I'm the proud owner of a new (to me, at least..) '87 Firebird. It is a base car, w/ the 2.8L V6, the only options being the 4 speed auto tranny and (non-working) A/C.

Aside from perfecting my driving techniques, what can I do with the POM to promote better gas mileage? If it is possible, I'd like to limit the engine RPM to a fairly low level , like 2,000 to 2,500 RPM, and speed up the shifts so that I'm in top gear by the time I hit 35mph, if possible.

I'd also like to have the option to switch back to stock programming (or another program for better performance) by way of a dash mounted switch, for those times when I want to have fun.

Is any of this possible, and are there other PROM parameters that can be modified for better mileage?

Thanks..

 

Well to clarify some things, this is fuel injection we're talking about. You can tune it to always be efficient until PE mode. You can't toggle between programs with the flip of a switch, so tune your part throttle for good mileage and you'll be set. You wouldn't want to limit the RPM anyway. If you ever step on it to get out of someones way, you'll be stuck at the limit because the trans wont shift (TV cable pulled taught, but the engine speed isn't reaching the shift point). Stay light on the gas, that limits your RPMs and decides when to shift. I can get my 4 speed auto to shift at 31mph behind a V8 into OD. No tuning done to the computer.

 

Get into EPROM tuning, change over to the $6E calibration and then invoke Highway Mode. You can do everything inside one eprom because the calibration will know when to invoke Highway Mode (to maximize gas mileage) and when to invoke P/E (for maximum power).

The only time I think a person truly needs a second eprom, is when a person needs to go through emission testing with a modified engine. Then you just switch to the "emission bin" for that time only; as many of the parameters to make a heavily modified enigne pass emissions make the engine run "less than optimal".

PS: Craig Moates has a device where you can burn mulitiple bins on a single Flash Prom...