Looking for a SCT Xcal2 Tuner

[WootyMcBooty]

Hey guys, I know I am going to get an Xcal2 for my LS but the more I read up on it it seems like you need a custom tuner who has had experience with tuning the LS.

Where can I find a custom tuner and how important is it to get a custom tune compared to that of what my local tuning shop could do?

 

[NYC LS8]

If you really did read up on it, you undoubtedly would have seen mention of two people that are used by the LS crew - Torrie at FastPartsNetwork.com and a member here by the screen name ILLS.

 

[XLRVIII]

The Xcal device is a great tool...with that said.

The actual "tune" on the device is only as good as the SCT dealer who writes the tune.
You definately want to find someone that has experience with the car you have.

Local tuner is going to give you a "canned/mail order" type tune and 9 times out of 10, the end result is an unhappy customer.

I cant suggest an LS experienced tuner, as I havne't looked into that platform very much.

Best suggestion would be to get a suggestion from someone that has "already gotten a good tune" someplace.

With that said.. Spend the extra money.. in the PCM calibration you dont want to "save a few bucks".

 

[XLRVIII]

Torrie is good people...he's been around for quite awhile.

....you dont last long in the tuning industry if you "dont know what you are doing".

 

[gcwimmer]

If you really did read up on it, you undoubtedly would have seen mention of two people that are used by the LS crew - Torrie at FastPartsNetwork.com and a member here by the screen name ILLS.

+1

Pretty much sums it up.

 

[GWL]

+1

Pretty much sums it up.

Yep!

 

[WootyMcBooty]

I talked to my local tuning shop and they suggested the SF3 tuner. I have no idea what this is, has anyone had any experience with it?

 

[gcwimmer]

The SCT Xcal or any other hand held device is a delivery system of a custom tune. The tuner doing the custom tune is what is really important. Stick with someone that has extensive proven experience with Lincoln LS.

 

[gcwimmer]

SCT SF3 is a 2008 version of the SCT Xcal. It is more expensive $ 475 as compared to $400 for XCal2 or 3. For the Lincoln LS that ended in 2006 probable over kill.

Maybe ILLS or Torrie will chime in on any benefit.

 

[BlueLS]

I'm in the process of ordering an SCT Livewire & custom tune from ILLS and he has been extremely helpful so far, i would contact him and see what he can do for you.

 

[ILLS]

I talked to my local tuning shop and they suggested the SF3 tuner. I have no idea what this is, has anyone had any experience with it?

Don't bother with the SF3. It is just a real basic canned tune, not a custom one. The X3 Powerflash has the ability to do both the strategy flashing and also the custom tuning too so I consider it a better unit. Some shops are SCT dealers but not SCT tuners. The shop you talked to could have been just a dealer and didn't know how to tune your car for you which may have been why they suggested the SF3 rather than using an X3.

SCT prices are not different because it is a different product that they offer compared to dealers but rather that they are pricing those units at retail not MAP price. Most price these units at MAP or close to it.

 

[ILLS]

SCT SF3 is a 2008 version of the SCT Xcal. It is more expensive $ 475 as compared to $400 for XCal2 or 3. For the Lincoln LS that ended in 2006 probable over kill.

Maybe ILLS or Torrie will chime in on any benefit.

No benefit between the SF3 compared to the X3. However the X3 compared to the X2 has some benefits. The X3 has more memory, an easier to read screen, easier navigation in the menu's, on-device datalogging is more stable in the X3. The X2's were almost always plagued with issues concerning on-device logging. Both could still do pass-through logging quite well though.

I suggest pass-through logging anyways unless you just do not have access to a laptop and only want to glance at a few things to see what they are doing.

 

[gcwimmer]

Thanks ILLS for the explanation. I'm sure we are going to see more new units in the future.