Flash Tuners For Dummies

Carlwalski

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Hey Lads,


OK, I've asked several dumb questions but this is probably at the top :laugh: though, I'm a firm believer that the only dumb question is the one you don't ask and we weren't born knowing. My question, WTF are all these VEC, VECI, VECIIIs, tuners, PCMs, flash gizmos and handheld programmers people are speaking of?!? :dontknow:

I'm guessing they plug into the factory computer and you can adjust the factory settings or in better wording override them to gain better performance. Is someone able to break them down into what they mean (VEC = etc) and even better explain in brief which tuners people are using and what that tuner does and is good for?


Thanks,
Carl

:)
 
Hey Carl, if your going to buy a Roe you will get the vec with it and tunes from Roe. If your going to stay NA then get a SCT hand held tuner from DC. A flash is a pcm that you change out from your stock pcm. I don't think the flash is worth it on a RC. I raced a RC that had the stage 2 flash and beat him by over a 1/2 sec in the 1/4. My RC is still stock except to shifter and magnaflow. I'm going to buy a SCT when I get the extra $'s. I think its the way to go. This way I don't have to mess the stock pcm.
 
LoveThisTruck said:
VEC = viper engine controller

Here's a link for info on the handheld programer. Alot of people are speaking very highly of this, and I will be getting one shortly.
http://www.vtcoa.com/forums/showthread.php?t=14818

More people with more knowledge than I have will chime in


Aha!! He explained with great relish, of course Viper Engine Controller. Thanks bud, that helps a lot already. It's bloody amazing aint it!?! Hard to believe a small box can "tune" your car. By "tune" what does that mean exactly, tune as in tune and correct any faults or timing issues in the engine, basically a service for the truck or? Again, hard to fathom it can be done, I know this is the technology age but shit, that rocks lol.

Thanks,
Carl
 
sleeper said:
Hey Carl, if your going to buy a Roe you will get the vec with it and tunes from Roe. If your going to stay NA then get a SCT hand held tuner from DC. A flash is a pcm that you change out from your stock pcm. I don't think the flash is worth it on a RC. I raced a RC that had the stage 2 flash and beat him by over a 1/2 sec in the 1/4. My RC is still stock except to shifter and magnaflow. I'm going to buy a SCT when I get the extra $'s. I think its the way to go. This way I don't have to mess the stock pcm.


Thanks, yeah, I'm not sure on supercharging mine. Sounds good but I've always had a soft spot for fast N/A engines and driver skill, more of a challenge, like fishing in a boat vs from land off the rocks. ;)

So, if I did buy the SCT (SCT =?), but ended up getting a Roe SC later on down the line, is it just a matter of putting/pulling the SCT out and installing the VEC supplied with the Roe kit? Basically, having a SCT won't hinder having a Roe later on?

Thanks,
Carl
 
I believe the sct plugs in under the dash. So if you do get a vec later on it should no problem to make the change. You might even be able to still use it, but I'm not sure. Quicksilver has one with his Paxton. Hes the one to ask.
 
The SCT will not need the VEC. It will do it all through the PCM perfectly Carl.
 
Thanks guys, much appreciated. ;)

That SCT is definitely food for thought. :)
 
The VEC is hardwired into your PCM. The SCT is just plug in, make your changes, unplug.
 
Carlwalski said:
Thanks guys, much appreciated. ;)

That SCT is definitely food for thought. :)

Dude Your in new Zealand, I dont Think you have A Viper tech or a Good tuner there:dontknow: Yeah go with the Sct thats probably the best bet
 
Annu Kumar said:
Dude Your in new Zealand, I dont Think you have A Viper tech or a Good tuner there:dontknow: Yeah go with the Sct thats probably the best bet

Annu rules - go with what he says :) - he is right on with this one - the SCT makes sense, at least it did for me - SRT-10 good - SRT-10 on SCT Steroids - priceless
 
So, any suggestions on what SCT 3 tunes I would need/should get? Valet sounds OK, is there a list of tunes available for it? I'd like one for improved performance, like the 20-30hp+ tune "thing" (lol), anything else? Ideally I'd like to get an in house tune and set it up like that but being 16 hours flight away makes things awful tough. :laugh:

Thanks!
 
Valet sounds nice but it takes @ 8-10min to change programs. So only get the ones you really need. The vec is great cause you only change cards (swipe -n- go)but they have their own limatations. I love my SCT!
 
Bush will be sending each of us our $600 shortly... I have a feeling that I'll be helping to "stimulate" the economy by using this free $$$ to buy the SCT.
 
Mr. Walski I dont hand out any info on tuning for obvious reasons of blowing somebodies stuff up:p I could do that easily.:D

BUT... now you can do your own tuning, with the VEC or the SCT, I think the SCT would be easier to use tho.

butyou need two things to do it well,

an AEM wideband air fuel guage.

and a MSD knock sensor alert pn 8964
http://www.msdignition.com/tool_8.htm


with these two things you can go from the base tune and get real close to a good tune.

the air fuel will let you know if you go lean at a particular area,and the sensor will let you know if your timing goes too far.

after you get darn close, jsut back down the timing a bit to be extra safe;)

the only bad thing.........you need a good place to do third or fourth gear pulls;)

1st and 2nd wrap up too quick to use:D

jsut food for thought
 
Thanks Mr Stinker. :) I'm hungry for knowledge so any food you throw is good, Sir. ;)
 
The stage two flash for the RC is very nice IMO. It gave me the most SOTP improvement by far. I had deleted my cats just a week before I installed the flash. With the cats gone, magnaflow and CAI my truck really came alive. The flash was the final piece of the puzzle. Now you can get that stage two flash on the SCT. It also can do other things like turn your fan on sooner and turn off the o2 sensors when you delete your cats and dont want a CEL to come on.

It is well worth the cash.:burnout:

patrick
 

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