I use HP Tuners on my 2002 TA and am familiary with it.
I am now considering a 1998 model TA also.

How much differance or limitation is there in the 1998 PCM ?

 

The only major difference is that the 98s have a primary and secondary VE table. Other than that there are just a few small differences in various tables. The 98 pcm works just as good as any other year from what I've seen.

 

There are a few differences. You can just download a 98 tune from the repository and check it out for yourself.

 

The biggest setback for the 98 pcm is that the 0411 pcm is much faster, and when using a 98 commanding the correct fuel and trying to adjust for it at WOT is a bitch. Normal driving they are fine.

 

This made me think is there a preferred PCM? What year would be best or easiest?

 

0411 service number PCM. They were used in all kind of things. 99-02 Fbody, 4.3 S10's all kinds of vehicles.

 

Could my tune that I have saved in the 98 pcm be loaded and saved onto my laptop and then flashed onto the newer pcm without any need to do any re-tuning or is this not possible? I have a 98 and I am wanting to buy HP tuners, but if the pcm is gonna hold me back then I'd like to fix that problem before I buy HP tuners.

 

Just buy HPtuners and use your 98 pcm. There's really no need to go changing computers just because you have a 98. It just takes a little more patience to tune.

 

What are your thoughts on EFIlive hemi? I like that it offers a lot of 3d graph and histogram views, and that it has some cool auto learning features, and the valet and 2 step features are a nice touch also. I am now leaning toward the EFIlive I just can't decided which to pull the trigger on. Everyone on here seems to really like HPtuners a lot, but I do see a pretty good amount(not as much as HP) using EFIlive or something else. The car is tuned with LS1Edit now fwiw and it's running a MAF sensor still on 11#s.

 

Check out our demo, we've had most of those features and many of our own proprietary ones such as Real Time Tuning using the stock pcm.

 

My tuner used HP on my car for years....when it was time for me to purchase, naturally I chose what seems to work well.

 

I have spent alot of time with HP Tuners on both my '98 T/A and my '02 WS6, along with some friends cars ('98 vette, '00 Camaro, '03 Z06, ect..) and while there are some really neat features in the newer OS it would not discourage me from using a '98.

Some of the year to year differences include no secondary ve or negative force motor table in the 01-02 os like there was in the 98 and 99-00 os, more detailed tables as years went on, and real time tuning on 99+ os. At first I thought rtt would be a deal breaker for me but found I dont use it as much as I thought I would, with the right histograms and using bi-directional controls get me where I want to be pretty quick on '98 PCM's.

Good luck with the '98, there are some unique things about them and cool colors like sport gold, bright purple, and bright green If only they made a BGM WS6

 

EFILive lets you tune unlimited 98 PCM's without using any licenses. You can download the software for free from their website and check it out.

 

The only thing I've ever messed with is hptuners so my opinion is pretty well biased lol. I've never even looked at efilive's software.