Best Flex fuel or E85 tuning package

[762Cat]

COVID-19 got me doing things.......

Just did the LTH resonator delete. Calipers being painted as I type this. Now I'm looking at some JLT CAI and tuning action. One day I may go big and twin turbo but I like the handling characteristics and NA-ness of this car so much I may not. Still will be used for track days and lots of spirited driving but not a daily.

Questions are Flex fuel vs separate E85 and 93 tunes opinions/experience and who's who in the zoo with regard to tuners.

I like the idea of Flex. I have e85 local but don't wanna run E85 full time or have to worry about it if I road trip. I know you can swap tunes but then you are mixing 93 and E85 and octane levels get a lil weird/unknown. FLex in my mind takes out the worry of that and I don't have to swap tunes. I see this as the main advantage. Any disadvantages??? I've heard straight E85 tunes may be a bit more aggressive but don't know that to be true.

I'm gonna call around this week but here's what I'm seeing.

1.) FathouseFab 600R flex fuel package. 6500 bucks!!!! Way on the high side basically JLT, Longtubes, HP tuner, the tune and some other unneeded fluff. Wondering if they will do a flex fuel deal with just the JLT CAI. I know they do outstanding work.

2. Palm Beach Dyno package. For JLT, HP tuner 93 and E85 I'm looking at about 1011 dollars. NOT BAD!!! Do they do a flex fuel option????

3. Livernois.....1100 installed. Not really a fan.

4.) Buy the parts HP tuner (450), JLT (350) and call Johnson Tuning for a flex fuel tune. They do all the tuning for FATHOUSEFAB or LundRacing who will do a flex fuel tune for (450). Don't know price yet for Johnson tuning.

I LOVE this car. LOVE driving it on twisties and I really want just a lil more power and definitely some more low end torque for when I'm playing with friends if you know what I mean. If I can get that while maintaining the performance characteristics of the car it seems like a win win win. It will be tracked but I see no negative for tracking with this.

Thanks in advance.

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[Wb350]

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/afd-pfc-gt350-1/make/ford

 

[762Cat]

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/afd-pfc-gt350-1/make/ford

Looked at that. To many negatives and to many issues. Also spoke to a tuner about it today to get his thoughts. It's a no go for me. If it floats ya it's on sale right now from the source for less. They have a 15% discount at the moment.

Surprised no real feed back here. I've read everything I can find, probably watched every youtube video know to man and have made my decision. Called Corbin at Johnson tuning. Talked for a good long while and he answered every question I had and then some. Awesome dude with incredible knowledge. The guy who does the invoicing was out of the shop so should have the order in the next couple days. Going flex fuel with JLT for now. Should add 50-ish wheel. Eventually might add Stainless works long tubes but if I do I'll just update the tune. Simple. For the record I also called PBD. No answer, left a message. No call back as of yet. After talking to Corbin though I don't need to talk to anybody else. I opted not to call Fathouse as their pricing for their package is very high and I can replicate the same thing literally for much less money. I still think they are the go to for twin turbos but this doesn't involve any custom fab or anything difficult to do or install.

 

[lightrules]

Looked at that. To many negatives and to many issues. Also spoke to a tuner about it today to get his thoughts. It's a no go for me...Surprised no real feed back here

what are the many negatives and many issues? i think it's your only bet for retaining warranty as it leaves no footprint. also if the tuner doesnt "sell" the proflex, it might not be the most objective opinion. just sayin.

as for feedback on other options, i just dont think lots of guys are doing any of them. i hardly hear about it around here for the shelby.

 

[datadatum]

Many people (including myself) are running the Lund Flex tune. There are no parts you need to buy, other than the OBD-2 tuner, and the tune itself. Couldn't be easier, and the results (2nd gear wheelspin) speak for itself.

 

[lightrules]

Many people (including myself) are running the Lund Flex tune. There are no parts you need to buy, other than the OBD-2 tuner, and the tune itself. Couldn't be easier, and the results (2nd gear wheelspin) speak for itself.

would be great to hear more from those running flex tunes from lund or PBD or johnson. my hunch is they will make slightly more HP and torque than the proflex but they leave a tune footprint. that might be the single biggest perk of the proflex.

 

[762Cat]

what are the many negatives and many issues? i think it's your only bet for retaining warranty as it leaves no footprint. also if the tuner doesnt "sell" the proflex, it might not be the most objective opinion. just sayin.

as for feedback on other options, i just dont think lots of guys are doing any of them. i hardly hear about it around here for the shelby.

There are two whole threads worth of it on this forum. Pretty sure I've seen your avatar and you run the proflex. Frankly I'd be more concerned by your bias as somebody who uses it and has spent their own money on it. As for the very detailed explanation I was given I will not try to repeat it as I could not convey it accurately enough. That being said this is not my first rodeo with tuners. I've used arguably the best two tuners in the country for the Hemi platform on my Hellcat and it is very obvious when somebody really knows their stuff. Corbin is gainfully employed and does all the FATHOUSE cars which are the fastest GT350s on the planet. I don't think he's blowing smoke up my ass to make a couple hundred on a tune. And perhaps most importantly I asked him about the proflex as an oh by the way at the conclusion of our long conversation as in I said "hey before we go since I've got you on the line and you have the most knowledge and experience what are your thoughts on the proflex? " At this point our dealings were already done and based on my research i'd decided against it already anyway. So no salesmanship. Now he did not say it was a terrible product. He just explained in detail to me how it worked and his thoughts on it. Don't ask me to recall that conversation in detail I had at 9am this morning. But he's a phone call away if you really want the opinion/information.

As to the warranty point I'm not in the least concerned about that. I think you are dancing with the warranty devil with just the proflex to be honest. I've seen warranties voided for WAY less in the Mopar community but it's also who you know, what dealer you go to and if the service manager is a car guy or not. I understand you can remove the proflex and deny it's use but that isn't my style and my personal integrity doesn't operate that way. I understand the risks I'm taking. I had a service manager in NC (when I was still there) that was a drag racer. He knew every mod on my Hellcat and never batted an eye. Replaced a half shaft under warranty. But at anytime he could have told me to pound sand.

 

[762Cat]

would be great to hear more from those running flex tunes from lund or PBD or johnson. my hunch is they will make slightly more HP and torque than the proflex but they leave a tune footprint. that might be the single biggest perk of the proflex.

I'll be sure to update when it's all said and done. My friend and neighbor is also doing it. We will have two within a 1/4 mile of each other. His is a 2018 other than that he has the lethal perf x pipe resonator delete and I have the LTH resonator delete. Should be good fun.

I'm not dynoing it before or after. The gains are well known and dynos vary so widely i don't put much stock in them. My measuring stick will be other friends cars I have run already. I don't drag race the 350 so no ET's or time slips. This is my road course and weekend fun car.

 

[762Cat]

Many people (including myself) are running the Lund Flex tune. There are no parts you need to buy, other than the OBD-2 tuner, and the tune itself. Couldn't be easier, and the results (2nd gear wheelspin) speak for itself.

What tire you on? The CUP2s on the 19 are great right now. I'm wondering if this will be enough to warrant an R888R or not. Time will tell. The one N/A GT350 I've seen tuned by Johnson gained 50ft lbs of torque all the way down at 2500rpm so it should be more lively across the board.

 

[lightrules]

no bias here, I'm not beholden to this unit. if I end up going blower or nitrous I'll probably sell it. just right now it offers a lot of convenience and it keeps my warranty in tact and the power is noticeable especially around e65-e75.

 

[762Cat]

no bias here, I'm not beholden to this unit. if I end up going blower or nitrous I'll probably sell it. just right now it offers a lot of convenience and it keeps my warranty in tact and the power is noticeable especially around e65-e75.

I understand. Things that stand out in my mind I didn't like are the wires everywhere, many complaints in the low end (one of my main reasons for tuning is improving the low end) and with running pure 93, unusual pops on upshifting, app problems galore, etc... I'm not concerned with warranty so for me a quality flex tune is just the better performing option.

If you are happy with it that's all that matters at the end of the day.

 

[VIPR01]

There seems to be a misconception that a *Flex Tune* defined as a tune allowing the option to interchange between 93/E85 also provides a leap in performance for a car without modifications off the dealers lot. Multiple threads reference (Butt-Dyno, seat of the pants feel in 3rd, The car is a complete animal). Why do these bogus threads continue to be supported/endorsed for an E85 Flex Fuel tune-when unless your tuned with a dedicated E85R tune you simply are just enjoying the sweet smell of E85-and supporting farmers across the Midwest. Something to think about before you tank your warranty by importing a *Flex Tune* with negligible gains.

 

[762Cat]

There seems to be a misconception that a *Flex Tune* defined as a tune allowing the option to interchange between 93/E85 also provides a leap in performance for a car without modifications off the dealers lot. Multiple threads reference (Butt-Dyno, seat of the pants feel in 3rd, The car is a complete animal). Why do these bogus threads continue to be supported/endorsed for an E85 Flex Fuel tune-when unless your tuned with a dedicated E85R tune you simply are just enjoying the sweet smell of E85-and supporting farmers across the Midwest. Something to think about before you tank your warranty by importing a *Flex Tune* with negligible gains.

I mean......kind of. Depends on the car and the mods. For example... My 850whp Hellcat makes that on 116 race fuel with simple mods. It's about 770-780 is on Pump 93. It's the diff between high 9's and low 10s on the track. Now I can put all the 116 in I want and run the 93 tune....but it doesn't do jack for performance unless I had shitty 93 gas. I cannot however run the 116 tune on 93....like ever. Very very very bad. I may eventually get a flex tune for that since I have the injectors to support it already but Hellcat needs a boost a pump for E85. E85 blends when mixed with 93 can significantly boost your octane and allow a lot more power to be made safely. Mixing 70/30 E85 with 93 yields just over 104 octane. Hell even 70/30 of E70 with 93 gives you 101.5 with pure E70 at 105.9 and E85 at 109. I'm considering adding a flex tune to the Cat just because I can reliably make more power without spending 85 bucks on a 5 gallon pale of 116. E85 near me tests over E80 regularly and is currently 1.39 a gallon. Downside is there are only two stations....each about 25 mins away.

With regards to the 350 will adding E85 with no supporting mods add a lil yes. Crazy? No. I've decided to do Stainless works long tubes, JLT and flex. I'll mostly run pump but the occasional boost when playing with friends while still being able to make a gas station is all I need. If you are going to tune for 93 I'd ask why not do a flex tune? The 350 has the ability to do it with out bumping up injectors or changing anything other than having a tuner that knows their shit. It gives you the option. I'm not going turbos now because I want to maintain the driving and handling characteristics of the car but I also desire more low end torque and more top end. This can be done pretty economically in this car. I'm shamelessly modeling my setup after a car that made 515 whp on pump and 530 with a lil corn in it. I'm happy with that. Assuming an average starting point of 460whp that is significant.

As for the warranty. I don't think I've ever left a car stock. Frankly I don't know why people are so hung up on it. The same people probably lift their Jeeps and trucks, put on cat backs, intakes etc..... If you mod it own it and know the risk you take. I've seen warranties voided for next to nothing and others get away with murder. It helps to be friendly with your service manager but be honest and still be prepared to own it. I've had a half shaft on an 850 wheel hellcat replaced under warranty. It tore a CV boot and threw grease everywhere when it wheel hopped on the street on some bad pavement. Weirdly on those cars they replace the entire half shaft instead of just repairing the boot....crazy right? I've also replaced an entire short block with forged internals at the cost of 11grand and never even asked the dealer. Why would I? It went straight to the performance shop. Two hurt pistons due to a failed high flow cat clogging an exhaust. Decided just to build it out. The games we play. I strongly recommend catless BTW. Live and learn.

 

[newmoon]

What tire you on? The CUP2s on the 19 are great right now. I'm wondering if this will be enough to warrant an R888R or not. Time will tell. The one N/A GT350 I've seen tuned by Johnson gained 50ft lbs of torque all the way down at 2500rpm so it should be more lively across the board.

I'd love to see that before and after dyno sheets on the N/A GT350, that's a hell of a tq gain.

 

[762Cat]

I'd love to see that before and after dyno sheets on the N/A GT350, that's a hell of a tq gain.

It's on youtube being dyno tuned back to back to back. You can watch it here........ if you are impatient dyno sheet is shown at 13:14 after adding 10 gallons of corn. No idea how much 93 was in the tank still. Picked up 29whp on 93 tune another 20 whp with the corn. Look at torque at 2500 RPM up from 250 to 300ft lbs. This car is otherwise stock. Long but educational if you listen to Corbin.

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