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Which should I get, LS1Edit or Predator?

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Old 02-14-2003, 06:03 PM
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Default Which should I get, LS1Edit or Predator?

Which one is better? I'm installing headers on Monday. What I really need it for is the cam install I'm planning on in a month. Do I need a laptop for either, or can I just use my PC? What's the pricing for each? <img border="0" title="" alt="[Confused]" src="images/icons/confused.gif" />
Old 02-14-2003, 06:47 PM
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Default Re: Which should I get, LS1Edit or Predator?

550 for edit

500 for pred I think??

Do you have autotap? If not you can get the pred. It has realtime data reading but no logging. You should be able to see what the car is doing with it I think. If you have an A4, you might wanna get LS1 edit to raise idle speed (depending on cam size)

For me though, LS1 edit was worth it.
Old 02-14-2003, 07:36 PM
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Default Re: Which should I get, LS1Edit or Predator?

No I don't have either Autotap or a laptop. Is logging a way to keep track of all the parameters? What can I adjust with the predator. No I don't have an A4.
Old 02-15-2003, 01:43 PM
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Default Re: Which should I get, LS1Edit or Predator?

I think it depends on how far you're planning on going. For FI and N20 I think Edit is a must because it allows you to change so many different parameters. Not sure if the Pred is exceptable for a Heads/Cam car or not. But you have to consider the costs involved. Edit, ATAP, and a laptop. The prices add up.

For me I like having all that control over the car so Edit was the way to go.

Mike
Old 02-15-2003, 08:24 PM
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Default Re: Which should I get, LS1Edit or Predator?

$1000 for a laptop
$500 for LS1 Edit
$200 for Autotap

$1700 is a lot of money. I'm leaning towards the predator for $500.
Old 02-15-2003, 08:29 PM
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Default Re: Which should I get, LS1Edit or Predator?

Suggest you do some further research. There are a lot of potential A/F issues with cam and header changes.
Old 02-15-2003, 08:32 PM
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Default Re: Which should I get, LS1Edit or Predator?

If you want the best, you need ATAP and LS1 Edit. Since you are going for cam install, I'd seriously look into the LS1 edit. My car club has an ATAP that we pass around. ATAP is not married to one car and you only "need" it occassionally. Predator is excellent for bolt-on cars because it can adjust the PCM to an extent. When you get into heads and cam, you need to actually tune your car. Although it is possible to have custom tuning done with Predator, it is easier to have LS1 edit and learn to use it.
Old 02-15-2003, 09:51 PM
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Default Re: Which should I get, LS1Edit or Predator?

IMO, you should already have Atap. predator cannot give you the same data Atap can. it is a valuable tool and should not even be considered as an option only when buying edit. it just amazes me all the short cuts people will take when it comes to pcm tuning. dude, do yourself a favor and get LS1edit. you wont regret it in the long run and your car will never "outgrow" it like it can with those handheld programmers.
Old 02-16-2003, 05:51 PM
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Default Re: Which should I get, LS1Edit or Predator?

Looks like I'll be getting LS1 Edit then. Thanks.
Old 02-16-2003, 06:33 PM
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Default Re: Which should I get, LS1Edit or Predator?

BTW, you don't need to spend a $1000 for a laptop. I got a like new IBM Thinkpad 380z (300 mhz, 96 Ram, 4gb hard drive) for $350 at usedlaptops.com.

If I was you, I'd get EASE, LS1 Edit, and a used laptop.
Old 02-16-2003, 07:59 PM
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Default Re: Which should I get, LS1Edit or Predator?

Here is one to think about. One of our teammates with a 02 Z06 buys that predator, he uses it to flash a new tune since he installed larger injectors.

After the predator flashes the PCM, the car no longer will idle, dies, then will not start.
When he pull battery and lets set for hours the engine then will start but within a few minutes dies again.
He uses that blackbox to flash back to stock PCM flash but PCM then is tripping all kinds of error codes, at one time 45 DTCs set !

Now he is screwed so he takes car to dealer, of course he cannot tell them he flashed the PCM and its been 2 weeks now and dealer still does not know what is the problem or what caused the problems.

Its clear that after the predator did the flashing the problems started and now owner is up the creek and if dealer finds what the cause is, this guy could tear up his warranty. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Frown]" src="gr_sad.gif" />

I've done about 100 Corvettes and F-body's tunes using LS1edit and NOT 1 ended up with a wacko PCM so I suggest you use LS1edit to reduce the chances you'd eat the PCM or your warranty.

<small>[ February 16, 2003, 08:02 PM: Message edited by: Team ZR-1 ]</small>
Old 02-16-2003, 10:00 PM
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Default Re: Which should I get, LS1Edit or Predator?

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by Predator:
<strong>

If I was you, I'd get EASE, LS1 Edit, and a used laptop. </strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">What's EASE? Is it something like Autotap?
Old 02-17-2003, 01:02 AM
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Default Re: Which should I get, LS1Edit or Predator?

The first question you should answer is do you have the time to invest in working with LS1Edit/your vehicle. It is going to take some time and tweaking to get everything working correctly. If you are willing to spend the time then LS1Edit is an excellent choice.

As Team ZR-1 mentioned you can get a used laptop. That would be considerably cheaper - I would look for a PII/Celeron 200 or faster - you should be able to get something decent for 200-300 bucks. It isn't an LS1Edit only cost as you would need it for autotap/efilive/ease anyway - and buying a laptop based scan tool is an *excellent* investment in your car's performance/health. The logging/scanning abilities on the predator are simply not in the same league as the packages listed above.

Now if you don't want to invest the time/money then the predator becomes an option. If you just have to have something you can tweak to some extent yourself, then it may be worthwile. My suggestion would be to find a competent local tuner and have him/her tune your car. It would cost the same/less, and should be a better tune.


Chris
Old 02-17-2003, 05:32 PM
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Default Re: Which should I get, LS1Edit or Predator?

ss1le02,

EASE is scanning software that has some nice features, such as using a functional relative DELTORQ (delivered torque) value for tuning without a dyno; also, if you need your car to be street legal, the I/M (Inspection/Maintenance) section lets you know whether you will pass before you bring your car in. It's also designed (v2.5) to work with Windows XP. Also, there's some awesome tech support available, as part of the package.
Old 02-19-2003, 06:21 PM
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Default Re: Which should I get, LS1Edit or Predator?

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by ss1le02:
<strong> $1000 for a laptop
$500 for LS1 Edit
$200 for Autotap

$1700 is a lot of money. I'm leaning towards the predator for $500. </strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">I'd say that's a little unreasonable... it's more like..

$550 for Ls1Edit,
$300 for EFILIVE/Autotap
$250 for a Laptop.. you don't need a 2.4mhz with a 120g hd.. many people are running these on 133mhz with 48mb ram... $1100 bucks and the prices are higher than you were thinking <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="gr_stretch.gif" />




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