PCM Diagnostics & Tuning HP Tuners | Holley | Diablo

98 PCMs

Old Jul 30, 2012 | 05:38 PM
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Default 98 PCMs

I have a 98 ta and seem to remember seeing somewhere that the 98s had crap computers in them. Can anyone confirm this pls and what were the problems with them?"
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Old Jul 30, 2012 | 06:24 PM
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They just are not as fast or have the processing speed that the newer ones 99-up I have read and am pretty sure but the best ones are some and maybe all the 2002 F-Body's with 0411 I think processers are the fastest ones, I still have my stock 1998 PCM also, just alittle work involved in changing them and then getting them programmer but it has and can be done.
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Old Jul 30, 2012 | 06:50 PM
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There are worse limitations in things like MAF table
range, and there's the problem of having a bunch of
cross-incompatible OS versions which let you trash
the PCM by loading the wrong data if you're not real
careful.

On the plus side it's harder to waste your money on a
handheld, because fewer outfits sell them for '98s.
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Old Jul 30, 2012 | 07:51 PM
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For the mods in your signature, a 98 PCM has plenty of speed. I have tuned cammed and SC cars with 98 PCM, all of them worked good.

They are slow for datalogging and overall processing, but there are cars with 900 HP using this PCM.
A 99+ PCM is better and faster but it's not a plug&play swap. Unless you need a lot of boost or HP levels which exceed the capabilities of this PCM, I think you better leave it alone.
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Old Jul 31, 2012 | 05:45 PM
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So does it involve a harness swap or just a pin out swap around? the pin is no prob but then again neither is the harness swap unless you have to change the inner harness. At 900 ponies that sounds good cause in all reality when done with all upgrades ie 6.0 better heads will be happy with 600ish range.
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Old Jul 31, 2012 | 05:59 PM
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any good tuner can tune a 98 pcm. might as well just leave it alone.
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Old Aug 1, 2012 | 12:42 AM
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Originally Posted by mjs1012
any good tuner can tune a 98 pcm. might as well just leave it alone.
Werd
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Old Aug 1, 2012 | 01:17 AM
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Originally Posted by pkozera
So does it involve a harness swap or just a pin out swap around? the pin is no prob but then again neither is the harness swap unless you have to change the inner harness. At 900 ponies that sounds good cause in all reality when done with all upgrades ie 6.0 better heads will be happy with 600ish range.
Just leave it as is. I have never had any problem with a 98 PCM.

The only real problem with 98 PCM's is that they are much harder to find and more expensive than 99+, other than that they are fine.
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Old Aug 3, 2012 | 03:48 PM
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not too hard to find, just hard to to buy. they are more expensive. but if you can find one, i recommend getting a spare to have for tuning purposes. one to have tune and one to "baby" the car around whiel you wait if you send it in for work.
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Old Aug 3, 2012 | 07:47 PM
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I bought an 02 pcm for my 98 for tuning purposes. Not hard to swap them out so I did it so I wouldn't have to worry about tuning issues. Worth the switch to me
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Old Aug 4, 2012 | 06:19 PM
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If you have it tuned, be ready to listen to the "I can't tune it correctly because it's missing the later tables" song. I still have my 98 PCM, I prefer to have my cake and eat it too though. Unless I don't lose _any_functionality by switching to a later PCM, I'm keeping mine.
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