I'm getting ready to purchase an Xcal2 from Torrie but I have a few questions for existing xcal users. When using some aggressive tunes, a few have reported on the forum that their engine sometimes knocks. Is this audible knock you are hearing, or are you getting this from logged data from the xcal2?

My previous car was a highly modified grand prix gtp (3.8L superhcarged), and I read "knock retard" along with other parameters given from the PCM as the means for seeing if I had too much timing/fuel/boost or not. Even if the knock present was inaudible in the grand prix, it could be severe enough that were major problems in your tune that needed immediate attention!

I would imagine that these rules would apply to the LS as well even though it is naturally aspired. I am just curious how many of us are unknowingly knocking by just using our ear as a "knock sensor."

The first few tunes I had, had an audible spark knock. The tune I am running right now does not have any audible spark knock but I don't run a data logger to confirm this. If I remeber right my car would "cut" the throttle when I was hearing the spark knock and not let me continue to rev the engine.

yep - on my most aggressive tune - it was a very noticeable audible knock. it was MBT (mean best torque) - good numbers...

Any knock can seriously damage your engine. If you can hear it, this is very bad and it has some serious potential to do damage. Most tuners will not get aggressive with mail order tunes for that exact reason. I would request Torrie to send you a tuner with User Adjustability turned on. This will allow you to remove a few degrees of timing or add a bit of fuel if you start having issues with knock, saving you from sending it back or having new tunes sent. Your vehicles knock sensors will do their best to pull timing when knock is detected, but don't rely on them as the fix.

yep - on my most aggressive tune - it was a very noticeable audible knock. it was MBT (mean best torque) - good numbers...
Did you check how much knock retard you had with that tune? I'm just afraid this motor is not going to last long with any kind of knock present...

right - if you hear a knock - stop and adjust - period.

I started back on a XCal 1 - but the XCal2 has 'user adjustibility' so you can actually change the tune if you want... I simply went back to a less-aggressive tune..

this is the only thing thats held me back from buying one. this unclear to me ''knock''. i do not want to hear anything like that from my car ever.

this is the only thing thats held me back from buying one. this unclear to me ''knock''. i do not want to hear anything like that from my car ever.
Not only do I not want to hear it, I don't want to have inaudible knock harming my engine either.

I just think it would be great to know how much (if any) knock each standard tune from Torrie and the stock tune from Lincoln has for comparison. (When I first started modding my grand prix it had a few degrees of knock stock due a slighlty lean condition, which I was able to fix with a tune.)

for the love.

there are 1000 threads on this - it's proven, it's safe, its the best hp gain for the $$ you can get.

here is the starting thread... - > http://www.lincolnvscadillac.com/showpost.php?p=27874&postcount=8

i'm still waiting for livewire...any idea on the price that will be on it?

i'm still waiting for livewire...any idea on the price that will be on it?

Just pick a good tuner (like Torrie), run 93 octane gas when the tune is loaded and you should be fine. My LS behaves like a different car on the tune. The performance is much more noticeable and the shifts are much firmer.

i'm still waiting for livewire...any idea on the price that will be on it?

XCal2 = $380 - Livewire will be about $580....

thank you thank you, just tryn to gain some knowledge. xcal2 or livewire will be my only performance mod.

if you are only doing one - it's a good one to do (IMHO). it takes 10mins, no install and can be completely reversed.

Does anyone here run the Xcal on an 03+ v6?? This is something I have been considering for quite a while but am still not sure it's worth the money since I only have the v6.
Anyone with advise chime in.

n8

XCal2 = $380 - Livewire will be about $580....

XCal1 = $165 or less

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/SCT-Xcalibrator-flash-tuner_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ33597QQihZ019QQit emZ290074818907QQrdZ1

XCal1 = $165 or less

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/SCT-Xcalibrator-flash-tuner_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ33597QQihZ019QQit emZ290074818907QQrdZ1

+$100 - $200 for an experienced tuner to program 3 tunes on it if it isn't already programmed for your PCM code. Buying a used unit 9 times out of ten just cost you more than a new one.