2003-04 Mach 1 Registry Owners Club

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-   -   Thread for those of us who tune our own cars (http://www.mach1registry.org/forums/showthread.php?t=132871)

Mach828 01-30-2015 01:44 PM

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.

watman02 01-30-2015 11:49 PM

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.

01yellerCobra 01-31-2015 12:23 AM

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.

Mach828 01-31-2015 01:54 AM

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

Vndcatr 01-31-2015 05:00 AM

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..

DSG2003Mach1 01-31-2015 07:56 AM

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.

liv2roc 01-31-2015 08:53 AM

Re: Thread for those of us who tune our own cars
 
I changed my own plugs does that count.

Mach828 01-31-2015 01:25 PM

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.

DSG2003Mach1 01-31-2015 02:35 PM

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

watman02 01-31-2015 02:35 PM

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.

TKat13 01-31-2015 02:57 PM

Re: Thread for those of us who tune our own cars
 
subscribing, this is something I want to learn to do as well.

01yellerCobra 01-31-2015 04:33 PM

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

Mach828 02-01-2015 04:39 PM

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.

Dan03mach 02-03-2015 04:16 PM

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.

Mach828 02-03-2015 05:03 PM

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?

not a gt 02-03-2015 05:04 PM

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:

01yellerCobra 02-03-2015 05:21 PM

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

Originally Posted by Mach828 (Post 1595827)
Anyone have tips they had to learn the hard way, or wasn't available in the tuning guides?

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.

Quote:

Originally Posted by not a gt (Post 1595828)
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:

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.

watman02 02-04-2015 07:05 PM

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?

Mach828 02-04-2015 07:34 PM

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?

Dan03mach 02-04-2015 07:54 PM

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

Originally Posted by Mach828 (Post 1595868)
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?

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.

Dan03mach 02-04-2015 08:02 PM

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

Mach828 02-04-2015 11:26 PM

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

01yellerCobra 02-05-2015 12:33 AM

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.

Mach828 02-06-2015 11:34 PM

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.

Mach828 02-08-2015 09:53 PM

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?


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