To tune or not to tune (tuning by James tune)

[Zinc03svt]

Engines are not failing because of n/a tunes. Stop the fear porn. I had 2k worth of engine warranty work paid by Ford with zero issues. People miss (or fail to recognize) the power having a relationship with your servicing dealer. They get paid for warranty claims. Same shit over and over... Lol.

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[Schwerin]

Engines are not failing because of n/a tunes. Stop the fear porn. I had 2k worth of engine warranty work paid by Ford with zero issues. People miss (or fail to recognize) the power having a relationship with your servicing dealer. They get paid for warranty claims. Same shit over and over... Lol.

No one said they were failing from a tune.

Your relationship has 0 impact on if Ford corporate approves a warranty coverage or not. If they say check the ECU and the shop fakes the ECU results that shop is risking jobs and costs if they are found out. Any tech that is faking the results like that is risking their job.

 

[Zinc03svt]

No one said they were failing from a tune.

Your relationship has 0 impact on if Ford corporate approves a warranty coverage or not. If they say check the ECU and the shop fakes the ECU results that shop is risking jobs and costs if they are found out. Any tech that is faking the results like that is risking their job.

We can obviously agree to disagree.

Secondly, these motors are pretty bullet proof. They only way n/a you can hurt them is not letting them come up to temp before wot or constantly holding them on the rev limiter (OPG’s).

Do you understand what a dealer can see or not see in tuned car?

 

[Schwerin]

We can obviously agree to disagree.

Secondly, these motors are pretty bullet proof. They only way n/a you can hurt them is not letting them come up to temp before wot or constantly holding them on the rev limiter (OPG’s).

Do you understand what a dealer can see or not see in tuned car?

That was my whole point in the example of Ford Corp asking the ECU to be checked. They would be checking for signs of a tune.

Again. I never said a tune would hurt an engine.
I have been modifying Fords since 1998 and doing my own custom ECU tuning with SCT since 2003. I'm very aware of how it all works.

 

[Zinc03svt]

That was my whole point in the example of Ford Corp asking the ECU to be checked. They would be checking for signs of a tune.

Again. I never said a tune would hurt an engine.
I have been modifying Fords since 1998 and doing my own custom ECU tuning with SCT since 2003. I'm very aware of how it all works.

Then get off your ass and tune the Beotch! Another 3-4k miles is not going to prove anything in your engine durability or life. Get er done. ;).

It’s the key counts that can get you in trouble if they suspect a tune did the damage btw. A car with 12k miles should have more than a couple.

 

[Voo Doo]

Because if you look at the people that had 5.0's fail they were mostly 5-7K range. I want to get past the range most have issues before I put extra stress on the engine that Ford wont cover.

Your flaw is in thinking I'm not enjoying my ride now. The difference is taking a risk of 8-10K out of pocket or not,

yes, it’s a choice thing!! Plus you are enjoying the car now!! Totally understand!!

 

[tcarter]

I have the tuning by James tune on my Bullitt and you can definitely tell the difference. If you call James and talk to him he will break down his tune to you over the phone. Companies like Steeda use him exclusively for their Bullitt Tune. He tunes for race cars and not your everyday Joe race cars but 200k-300k cars and engines. He won't take your engine out of the "safe" zone just to get you some good numbers. His recommendations come very high because of the work he does. I wouldn't be afraid of the Tune. Me personally I'm looking to go LTH, H pipe then a SC. If it breaks I'll get it fixed. Enjoy the car pay off debt and when it breaks just get it fixed.

 

[GreenS550]

I had the tune from James before I put the Whipple on. It is a very good tune. The car has more off idle torque helping to take off easier and the top end pulls much better. It's still just a tune, but I believe a safe one. The GT350 intake and terrible gearing are still something that you will always have to deal with unless you go FI. If that could be your long range goal, wait and get the blower. I opted for a Whipple stage 1 with their excellent tune. All in only $7K and if you have Beefcake or RDP do it, it's only another $1,200 - $1,400 additional. Makes the car amazing.

 

[Schwerin]

I had the tune from James before I put the Whipple on. It is a very good tune. The car has more off idle torque helping to take off easier and the top end pulls much better. It's still just a tune, but I believe a safe one. The GT350 intake and terrible gearing are still something that you will always have to deal with unless you go FI. If that could be your long range goal, wait and get the blower. I opted for a Whipple stage 1 with their excellent tune. All in only $7K and if you have Beefcake or RDP do it, it's only another $1,200 - $1,400 additional. Makes the car amazing.

Personal take is that changing the intake removed part of the reason of buying a Bullitt, then you just paid a large markup for DHG. If I were to go FI I'd go Turbo to keep the IM. More likely I'll end up just FBO, ported GT350IM, 4.09 + e85. Should be north of 520WHP easily, and more power than I'll ever really use on the streets.

 

[GreenS550]

Personal take is that changing the intake removed part of the reason of buying a Bullitt, then you just paid a large markup for DHG. If I were to go FI I'd go Turbo to keep the IM. More likely I'll end up just FBO, ported GT350IM, 4.09 + e85. Should be north of 520WHP easily, and more power than I'll ever really use on the streets.

Respectfully strongly disagree. Once you modify the induction keeping the GT350 intake is just not necessary or needed. In fact I believe the Bullitt suffers from the GT350 intake as it does not have the 8300 redline or the additional .2L of displacement of the GT350, losing badly needed low end torque.

Ford did the same thing in 2008-09 with the bullitt I had then. It was slower than a stock GT. It really is kind of a gimmick. Drivability with a FI PD blower creates low end torque and drivability. It's why Ford put a PD blower on the new GT500. Putting headers, exhaust, bolt ons definitely remove the same drivability. The newer Whipples also do not suffer in the 8,000 rpm range and pulls hard throughout. The Whipple tune is tried and tested. 50 state compliant as well.

The OP is looking for some advice on the Tuning by James and it is a good, cheap way to try and get the car to perform better. But, from there putting all kinds of bolt ons (unless cost is the greatest factor) reduces drivability. I could be wrong, but I think the OP wants a fun, reliable car.

BTW if you price out a GT Premium with all the options your Bullitt has the price is close. I just looked up a 2019 GT Premium with the same options as my Bullitt. Price was only a few hundred dollars different. So, your comment about paying a "large premium" is demonstrably false.

 

[Schwerin]

Well, as every IM test around shows the 350 IM better than the 18+ on a 5.0 your "belief" is already proven wrong. Only a ported 18+ and CJ flow better. As for "badly needed low end" on e85 its literally trading about 15 peak wTq for 15 peak whp. Stock its only 7wtq difference vs 15 top end hp. You are NOT going to feel that in ANY way daily driving, but when at a track you will make much more use of a stronger top end.

If you think somehow bolt-ons reduces drivability then we literally have nothing to discuss as your opinions are clearly not rooted in reality.

I cant take anyone seriously that keeps talking about "badly needed low end TQ" people have been saying that since the 90's when the 4.6 was barely pushing 300wtq, now over 25% more and its still "badly needed". Ha. Where are all the GT350 guys complaining about Tq? They make the same or less than the 5.0 does.

 

[GreenS550]

Draw a vertical line between 1,500 and 2,000 RPM and you see the issue. That is critical for drivability. Especially with a stick.Much less so with a torque converter. Once moving at a decent clip, the Bullitt is awesome. The Tuning by James tune really helps here. My guess is that Ford couldn't make the car more torquey without hitting the "gas guzzler" tax. Also the reason for the poor gearing.

 

[Eight5.0]

Keep the discussion coming guys! I’m enjoying sitting back and soaking it in.

I sti haven’t loaded the tune because recently my digital dash blacked out randomly as I was driving and my reverse camera was “unavailable” one time when I was backing out of the drive way.

also one day I had just left the house and anytime the car would rev match it would kind of “pulse” is the best way I could think to describe it. Almost like I was tapping on and off the gas pedal. Very weird stuff.

so point being I plan to bring it by the dealership and have them look at all of it and I want it recorded that I reported this stuff before I tune the car.

 

[Daryl333]

I am wondering just what all it is you're looking for in a tune with a manual car? A Bullit already has CAI,Intake,Throttle body right?
And is tuned from the factory for these parts? I got my car tuned because it's an Automatic. So the Tranny shift points RPMs, shift firmness etc were a big seller for me voiding my warranty So I am just wondering what you're expecting from an aftermarket tune that you're not getting from your Bullit OEM tune? A few HP/TQ? And does this amount really make that big of a difference in your life?

 

[Voo Doo]

I am wondering just what all it is you're looking for in a tune with a manual car? A Bullit already has CAI,Intake,Throttle body right?
And is tuned from the factory for these parts? I got my car tuned because it's an Automatic. So the Tranny shift points RPMs, shift firmness etc were a big seller for me voiding my warranty So I am just wondering what you're expecting from an aftermarket tune that you're not getting from your Bullit OEM tune? A few HP/TQ? And does this amount really make that big of a difference in your life?

see post #42 above!!

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