[suprglyde]

Many thanks to all who responded to my last thread about tuners. I got some very good, knowledgeable feed back from owners of all kinds of tuners.
I have decided to go with the SCT tuner. Now I am asking for links to the exact one I need. Links to the vendor's site, so I can place my order. Thanks to all who send links.

I will certainly let the forum know the outcome. I will keep the results posted as to performance, gas mileage, ease of use and anything else I run into.
Again, thanks to all the forum.
Larry

[amustangrocks]

the links to tillman, brenspeed and american muscle are right on this page on the right hand side. just click on the sponsor sites. get some prices from them also dont forget to mention your a afm forum member. you will have to contact the right people from each site to get any discount codes. they never get posted on the forum

[ITLRUN]

Hey Larry; I do have one question for you, is there a good reputable shop with a dyno near by? If so follow the links, and get the best price for an SCT X-3 not an XF-3. An XF-3 is the tuner, that comes pre-loaded with three canned tune files. The SCT X-3 is for custom dyno tuning, and that's the one you want because it's programmed for your particular car. The XF-3 has three canned tune files, they're for your year make and model but not custom tuned to your car. Every car is different when it comes to tuning, you can have ten let's just say 2008 BULLITS. Only one of those cars is actually custom dyno tuned, the rest are loaded with the tune files used from the car that was custom dyno tuned. All the cars have identical mods, but on the dyno they'll all react different to the tune. When you purchase an SCT XF-3 from any SCT Dealer, the Dealers that have the shops with the dyno are custom dyno tuning different years to cover the customer's cars. That's why they call it a canned tune, you'll see most shops looking for cars to use on their dyno. They take that car and custom dyno tune the vehicle, then you call the shop and tell them what you have, and the mods performed. They go into their software and match your computer code, and pre-load an XF-3 for you with three custom dyno tune files. The only thing is, the custom dyno tune wasn't performed on your car. It came from the tune files they have stored in their software, for your computer code that they created from a car with the same computer code. I'm just trying to make you understand the difference, between a real custom dyno tune, and a canned tune. So it's your money, invest it well and get a custom dyno tune on your car, not from someone elses. A true custom dyno tune may cost more money, but at least it's for your particular car and it will respond much better, Mike. SCT Tuner. Good Luck!!!

[Rockin' Blue's]

Originally Posted by ITLRUN

Hey Larry; I do have one question for you, is there a good reputable shop with a dyno near by? If so follow the links, and get the best price for an SCT X-3 not an XF-3. An XF-3 is the tuner, that comes pre-loaded with three canned tune files. The SCT X-3 is for custom dyno tuning, and that's the one you want because it's programmed for your particular car. The XF-3 has three canned tune files, they're for your year make and model but not custom tuned to your car. Every car is different when it comes to tuning, you can have ten let's just say 2008 BULLITS. Only one of those cars is actually custom dyno tuned, the rest are loaded with the tune files used from the car that was custom dyno tuned. All the cars have identical mods, but on the dyno they'll all react different to the tune. When you purchase an SCT XF-3 from any SCT Dealer, the Dealers that have the shops with the dyno are custom dyno tuning different years to cover the customer's cars. That's why they call it a canned tune, you'll see most shops looking for cars to use on their dyno. They take that car and custom dyno tune the vehicle, then you call the shop and tell them what you have, and the mods performed. They go into their software and match your computer code, and pre-load an XF-3 for you with three custom dyno tune files. The only thing is, the custom dyno tune wasn't performed on your car. It came from the tune files they have stored in their software, for your computer code that they created from a car with the same computer code. I'm just trying to make you understand the difference, between a real custom dyno tune, and a canned tune. So it's your money, invest it well and get a custom dyno tune on your car, not from someone elses. A true custom dyno tune may cost more money, but at least it's for your particular car and it will respond much better, Mike. SCT Tuner. Good Luck!!!

Great write up, this should be what everyone reads before they make a decision on a tune or tuner for their Mustang, it helps alot , You should make this a what do thread for us.

[suprglyde]

Great information! Thanks. Yes, I see exactly what you mean.
I don't know of any dyno shops around here, but it sure does look like I need to find one!
I have seen several posts where someone has downloaded a tune from the net. What is that all about? If a tuner comes with "canned" tunes, why would this be different? Something like that has to cost something.....right?
There is one thing, however, that I don't talk about much. I am on disability, so I have to count pennys. I still get around pretty good, but I have to maintain a budget. That has to always be a consideration for me. I have a broken back, and sometimes it takes me a minute to two to get in and out of my 2005 V6, but when I get in................Look out!! lol
Again, thanks for all the help and information. A lot more than I could get from any one Ford dealer or wrencher. Love the forum.

[suprglyde]

So is there a switch, button, dial or else that stays or mounts in the car? If so, where?
Sorry to appear so dim, but like I said before, I am an old 70's racer. Computers in cars hadn't been thought of then. lol

[amustangrocks]

agree, a true custom dyno tune on your car is the best, hands down. the email tunes you can get from the sponsors like tillmans or brenspeed are considered custom tunes,because they set them up for what you have done to your car, and are safe but still pretty good tunes. i have not heard much good from any canned tunes that come on the sf3. i can tell you that even the email tunes are night and day from your stock tune, esp the 91 or 93 octane race tunes. being budget minded, the cai/tuner/tunes combo is still a good deal. your car will feel and perform like a different car. could it be better? yes if you take it to a dyno like was said. do you need to do that? probably not. lets look at cash. if you pc it together you have to buy the tuner, 380.00..a good cai, 2-250.00, then some tunes to run the cai 50-75.00 each. then the combo for around 500.00. you can get 3 good tunes on a x3 tuner and a decent cai setup. thats a good price for a good cai and 3 tunes. you want a good cai to take advantage of the tuner and tunes, even if you do get on a dyno one day which would be a +. best combo price package, jlt cai/ sctx3 tuner/ 3 tunes...alot of guys here have gone with that setup. you can pick the tunes you want. i went with a 87 performance( for cheap fuel and milage) a 91 performance( for running high octane on a trip for milage) and a 91 street race ( that i run full time , its not bad on gas if you keep your foot out of it) call chris rose at tillman speed and get a price. then down the road, when the funds are better you can order a bama tune or someone elses or go hit a dyno there is nothing mounted to your car. you plug the tuner in under the dash, load the tune, unplug the tuner and put it away.

[pcfrisch]

If you need to count your pennies, a dyno tune is not necessary. You will not gain that much with them unless you have more than just a CAI added. The canned tunes are pretty close for a CAI alone.

[hmartine]

Originally Posted by suprglyde

Many thanks to all who responded to my last thread about tuners. I got some very good, knowledgeable feed back from owners of all kinds of tuners.
I have decided to go with the SCT tuner. Now I am asking for links to the exact one I need. Links to the vendor's site, so I can place my order. Thanks to all who send links.

I will certainly let the forum know the outcome. I will keep the results posted as to performance, gas mileage, ease of use and anything else I run into.
Again, thanks to all the forum.
Larry

here you go - somebody in collective forum is selling one..
SCT XCAL 2 Tuner 2005-2009 Mustangs Alright everyone! I have an SCT XCAL 2 tuner that I used on my 2007 4.0L V6 Mustang. It is in perfect working condition...pretty much brand new. Unfortunately, I don't have the original packaging. All that it comes with is the tuner itself and the USB cord for the computer. It's current status is "aftermarket" meaning that you would have to go online and reset it for $15. And to whoever wins the auction, I will send you back $15 via PayPal once you unlock it. And I don't have a camera at the moment so I can't take any pictures, but it looks just like the picture and works fine. I've had this about 8 months and was $379 brand new.
Thank you all for looking! Contact me at 713.898.5705 or email me at MustangDenali0708@gmail.com
Thank you, Thomas

Looking for $200, but will consider any offers!! http://www.mustangcollective.com/ima.../superkewl.gif

[suprglyde]

I can't thank you all enough for the information. But mostly, thanks for giving me the benefit of your experience. You can't teach experience.
I know that "one size fits all" usually doesn't. Nothing is better than A custom fit. But sometimes you have to take the "one sizer", and make your own alterations for a good fit.
Sure I am on a fixed income, but I am still a car guy and want to enjoy the ride. Doesn't matter if it is a quarter mile or a hundred miles.
My only mod so far is a K&N air filter, so I pretty much have an open slate. I am definutely going with that tuner next, and after that...................
Larry