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SCT Chip.

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Posted by: KC96LSC

I took my car in to have the shift points changed (3200 stall installed) and it shift awesome now. They put a chip in also and he said he was using a program that is a SCT program. He said it is a program that is recommended from this SCT group. Is anyone know this program. Is it a good one? Is there anything I should tell him to change in this program they installed? The car runs out great and hits second with much more authority.

Thanks for any suggestions.

Greg

Posted by: JMiles_T

Quote:

Originally Posted by KC96LSC

They put a chip in also and he said he was using a program that is a SCT program. He said it is a program that is recommended from this SCT group.

"This" SCT group?

I don't believe LvC has any affilliation with SCT.

Posted by: KC96LSC

Quote:

Originally Posted by School_Zone

"This" SCT group?

I don't believe LvC has any affilliation with SCT.

SCT is a program that mechanic shops purchase from a software company. Its for Ford automobiles. My understanding is that it has all different programs to install on the cars computer. It's a chip making program. All I was wondering is if anyone else has experience with this particular chip program.

Posted by: MonsterMark

A lot of guys have SCT 'chips'. mono, 4 bank, flip chip.

For OBDII Marks, '96 to '98, you can 'reflash' the computer by downloading a program into the actual computer. On Gen 1 cars, you have to add a chip that is pre-programmed and then have it 're-programmed' every time you want to change something.

The SCT X Cal2 is a programmable tuning device. You buy it from an SCT dealer who sends it to you with up to 4 programs on it. But the unit also allows you, the owner, to make some changes of your own without sending the unit back to get re-programmed. Plus any changes you do need to get from the dealer can be sent to you via email which you can download yourself. With the Xcal2 , you can also datalog and clear codes which you can't do with a chip. So if you are one of the fortunate guys to have a OBDII, get a XCal2 or similar programmer.

As far as the dealers, each of them start out with a blank unit for the most part. They add there own 'custom' tunes. Some tuners as you might expect are better than others. So shopping around might yield a better 'tunes' from a better tuner. There are several guys on the site that sell these units and include 'their' tunes, usually they include 3 or 4 tunes with the unit.

Mine has a economy tune for when I am on the road, a performance 93 octane tune and a nitrous tune. You can pretty much request whatever you want and changing is easy via download like I said.

Posted by: MediumD

Quote:

Originally Posted by MonsterMark

The SCT X Cal2 is a programmable tuning device. You buy it from an SCT dealer who sends it to you with up to 4 programs on it. But the unit also allows you, the owner, to make some changes of your own without sending the unit back to get re-programmed. Plus any changes you do need to get from the dealer can be sent to you via email which you can download yourself. With the Xcal2 , you can also datalog and clear codes which you can't do with a chip. So if you are one of the fortunate guys to have a OBDII, get a XCal2 or similar programmer.

Can't you pretty much accomplish the same thing with, say a TwEECer RT? I know it goes about it differently..

Posted by: MonsterMark

Quote:

Originally Posted by MediumD

Can't you pretty much accomplish the same thing with, say a TwEECer RT? I know it goes about it differently..

Yes, a bit more money though. EEC-Tuner is in the same ballpark $wise. ($400) Or you can step up to the PMS ($1000) or AEM ($2000) levels but these are not for novices.

Xcal2 is better packaged imho.

Posted by: KC96LSC

Quote:

Originally Posted by MonsterMark

A lot of guys have SCT 'chips'. mono, 4 bank, flip chip.

For OBDII Marks, '96 to '98, you can 'reflash' the computer by downloading a program into the actual computer. On Gen 1 cars, you have to add a chip that is pre-programmed and then have it 're-programmed' every time you want to change something.

The SCT X Cal2 is a programmable tuning device. You buy it from an SCT dealer who sends it to you with up to 4 programs on it. But the unit also allows you, the owner, to make some changes of your own without sending the unit back to get re-programmed. Plus any changes you do need to get from the dealer can be sent to you via email which you can download yourself. With the Xcal2 , you can also datalog and clear codes which you can't do with a chip. So if you are one of the fortunate guys to have a OBDII, get a XCal2 or similar programmer.

As far as the dealers, each of them start out with a blank unit for the most part. They add there own 'custom' tunes. Some tuners as you might expect are better than others. So shopping around might yield a better 'tunes' from a better tuner. There are several guys on the site that sell these units and include 'their' tunes, usually they include 3 or 4 tunes with the unit.

Mine has a economy tune for when I am on the road, a performance 93 octane tune and a nitrous tune. You can pretty much request whatever you want and changing is easy via download like I said.

Thanks MonsterMark, That was exactly what I was looking for. You The Man. I don't know of any other dealers in town. He sells the chip with a program for 175.00. I had him block my cat censers because I had them punched and it was throwing codes. He also changed my shift points, I'm curious what program he gave me for the motor is there curtain names on the particular programs? You say you can put more than one program in it? how do you change from one program to the other. Is there someone I can pay and get different programs from other than this guy here in town? Thanks again MonsterMark That was the info I was looking for.

Greg

Posted by: Jeffguy11

ive got an xcal2 and its great...i was wondering if its possible to swap programs around from other people tho. I had mine done by dennis reinhart, and ive heard that tehres people out there who do a much better tune than him. He also only gave me 1 program on mine. I would feel weird about calling someone for a program tho when i didnt buy the unit from them. any thoughts?

I would definately recommend the xcal 2 tho.... helped with power but mostly changed around the shift characteristics of the car which honestly made it feel 1000 lbs lighter.

Posted by: MonsterMark

Anybody can help you out with a tune.

Without turning this into a Dennis bash thread, he has some good programs put together by JW so I doubt you have a weak program.

What WAS weak was the 1 program you got. I would call Dennis and ask him for a couple more 'tunes' but let him know exactly what you want and need. If you paid around $379.00, I would think he 'owes' you a couple of tunes as I believe he offers the XCal2 for $379.00 with 3 tunes. Check his site for accuracy. He can just send you an email with the additinal tunes so it is no big deal to do it really.

What you have to watch for with tuners is how wild they choose to get. Anybody can lean out a tune for max hp for instance but what you really, really want is a safe, everyday tune. Most guys can deliver that. We are not talking 1/2 differentials in the quarter here. Maybe a tenth or two at best.

Go safe and be happy.

Posted by: Jeffguy11

Quote:

Originally Posted by MonsterMark

Anybody can help you out with a tune.

Without turning this into a Dennis bash thread, he has some good programs put together by JW so I doubt you have a weak program.

What WAS weak was the 1 program you got. I would call Dennis and ask him for a couple more 'tunes' but let him know exactly what you want and need. If you paid around $379.00, I would think he 'owes' you a couple of tunes as I believe he offers the XCal2 for $379.00 with 3 tunes. Check his site for accuracy. He can just send you an email with the additinal tunes so it is no big deal to do it really.

What you have to watch for with tuners is how wild they choose to get. Anybody can lean out a tune for max hp for instance but what you really, really want is a safe, everyday tune. Most guys can deliver that. We are not talking 1/2 differentials in the quarter here. Maybe a tenth or two at best.

Go safe and be happy.

Thanks for the advice....nice car by the way! mines the same thing but in black; i kinda like the octastars since theyre different, even tho a lot of people dont. Yea i dont want to turn this into a bash dennis thread either...i had a relatively good experience with him in terms of getting the part out quickly. He's difficult to get ahold of however, so i dont forsee any more tunes coming from him haha. I was just thinkin that people with xcal2s should make an online database of tunes so that we could experiment around, but i guess that might not really work since we all have different mods and prolly tehres some different catch codes on the ecu's.

I think that anyone who has OBDII and is thinking of doing a chip should really consider this product... the fact you can plug it into your laptop and make changes yourself and record live info makes it worth the money instead of going with a standard chip. You guys at LMS should sell these....ive heard you have some of the best tunes out there in your chips!

Posted by: KC96LSC

Quote:

Originally Posted by MonsterMark

MonsterMark, You answered allot of questions for me, thank you. I still don't understand when you have more than one program in the chip, how do you change from one to the other? It would be cool if we could share different tunes with each other. is there a way to buy the programs from Geno or Dennis and down load into our chip?

Thanks again for you knowledge,

Greg

Posted by: MonsterMark

There are different kinds of chips.

You can have a mono chip (1 file) or you can have a 4 bank chip (5 files). With the 4 bank chip, you can simply 'switch' between the programs.

Here is a link from the SCT site explaining some of the function.

Hope that helps.

So a 4 bank chip does pretty much the same as far as engine/transmission performance and with up to 4 tunes, most guys should be satisfied, but you have to send the chip in to be 're-reburned' every time you want to change something.

The XCal2 actually retrains the computer so you cannot just flip between the settings. You have to re-load the new file which takes a minute or two. I wish you could just flip between programs instantly but that is not the way it works. The 4 bank or mono chip isn't changing the computer at all. It is simply taking the signals from the comuter and changing the values, in a way, tricking the computer. Also with the Xcal, you can check and clear codes yourself, which is worth it to some guys just for that function alone.

Posted by: KC96LSC

Quote:

Originally Posted by MonsterMark

There are different kinds of chips.

You can have a mono chip (1 file) or you can have a 4 bank chip (5 files). With the 4 bank chip, you can simply 'switch' between the programs.

Here is a link from the SCT site explaining some of the function.

Hope that helps.

So a 4 bank chip does pretty much the same as far as engine/transmission performance and with up to 4 tunes, most guys should be satisfied, but you have to send the chip in to be 're-reburned' every time you want to change something.

The XCal2 actually retrains the computer so you cannot just flip between the settings. You have to re-load the new file which takes a minute or two. I wish you could just flip between programs instantly but that is not the way it works. The 4 bank or mono chip isn't changing the computer at all. It is simply taking the signals from the comuter and changing the values, in a way, tricking the computer. Also with the Xcal, you can check and clear codes yourself, which is worth it to some guys just for that function alone.

MonsterMark, Thanks for all the info. You've been a huge help. I appreciate all your time to explain this to me.

Greg

Posted by: DixieRambler

Quote:

Originally Posted by KC96LSC

Who is this that sells a chip and one program for $175.00? (if you don't mind me asking!).

Thanks,

Jim

Posted by: 67Continental

Quote:

Originally Posted by MonsterMark

The XCal2 actually retrains the computer so you cannot just flip between the settings. You have to re-load the new file which takes a minute or two. I wish you could just flip between programs instantly but that is not the way it works. The 4 bank or mono chip isn't changing the computer at all. It is simply taking the signals from the comuter and changing the values, in a way, tricking the computer. Also with the Xcal, you can check and clear codes yourself, which is worth it to some guys just for that function alone.

unfortunately for us with OBD I cars, that's not an option. But as for checking codes - I can check codes with my 30 dollar walmart reader.....and if I want it cleared, I just disconnect the battery for 10 minutes.

Posted by: 67Continental

Does SCT provide a dynotune service?

Posted by: 4.6powa

i think it depends on the dealer. i know if you have it done at the performance center of the tasca dealership,(which is where i work) the kid there does all sct tunes. and he can dynotune. and does.

Posted by: MonsterMark

Quote:

Originally Posted by 67Continental

But as for checking codes - I can check codes with my 30 dollar walmart reader.....and if I want it cleared, I just disconnect the battery for 10 minutes.

Truer words were never spoken. On a beer budget? 67Continental pointed out the best way to go.

Posted by: KC96LSC

Quote:

Originally Posted by DixieRambler

Who is this that sells a chip and one program for $175.00? (if you don't mind me asking!).

Thanks,

Jim

A shop here in town did it, $175 for the chip. Then it was another $75.00 to do the shift points and change the CAT from throwing codes. It sounds like a good price me. I still need to do some more reading to get a better grasp of the possibilities of MY chip. Is the chip an actual piece that I can visibly see or is it a setting? He took the computer out and downloaded info,but I didn't see anything adapted to the Computer (harddrive).

PS Yes, they have a ground level Dyno.

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