PCM Flash after other mods?

[TREKER]

I have read so much about flashing the comp.

If people could please just chime in a bit about mods I will be doing and the order.

Already have done Magnaflow CB.

1. JMB CAI, catch can, and hoses.
2. Belanger long tube headers.
3. Cat delete or HF cats.
4. 170 temp stat.

Then do the flash??? I assume yes...

Question after that is, what will the PCM really do for me?
Also, if I upgrade the clutch and flywheel with the other goodies like shifter and master / slave does that have any impact?

Weather is getting nicer and the modding will begin shortly.

As always, thank you all in advance.

 

[AWDisuzu]

you can do the flash first if you want, unless you're taking the truck to DC (or a similar place) for a custom tune

 

[ViperTruck2933]

The stage II flash is still good for all the mods you have listed. DC wouldn't custom cut my flash unless I did some major motor mods.

Boomer probably would do you a custom flash if you wanted to take your truck to him.

Otherwise the Stage II is desinged to work with all minor bolt on mods. I put down 467 rwhp/515 rwtrq with the mods listed, including the high flow cats.

 

[Prof]

Consider the VEC III rather than the flash...more complicated, more expensive, but more flexible...and you are not altering the pcm.

 

[TREKER]

The stage II flash is still good for all the mods you have listed. DC wouldn't custom cut my flash unless I did some major motor mods.

Boomer probably would do you a custom flash if you wanted to take your truck to him.

Otherwise the Stage II is desinged to work with all minor bolt on mods. I put down 467 rwhp/515 rwtrq with the mods listed, including the high flow cats.

Thanks for the reply. Two more questions

1. So what does the flash do different from the stock if its designed to work with all those mods? Dont you have to tell them what mods you have before you do the flash so they can tune for those mods?

2. What does the flash change to make it a neccessary mod if you do all theo ther mods? I am working on doing almost exactly what you have done to yours.

 

[TREKER]

Consider the VEC III rather than the flash...more complicated, more expensive, but more flexible...and you are not altering the pcm.

I have not done much research on the VEC III. Can you link me to more info on it? Can I custom tune myself with that?

 

[Prof]

If you are going towards meth as your additional cooling method and the Roe Supercharger you must go with the VEC III.

I really can't address the pcm changes when you have the flash...I know in the QC it makes a huge difference, but in the RC you are the shift point chooser, not the pcm...I'm sure that depending on what mods you have a good tuner can optimize for the mods...but in all honesty, I think the point at which most mod the pcm is when they boost the engine in the rc.

To complete your plan, now is the time to decided if you are going to boost your engine, and what route you want to take...supercharger, or turbo charge and what your choice of the brands that are out there. That way you will not be making mods that don't fit the plan.

If you are going to ultimately boost the engine, you will end up tossing the CAI. It has no use in a boosted engine. So if you know your full plan now you can build toward that goal and not take side steps that cost time and money but are useless...plan your work, work your plan, and don't get side tracked. Do only those things that advance you toward your goal...

Roy

 

[TREKER]

If you are going towards meth as your additional cooling method and the Roe Supercharger you must go with the VEC III.

I really can't address the pcm changes when you have the flash...I know in the QC it makes a huge difference, but in the RC you are the shift point chooser, not the pcm...I'm sure that depending on what mods you have a good tuner can optimize for the mods...but in all honesty, I think the point at which most mod the pcm is when they boost the engine in the rc.

To complete your plan, now is the time to decided if you are going to boost your engine, and what route you want to take...supercharger, or turbo charge and what your choice of the brands that are out there. That way you will not be making mods that don't fit the plan.

If you are going to ultimately boost the engine, you will end up tossing the CAI. It has no use in a boosted engine. So if you know your full plan now you can build toward that goal and not take side steps that cost time and money but are useless...plan your work, work your plan, and don't get side tracked. Do only those things that advance you toward your goal...

Roy

Thanks again Roy.

Going with a SC seems like a real undertaking. I would love to do it though. I have seen the Paxton (Novi I think) and some others. If I were to go with boost, the CAI would not be in my plans.

Going with a SC I would still do the headers, upgrade the clutch / flywheel. Would I need to still mess with the computer? What does the VEC do in place of the flash?

Scott

 

[mauiSRT/10]

Scott, if you plan to SC your truck, the dont get the flash or CAI. The VEC deal is.....Viper Engine Controller. It piggybacks the stock computor with custom programs you can change out via cards. Way more flexable and complicated, you literally have to splice into all your injectors for the install. If your a bolt on guy, the flash is fine. I love mine, but to really get the gains you gotta have the magnaflow, intake, and cat delete otherwise the flash is not as efficient.

Like the Prof said, define what your future plans are then go forward. As far as the clutch, all RC's will eventually need a clutch upgrade. When your burn out the stocker then upgrade. Some folks have gotten nearly 30k miles out of the stocker, others like me......3k LOL!!

I would call DC Perf and talk to them about their flash......ask questions and learn. Truck will also run between 160 and 180 with the flash and new t stat instead of 200 when stock. Hope this helps.

patrick

 

[TREKER]

Scott, if you plan to SC your truck, the dont get the flash or CAI. The VEC deal is.....Viper Engine Controller. It piggybacks the stock computor with custom programs you can change out via cards. Way more flexable and complicated, you literally have to splice into all your injectors for the install. If your a bolt on guy, the flash is fine. I love mine, but to really get the gains you gotta have the magnaflow, intake, and cat delete otherwise the flash is not as efficient.

Like the Prof said, define what your future plans are then go forward. As far as the clutch, all RC's will eventually need a clutch upgrade. When your burn out the stocker then upgrade. Some folks have gotten nearly 30k miles out of the stocker, others like me......3k LOL!!

I would call DC Perf and talk to them about their flash......ask questions and learn. Truck will also run between 160 and 180 with the flash and new t stat instead of 200 when stock. Hope this helps.

patrick

Thank you for your input.

I have seen how you feel about the stock clutch many times

I was just on ROE's website and got a good education. There system is a totally bolt-on unless I am mistaken. I was just reading the FAQ from them. Seems like they want you to upgrade the headers and pistons to go higher than a 5psi boost. Also 7k for the system. For that, they should install it for you!!!

I have been looking to go the CAI way but who knows... I love my rig, but want it faster.

 

[mauiSRT/10]

Thank you for your input.

I have seen how you feel about the stock clutch many times

I was just on ROE's website and got a good education. There system is a totally bolt-on unless I am mistaken. I was just reading the FAQ from them. Seems like they want you to upgrade the headers and pistons to go higher than a 5psi boost. Also 7k for the system. For that, they should install it for you!!!

I have been looking to go the CAI way but who knows... I love my rig, but want it faster.

I hear ya dude. SC opens up a can of worms that could be costly. If you want to avoid that risk stick with the bolt ons. My truck with the 4.88 gears and other mods is a completly different truck from when stock. My throttle sensitvity is so sharp.......its actually tricky at slow speeds to not jerk it around with the amount of torque I have with those gears. It wants to buck you at times. I drove it in the rain yesterday............starting off I was sliding several times before I knew it. Kinda tricky but worth it when the roads are dry, its such a blast to drive. Full throttle in first gear blows off the tires everytime, shift into second at 5k or higher and second blows off the tires so much you have to let off the gas to gain traction!!! I cannot floor the pedal all the time like when stock, I have to nurse it............which is kinda cool!!! With no cats, intake and the magnaflow the tone is f#cking awesome!!! Loud yes, but big smile loud!!! Left my friends house yesterday took the rpms up to 3k before the stop sign in first.....to me it sounded awesome, really beefy and strong. Later that night he told me his neighbor came over to ask what that was and what I had in it. After learning I had a viper v 10 in it his comment was....."sounded like the space shuttle at takeoff" !!!! Thats good shit there!!!:rock:

SC ing is awesome and if I lived near Roe or DC, it would already be done, but out here in the weeds of Maui I dont have any experts so I have done what I could to improve my truck and now its where I really love it......and it still scares me too.....which is cool!!

patrick