyle
2007-2009.5 Ranger
2005-2008 Expedition / Expedition EL
2006-2007 Freestar
2005-2007 - Lincoln Navigator
2003-2005 Thunderbird
2003-2005 Lincoln LS
2004-2010 Explorer / Mountaineer
2004-2011 Taurus / Sable (Except EcoBoost)
2002-2007 Escape / Mariner
2009-2010 Lincoln MKS
2010 Lincoln MKT
2009-2010 Ford Flex
2007-2010 Ford Edge
2002-2012 BA, BF, FG (Australian Ford)
and late-model Roush, Saleen, and Cobra Jet

If you already own a GM VCM Suite, you can simply add Ford credits to your existing cable. Just 99.98 per vehicle... no handheld needed!

Visit http://www.hptuners.com/ to learn more and share this with your Ford friends, tuners, and clubs!

 

[BruceH]

Maybe Eric Brooks will chime in on this? He is or was working with HP Tuners to get their s197 software working. It didn't do too well in the past. If they got it right this time then SCT prices will probably come down.

I'd like to give it a try. I currently use Advantage 3 Calibrator version but it's only good for my car. People ask me to tune their cars from time to time but it's just too expensive for them to purchase Pro Racer and a Tuner. $99 is a whole different deal.

I wonder how many value files they have for things like injectors and throttle bodies?

 

[05yellowgt]

Eric is still actively involved in the development. I've been following loosely through Facebook and it seems to be going really well.

 

[weather man]

They say if you want to modify your current SCT tune, it can be done. You may have to send it to them to be unlocked.

 

[BruceH]

They say if you want to modify your current SCT tune, it can be done. You may have to send it to them to be unlocked.

I don't think it would be right to download a tune that was provided by a tuner unless permission was granted by the tune originator. If they didn't provide it in mako format then permission wasn't granted and shouldn't be taken for granted.

I hope that's not a selling point.

 

[CPRsm]

It is a selling point. And I agree w you. Your money paid for their labor and you're licensing their intellectual data. Just as if you have a pro racer package, you paid to license their product. Doesn't give you the right to use the software however you want or make your own changes to their product.

 

[weather man]

I don't think it would be right to download a tune that was provided by a tuner unless permission was granted by the tune originator. If they didn't provide it in mako format then permission wasn't granted and shouldn't be taken for granted.

I hope that's not a selling point.

It is a selling point. And I agree w you. Your money paid for their labor and you're licensing their intellectual data. Just as if you have a pro racer package, you paid to license their product. Doesn't give you the right to use the software however you want or make your own changes to their product.

I think I disagree guys. I'm not renting a tune for my car. If I shell the money and want to modify, shouldn't have to ask permission.

The flip side is that a lot of guys who shouldn't be tuning, will be...piston manufacturers take note!

 

[ford20]

If SCT isn't able to tune my car I think this might be my only option to tune my car. Does anyone have any engine tuning books or something like that where I can learn the basics and what not before I attempt this on my car?

 

[BruceH]

If SCT isn't able to tune my car I think this might be my only option to tune my car. Does anyone have any engine tuning books or something like that where I can learn the basics and what not before I attempt this on my car?

I'd suggest "Advanced Engine Management" by Greg Banish. It's around $16 from Amazon. It's not going to give you everything but it goes over what in happening in the engine and why.

 

[05yellowgt]

I'd suggest "Advanced Engine Management" by Greg Banish. It's around $16 from Amazon. It's not going to give you everything but it goes over what in happening in the engine and why.

I have this and think its a great place to start. If you can follow its contents and understand the principles then you can go from there.

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk

 

[pass1over]

I don't know if it will be of much help to you or not ford20. But I converted my '66 mustang to a fox body A9L computer/harness/etc.

I use a moates quarterhorse and binary editor/eec analyzer to tune that car. I get most of my information from a website called eectuning.org. Like I said, I don't know how much of it is computer/tune/car specific, but there might be some answers there your looking for. Worth a shot at least, right?

 

[ford20]

I'd suggest "Advanced Engine Management" by Greg Banish. It's around $16 from Amazon. It's not going to give you everything but it goes over what in happening in the engine and why.

I have this and think its a great place to start. If you can follow its contents and understand the principles then you can go from there.

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk

Thanks for the info gents . I will get the book and take some notes. I'm sure I will have tons of questions lol.

I don't know if it will be of much help to you or not ford20. But I converted my '66 mustang to a fox body A9L computer/harness/etc.

I use a moates quarterhorse and binary editor/eec analyzer to tune that car. I get most of my information from a website called eectuning.org. Like I said, I don't know how much of it is computer/tune/car specific, but there might be some answers there your looking for. Worth a shot at least, right?

At this point I will take anything I can get lol. I'm probably going to take it easy at first and learn long before I do anything and kaboom my motor. Although, I do have an extra set of Boss pistons in my garage if that is to happen.

 

[BruceH]

Thanks for the info gents . I will get the book and take some notes. I'm sure I will have tons of questions lol.


At this point I will take anything I can get lol. I'm probably going to take it easy at first and learn long before I do anything and kaboom my motor. Although, I do have an extra set of Boss pistons in my garage if that is to happen.

IMO it's a great tool for driveability. Some of the driveability parameters would take a tuner too long to solve or make better. You on the other hand can tweak as needed to get it to your liking. As long as you keep the safety features enabled I think it would be pretty hard to blow the motor.

 

[Swarzkopf]

It's not as hard as everyone makes it out to be - at least tuning your own shit. I've probably 'tuned' about 20 cars over the years, either my own or those of friends who's cars I know well enough to fuck with. As long as you take your time and understand what you're changing, it's not that bad. It's easy to learn.

The book Bruce linked above should be the starting point for everyone. Most of you guys probably know the basics already.

 

[05yellowgt]

It's not as hard as everyone makes it out to be - at least tuning your own shit. I've probably 'tuned' about 20 cars over the years, either my own or those of friends who's cars I know well enough to fuck with. As long as you take your time and understand what you're changing, it's not that bad. It's easy to learn.

The book Bruce linked above should be the starting point for everyone. Most of you guys probably know the basics already.

WOT tuning is the easy part. Get the engine parameters right, especially Fuel injector values and MAF Transfer function, and then it is a matter of getting your AFR where you want it then get timing where you want it and BAM! Of course there is cam timing to deal with in most combos but you don't have to mess with that much to get a car running decently.

The real challenge is getting the part throttle stuff to drive well. That is where most amateur tuners find struggle, and even many "pro tooners" just don't know what they are doing.

 

[blownGTvert]

I've had multiple HP tunes in my car for years now. The latest revision makes the software that much more attractive. I will also state that the online support forum at HP is awesome. The software screens are very intuitive and the help function is great. Most of the parameters have "limits" that can be useful for novice tuners as well. Toss in the much lower initial cost, ability to tune multiple cars, easy of use, its a winner over SCT in my opinion.

 

[05yellowgt]

I've had multiple HP tunes in my car for years now. The latest revision makes the software that much more attractive. I will also state that the online support forum at HP is awesome. The software screens are very intuitive and the help function is great. Most of the parameters have "limits" that can be useful for novice tuners as well. Toss in the much lower initial cost, ability to tune multiple cars, easy of use, its a winner over SCT in my opinion.

Has the data logging gotten up to par with SCT?

 

[Gremlin85]

I've been on top of this since they mentioned Eric going over and heading the program to get this off the ground.

I've dabbled in my car for a couple days now and the Copperhead ECU's have TONS of parameters. Definitely a time consuming car to tune.

The data logging will definitely be better than SCT once it's released. Eric si working on that right now and it should be any time now.

I've been waiting on that and the comparison parameter in the editor so I can streamline my tunes. Right now, it's slow and painful lol.

 

[claudermilk]

I predict an uptick in "I blew my engine" threads.

It's nice that this kind of tool is available, but I know I won't touch it--I don't know enough to go in twiddling the PCM settings.

 

[Gremlin85]

I predict an uptick in "I blew my engine" threads.

It's nice that this kind of tool is available, but I know I won't touch it--I don't know enough to go in twiddling the PCM settings.

I agree.

Although once you understand the ECU's, what tables do what and which you have to change together to make things work, it gets easier.

There are a lot of people out there who buy the software, crank up timing and think it's golden. Way too many factors to mess with unless you READ READ READ and READ some more to understand it all. It's a steep learning curve.