PCM Diagnostics & Tuning HP Tuners | Holley | Diablo
View Poll Results: whick programmer is best
Hypertech
6
11.54%
Crane
13
25.00%
Superchips
2
3.85%
Jet
2
3.85%
Diablosport
20
38.46%
HPTuners
5
9.62%
LS1Edit
1
1.92%
Speedshop Custom Tune
3
5.77%
Voters: 52. You may not vote on this poll

which programmer is best

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Old Apr 24, 2006 | 04:25 PM
  #1  
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Default which programmer is best

im gettin ready to purchase a programmer and was wondering what one is best....

superchips
crane
jet
hypertech
diablo sport

if there are any that im forgetting worth mentioning let me know
Old Apr 24, 2006 | 05:25 PM
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For the money you'd spend on a handheld, you could almost get a full tuning suite, depending on what mods you have (and plan on doing) that might be a better choice, the tuneing program can do more, and give you more options on the way your car runs (not to mention you can make extra $$$ deleting codes, and if you get good, programming other cars
Old Apr 24, 2006 | 05:55 PM
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I've heard only good things about hypertech. Ive got three buddies who got em for their cars..all of em praise it. One person I know got a superchips for his..he liked it as well. To my knowledge their all similar, but hypertech has a great rep.
Old Apr 24, 2006 | 07:37 PM
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Originally Posted by espfuel815
I've heard only good things about hypertech. Ive got three buddies who got em for their cars..all of em praise it. One person I know got a superchips for his..he liked it as well. To my knowledge their all similar, but hypertech has a great rep.
I installed the hypertech tune went to the track and lost 3 tenths. Put the stock tune back init and went 3 tenth quicker. For the money that a hand held programmer cost your better off getting hptunners or EFILive
Old Apr 24, 2006 | 07:51 PM
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Buy tuning software, you'll never regret it, best money ever spent, best learning experience anywhere on the planet.
Old Apr 24, 2006 | 10:06 PM
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i bought a predator and was plenty satisfied. i just didnt buy a tuning software because i was lazy. i regret that now. shame on me. i've been told numerous amounts of times that hypertech was a complete waste (not saying it, just telling what i was told). but if you think about it, its true, you cant "tune" your car answering yes/no questions. come on man, i encourage you to get tuning software.
Old Apr 24, 2006 | 11:12 PM
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HPTuners is the best. get it and you will happy you did.
Old Apr 25, 2006 | 02:28 AM
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Get the dyno tune or get some software.
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Old Apr 25, 2006 | 05:01 AM
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EFILive is the best tuning solution on the market for LSx powered vehicles.

If you are going to make the investment, might as well do it right the first time
Old Apr 25, 2006 | 09:48 AM
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No point in spending money on a handheld; if you're going to tune your car then do it right and use a tuning suite (or pay someone to).
Old Apr 25, 2006 | 11:07 AM
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I own a jet Performance programmer and have been real happy with it to now, curently running stage 3 tuning on the Jet.....BUT.....The truth of the matter is that the best tune for your money can come only from much better software such as LS1 edit or some of the other programs discussed. After I put my headers and Y pipe in I felt like I needed to get it professionally tuned which will happen this Saturday . This will give you the most bang for the buck after investing all that cash in your mods. If you can, buy the software instead. It will be a long term investment that will pay for itself in the end. That is going to be my next purchase (LS1 edit or EFILive) after the subbracing and the 160 thermostat go in.
Old Apr 25, 2006 | 07:41 PM
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Jeff @ CAM did my tuning after headers, shrugs dunno if it was really worth it, but he did manage to pull out another 16 or so horses and some tq as well

I'd say if you are gonan shell out 3-500 for a compelte dyno tune, you may as well look into getting a few other mods as well, like gears/cam and tb/intake etc. just my 2 cents,
Old Apr 26, 2006 | 01:24 PM
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The HyperCrap is a complete waste of money. I'd get HP Tuner.
Old Apr 26, 2006 | 03:33 PM
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Originally Posted by Dentalguy
Jeff @ CAM did my tuning after headers, shrugs dunno if it was really worth it, but he did manage to pull out another 16 or so horses and some tq as well

I'd say if you are gonan shell out 3-500 for a compelte dyno tune, you may as well look into getting a few other mods as well, like gears/cam and tb/intake etc. just my 2 cents,

im almost done doing full boltons, im ordering my headers and ory nextweek. the onlything i havnt done (bolton wise) is the maf (mine is stock but descreened).....im eventually gonna do cam but im holdin off for a few more weeks.....but gears are deff on my list.. mabe ill do that before a programmer, im still sportin the 273's :-(

thanks
Old Apr 26, 2006 | 04:47 PM
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Originally Posted by Dentalguy
Jeff @ CAM did my tuning after headers, shrugs dunno if it was really worth it, but he did manage to pull out another 16 or so horses and some tq as well
****, you can get that just bolting them on and turning the motor over. Hope you didnt get screwed.
Old Apr 26, 2006 | 10:59 PM
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The Crane will let you choose between 4 levels of cam specs. Since I went through a period of several cams, it's helped me keep my re-tuning costs low.
I'm going from my heavy cammed motor to a Procharger later this year. Even though the Crane has supercharger settings, I'm 100% getting a dyno tune this time around.

I paid about 429. If I was selling it I'd probably take 320. It's transferrable to other cars.

Last edited by FIREHAWK#608; Apr 26, 2006 at 11:43 PM.
Old Apr 26, 2006 | 11:23 PM
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If you get tuning software and a wideband O2 sensor, you'll be able to:
- tune for any cam/head
- tune for any bolt-on/power-adder
- tune for OL and toss the NBO2 sensors if you want to
- tune for SD and toss the MAF sensor if you want to
- tune the MAF
- tune spark tables
- tune PE tables
- tune for economy/power/emissions as you want
- tune idle speed after cam/head install
- correct the speedo for different gear/tire
- change fan on/off temps to suit TS/weather
- change part throttle and WOT shift points
- change shift firmness
- reduce/remove TM/TR
- delete any power-robbing smog device
- run a custom operating system
- swap to a 4L80E and modify the calibration to suit
- fine tune some small thing that would otherwise not be worth running back to the tuning shop for
- just about anything else short of washing laundry or making coffee
- save alot of money by doing it yourself
- learn alot by doing it yourself

Drawbacks:
- learning curve, but it's not too bad
- costs about half as much more than a handheld
- you'll need a PC/laptop to edit the tables
- you'll always be "fine tuning" some parameter or other
- your Mrs will miss you
- you may not like/enjoy the technical aspect

If you try it you'll be hooked, but it's not for everyone.
Old Apr 27, 2006 | 11:09 AM
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Originally Posted by joecar
If you get tuning software and a wideband O2 sensor, you'll be able to:
- tune for any cam/head
- tune for any bolt-on/power-adder
- tune for OL and toss the NBO2 sensors if you want to
- tune for SD and toss the MAF sensor if you want to
- tune the MAF
- tune spark tables
- tune PE tables
- tune for economy/power/emissions as you want
- tune idle speed after cam/head install
- correct the speedo for different gear/tire
- change fan on/off temps to suit TS/weather
- change part throttle and WOT shift points
- change shift firmness
- reduce/remove TM/TR
- delete any power-robbing smog device
- run a custom operating system
- swap to a 4L80E and modify the calibration to suit
- fine tune some small thing that would otherwise not be worth running back to the tuning shop for
- just about anything else short of washing laundry or making coffee
- save alot of money by doing it yourself
- learn alot by doing it yourself

Drawbacks:
- learning curve, but it's not too bad
- costs about half as much more than a handheld
- you'll need a PC/laptop to edit the tables
- you'll always be "fine tuning" some parameter or other
- your Mrs will miss you
- you may not like/enjoy the technical aspect

If you try it you'll be hooked, but it's not for everyone.
My question is, how is some one that doesnt know squat about tuning and auto computers supposed to be able to use or learn this stuff? I am a firm beliver in hands on experience for learning but, it seems like someone like myself would need more knowlegde in this to be able to consider it. I mean, what exacly is the process for learning this stuff? Do i have to blow up a few of my cars before i know whats going on or is there some kind of good user friendly directions for this? lol
Old Apr 28, 2006 | 01:29 AM
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Originally Posted by senicalj4579
My question is, how is some one that doesnt know squat about tuning and auto computers supposed to be able to use or learn this stuff? I am a firm beliver in hands on experience for learning but, it seems like someone like myself would need more knowlegde in this to be able to consider it. I mean, what exacly is the process for learning this stuff? Do i have to blow up a few of my cars before i know whats going on or is there some kind of good user friendly directions for this? lol
There's alot of people who have done it already many times on this forum (and on the HPTuners and EFILive forums) and are willing to help you; if you know anything about engines, you'll learn how to tune; there are books that explain what alll the sensors do, and there are the "Auto Tuning" tutorials which show you how to use a wideband O2 sensor to dial in your VE table. Alot of reading (and some thinking) IS required, but you'll learn just fine.

It's not for everyone, but if you decide that you want to persue it, you definitely will not be disappointed.

Last edited by joecar; Apr 28, 2006 at 01:34 AM.
Old Apr 28, 2006 | 05:36 AM
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Im currently using a predator and I love it. I have had a Hypertech and in my opinion it sucked,I have also had the Superchips programmer and it was an ok programmer.I want HPTuners but right now my pocket says otherwise sense I dont have a laptop and dont really have the engine mods for it yet.



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