HELP ON WHICH TUNES TO GET

[MEZICK3006]

I am having A BIG problem deciding which tunes to get. I bought my '99 (1/99 build date) for pulling my tractor to my hunting club. I figure it is in the 12,000 lb range. Probably the most I would ever tow. The route is mostly hilly interstate and then hilly backroads. I am thinking the 40HP HEAVY Tow is what I need for towing.

However, I also want a tune for fuel economy/performance while not towing. Seems like the 80HP DD would fit the bill on interstate, which is where I will be driving most.

Definitely want the Stock, Whisper, Hi-Idle, 40 TOW, 80 DD

That leaves me with one slot. Which one? This is killing me. I want to order one SOON.

I don't care anything about smokin' tires and rocket launches. Just want a smooth, reliable, fuel efficient truck with some options.

I have a DIY tymar intake and 4" Magnaflo Turbo Back exhaust with muffler, oil rail x-over tube, 3" lift running 285's. PCM is NVK2.

[dietoremain]

Stock is a waste of a position, its pretty easy to unplug the chip, voila stock...
Secondly whisper isnt bad but I dont use it too often, easier to just turn the truck off at the drive thru for the most part.
And three you definitely want 140 race.. lol but seriously the 'hotter' tunes can actually get some of the best MPG if you keep your foot out of it, i went on a long trip(highways, mountain passes, etc) drove on my 120 race tune, and got 19.5 mpg or so.. if it was flat highway i woulda been over 20 no problem. Anyway hope that helps and welcome..
You're gonna love them tunes!

[ticopowell]

I was wondering the same thing but I eventually decided on the anti-theft option. I figure it will be fun to confuse the wife sometimes, and also if the truck is in a not so good location, I can use it for what it's designed for

[MEZICK3006]

Thanks on the stock delete. Thought it was required. Have a Hypertech III now and does pretty well. Much better than stock. On my last trip to Ohio I got 19 w/o cruise.

Whisper Mode.....will I really need it? ....CC LB 4x4..... not drive thru friendly.

Now I'm thinking:
40 tow
65tow
80 dd
100 perf
120 race
1200 Hi Idle

That should cover anything I want to do.

[ticopowell]

You can add whisper mode to any tune, so your 80dd you can have it an 80dd whisper mode, that is what I did, and fyi, the difference between 100 and 120 is not going to be much on stock trucks, but if you can't do the 140, then the 120 will be the most powerful. if you can do the 140, I would recommend that instead of the 120. I added whisper to the 65tow as well in case I decide to take my 7'interior height trailer through a drive through too

[MEZICK3006]

Guess I better call PHP. More and More options...

Thanks a bunch.

[cj45lc]

Originally Posted by MEZICK3006

Thanks on the stock delete. Thought it was required. Have a Hypertech III now and does pretty well. Much better than stock. On my last trip to Ohio I got 19 w/o cruise.

Whisper Mode.....will I really need it? ....CC LB 4x4..... not drive thru friendly.

Now I'm thinking:
40 tow
65tow
80 dd
100 perf
120 race
1200 Hi Idle

That should cover anything I want to do.

This is just my opinion
stock
40 or 65 tow (if 12k is the most you'll see 65)
80 dd
120 race (you wont get much over 100 but every little bit helps)
hi idle
no start

stock is good for diagnostics
That's pretty much what I have & have never got to the point were I wished I had something else. I pull my horse trailer 10k lbs in 80dd & egt stays good, something heavier I'll use the 65tow & keep my eye on the temp & if I'm moving something real heavy I figure I'll use the stock position.
The 80dd is great for just that daily driving.
The 120race I probably don't see 120hp but what I do see is real good.
The hi idle is great for spinning the A/C while I load the horses.
The no start makes me feel a little better when I'm out of pistol range...lol

I believe you'll be fine with the 65tow pulling your tractor, I went up 6 & 7% grades with the horse trailer on 80dd & temps stayed right at 1150-1200 deg & I was still running 70mph.

Whatever you get I'm sure you will be impressed but good luck wearing the new off of it, it's just too much fun pressing the skinny pedal.

BTW if I was gonna worry about Whisper I'd get me a POS Prius & a Obama sticker

[MEZICK3006]

Yep, I don't guess the Whisper mode will NOT help the ball-bearings-in-coffee-can torque converter.

You guys rule.

[Shake-N-Bake]

I am not sure if you have ordered your chip yet but here is another vote for having the stock tune as one of your choices. Stock will be good for going through emissions if you have to do that where you live. Also good for diagnostics, inclement weather and stop and go driving (such as on the freeway).

I've had my Phoenix chip in for a few days and here is what I have learned so far. (stock--65 DD--80 performance--high idle--40 Tow--25 Tow)

Previously have been running a Bully Dog Power Pup in 50 hp (tow tune) for the last 5 years or so....

65 daily driver
0-60 time is about the same as the BD tune but power management is much improved. Biggest change is how the transmission shifts. It now feels like I have a 5 speed because the TC locks between 3rd and 4th gears. The 'shifts' are equally spaced apart as well. Feels like I am driving a TorqueShift now. I only have two small issues with this setting. The TC lock is fairly hard, much more firm than the actual upshifts between gears. This is most likely a result of the aftermarket TC that is installed and not really a calibration issue with the tune. Second issue is the shifts are a bit too firm at very very slow speeds, such as stop and go freeway traffic. This is when it's nice to have the stock tune available so I can easily flip to stock when stuck in stop and go driving and the shifting is nice and soft.
Overall, the 65 DD is quite refined for the amount of power it puts out. SOI seems less aggressive compared to the Bully Dog tune (which I like).

80 Performance gets with the program quite well. EGTs are managed effectively and seem to peak around the 1250 mark...which is perfect. Nothing in this tune seems to be pushing any sort of boundaries that I can tell. I don't remember what peak boost was but I suspect it was in the 20-22 psi range so there was still some room to work. If I was to change any of my tunes, I would delete 80 P in favor of 100 P. Just my $.02 on this one...

1200 High Idle. Works as advertised. However, I was expecting the PCM to revert to stock tune as soon as the brake pedal was depressed or the parking brake released (like the AIC works). Initially I was a bit concerned but during a test I can easily control the truck with the service brakes even in high idle mode. So now, if I have a TPS or IVS failure, I can select high idle and get myself off the road to a safe spot to work. So, this tune is perfect. Nothing to change here.

I have not towed yet. Will have to wait for those two.

It's beginning to storm here just as I am about to head home. Stock setting will be what I choose. It's hard enough to keep the tires from spinning in dry conditions so once it starts to rain things get even more touchy.

Hope this info helps.

[ticopowell]

great post, Thanks for the info! and welcome to the forum!