Thread for those of us who tune our own cars
 

I just picked up the SCT Pro Racer software from VMP. I'm hoping their are some other people on here that do their own tuning and we can use this thread to help one another and recruit more people to start doing their own tuning.

I'm starting out tuning my crown victoria DD, and once I feel comfortable enough with the tuning process I'll move onto tuning my Mach 1.

The only two options I found to purchase the SCT software was through VMP or Lasota Racing. There are mixed reviews on the SCT guide and Lasota's tuning guide. I'm familiar with the various parameters within the software and I'm unsure if I should even buy a tuning guide.

Re: Thread for those of us who tune our own cars
 

I liked Lasota s tuning guide my eaton mach was my firat time tuning it was a good resource. Ive tune a few cars since. Still refer to it once in a while. He was also alot of help early on. I called him once on a vortec fox i was tuning whe i had no maf transfer to go off of was very helpful.

I've been tuning my car since 2007. I have the DVD and book. I had a buddy that was a tuner help me in the beginning.

I guess I'll order the lasota guide. I heard mixed reviews on it. The SCT one is too pricey.

Re: Thread for those of us who tune our own cars
 

I own the PRP software as well as the Lasota book.. Ive read the book and it really does help, he goes over some key features and tips..I cant wait to start using mine when my pile runs..

Re: Thread for those of us who tune our own cars
 

ive got the lasotta book, Ive made it through writing a base tune from scratch and its extremely helpful imho.

Re: Thread for those of us who tune our own cars
 

I changed my own plugs does that count.

Re: Thread for those of us who tune our own cars
 

What are you guys using for datalogging air/fuel? I had the LC1 but my buddy picked up the LC2 and its significantly better than the old LC1. So I bought the LC2. Are you just using the SCT analog input USB cable?

Or is there a way to interface the Innovate software with LiveLink?

Lol at the changing plugs comment.

Re: Thread for those of us who tune our own cars
 

Haven't gotten to logging yet, I'll be using a fire wire to my aeroforce wideband. I've never heard of pulling the wideband log into sct from another program

Re: Thread for those of us who tune our own cars
 

I used a firewire cable and wired it into the x3 on top. And datalogged it through live link worked great.

Re: Thread for those of us who tune our own cars
 

subscribing, this is something I want to learn to do as well.

I have a PLX wideband hooked to a serial cable. I plug that cable into the Xcal2 and choose analogue one on fhe Livelink.

Re: Thread for those of us who tune our own cars
 

Great. I got the LC2 installed and purchased a firewire from Best Buy. I got the Insignia 800 with adapter for 6 and 9 pin IEEE1394. Wire colors are the same as this guide for how to wire it up. Time to datalog!

http://www.focusfanatics.com/forum/s...d.php?t=177202

Edit:
In case the link goes away, white is not used. Red and Orange are for the 0-5v output from the wideband. Blue, green, and black are grounds and are not used. It is a one wire connection only, you don't need any other wires for the firewire.

Re: Thread for those of us who tune our own cars
 

I've tuned my turbocharged Mach1 with all kinds of mods done to it. I put a powerglide and stall in it rewired the speedo to work put 160lb injectors larger maf and housing TB ported intake, had big cams at one point. etc. I know a little bit about a little big when it comes to tuning these cars.

Re: Thread for those of us who tune our own cars
 

Anyone have tips they had to learn the hard way, or wasn't available in the tuning guides?

Re: Thread for those of us who tune our own cars
 

Is this just datalogging thru the handheld or with the Livelink software as well?? Why am I here?? I just read question I asked and doesn't even make sense to me :SMASH: Am I the only one with a Autometer SportComp Wideband? Wiring I guess would be different? Great thread, confusing for us analog types personalities still with flip phones, but interesting :what:

Re: Thread for those of us who tune our own cars
 

I don't know if I'd say I learned it the hard way, but the biggest thing is the MAF transfer has to be dialed it. I've heard so many people have issues and pull their hair out, then someone asks if the MAF is dialed in and the person says no. Everything is based off that table.

A personal preference is I don't mess with intake manifold volume or displacement to change load scaling. I was taught to fill these out correctly and load will be whatever it will be. The spark tables can be scaled to match whatever load is. With my first combo my load was maxed around 1.3-1.4. So I set my max load to 1.4. This also gives more resolution down low to dial in timing. I spent a lot of time tweaking the low end of my timing table. That's why my last set up had decent throttle response.

I use Livelink to datalog. I've never used just the handheld. I still use an older version of Livelink as well. If the wideband has a 0-5vdc output you can datalog with it. You just need the serial cable or firewire cable to plug into your hand held. I have a serial cable because I have an Xcal2. I set up my buddies with a firewire because he has an X3. Just knowing how to datalog is nice for troubleshooting. I found a bad O2 sensor that way. It wasn't so bad that it was throwing a code, but I was able to see it wasn't switching correctly in the datalog.

Re: Thread for those of us who tune our own cars
 

I would leave the bottom of the spark and timing tables stock. As they are fine for all driving when not in boost. I would stay around 15degrees for wot timming and target a 11.5afr.
What maf are u running?

One of the main reasons I wanted to do some tuning was to dial in the driveability. Since most tuners don't take the time needed to perfect the tuning under low load. On the mach I have the hpx maf, blow through. And the crown Vic is an 05 so it is a new slot style maf as well. Running 91 and turning up the timing under light load should help my gas mileage and throttle response. Thanks for the good info!
I think I found out the reason my mach has been having issues in the winter.. is its not getting warm enough to go into closed loop so its idling weird and having some driveability issues. (160 inline tstat with a hole drilled)
Plan to spend a lot of time in the low end of the timing table.
Do you guys keep the generic maf transfer functions recommended or do you change it? I heard some people will go as far as putting their maf setup on a flowbench?

Re: Thread for those of us who tune our own cars
 

Just force it into open loop and use the maf to scale the amount of fuel you need at what ever load count the maf is calling for at. It takes the o2's out of the loop so just incase you have one that is getting weak or now working right it won't make your car run pig rich at idle or cruising around. So make sure you data log the short term fuel trims. Also a helpful tip is go just go thru all the parameters and just read what is writen in the comments from SCT it is very help full and tells you pretty much what everything does and their is alot of changes that need to be made first before you even start to try to tune the car. you need to get the base file done first.

Re: Thread for those of us who tune our own cars
 

btw it is going to be in closed loop untill you hit 555 or higher in the load range unless you changed that section like I did to zero to keep mine in open loop all the time and not use the o2's at all. It will be in Closed Loop no matter what the temp is. I also run a 160 degree stat with 4 holes drilled in it and a 3 core LFP radiator. also 160lb injectors No issues at idle

Good to know. This lasota tuning guide is great. I don't get why people were bad mouthing it. Lots of good info.

I was able to change the temp mine was considered warmed up. I think I changed it to 140 degrees. Since I only drove it on nice days I wasn't worried about it too much.

Re: Thread for those of us who tune our own cars
 

What are the most fundamental parameters you change over the base value files? With the 100s of options its hard to narrow down what is critical and what parameters most tuners never touch.

Also, what are the key parameters to change when tuning an auto? I'm upped the global pressure because i didnt get how to do it incrementally by gear. I'd like to increase how long it takes to upshift while cruising so i can rev the gears out longer, but the lasota guide is vague with their auto tuning info.

Ahhh. Found it in the shift/lock schedule. Perfect.

I also set the 1-2 and 2-3 torque reduction on upshifts to 1. In first it had values of 2 in lower rpms from the value file.

I must have changed something because it doesn't seem as loose when you floor it in first anymore, it used to feel like it flashed to 2,500 off the line and then engaged. Now it lugs off the line more. Not sure if it was because it was slipping in 1st or...thats how it should feel.

Reduced lock delay. Trans is shifting great, think I have that dialed in good enough for now.

Note on the firewire cable...you don't need to run a ground to the firewire ground. Just plug in the analog 1 or analog 2 wire to the output on the wideband. Wish I had known that before, oh well.

Re: Thread for those of us who tune our own cars
 

Didn't know about the open loop delays for WOT. I also didn't know about the aircharge WOT multipler. Went WOT and ran her near lamba.

On a good note, I think I got the MAF transfer function dialed in pretty well. Pretty much within 2-3%. I really like downloading datalog data to excel to analyze it.

Do you all tune to 14.64 as stoich or did you adjust to ~14.1 to account for the 10% ethanol? And then just base everything off lamba from there?

Re: Thread for those of us who tune our own cars
 

I would tune for what you're going to find at most gas stations in the area personally, if that's the 10% ethanol I'd tune for That

Re: Thread for those of us who tune our own cars
 

Cool. Thank you.

Now I just need to learn how to manipulate the spark sources to obtain the timing I want, and I'll be ready to start tackling the mach. At least I'll be able to do some decent datalogs of the current tune on it, even though its not perfect, and I'll try to replicate it. Then I'll try tuning it with the 60lb injectors I've got, and then I'll try e85.

Re: Thread for those of us who tune our own cars
 

Me too!

Re: Thread for those of us who tune our own cars
 

I wonder if you can load tunes in the spftware made by other tuners (like Bama, etc)? It would be interesting to see what they changed just for education purposes at the least.

Re: Thread for those of us who tune our own cars
 

The file they send you via email is in a different format than the one saved from the software. They would have to send you the tune in the file format they use to edit it in the software, which they likely wouldn't do.

.mtf is the format to edit the tune in Advantage
.cef is the format used to upload using SCT update manager

Re: Thread for those of us who tune our own cars
 

Agreed,.. I never understood that myself.. And if you purchase the PRP software from Lasota like i did .. He will write you a base file to get started from your mods list... The cool part about this is, You can either use or go off of it to make your own..

He wrote me an E85 base file , but ive been working on a 91 octane base file myself.. Its fun but tons of reading.


On a side note, What tuners(Which sct handheld) are you guys using ??.. I had a XCAL2 that i cannot get this laptop to reconize.. thinking about getting a new laptop or new SCT...

That's a bummer lol. I sure they don't pass along those files to the public.


IG: @azurebluemach

Re: Thread for those of us who tune our own cars
 

I had a ton of issues with getting my laptop to recognize my handheld (x3). Are you running windows 7 or 8? If so, you need disable user accounts and manually install the drivers. Then it will work. Took me forever to figure it out.

Here is the link for the how to:
http://www.5startuning.com/wp-conten...ers-How-to.pdf

Make sure to store it in the C drive under program files, sct. Or it won't work either.

Re: Thread for those of us who tune our own cars
 

I still can't get the car to hit my commanded lamba at WOT. I've got the MAF dialed in, and the base fuel table set to ~.89 for TP 500+ and it will still follow the MAF curve at 1.0. TP is throttle position right, to TP 500 should be half throttle? I wish my base fuel table was off load vs TP.

Re: Thread for those of us who tune our own cars
 

ill try that next..Im using windows 7 on my laptop..(Nothing special, bought it just for the prp setup)..Thanks

Re: Thread for those of us who tune our own cars
 

Take a screen shot of your base fuel table and post it.

It took me forever with my new laptop with Win 8, then with 8.1. I gave up for a few months, then I tried with their newest device flash and drivers. That was last fall I believe.


IG: @azurebluemach

Re: Thread for those of us who tune our own cars
 

Agree, I have Windows 8 and never could do it :frown:, finally got TeamViewer and SCT remotely ran my computer and did it for me..then coupla months back I did a reset and lost drivers and stuff :frown: , so I am calling in the morning to do it again. All I remember was they did it as administator and I think had to turn off my Kaspersky security, guy said Windows 8 was hard, that is why my computer freakin keep trying to update to 8.1 and I keep telling it to pack sand...good luck guys.

Re: Thread for those of us who tune our own cars
 

Here is my most recent one. Its how it was setup in the value file, all I did was add some more fuel.

http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x...psdee41726.jpg

I'm going to try it like this and see what happens. I just don't want it going open loop when I'm at half throttle and killing my gas mileage. I guess I can datalog fuel source to see where its pulling from.

http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x...psdd213ed5.jpg

Re: Thread for those of us who tune our own cars
 

if you really want to read a locked sct file the Sniper tuning software claims it will do it but its another 300 bucks (or if you know someone that has it...)

Re: Thread for those of us who tune our own cars
 

Your only comanding 13.0afr at wot? Ru NA? You can re scale your TP to what ever you eant them to be i found a table from a cobra off line and it wont let me post it from my phone pm me ur ph # and ill text it to you.

Man, now I want to buy the software and take a few days vacation to learn this. Cool topic and info!


IG: @azurebluemach

Re: Thread for those of us who tune our own cars
 

Thanks. PM sent with my number.

Yes, this is for my NA Crown Victoria. I am using it as practice since its going to be nearly impossible for me to blow it up. Once I am comfortable I'll start tuning the mach, which would be easy to blow up given how hard I drive it and the boost.

Don't get greedy and you'll be ok. I had a whopping 10 degrees of timing in mine for a long time. And make sure the spark table is scaled correctly. Didn't do that once and saw 22 degrees at WOT. Oops.

Re: Thread for those of us who tune our own cars
 

Once you go WOT your car will swap to open loop and use the maf transfer function and not use the o2's which are used in your base fuel table. IE your base fuel table is used at part throttle not WOT. And if you are having issues getting your commanded lamba at part throttle data log your short term fuel trim to make sure your o2's are working correctly and one of them aren't being lazy.

Re: Thread for those of us who tune our own cars
 

It is some good software and if you plan on changing or adding power mods it is very good to have and learn. I'm always making changes to my car. Mainly timing curves and a/f at different boost levels.

Re: Thread for those of us who tune our own cars
 

A time consuming process no doubt but it's nice to have the control to make changes when need. Especially when changing set ups.

Re: Thread for those of us who tune our own cars
 

What are you talking about? the base fuel table is not used at WOT? WTF
then what does it use?
if you are commanding .89 as i see you are in your table then your maf transfer function is wrong.
can you post a log of your WOT run where it is hitting stoic at WOT?

Re: Thread for those of us who tune our own cars
 

MAF transfer function ended up being wrong. I had the wrong injector data, apparently some p71 vics have 24lb injectors and some have 19lb. Once I put the right injector data in and redialed in the MAF, it is all good now. Still needs a little tweaking though as its slightly off. I used a smoother transition in the base fuel table so it gradually transitions from lamba.

As far as the MBT table is concerned, I'm trying to adjust my BKT table so I datalog as close to the MBT spark values as possible. Is this the right way to approach it? So far it is really helping to improve the driveabilty as my low and mid power has improved noticeably. Assuming Ford has the best data in the MBT table, for an NA and centri car wouldn't you want to use this data to model your timing and then scale down once you reach higher boost levels? Anyone have insight on how increased cam duration affects your MBT? Just curious how I will want to model my timing on the Mach with the cobra cams, I guess I can get SCT to provide the value file from maybe a 01 cobra, since they have the same heads we do and compare it to the Machs MBT table.

Re: Thread for those of us who tune our own cars
 

As for timing youd be better off using a timing table from a cobra as it uses the same heads and factory boost use your stock timing table when bot in boost and then pull it back once in boost. Im running 15* timming from 2k-7k and at all boost levels car runs great.