4.6 chip tuning - feedback, please?

[inmanlanier]

For those of you gents who've invested and had some time to enjoy your re-tuned 4.6, please give us feedback. I'm interested in things like apparent torque improvement (do you feel it), general driving throttle response, traction control elimination effectiveness/scare factor, shift points, shift firmness/speed (did they tweak for crisp shifts rather than leave the old, long shifts?), fuel economy, odd issues, readability concerns, etc. Would you do it again? was it worth to you the $900+? thanks

 

[wildazme]

who's tuning the chips? i'd like some info.

 

[84FordMan]

I will be able to answer the OP after Saturday, Tailwalker and myself are getting BTR tunes tomorrow.

 

[84FordMan]

Here is Tailwalker's dyno:

As you can see, peak number wise, he gained 14 RWHP and 31 ft-lbs for a total of 332 RWHP and 326 ft-lbs.

I did not gain as much and after talking with Sam Lee and the tuner, they believed it was my intake as my car was not responding as much to the same varying levels of fuel trim and ignition timing changes as Tailwalker's did. Since our baseline dynos before the tune were pretty close this seems to confirm that.

I run a 3.5" intake as it cleared the factory radiator air duct better than the 4" I originally ran. Tailwalker has run a 4" intake from the get go. Aside from that, the only other modification either of us has is cat-back exhaust with the secondary cats deleted.

Needless to say since getting home I have put my 4" intake back on.

Outside of just the power gains here are some other things of note:

- 1st gear in manual mode no longer feels weak, it has a good bit more umph, especially above 3,500 RPM.

- ESC disable will allow you to do some nice smoky burnouts, but will not allow you to drift, it will still step in.

- Definite noticeable difference in driving in every gear.

BTR's tune is definitely worth it.

 

[wildazme]

Sounds really good, now i just need them to do a tune for the 5.0 r-spec.

 

[dmitriylm]

Anyone know how many inches the R2C setup is?

 

[DavidHanLee]

- ESC disable will allow you to do some nice smoky burnouts, but will not allow you to drift, it will still step in.

Interesting thanks for reporting. I definitely want to go the performance route with my car as well. I'll probably delete the secondary cats and then get the tune.

I currently have the mufflers deleted and noticed a slight drop in low end torque since having that set up. From a performance stand point is it important enough to get mufflers like the Flowmaster Super 10s to get some back pressure?

 

[svensk]

We need Tailwalker to go do a couple 1/4 mile runs before the summer air gets bad.

 

[inmanlanier]

Thanks 84FordMan (which I am also BTW!) - good answers - how about:
* shift points
* shift firmness/speed (did they tweak for crisp shifts rather than leave the old, long shifts?), and
* fuel economy
Was the ECU replacement install simple?
How about the odometer - does the original reading stay (perhaps in another PROM?)?

You may talk me into it after all

 

[dmitriylm]

Thanks 84FordMan (which I am also BTW!) - good answers - how about:
* shift points
* shift firmness/speed (did they tweak for crisp shifts rather than leave the old, long shifts?), and
* fuel economy
Was the ECU replacement install simple?
How about the odometer - does the original reading stay (perhaps in another PROM?)?

You may talk me into it after all

Odometer is the same, install is simple (underhood). Shift points should not be affected as there is no change to the TCU.

______________________________

Help support this site so it can continue supporting you!

 

[84FordMan]

TCU is not cracked, so they cannot change shift firmness/speed or points

HOWEVER

The 6HP26A is adaptive, much like the engine as it shifts from open loop to closed loop at a certain temperature, so does the ZF, at 80 C and above (Which if you want to go by the engine coolant temperature gauge, this is pretty much where it sits dead center of the gauge) it starts taking your input and making changes. From personal experience these inputs seem to mainly stem from manual shift control and the changes it makes is to automatic control (When left in D)

BTR primarily only adjusts ignition timing and fuel maps.

I had the factory ECU tuned (at a tuning event), but it's not that hard to get to, driver side, by the firewall underneath the plastic cover and it's mounted to a bracket.

 

[inmanlanier]

Assuming "TCU" means transmission control unit, I hope they made the long, prolonged sloppy slow shifts to be much quicker and firmer. I drove one of the 5.0L 8 speed models and it shifted much better than my 4.6. Can anyone speak to this rather than purport "should be"...?

 

[inmanlanier]

sorry ford guy - your reply must have posted while I was typing. Are you saying the new shifting is no different?

 

[2009genesissedan]

I had the factory ECU tuned (at a tuning event), but it's not that hard to get to, driver side, by the firewall underneath the plastic cover and it's mounted to a bracket.

Can the factory be tuned the same way the BTR is?

 

[shagnat]

I'm so hoping to get rid of those long pauses in full acceleration while crusing..... plus the looooong shift points when running WOT.... *sigh*

 

[Bootsman84]

Here is Tailwalker's dyno:

As you can see, peak number wise, he gained 14 RWHP and 31 ft-lbs for a total of 332 RWHP and 326 ft-lbs.

I did not gain as much and after talking with Sam Lee and the tuner, they believed it was my intake as my car was not responding as much to the same varying levels of fuel trim and ignition timing changes as Tailwalker's did. Since our baseline dynos before the tune were pretty close this seems to confirm that.

I run a 3.5" intake as it cleared the factory radiator air duct better than the 4" I originally ran. Tailwalker has run a 4" intake from the get go. Aside from that, the only other modification either of us has is cat-back exhaust with the secondary cats deleted.

Needless to say since getting home I have put my 4" intake back on.

Outside of just the power gains here are some other things of note:

- 1st gear in manual mode no longer feels weak, it has a good bit more umph, especially above 3,500 RPM.

- ESC disable will allow you to do some nice smoky burnouts, but will not allow you to drift, it will still step in.

- Definite noticeable difference in driving in every gear.

BTR's tune is definitely worth it.[/QUOTE

Late to the party on this as usual, but was your btr tuned for 91 or 93?

 

[Blake 4.6]

Here is Tailwalker's dyno:

As you can see, peak number wise, he gained 14 RWHP and 31 ft-lbs for a total of 332 RWHP and 326 ft-lbs.

I did not gain as much and after talking with Sam Lee and the tuner, they believed it was my intake as my car was not responding as much to the same varying levels of fuel trim and ignition timing changes as Tailwalker's did. Since our baseline dynos before the tune were pretty close this seems to confirm that.

I run a 3.5" intake as it cleared the factory radiator air duct better than the 4" I originally ran. Tailwalker has run a 4" intake from the get go. Aside from that, the only other modification either of us has is cat-back exhaust with the secondary cats deleted.

Needless to say since getting home I have put my 4" intake back on.

Outside of just the power gains here are some other things of note:

- 1st gear in manual mode no longer feels weak, it has a good bit more umph, especially above 3,500 RPM.

- ESC disable will allow you to do some nice smoky burnouts, but will not allow you to drift, it will still step in.

- Definite noticeable difference in driving in every gear.

BTR's tune is definitely worth it.

I know I am like 5 years late to the party but if you either remember or still have the car could you tell me how the gas mileage was different with the tune?

 

[EliV8_4.6L]

Here is Tailwalker's dyno:

As you can see, peak number wise, he gained 14 RWHP and 31 ft-lbs for a total of 332 RWHP and 326 ft-lbs.

I did not gain as much and after talking with Sam Lee and the tuner, they believed it was my intake as my car was not responding as much to the same varying levels of fuel trim and ignition timing changes as Tailwalker's did. Since our baseline dynos before the tune were pretty close this seems to confirm that.

I run a 3.5" intake as it cleared the factory radiator air duct better than the 4" I originally ran. Tailwalker has run a 4" intake from the get go. Aside from that, the only other modification either of us has is cat-back exhaust with the secondary cats deleted.

Needless to say since getting home I have put my 4" intake back on.

Outside of just the power gains here are some other things of note:

- 1st gear in manual mode no longer feels weak, it has a good bit more umph, especially above 3,500 RPM.

- ESC disable will allow you to do some nice smoky burnouts, but will not allow you to drift, it will still step in.

- Definite noticeable difference in driving in every gear.

BTR's tune is definitely worth it.

Thanks for sharing , as an owner of a 2011 4.6 I have to ask, what size rims and rotors do you have with the coupe brimbo swap brakes? I have seen that done before on YouTube and would like to maybe try it out!

 

[Stinky4.6]

For those of you gents who've invested and had some time to enjoy your re-tuned 4.6, please give us feedback. I'm interested in things like apparent torque improvement (do you feel it), general driving throttle response, traction control elimination effectiveness/scare factor, shift points, shift firmness/speed (did they tweak for crisp shifts rather than leave the old, long shifts?), fuel economy, odd issues, readability concerns, etc. Would you do it again? was it worth to you the $900+?

Hey have a question just bought a 2010 4.6 and I was wondering what are the best mods to get and do you have any links to web sights