Baseline times for modding

[15wile]

Sooo.... since I switch over to the GT, I have to relearn the car, get it to the proper times, then use that as a baseline for further modding.

Right now the times are pretty bad. I have a thread where I'm discussing shifting & launching (since this is a manual transmission), since I believe that is the current issue.

My current times according to Track Apps are:

0-60: 5.6 seconds
1/8 mile: 9.1 seconds

Magazine times for this car are FAR better. A full second faster 0-60 and nearly as much in the 1/8th mile.

What is everyone else getting, bone stock? And what is the best order for performance mods with the 5.0? For the Ecoboost it was tune first, everything else second -- but I imagine it may be different for this motor.

Sponsored

 

[Tcstang]

Get rid of the wheel hop and some better tires 1st. That will improve your launches and times. What gears did you get?

I haven't tried launching yet only 200 miles on it.

 

[15wile]

Get rid of the wheel hop and some better tires 1st. That will improve your launches and times. What gears did you get?

I haven't tried launching yet only 200 miles on it.

3.31. I may see if I can swap for 3.73 later. Not sure yet.

 

[Vile_the_Bastage]

It's the same for the 5.0. Everything "go fast wise" revolves around the tune. Most intakes require a tune, catless headers require 02 sensors to be turned off, bigger fuel injectors require a tune, E85... tune, nitrous... tune, turbo... tune, blower... tune... See a trend?

Things that will help that won't require a tune:

Get rid of the wheel hop and some better tires 1st. That will improve your launches and times. What gears did you get?

I haven't tried launching yet only 200 miles on it.

This ^

Baseline your car on a dyno if you have one nearby. Eliminates the driver people introduce to testing by using the track apps and launching that car. The dyno will easily tell you when you have made power. I've known people to add a bunch of mods and then tune their vehicle only to say that the car feels slower. Then they put it on a dyno and the car made more power. They never consider that sometimes adding parts and running a tune may change where the power happens or if maybe things have been smoothed out.

 

[15wile]

It's the same for the 5.0. Everything "go fast wise" revolves around the tune. Most intakes require a tune, catless headers require 02 sensors to be turned off, bigger fuel injectors require a tune, E85... tune, nitrous... tune, turbo... tune, blower... tune... See a trend?

Things that will help that won't require a tune:



This ^

Baseline your car on a dyno if you have one nearby. Eliminates the driver people introduce to testing by using the track apps and launching that car. The dyno will easily tell you when you have made power. I've known people to add a bunch of mods and then tune their vehicle only to say that the car feels slower. Then they put it on a dyno and the car made more power. They never consider that sometimes adding parts and running a tune may change where the power happens or if maybe things have been smoothed out.

How do you like that Lund tune?

 

[15wile]

Get rid of the wheel hop and some better tires 1st. That will improve your launches and times. What gears did you get?

I haven't tried launching yet only 200 miles on it.

Already got close to 1000 miles on it. Figure I'm good for doing a couple launches here and there (but not all the time).

 

[Vile_the_Bastage]

How do you like that Lund tune?

You know, I didn't mention this in the nGauge thread but I have noticed that there is a difference between my SCT X4 Lund tune, and my nGauge Lund tune. The SCT version was a bit more harsh at lower RPMs and would sometimes have this weird almost VTEC-like hitch and avalanche of power at 3K RPMs.

The nGauge version is smoothed out A LOT more; no where near as harsh for traffic driving. I can no longer replicate the 3K RPM hitch, but power still pours on as it screams to red line.

I'm going to take it to a dyno when I go back to day shift next month. I'll post my results then to see if there is a true difference.

**Edit: Just realized that I didn't answer your question**

Yeah, I like my Lund tune and I especially like their customer service. Every time I have a problem and email them, Lund II replies within the hour and works with me to set things straight.

 

[Tcstang]

3.31. I may see if I can swap for 3.73 later. Not sure yet.

A little more gear will help for sure. I would focus on getting all the power you have now to the ground with suspension work then worry about adding power. Going to 3.73 will make it feel like it has more power because of how much quicker it climbs in rpm's.

 

[15wile]

A little more gear will help for sure. I would focus on getting all the power you have now to the ground with suspension work then worry about adding power. Going to 3.73 will make it feel like it has more power because of how much quicker it climbs in rpm's.

I still think before I do *anything* I've got to figure how to properly launch this car, and when to shift to second. Being a little quicker on the shift wouldn't hurt, either.

But I'd like to know what I should be running, so I'm curious what others are running stock with a manual.

 

[Grimace427]

You know, I didn't mention this in the nGauge thread but I have noticed that there is a difference between my SCT X4 Lund tune, and my nGauge Lund tune. The SCT version was a bit more harsh at lower RPMs and would sometimes have this weird almost VTEC-like hitch and avalanche of power at 3K RPMs.

The nGauge version is smoothed out A LOT more; no where near as harsh for traffic driving. I can no longer replicate the 3K RPM hitch, but power still pours on as it screams to red line.

Did you get any revisions to your SCT tune? If not, I'd say that is an unfair comparison because the tuning device isn't responsible for the quality of the tune itself.

 

[Vile_the_Bastage]

Did you get any revisions to your SCT tune? If not, I'd say that is an unfair comparison because the tuning device isn't responsible for the quality of the tune itself.

^Why I didn't bother saying this in the more populated thread...

I didn't ask for a revision, nor did I ask if they had changed anything. I am just stating the different driving characteristics of my car between having one device and then another. 3K hitch on Friday last week with harshness; smooth driving yesterday and today. Hell, my car is still on last weeks tank of gas. The devices are the known quantities; the tunes being the variables.

Lethal and Beefcake have mentioned in the past that there are parameters in the ECU the that software used to make SCT tunes can't see. Whether these parameters are a factor in how my car feels with its current tune, I can't honestly say.

Once again, the car will be on a dyno next month. I'll know then if something has changed.

 

[Grimace427]

Lethal and Beefcake have mentioned in the past that there are parameters in the ECU the that software used to make SCT tunes can't see.

I remember all that but that was months ago. SCT has updated the software to include everything at this point. Neither here nor there at this point I guess.

 

[15wile]

I remember all that but that was months ago. SCT has updated the software to include everything at this point. Neither here nor there at this point I guess.

It makes a difference to me. I have an SCT in hand... I could buy the lund tune standalone... or have to buy the nGauge device too. Big $ difference.

 

[Vile_the_Bastage]

It makes a difference to me. I have an SCT in hand... I could buy the lund tune standalone... or have to buy the nGauge device too. Big $ difference.

If Grimace is right, the only benefits to purchasing an nGauge would be ease of use, time savings, and it's data logging and gauge features. I didn't eat the entire cost of the nGauge because I sold my SCT for $290. I imagine you could, too.

The SCT X4 is going to be supported going forward so you aren't truly missing much.

 

[Grimace427]

If Grimace is right, the only benefits to purchasing an nGauge would be ease of use, time savings, and it's data logging and gauge features. I didn't eat the entire cost of the nGauge because I sold my SCT for $290. I imagine you could, too.

The SCT X4 is going to be supported going forward so you aren't truly missing much.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not downplaying the nGauge at all as I've never used it. If someone is wondering which one they would choose I wouldn't tell them one over the other. I do have experience with SCT and while it isn't perfect IMO it gets the job done. It's biggest advantage is being able to run a tune from anybody instead of just Lund.

Sponsored