[FamilyRide]

I thought I'd try a question again. For those that preach that custom tunes are the only way to go for anyone, anytime, any day for any reason.....I know, I've read your posts before. LOL /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif I understand the benefits of custom tunes.

However, my question is for those who have used Superchips (preferably the 1704) and used SCT's off the shelf Xcal2 with the out of box, off the shelf, canned tunes.

How would you compare the different tunes between the 2?

Which do you prefer and why?

It may be hard to compare based on some of the canned user adjustable peramiters such as shifts, but over all, which do you prefer for different driving needs and why?

If you've also used the TS 5X and can compare to both or one of the tuners mentioned, let's here that too.

Thanks in advance. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[Destinsb]

I recently switched from the 1704 to the xcal 2. Got the SCT from Innovative with street, economy, and tow tunes. Not sure if these are canned or not, but not the extreme tunes. I really liked the 1704. I ran the economy tune most of the time and went from around 14mpg city to 17.5. I got tired of having to send my 1704 back to superchips everytime my truck was flashed at the dealer. So I went with the sct. I have only had it a couple of weeks and have only tried the street tune thus far but I have to say my truck runs much better, and the street tune feels more powerful than the hp mode of the 1704. The mileage has increased 1 to 2 mpg over the economy mode of the 1704. The tranny shifts are much smoother with the sct.

 

[FamilyRide]

Ah ha!! I knew someone has done this.

Thanks for the reply. It sounds like you may have the box stock Xcal 2 files which is what I was looking for feedback on. It's probably the most fair way to compare them.

Can you adjust anything like shifts, etc.? If so, they are off the shelf files.

I need to take mine in to the dealer so I'm preparing for the next flash.

 

[Destinsb]

I don't think I can adjust it myself(honestly, I haven't read up on it, I just loaded the program and started driving)but I can get Innovative to do it via email.
How do you like your magnaflow exhaust? It seems most people on this site lean toward MBRP but I've been wanting some info on Magnaflow.

 

[dgreen1069]

You can make adjustments with the Xcal 2. You can make adjustments to shift points, rev limiter, tire size, and a couple of other things. I haven't fooled with any of those things, but it asks if you want to change them when you are loading the programs into the truck.

 

[danbob]

Family Ride, just out of curiousity, why do you want the canned tunes, and not a custom one? I thought about doing the same thing, but after hearing everyone rave about Innovative, I'm leaning towards an SCT from them. On a side note, does an Xcal2 need to be updated everytime the dealer flashes your truck. I know you can do this through email, but I wasn't sure if it needed to be done.

 

[JasonBarhorst]

The custom tunes are about an extra hundren dollars right? I'm thinking about the canned tunes too for my truck. Just want a little extra hp and mpg. I dont do no racing.

 

[VegasSuperDuty]

I have used both. The SCT canned tunes are ok, the shifts are smoother but the converter schedule and shift schedule I don't care for on the canned tunes. The 1704 is a great tuner but the shifts are a little stiff when compared to the SCT.

If anyone goes SCT I would only go with the custom tunes.

Oh by the way, I have a SCMT 1704 for sale, $175. PM me if your interested!

 

[cmirabile]

[ QUOTE ]
The custom tunes are about an extra hundren dollars right? I'm thinking about the canned tunes too for my truck. Just want a little extra hp and mpg. I dont do no racing.

[/ QUOTE ]

If you go with Innovative, I think you get the whole package for around 450. That includes 3 tunes. Street, Tow Aggressive, and Economy. The 100 bucks is for an extreme tune.

 

[VegasSuperDuty]

[ QUOTE ]
The custom tunes are about an extra hundren dollars right? I'm thinking about the canned tunes too for my truck. Just want a little extra hp and mpg. I dont do no racing.

[/ QUOTE ]

There is more to the custom tunes than just power. They refine the shifting and power delivery. It is well worth it!

 

[03six0]

[ QUOTE ]
I recently switched from the 1704 to the xcal 2. Got the SCT from Innovative with street, economy, and tow tunes. Not sure if these are canned or not, but not the extreme tunes. I really liked the 1704. I ran the economy tune most of the time and went from around 14mpg city to 17.5. I got tired of having to send my 1704 back to superchips everytime my truck was flashed at the dealer. So I went with the sct. I have only had it a couple of weeks and have only tried the street tune thus far but I have to say my truck runs much better, and the street tune feels more powerful than the hp mode of the 1704. The mileage has increased 1 to 2 mpg over the economy mode of the 1704. The tranny shifts are much smoother with the sct.


[/ QUOTE ]
I could be wrong but am pretty shure if you bought from innovative you got their tunes on the tuner. Does anyone even have a true "off the shelf" sct tuner? I will second that question, why the high interest in the off the shelf version family? I have like 10 different files on my computer to choose from. It's freakin sweet.
Justin /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[FamilyRide]

The reason I asked the question the way I did was that custom is custom. I wanted to see a comparison of apples to apples, err well as close as that can be. I know stock files will also act different on different trucks, but there are less unknowns.

Also, anyone with harsh shifting with the 1704, I'd venture to guess it hasn't been updated in a while. I could be wrong, but I know I could not run Econ at all because of how harsh the shifts were....before getting it updated last summer. After that the shifts are sweet! And shift points are much better with HP so I'm not running down the road at 30 MPH in 2nd gears at 3200 RPM! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

We'll see how the dealer visit goes and when I finally get to bring it in.

 

[FamilyRide]

Oh, and as for Magnaflow, I would have gotten the MBRP if there was a kit for the 2004 Excursion at the time. The only thing out there was Magnaflow. 2004 some hangers were changed.

I'm now stuck with a system with the cat welded in and I can't get any test pipe's for it. I'd like to get rid of the muffler, and it would be nice to have had the cat bolted in.

 

[VegasSuperDuty]

[ QUOTE ]
The reason I asked the question the way I did was that custom is custom. I wanted to see a comparison of apples to apples, err well as close as that can be. I know stock files will also act different on different trucks, but there are less unknowns.

Also, anyone with harsh shifting with the 1704, I'd venture to guess it hasn't been updated in a while. I could be wrong, but I know I could not run Econ at all because of how harsh the shifts were....before getting it updated last summer. After that the shifts are sweet! And shift points are much better with HP so I'm not running down the road at 30 MPH in 2nd gears at 3200 RPM! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

We'll see how the dealer visit goes and when I finally get to bring it in.

[/ QUOTE ]

I remember the harsh shifting 1704. I have an updated one and it still shifts harder than the SCT with Innovatives tunes. The SCT with "as it comes files" shifts about the same as the 1704 as far as firmness but the schedule is entirely different.

 

[jdadamsjr]

FR....
understand your question....
MY history?
Superchips on an 02 7.3 Ex
Predator on an 03 6.0 Ex
SCT on an 05 Ex...

Comparisons are not fair between them - but will give it a try...

with the 02, went from nothing to the Superchips, and of course thought it was the best thing since sliced bread /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Little did I know that the Superchips only gave me about 70 hp, so the Predators MEASURED 100+ HP was like a rocket....

And the SCT on the 05 is even better
(IF YOU GO TO A GOOD PROGRAMMER FOR YOUR TRUCK YEAR AND ENGINE!!!!!),
can't tell you how important that is....
I did get the "canned" generic programs from SCT when I chose wrong and first got mine from a now defunct BAD dealer...
The generic tuner was good - shifted fine - power fine.... just a good safe tune..

The custom tune is a step above !

The Excursions are a different animal and give some of the tuners a bit of a challenge....
I've tried MOST of them and you may have to be patient to get YOUR pcm code tuned right if they've never done THAT particular one before...

Good Luck,
JB2

 

[LariatTrucker]

The Excursions are a different breed for sure. I have tried several tunes on them and they just don't seem to respond like a 250SD. The only product I have gotten steady results on (Off the Shelf) was the Bully Dog Triple Dog. I did have to change the trans shift program to smooth aggressive for the best driveability. I am sure the other downloaders are requiring the same "test and tune" effort to get it to the best performance. The 1704 does need the latest version to soften the shifts. The Excursion I rode in shifted pretty smooth after he got it back with the new version.

 

[fish4bass]

I have tried off the shelf Predator. Works well. I would prefer to be able to get a good off the shelf tuner due to simplicity. I am curious about the 5X Loader. However, I run custom SCT tunes. Mine are really custom as Eric has bent over backwards to get them right. VegasSuperDuty made some recommendations for me a while back and I followed through with his suggestions.

Now, I have a great shifting tune that I can use daily with the ID SCT and Eric's help. I am still interested to learn about the 5X Loader from those who have run them.