Mail order tuners?

[JoshT]

Short Version:

Who's the go to guy for mail order tuners now? Vehicle in question is my 99 Ranger 4.0L auto.

Long Version:

Way back when the 99 was new to me (about 8 years ago) I bought an X-cal 2 tuner from Doug at Bama Chips. I was happy with the tuner and tunes that I got, but obviously Bama has since closed and Doug has gone on to bigger and better.

Fast Forward to now, engine is getting rebuilt and getting a mild cam installed. For just those I'm not worried about a tuner. If the block has to be bored and crank needs to be turned, I am considering bumping up the compression a little. Cam plus compression bump means running higher grade gas and IMO needing a tune.

If the compression bump happens, I know best route is to have it put on a dyno and custom tunes wrote for the truck. Realistically, don't have a local dyno shop I trust and would need something to get it on the road until I can find one. As such I'm looking for the current equivalent to what Bama tunes used to be that can write me a good baseline tune for 99 4.0L OHV with COMP 410 cam, and compression bump (amount to be determined).

 

[superds]

I've had this same question for a while, except my engine in question is a V8 from an Explorer and I want a custom tune for when I put it in my B2.

 

[MastuhWaffles]

I'm going with a Ford Cortex tuner from Superchips, don't buy a cheap ebay one or something because they don't work.

 

[JoshT]

I'm going with a Ford Cortex tuner from Superchips, don't buy a cheap ebay one or something because they don't work.

I though eBay was the place to go for tuners and chips. I mean they guarantee like +25 hp and +30mpg for $20. If those don't work what could I possibly do...

Dude I know eBay ain't the place to go, knew that well before you ever joined the site. By this point I think most of the world knows it without even getting on the internet. Some crazy old dude in BFE that has never touched the internet is laughing at a ricers eBay chip.

As for the Cortex, thanks for the suggestion, but that ain't going to work. The Cortex, like most off the shelf tuners, come with tunes meant for a stock vehicle. If I need this tuner the motor isn't stock, therefore off the shelf ain't going to work. What I'll be needing is a tune that is written for the cam and compression increase. That is why I asked for the current go-to guy for tuning Rangers, someone that can hook me up with a baseline tune for the modded motor to get the truck on the road.

At this point it may not matter. If no bore work is needed, then the engine is getting honed and stock pistons. Heads came off today and the cylinders are in incredible shape for a 180K motor. Good chance it's just be a hone job and new rings.

I was in the mood for smilies tonight.

 

[RiggerWings]

I just ordered a tuner from www.morepowertuning.com

They have SCT tuners for 2.3, 3.0 and 4.0 rangers, maybe the 2.5, but I think they only have them for 2001 plus models. I may be mistaken though. I haven't heard anything about their tunes but hopefully they're decent, I'll be sure to let you know how mine works out. I'm getting it in conjunction with my new 33x12.50's. I didn't want the speedo to be too far off, plus I know I'll need the extra power to turn the heavier wheels and tires. Maybe I'll run the new wheels for a few days without the tune just to be able to see if there's a significant difference.

JoshT, Bama is still very much into tuning. I have Bama tunes for my mustang that I get through American Muscle. I asked them about my Ranger a while back and I didn't get an answer. They may still be able to do them. I know the SCT tuners can come with the OBDII plug and the OBD1 plug.

If you know a decent performance shop, you may be able to send your ECU to them for a reflash, or get a custom chip for your application.

There's also a place in Panama City, Florida called Panhandle Performance. They deal primarily with performance Fords like Mustangs and Lightning's but if Im not mistaken they used to have a Ranger pic on their website. Look em up and give em a shout. I think they used to want around $600 for a full day worth of custom tuning on the dyno, it may be different for a Ranger though.

 

[straycat]

A tuner is the best way to go. Don't get a 'chip'...aka resistor. Programmable tuners are the way to go. Everybody I know who has bought the programmable tuner has loved them from the start. Easy to do and you can keep it forever. You can get them at Ebay or your local auto power shop. Google the ones you want and check for user feedback on them.

 

[JoshT]

Never heard of MPT and they don't list my year, so its highly unlikely that I will use them. Would prefer someone that has experience with the platform.

The Bama that exists now is not the same as the one from back then. This one is owned by American Muscle and is Bama in name only. Doug, the the guy that made Bama Chips what is was, had to close up shop. He was later hired by AM and they capitalized on the name, from my understanding he has since left the company and they no longer do Rangers. It wouldn't matter if they would tune it, with Doug gone I still wouldn't use them.

The current offerings of any tuning company are physically compatible with any vehicle in this thread. The issue is the actual tuning.

If I knew a decent performance shop that I trusted and had the capability then I wouldn't have posted this thread. I don't know of one that even meets two of those criteria.

There's not even a remote chance that I will send my ecu off to be reflashed. There is zero chance of that giving a truly successful result. At least with a tuner they can be adjusted based on data logging, even if dyno tuning is better. Also will not be using a chip on this.

Will keep panhandle performance in mind, but.sounds a little high for my needs. On another forum I heard of a tuner in Alabama. He does a base tune for your mods to start, then dials it in based on data logging results. He can also dyno tune to get even more.

 

[PlumCrazy]

Get in touch with Henson Performance. That's who will be doing my boosted 4.0 tune when I get the thing together. I have heard nothing but positive reviews about him.

 

[RiggerWings]

There's a few guys on cardomain with supercharged 4.0's, Im sure someone has a tune for them. I just received my SCT tuner in the mail today. I have to fill out a form on their website to get the tunes emailed to me. Hopefully I'll get better gas mileage a little more power for the 33's I'm putting on. I'll be sure to let you guys know how it works out. I'll be leaving on a business trip all next week, so it'll be after that.

I don't have any power adders or different cams or anything, but if they can tune to enhance the stock engine and add power and economy, I'm sure they can tune for bolt-ons. A tuner is a bit pricey, the SCT 3015 on morepowertuning.com was $379, I paid like $354 out the door with military discount. Hopefully it'll pay for itself over time though. I can always upgrade the tunes as I mod more.

If their tunes are good I may get a tune for my Mustang as well. Bama has done well but my car always revs high when I push in the clutch, they can't seem the figure out the the problem, it never did that before the tunes. I cant go back to stock now though because I put a set of cams in it. Don't wanna risk a valve hitting the piston on the stock tune.

 

[bobbywalter]

sct



if you want more, go to moates. start learning.

 

[JoshT]

Get in touch with Henson Performance. That's who will be doing my boosted 4.0 tune when I get the thing together. I have heard nothing but positive reviews about him.

That's the place I was thinking about. Since posting this thread I too have read nothing but good things about them. Not boosted, but I might be willing to let them put it on a dyno and get things right.

There's a few guys on cardomain with supercharged 4.0's

If they properly built the vehicle then they had very extensive dyno tuning done by a performance shop, not an off the shelf or basic e-mail tune.

I've taken the time to look over the MPT site and I can tell you that I will not be using them. I hope that you have good results from the unit you purchased from them.

Don't wanna risk a valve hitting the piston on the stock tune.

What??? I understand VCT and interference motors, but what does that have to do a stock or aftermarket tune? Is the VCT really capable of changing the timing enough that it would cause interference issues?

if you want more, go to moates. start learning.

Definitely planning on a SCT, just looking for a tune writer to program it.

On the other truck (86 Ranger)I am likely to go with a moates or similar if I ver start modding it. I have a feeling that Explorer V8 will be plenty for a while without any tuning. Will likely be the next engine swap (stroker V8 and stick) before I fool with tuning it.

 

[RiggerWings]

What??? I understand VCT and interference motors, but what does that have to do a stock or aftermarket tune? Is the VCT really capable of changing the timing enough that it would cause interference issues?

From factory the Ford 3-valve 4.6 has the CVT, most aftermarket cams require the cvt lockout, so they can no longer have the variable timing. The cams I have in my Mustang are from Brenspeed, they do not require the phaser lockouts. I was told by a few guys including Bama that it's not wise to run that cam on a stock tune.

I wouldn't imagine it's that's drastic either, but if the CVT were to be at just the right phase during the just the right cam degree, then I think it's possible to cause some major damage.

I would love to be able to run both Fords on one SCT tuner but it stores your stock tune, so one would have to be de-programed back to stock to program the other. Not to mention that it would probably lock itself after connecting to two different computers.

Hopefully the MPT tunes work out for me. I don't have any power mods or anything done so the tunes are nothing serious. Just a simple mod to the stock tune for slightly more power as well as adjusting the speedometer for larger tires. Hell, the speedo is already off by about 5mph at low speeds and 2-3 at highway speeds. That's with stock 31's.

 

[RiggerWings]

Well I've driven about 30 miles with new wheels/tires and tune but it seems to be good. I verified the speedo with an app on my phone, and it's perfect at 50 mph. It seems to be shifting a but hard but the guys at MPT told me to let the new tunes settle for about 100 miles under various throttle applications and see if it gets better. I hope it does.
New wheels and tires are awesome, I also did an oil change, t-bar crank (with new factory bolts) and a new black FX4 decal. I like it all so far.

 

[MastuhWaffles]

Well I've driven about 30 miles with new wheels/tires and tune but it seems to be good. I verified the speedo with an app on my phone, and it's perfect at 50 mph. It seems to be shifting a but hard but the guys at MPT told me to let the new tunes settle for about 100 miles under various throttle applications and see if it gets better. I hope it does.
New wheels and tires are awesome, I also did an oil change, t-bar crank (with new factory bolts) and a new black FX4 decal. I like it all so far.

Did you upgrade from 31's to 33's?

 

[RiggerWings]

Did you upgrade from 31's to 33's?

I did, I had the stock BFG's on there, 31x10.50R15s.

On my last FX4 I went with 32x11.50R15's first, and then to 33x12.50s.

I trimmed the bumper slightly and no rubbing at all. The wheels are 3.25" "backspacing. If I remember correctly my last ranger rubbed with a 3.875 (3 7/8") backspacing. So, I'm satisfied!