SCT Tuning Questions

[Dubeckyj]

A while back, I picked up a baseline tune for my SHO. I talked to the tuner, and one of the things he mentioned was pulling timing down low to "increase torque." I've never heard about this, nor can I make any sense of it.

The car pulls like crazy past 3k rpm. Until then, it's like driving my old SLO. I know these cars aren't known for getting out of the hole, but... shouldn't timing be increased at lower rpms? Like, by a lot?

I like tip-in and throttle response.

 

[SHOZ123]

Tip in will cut timing. Are you monitoring the timing in real time?

 

[Dubeckyj]

I tried. I selected "spark" from the SCT datalog menu, and it confused the **** out of me. Reads ~0 at idle, between 20-30 cruising below 3k. I punched it coming out of a stop, and it seemed to hold ~15 up to 4k, when I let off. I would've thought it would go up with RPM, but maybe it's not the data I think it is. Either way, you tuned these cars for a while. Have you ever seen a benefit of pulled timing?

(Also, let me know if you remember what to change to get the TC to lock up in 4th)

 

[SHOZ123]

You should see the timing pulled in the peak load area. Then climb as the rpms go up.

Ideally you should be seeing something like this.



But in reality you should see it limited during peak load around 3400-4000 rpm.

 

[kevinspann]

Paul, do you still do tunes for people?

 

[Dubeckyj]

That kicks ass, and I envy anybody who gets to play around with tuning software (I make fake engines with megasquirt's tuning suite to feel important). But why would you pull timing beyond factory at low rpms, is my question. I always thought the game was increasing spark for power.

And my data logging is through the handheld tuner, which is a number changing fast enough to induce seizures.

 

[SHO U UP]

That kicks ass, and I envy anybody who gets to play around with tuning software (I make fake engines with megasquirt's tuning suite to feel important). But why would you pull timing beyond factory at low rpms, is my question. I always thought the game was increasing spark for power.

And my data logging is through the handheld tuner, which is a number changing fast enough to induce seizures.

If you are able to tune through a laptop, it is way easier. You are able to select the paramaters you need and can watch them easier on the monitor instead of getting a headache with the info moving so rapidly. When you do use the handheld tuner you can download it to your cpu also and get an Excel spreadsheet of your info like what Paul listed.

I've been working on my truck's tune recently have spent plenty of hours with my tuner to get it dialed in. Still not 100% and it can be a PITA. I wish all I had to worry about was the timing.

 

[SHOZ123]

Paul, do you still do tunes for people?

Unfortunately no.

 

[Dubeckyj]

If you are able to tune through a laptop, it is way easier. You are able to select the paramaters you need and can watch them easier on the monitor instead of getting a headache with the info moving so rapidly. When you do use the handheld tuner you can download it to your cpu also and get an Excel spreadsheet of your info like what Paul listed.

I've been working on my truck's tune recently have spent plenty of hours with my tuner to get it dialed in. Still not 100% and it can be a PITA. I wish all I had to worry about was the timing.

I can't tune, the guy I bought my X3 from disabled every tuning option for me. I can just upload his custom program, check codes, and datalog.

I can't hook it up to my laptop, either. When I bought it, they took it out of the package to write whatever custom program for my old bull, and gave me the tuner without the package (manual, CD, cable). When I talked to them about it a while later, they couldn't be bothered.

 

[SHOZ123]

You should see spark range from 0* up to over 40* in normal operation. At WOT it is a bit different and the timing is limited to the range of the chart I posted above generally.

Here are two pics of a log from a WOT run. They are both the same run but the colors have been swapped so you can see the actual RPM or Spark numbers on the chart.

RPM


Spark

 

[SHOZ123]

I can't tune, the guy I bought my X3 from disabled every tuning option for me. I can just upload his custom program, check codes, and datalog.

I can't hook it up to my laptop, either. When I bought it, they took it out of the package to write whatever custom program for my old bull, and gave me the tuner without the package (manual, CD, cable). When I talked to them about it a while later, they couldn't be bothered.

You can download the drivers and data logging software from SCT. It's free. All you need is a laptop and a USB cable.

Go here and pick what you need. http://www.sctflash.com/tsupdates.php

This will only allow data logging. If the user changes are disabled that will take a new tune.

 

[SHO U UP]

Some cases you also have to update the handheld once you update the newest software on the cpu. If not, they won't work together when datalogging. IIRC, the newest software is Livelink 6.5 and I can't remember for the life of me what the tuner should be. And if you can't get it figured out, SCT has some kick ass customer support. Just give them a call.

 

[My_Silver_SHO]

I am thinking about buying an SCT Tuner, but I don't where to start making changes. I have read great things about the tunes Paul created, but unfortunately he nolonger tunes.

Has anyone else created tunes or guide lines they are willing to share or sell?