I want to get into burning my own proms. Ive read Traxion's article and did some research on other sites, but I was wondering cost aside if DFI is that much better?? I know you need a laptop for DFI and it comes with its own computer and wireing harness, but is tuning it easyer or what?? Thanks in advance.

 

There are a limited number of advantages to DFI.
One is some can fire low resistance injectors.
The tables tend to be more user friendly.
Some have poor TCC controls.
Some are so easy to program that they don't run well, or are always needing tinkering with.

HOWEVER,

they offer no self diagnostics.
It's expensive to carry a spare one.
Having one fail when on a long travel trip is a PITB

 

I'm actually debating this myself also.
Grumpy, what do you mean by "TCC"?
When you say "carrying a spare" and "have one fail" are you referring to the computer for DFI?

Thanks.


BTW: This'll be for a Super Rammed 385 which I hope will put out 450+ hp. (AFR heads, nice came, etc.)

 

Grumpy, thanks for the response. To me right now it sounds like the DIY prom may be the better option, unless anyone else has a different experience with DFI. From what Ive been reading it sounds like Tunercat is the most "user friendly" way to go for a bin editor, right? Thanks for the help!!

 

TCC
Torque Converter Clutch

Anything electronic can fail. While I've had a total of only one ecm fail, it taught me to carry a spare. Any time the car leaves the garage.

 

On my PC I use Tunercat,
on my laptop I use GMEPro. GMEPro is DOS based so I can use a cheap ol laptop for diagnostics, and programming in car.

 

Try www.kalmaker.com has all the advantages grumpy listed combined with the ease of programming on the fly.
Thats what I use anyway until i can work out how to do on the fly programming by altering the source code .
Any way you go you will need a laptop even if just for diagnostic and datalogging.

I use Tunercat ,WinBIn,craig moates software and winaldl as well as Kalmaker

 

I've always consider Kalmaker insanely highly priced for what you get. That and when they went out of business for a couple months and just left everyone high and dry was a stinker thing to do.

 

Now that doesn't give me a warm, happy feeling.

 

2 years ago the guy that was selling it gave it up as there is no money in it , just a hobby thing as far as I can tell from talking to the guy who has been selling it since , very well supported through him.

The guy who developed it is still around but he is not into marketing at all , he locks himself in a room and rewrites code cause he likes doing it , since the days you talk about he has done all the Aussie codes up to the present and is currently working on LS1.
He has also done the 730 and 165 codes but as yet it is not released until it has been fully tested.

I consider it cheap $500 US approx , damn I paid that to get a LT1 pcm here ?
the LT1 edit is overpriced and you get nothing , at least with kalmaker you get the realtime board ,software and cable, can use it on any of your ecu's and when (well we never finish but ?) you finish your calibration you can buy a adapter to go under the memcal and sell your setup to a mate! or get a group of guys together to share the software and buy extra realtime boards. (only one person can use the software at a time - security locked to a dongle)

 

I'm very interested. If the hoods in good shape, I'll take it if it's still available. $250 is a good price. Also, the car runs pretty strong but needs some tweaking.