claypool72
New Member
How can I program my PCM so I can squeeze a little more life out of my tranny. And since all I use is premium.. My main question is how can I do this on the cheap. I'm willing to pay. Just not a premium. Thanks.
PCM programming.
- Thread starter claypool72
- Start date
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SHO1
Coke Is It!
An LPM (Lifetime Performance Module) I think can only be had used. Not sure if work w/V8 though. Ones I know of are only for V6 I think.
93markVIII
SHO Member
sct xcal and a tune written by someone who knows what they are doing.
claypool72
New Member
It's there a way you can rent the tool and pay for the scan?
Jakewolverine
New Member
Usually you purchase the SCT Xcal from a vendor and they put the tune(s) on it. I believe most tuners are locked to a certain car, though I believe some can changed between up to five separate cars. In short, no you can't (realistically) rent the tuner, and pay for the tune. At least with an SCT Xcal.
claypool72
New Member
Ok, is anyone selling the unit with a tune and if so how much. Thanks.
Jakewolverine
New Member
There are a couple places.
Ford Performance Specialists Atlanta (FPS Atlanta) does tuning as well. They're pretty well known in the SHO world. I don't know how they do tuning. I think they already have their tunes written out to send on the SCT xcal. But I've never called for any more information. So I'd call for specifics.
FPS's site is listed on the front page of the SHO forum at the bottom, as well the banner at the top of the forums sometimes.
Fastpartsnetwork does remote tuning. They ship you the SCT xcal, and email you a tune. You use the tune for a few, and while you use it the tuner logs your data. You email them the logged data, they tweak the tune and email it back. You rinse wash and repeat until the tune is dialed in. They do dyno tuning too. They don't specialize in SHO's but they do tune them. I've heard good things about them before.
Just type Fastpartsnetwork into google and it should come up as the first result.
Both sites have prices listed for their respective tuning services.
I'm sure there are other shops that do Ford tuning, but either of the two should be pretty safe choices.
Ford Performance Specialists Atlanta (FPS Atlanta) does tuning as well. They're pretty well known in the SHO world. I don't know how they do tuning. I think they already have their tunes written out to send on the SCT xcal. But I've never called for any more information. So I'd call for specifics.
FPS's site is listed on the front page of the SHO forum at the bottom, as well the banner at the top of the forums sometimes.
Fastpartsnetwork does remote tuning. They ship you the SCT xcal, and email you a tune. You use the tune for a few, and while you use it the tuner logs your data. You email them the logged data, they tweak the tune and email it back. You rinse wash and repeat until the tune is dialed in. They do dyno tuning too. They don't specialize in SHO's but they do tune them. I've heard good things about them before.
Just type Fastpartsnetwork into google and it should come up as the first result.
Both sites have prices listed for their respective tuning services.
I'm sure there are other shops that do Ford tuning, but either of the two should be pretty safe choices.
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claypool72
New Member
I have a 1996 sho with 148000 welded original transmission. Tranny seems fine just tired a bit. Is it worth getting the tune in your opinion. Thanks.
Jakewolverine
New Member
My understanding was that a tune was pretty much the best all around performance upgrade you can do for the 3rd gen SHO for the money. Except for taking off the intake silencer which is cheap and or free depending on what you have laying around the house. But the tune isn't exactly that cheap either, but cheap is a relative term.
The most common thing spread around anything to do with the 3rd gen SHO (except the cams) is that the trans is a POS. Your trans may be simply worn from its mileage, and a tune might just make any problems with it come quicker. Not because the tune would accelerate any wear, but any pep picked up from the tune would make someone drive it a bit harder than before.
When's the last time you changed the fluid/filter in the trans? That might help the trans feel less tired. All in all, I don't actually know if it's worth it. Maybe someone with a higher mileage SHO + a tune will chip in? They'd be able to answer with personal experience.
The most common thing spread around anything to do with the 3rd gen SHO (except the cams) is that the trans is a POS. Your trans may be simply worn from its mileage, and a tune might just make any problems with it come quicker. Not because the tune would accelerate any wear, but any pep picked up from the tune would make someone drive it a bit harder than before.
When's the last time you changed the fluid/filter in the trans? That might help the trans feel less tired. All in all, I don't actually know if it's worth it. Maybe someone with a higher mileage SHO + a tune will chip in? They'd be able to answer with personal experience.
stephen newberg
SHO Member
Though there is a good deal of claim that a good tune increases 'driveability', there is no indication by any one that has done them that there is actually any increase in performance from numbers returned on a dyno or from the track.
As per the transmission, it is not POS, rather it is just not designed to deal with treating the car as if it were a drag racer. You do that a lot and yes, you get transmission problems. Those that do not do so tend to get long term good results from the transmission, though like any device with moving parts, it benefits from proper preventive maintenance as well as eventually being subject to wear and needing rebuild. Its pretty common for well maintained and reasonably treated transmissions in this car to still be going just fine at 150k miles and more. By example, mine is now over 200k and has never had a burp. But it has also had regular fluid and filter replacements and its number of drag strip type runs can be counted on 2 hands.
pax, smn
As per the transmission, it is not POS, rather it is just not designed to deal with treating the car as if it were a drag racer. You do that a lot and yes, you get transmission problems. Those that do not do so tend to get long term good results from the transmission, though like any device with moving parts, it benefits from proper preventive maintenance as well as eventually being subject to wear and needing rebuild. Its pretty common for well maintained and reasonably treated transmissions in this car to still be going just fine at 150k miles and more. By example, mine is now over 200k and has never had a burp. But it has also had regular fluid and filter replacements and its number of drag strip type runs can be counted on 2 hands.
pax, smn
claypool72
New Member
I guess I was really asking if the TUNE would extend the life of the transmission. I just put all new oem coils and plugs. I have a very very slight miss. Can't figure it out. My alternator my be going bad and that's why I feel a little drag (tired tranny). I'm not sure. Might have a vacuum leak. I don't have any codes so I'm list a bit. To me my SHO has become a work car that I'm obsessed to see how many miles I can get out of it. (No note!!!!!!) the tranny has always been maintained and has mobile 1 syn ATF. I forgot the magnet this past time, but I stuck it on the outside and added a magnefine to the return line. I bought a cooler from a Gen 2 but I'm afraid to put it in since learning I might need a T-stat or it won't warm up properly in the winter time. Thanks for all the help again.
stephen newberg
SHO Member
Sounds like you are doing excellent maintenance now, but I think from above you have mentioned that the car has 150k on it already. Even if you have owned it from new, that is a lot of miles, and most automatic transmissions are, by that time, getting toward likely needing a rebuild even if they are well treated. With that in mind, I do not think that getting a tune is going to greatly extend the life expectancy of the transmission. Might just be time to start putting aside some funds to do a rebuild in the not hugely distant future.
pax, smn
pax, smn
SHOMEX
SHO Member
The best thing you can do to increase the life of your tranny will be to install that tranny cooler from the second gen sho you already bought (heat **** the transmissions); run it inline with the factory cooler, that plus the filter and tranny fluid maintenance that you already done will squeeze many more miles out of your tranny.
Thats how I have mine since 85k and now its over 223k and still running like day one. Maintenance plus the extra cooler are the key to a healthy transmission.
Hope that helps.
Thats how I have mine since 85k and now its over 223k and still running like day one. Maintenance plus the extra cooler are the key to a healthy transmission.
Hope that helps.
claypool72
New Member
What about the winter? Do I need the inline thermostat? It's been unbelievably cold up here in Cleveland Ohio. I'm worried about oil not warming up. Could this be a problem, skiing I worry, how to get around. Thanks.
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