[bcriss]

Not to shure about this..... so I have to ask... If I wanted to go to the custom options menu and adjust sumthing how does this work w/ bills custom tunes ? Im running custom perf. tune 93 and just for example, say i wanted to advance timming or wot fuel woluld i be advancing that much more on top of what bill has already programed ?? Just curious cause when i was running canned 93 perf. tune i had played w/ the custom option menu for a while and got my truck running really good !! Now I installed custom 93 perf. tune and it just doesnt run the same !! So if I decide to go into "custom option" menu and play around w/ shift seetings,timming & fuel settings, am I just completely redoin bills custom tune ??? Now im not tryin 2 say im smarter than bill or can out tune him..(HECK NO, NOT A CHANCE!!!!) but I do know that all engines react differently to certain adjustments and also that one man may like or want sumthin different from another. (personel preference). So mabe I can mess w/ custom options menu a bit and just see how the truck reacts. How bout it Jack,longshot,88 etc. ? Whats your take on this ? You guys have been nuthin but great help 2 me since ive joined this forum !!
Keep it up.... Brian

07 f150 2WD
4.6/ Gryphon CS

[JackandJanet]

Answers inline:

Originally Posted by bcriss

Not to shure about this..... so I have to ask... If I wanted to go to the custom options menu and adjust sumthing how does this work w/ bills custom tunes ? Im running custom perf. tune 93 and just for example, say i wanted to advance timming or wot fuel woluld i be advancing that much more on top of what bill has already programed ??

YES! And if you don't have a good reason to do this, don't do it!

Just curious cause when i was running canned 93 perf. tune i had played w/ the custom option menu for a while and got my truck running really good !!

It IS possible you may be able to "improve" on what the man has set up, but you can also make things much worse or, dangerous for yuor engine. It is actually better to describe the behavior you want and aren't getting, and tell Bill about it. He can perform a much more precise adjustment.

Now I installed custom 93 perf. tune and it just doesnt run the same !! So if I decide to go into "custom option" menu and play around w/ shift seetings,timming & fuel settings, am I just completely redoin bills custom tune ???

Not exactly redoing the tunes, but you are certainly modifying them. Bill has also posted several times in these forums about how he tries to be "conservative" to make sure your engine and transmission enjoys a long, happy life. If you tune for "MAXIMUM" performance, rather than improved performance, you are going to see your truck die an early death. But, it's your truck. Be sure to read, and make sure you understand the disclaimer in the manual.

Now im not tryin 2 say im smarter than bill or can out tune him..(HECK NO, NOT A CHANCE!!!!) but I do know that all engines react differently to certain adjustments and also that one man may like or want sumthin different from another. (personel preference). So mabe I can mess w/ custom options menu a bit and just see how the truck reacts. How bout it Jack,longshot,88 etc. ?

If you DO make changes, make small ones, one at a time to minimize interactions and test. Yes, you MAY be able to improve on what you have if you proceed carefully. I'd still start with describing to Bill what you don't like about your current tune and perhaps getting his opinion on exactly what you plan to do.

Whats your take on this ? You guys have been nuthin but great help 2 me since ive joined this forum !!
Keep it up.... Brian

07 f150 2WD
4.6/ Gryphon CS

Hope this makes sense - you paid a lot for the programmer and tunes, don't just abandon all that in favor of some goal that is going to give you lots of trouble down the road. You're driving a truck, remember, not a top fuel dragster.

- Jack

[Longshot270]

Ok, the main thing is that you will be adding on to what Bill has already considered the optimum adjustments by balancing safety and performance. His goal is to make the truck run better but within it's limits. Here are what you will probably see if you adjust settings to the max (based on trends and experience with my 08 4.6L 2wd)...

WOT shifting: Set the RPM for each upshift. Be careful, if you know your power/torque curve you know that higher rpm doesn't always equal more power. The general consensus is also that the stock torque converter starts to have issues over 5400 rpm. Not recommended to go over that.

Regular throttle shift points: Raising them might improve/hurt gas mileage but will also improve the amount of power before the shift. Lowering them migh hurt/improve mileage but get you into gears faster. Your probably scratching your head that I just posted contradictory statements but here is one area where different vehicles react differently. I sometimes get better mileage by raising them on mine. Also the upshift and downshift speeds need to be changed the same to eliminate shifting issues. Your adjustments are in +/- mph (this shift is based on speed).

Torque converter lock points: Same effects as regular shift points since they follow the same pattern. 4th gear tc settings will have the most impact. You dont really see 1st and 2nd gear locks and 3rd is only in O/D off.

Shift firmness: This is also a dangerous area. Raising the firmness too much can cause things to break, lowering it too much can cause things to wear much quicker. Any changes here should be recommended by Bill. I think the only time anyone really ever uses this is to pic a firmness setting for a new custom tune or to accomidate mods like larger valve bodies and such.

Rev limiter: ...duh, but please dont go over 5600 to 6000. Should be at least 150 over highest shift point to allow WOT shifts to perform correctly.

Speed limiter:...also duh, please dont set higher than what your tires are rated for. This is also a limit you should not be reaching. That mustang or rice burner can still go faster. Keep in mind old tires, under/over inflated tires, plugged/patched or any form of repaired tire should not be pushed to the speed rating. The speed rating is set for optimum conditions as a reference of ability to not come apart, doesn't mean it wont explode or something below that speed though.

Timing: This is one of the ones you were wondering about and also one of the most dangerous. Advance your timing too far and you can cause predetonation. This can cause your engine to nonspontaneously blow something. But thats what knock sensors are for right? Well when they sense knocking/pinging/predet. that does not blow up something they remove so much timing advancement that the truck will run like cr@p.. .obviously you will safely get the cr@ppy performance and economy by lowering it, you just bypass the sensors, pinging and risk of explosions.

WOT fuel: This is a fun one to play with that can also become rather expensive. The value you will find will look like 1.10,1.5, ect. This is translated as 110%(or increase of 10%) or 150%(or increase of 50%). Just leave this one alone because I think any changes you do will be changes on top of Bill's. Lower or raise it too much and you risk running lean/rich. There are countless problems this can cause.

These options are only a very small portion of what Bill can do.

I want to add that sometimes making a change to one option can have an unexpected effect on something you wouldn't think to be related. Remember, the many parts work together to make what you think is a simple operation. That is why IF you make ANY changes they need to be gradual and note how the truck acts before and after. You should also ask Bill what would be the potential dangers/benefits before you make any change besides to the tire size, gear ratio and regular shifting/torque converter points.

I'm sure I've left some stuff out that I will add later but until then...

Remember, you paid for a custom tune and finally got one, enjoy it for a while before you start tweaking things. Ya never know, you might get used to it and start liking how it is set right now.

[bcriss]

I understand all that ur stating ! Im not really lookin for maximum performance ! Its just that the canned 93 that i set up was running really good. I only had the timming advanced 1 degree, the lock/unlock and shift settings modified modestly and I actually richend up the WOT fuel some !!! It took sum trial & error but I finally found that the truck liked and responded well to these settings w/o going overboard !! I could have went more extreme on these and mabe gained a(little) more power but I know that would be pusing the envolope on the motor and i clearly dont want that !!! I just figured that the custom tune would have been at least a little better,(for lack of a better word) than the canned tune. But Im going to call Bill just as u suggest and just talk w/ him on this and see what he says !! Thanks again Jack for all that you do !!!!,
Brian

[Longshot270]

Originally Posted by bcriss

I understand all that ur stating ! Im not really lookin for maximum performance ! Its just that the canned 93 that i set up was running really good. I only had the timming advanced 1 degree, the lock/unlock and shift settings modified modestly and I actually richend up the WOT fuel some !!! It took sum trial & error but I finally found that the truck liked and responded well to these settings w/o going overboard !! I could have went more extreme on these and mabe gained a(little) more power but I know that would be pusing the envolope on the motor and i clearly dont want that !!! I just figured that the custom tune would have been at least a little better,(for lack of a better word) than the canned tune. But Im going to call Bill just as u suggest and just talk w/ him on this and see what he says !! Thanks again Jack for all that you do !!!!,
Brian

Yeah, but before you call go and write down what changes you made. He can then match them in his tune.

[bcriss]

I really appreciate all ur input as well !!! Im taking all this in and understanding what yall are sayin ! Ive already learned quite a bit from u guys on these things !! Much thanks again.....,
bcriss