The local diesel shop owner has been trying to talk me into EFI live for awhile now. He tells me that I would like the EFI a lot better then the programmer I currently have. He offered me a pretty good deal on the EFI and the dsp 5 switch. My truck currently has a Diablo Sport Preadator box. My truck also has 193,000 miles. It's always been serviced and maintenance well, original owner always changed the engine oil/filter and transmission fluid and filters also. He was very particular and always took care of the truck. I use the truck as a daily driver (most of the time) and it also pulls a gooseneck every now and then. I'm not looking for a race truck or a sled truck but I think I would like the EFI and switch. Just wondering what everyone thinks about the miles on my truck and any advice on the EFI. Thanks in advance. :thumb:
Considering Getting EFI Live
- Thread starter FarmBoy45
- Start date
Custom tuning if done right is better, but with that being said, the predator is not a bad tuner.
Well, EFI live will pretty much blow the doors off the predator tuning, maybe not in peak HP, tune to tune, but as far as how it runs and drives, EFI Live is KING! I wouldn't run a predator tune over EFI, ever...even if it came with the truck
Personally, I wouldn't hesitate or think twice about it at all, and honestly, I'd probably have EFI ordered by vin# before I took a new to me truck, home, lol
:woott:
But here's the deal...IMHO...
ANYTIME you tune ANY rig, to the note of a 50% hp gain (like the 150+ hp gain you can achieve with a "stock trans" dmax tune) you're running a risk damaging parts, new or old, well taken care of or abused
There is no guarantee, there is a known "safety cushion of critical parameters" that reputable tuners abide by that work well, but there's always that one truck that just didn't hold up. When you get you're tuning, it should come with cautionary warning, and you should know that the 2 "bigger tunes" on a DSP5 switch have all the potential in the world to thrash your transmission
Longevity of a tuned rig doesn't rest solely on the shoulders of the tune, how you drive the truck will make a huge difference in its longevity of the parts and engine.
That being said, if you're not prepared to replace a part, or at least have it in the back of your mind that a failure becomes more a matter of "when" and not "if" when running a tune, then maybe you should think twice...but you are already running the predator tune, so...
going back to my opening statement, I wouldn't hesitate for a second, EFI is a better tune, period
Personally, I wouldn't hesitate or think twice about it at all, and honestly, I'd probably have EFI ordered by vin# before I took a new to me truck, home, lol
:woott:
But here's the deal...IMHO...
ANYTIME you tune ANY rig, to the note of a 50% hp gain (like the 150+ hp gain you can achieve with a "stock trans" dmax tune) you're running a risk damaging parts, new or old, well taken care of or abused
There is no guarantee, there is a known "safety cushion of critical parameters" that reputable tuners abide by that work well, but there's always that one truck that just didn't hold up. When you get you're tuning, it should come with cautionary warning, and you should know that the 2 "bigger tunes" on a DSP5 switch have all the potential in the world to thrash your transmission
Longevity of a tuned rig doesn't rest solely on the shoulders of the tune, how you drive the truck will make a huge difference in its longevity of the parts and engine.
That being said, if you're not prepared to replace a part, or at least have it in the back of your mind that a failure becomes more a matter of "when" and not "if" when running a tune, then maybe you should think twice...but you are already running the predator tune, so...
going back to my opening statement, I wouldn't hesitate for a second, EFI is a better tune, period
Does he write good tunes or get them from a tuner?
If you don't plan on doing anything more with the truck than I don't think you'll benefit much from it. The predator is probably the best canned tuner.
But if you do plan on changing things then definitely go for it.
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If you don't plan on doing anything more with the truck than I don't think you'll benefit much from it. The predator is probably the best canned tuner.
But if you do plan on changing things then definitely go for it.
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I also ran a Predator tuner and agree it was the best box tuner for the money. I didn't really have any complaints about it but my truck does run a little better now with EFI and the switch on the fly is super nice.
Don't forget the Allison TCM is smart and stupid, it remembers what you did but cannot anticipate what you're happy ass right foot is gonna do at the next stoplight, we all have the that inclination. I wanted more HP and torque and was warned for the Allison to live a long life 90hp is fine.....
He writes his own tunes, and I've never heard anyone complain about his work. I told him I didn't want the lope/smoke tune and he said it wasn't a problem at all. I understand that efi eventually leads to a built tranny, injectors and other repairs but I think I'd like the extra power and I know what to expect from several friends having efi live. I run my truck a lot easier then they do though. I think I can control myself and keep my foot out of it, most of the time lol.
I had a predator on my LBZ when it was new. The 85 tune was awesome! Great drivability, good power and power delivery was spot on. The 120 tune was plenty for a stock trans truck. Just my personal openion but I do see switching to EFI unless your getting ready to build the transmission, installing larger injectors or an aftermarket turbo.
.....
TROLL much?
Pick a lame, I mean Lane...
Watson nailed it, dude. If you want EFI for more power than the predator, then hold off on the tune, build the trans NOW, and get another 90+ tune (230ish) out of the gate when you switch to EFI...
That's totally different than just wanting a "better tune and a DSP switch" for a high milage truck...
The more I want to walk away from this, I can't.
@farmboy...
Dude
I THOUGHT LIKE YOU
I even taunted myself with buying the built trans tunes...with a stock trans and a trans go kit:spit: BECAUSE...Of course I "planned to" build the transmission...but of course I didn't get to it soon enough
I did the shift kit, deep pan, gauges and tune in a night.
But wouldn't ya know....
I botched the initial install of the DSP switch. AND my tuner of choice at the time had the competition tune loaded as the default tune...I may or may not have known that
But I didn't know I was one pin off, for the DSP leads into the ECM...
THAT TEST DRIVE WAS A BLAST....but I might have realized my switch wasn't working a few shifts deep on the pedal, and then my over zealous nature might have allowed a couple critical shifts to happen...I don't remember limping it...that night.
It lasted 5mo?
:hello:
And that's another story...
And then while I was waiting for an opening at the shop that built the trans, I decided to do a few upgrades...Intake, turbo, manifolds, intercooler....
Do you know what a $5000 dollar rag looks like...?
No, its not the high dollar whore from your buddies batchlor party the next morning when you're NOT drunk...I'm not sayin you're as dumb as me and are gunna earn yourself a $5000 dollar rag...but it happens, and its happened to better mechanic's than me
I can't tell you how many months my truck has sat on stands because I always taunt myself with the opportunity for bad decisions...
Bottom line, do it right from the start, shit happens and when this stuff costs as much as it does, doin it backwards only leads to heartache...
@farmboy...
Dude
I THOUGHT LIKE YOU
I even taunted myself with buying the built trans tunes...with a stock trans and a trans go kit:spit: BECAUSE...Of course I "planned to" build the transmission...but of course I didn't get to it soon enough
I did the shift kit, deep pan, gauges and tune in a night.
But wouldn't ya know....
I botched the initial install of the DSP switch. AND my tuner of choice at the time had the competition tune loaded as the default tune...I may or may not have known that
But I didn't know I was one pin off, for the DSP leads into the ECM...
THAT TEST DRIVE WAS A BLAST....but I might have realized my switch wasn't working a few shifts deep on the pedal, and then my over zealous nature might have allowed a couple critical shifts to happen...I don't remember limping it...that night.
It lasted 5mo?
:hello:
And that's another story...
And then while I was waiting for an opening at the shop that built the trans, I decided to do a few upgrades...Intake, turbo, manifolds, intercooler....
Do you know what a $5000 dollar rag looks like...?
No, its not the high dollar whore from your buddies batchlor party the next morning when you're NOT drunk...I'm not sayin you're as dumb as me and are gunna earn yourself a $5000 dollar rag...but it happens, and its happened to better mechanic's than me
I can't tell you how many months my truck has sat on stands because I always taunt myself with the opportunity for bad decisions...
Bottom line, do it right from the start, shit happens and when this stuff costs as much as it does, doin it backwards only leads to heartache...
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Thanks for all the input guys. As for now I'm going to think about it and probably pass for now anyways. My programmer is always in the 85HP tune and it does run pretty well for a tuner, it's really surprised me. Also gets good fuel mileage. It's never been in the 120HP setting because of being afraid of limping the tranny. Thanks for the info and replies.
Mine limped pretty easily on the 100 Ped tune but mine is a 5 Speed. Now run mine on #4 setting with EFI and no issues. Predators are pretty potent.
Put a Transgo Jr in your 6 speed and you can run that 120 tune no problem.