[MCA2011]

How do companies like AM/BAMA and SCT get the technical knowledge specific to modify the Mustang PCM? I would think... from Ford.

Is Ford partnering with these companies to develop and market their aftermarket products and then slapping the consumer for using these same products? I may be overstating here, but this sounds like the CIA / Cambodia heroin conspiracies of the 70s.

Seriously though, why can't Ford certify "safe" tunes as warranty-compliant? If for example BAMA's S, P and R tunes could be certified, but if you go to an uncertified tune or an uncertified vendor, or ask BAMA to customize your certified tune outside of spec, only THEN are you SOL, should anything go wrong.

Sure, the vendors would need to pay for certification and licensing, and that would probably be passed on to us, but OTOH, this could be a new revenue stream for Ford. In the end, there would be no concerns for any party involved - car owner, tune vendor, or Mother Ford.

Why wouldn't a program like this work?

 

[Ltngdrvr]

There is a Ford Certified tune, it's the tune that comes with your new cars PCM.

Tuner device manufacturers do not receive any code help from Ford, they do backward engineering in order to "crack" the codes in the PCM's.

 

[FirstFord94]

How do companies like AM/BAMA and SCT get the technical knowledge specific to modify the Mustang PCM? I would think... from Ford.

Is Ford partnering with these companies to develop and market their aftermarket products and then slapping the consumer for using these same products? I may be overstating here, but this sounds like the CIA / Cambodia heroin conspiracies of the 70s.

Seriously though, why can't Ford certify "safe" tunes as warranty-compliant? If for example BAMA's S, P and R tunes could be certified, but if you go to an uncertified tune or an uncertified vendor, or ask BAMA to customize your certified tune outside of spec, only THEN are you SOL, should anything go wrong.

Sure, the vendors would need to pay for certification and licensing, and that would probably be passed on to us, but OTOH, this could be a new revenue stream for Ford. In the end, there would be no concerns for any party involved - car owner, tune vendor, or Mother Ford.

Why wouldn't a program like this work?

Why would Ford certify someone else when they sell their own tunes through Ford racing? And if companies like BAMA work like the software tuners for other brands, they have programmers that basically backwards engineer the software in the OEM ECUs.

 

[MCA2011]

I find that hard to believe. All Ford would need to do is apply a passcode, checksum or other security measure to in effect to disallow unauthorized updates. But instead they allow their products and intellectual property to be hacked?

Even so, if Ford did allow certified tunes, anyone who is on the fence between a Mustang or competing model with aftermarket modding interests has a no-brainer decision to go with Ford

 

[2Manystangs]

isn't the new Boss 302 going to come with some kinda Ford Key/tune? I heard something about that

 

[MCA2011]

Why would Ford certify someone else when they sell their own tunes through Ford racing? And if companies like BAMA work like the software tuners for other brands, they have programmers that basically backwards engineer the software in the OEM ECUs.

Because

1) FRPP has about a .000013% market share of tunes and 3rd party licensing and certification would be a much larger revenue stream. i.e. for the same reason IBM got out of the canned software business and instead into the software services business

2) FRPP is not FMC

 

[FirstFord94]

1) FRPP has about a .000013% market share of tunes and 3rd party licensing and certification would be a much larger revenue stream. i.e. for the same reason IBM got out of the canned software business and instead into the software services business

The issue isn't market share or money. The problem is putting out software that doesn't interfere with the delicate balance of reliability and performance that Ford has painstakingly engineered into their motors. If you want the most piece of mind, IMO, you go with the OEM-based modifications. If you want to try and get the most out of your car for the money regardless of how it impacts long-term reliability, you go with everyone else. Which is also another reason why many other tuner companies would avoid the process of getting the Ford seal of approval if such a system was available.

2) FRPP is not FMC

FMC? Ford Motor Company? And I disagree with that. Why does Ford Motor Company have the copyright to the FRPP website if the two entities aren't related? What FRPP puts out has to pass engineering muster with the parent company without a doubt.

 

[Guest]

Why are there no Ford-certified tunes?

There is a Ford Certified tune, it's the tune that comes with your new cars PCM.

Exactly. :bigthumbsup

How do companies like AM/BAMA and SCT get the technical knowledge specific to modify the Mustang PCM?

Reverse engineering.

 

[Cowman]

I find that hard to believe. All Ford would need to do is apply a passcode, checksum or other security measure to in effect to disallow unauthorized updates. But instead they allow their products and intellectual property to be hacked?

Even so, if Ford did allow certified tunes, anyone who is on the fence between a Mustang or competing model with aftermarket modding interests has a no-brainer decision to go with Ford

I've never heard of an electronic device/computer that can't be hacked and modified by someone with the motivation, time, and skill.


Also, if Ford approved such tunes, they'd probably all have to be run through emissions testing/certification.

 

[Thereaper]

:laugh::laugh::laugh:

 

[Mountain]

FMC? Ford Motor Company? And I disagree with that. Why does Ford Motor Company have the copyright to the FRPP website if the two entities aren't related? What FRPP puts out has to pass engineering muster with the parent company without a doubt.

Ford Racing in a lot of cases work with the Ford engineers that calibrated the factory settings. There are Ford Racing Calibrators and there are Ford Calibrators. One reason I would go with a Ford Racing tune over any others is that Ford Racing has the ability to do more in depth tuneing thatn any of the other aftermarket companies (i.e. various types of climate and other conditions). Ford has all sorts of test tracks and test labs besides dynos (wind tunnels, climate chambers, etc.)

 

[bubbajones]

The aftermarket companies play by different EPA rules than do the manufacturers.

Ford Racing tells me that they can't offer a CAI for the current GT because of EPA regs, but they do offer one for older cars.

Steeda claims to have a tech transfer agreeement with Ford.
2011 2012 Mustang Cold Air Intake 5.0 L 555-3155 555-3156

Steeda Autosports, the world's largest aftermarket manufacturer of Ford performance equipment is once again leading the performance market with our High Velocity Cold Air Intake (CAI). This intake was designed before the car was even available using CAD data supplied exclusively by Ford Motor Company via our Technology Transfer program with Ford engineers.

 

[illestdomer2005]

It's absolutely in Ford's best interest to give you the greatest performance out-of-the-box that they believe is rock solid. The more HP and torque they can advertise, the better their sales go against Chevy and Dodge.

HOWEVER

They don't want to be fixing cars under warranty or have a reputation for building cars that don't last. I'm sure that they err towards reliability after JUST eeking out the Camaro or Challenger in each class. You can try to "overclock" your vehicle, but you assume risk when doing so, and I'm sure what Ford would charge to cover potential risk would make mods cost-prohibitive to us modders.

 

[ZMoneY]

Like 2 posters above. Regulations keep Ford from tuning this baby up big time. Emission standards are so damn strict now its hard to do all the things they want with the mustang.

 

[Cowman]

Don't forget about things like traction control and speed limiters... tons of liability lawsuits just waiting to happen.

I'm not sure if this is true of tunes and whatnot- but I've noticed a lot of performance parts I've purchased for other cars in the past have a note somewhere with them stating they are intended for "off-road use only". I've seen this on something as simple as a dress-up chrome oil cap.

Technically I don't think you're allowed to modify anything involved in a car's powertrain... at least as far as the EPA is concerned. It's just not really enforced much since it's only a small niche group of motorheads who actually try this stuff. Ford might actually be on our side by not going to extra lengths to lock down the computer or trying to sue those selling tunes/performance chips. They just couldn't acknowledge as much...

 

[Asphalt Cowboy]

Why would Ford certify someone else when they sell their own tunes through Ford racing?

If I wanted to do something to the engine, brakes or any mechanics issues, I would definately go with Ford Racing!

 

[Storm75]

Why would Ford certify someone else when they sell their own tunes through Ford racing?

Could you please point me to a source for one of those Ford Racing tunes for my 2012 Mustang V6?

 

[t-stang81]

Could you please point me to a source for one of those Ford Racing tunes for my 2012 Mustang V6?

I haven't seen one listed for 2011+ V-6s on ford racing parts site.

Anyone looking for the "schpeal" on FR pro cal tunes , check this out...

http://www.fordracingparts.com/calibration/instructions/Ford_Racing_calibration_article.pdf

 

[MCA2011]

Like 2 posters above. Regulations keep Ford from tuning this baby up big time. Emission standards are so damn strict now its hard to do all the things they want with the mustang.

Understood, but how does that prevent Ford from putting a seal of approval on a vendor's aftermarket tune that says the tune meets their guidelines for safe operating parameters? All this would mean is the AFR, redline, rev limiter,shift firmness and/or other critical thresholds have not been exceeded. Nothing to do with fuel economy, emissions, etc.

I haven't seen one listed for 2011+ V-6s on ford racing parts site.

Anyone looking for the "schpeal" on FR pro cal tunes , check this out...

http://www.fordracingparts.com/calibration/instructions/Ford_Racing_calibration_article.pdf

because FRPP has not (yet?) released any 2011+ v6 tunes

 

[illestdomer2005]

I haven't seen one listed for 2011+ V-6s on ford racing parts site.

Anyone looking for the "schpeal" on FR pro cal tunes , check this out...

http://www.fordracingparts.com/calibration/instructions/Ford_Racing_calibration_article.pdf

Thank you for that! That's exactly what I want for my auto transmission: shorter gears and adjustment to the shift points/firmness of the transmission.