Want to Learn To Tune - Need help getting started

While I keep my other thread going, I want to start a separate one for the tuning aspect. I want to learn to tune my own truck. As time goes by I will be adding mods and changing things so there will be the basic tune when I get the truck running, and then tuning as I upgrade the exhaust and then the heads and cam.

I have 0 knowledge on tuning, so my first question is, what hardware and software do I need? What is everything I need to start? I know I need the 0411 PCM and I found plenty on ebay for $120 shipped with my VIN number programmed in before shipping. I see many different tuners on EFI site and I have no clue which one I need. I am not rich, right now I am pretty broke but come early next year I should be pretty well off and get the ball rolling pretty quickly but I want to budget in what I need for the swap and tune and work on this this summer. I know we have a lot of tuners in here so please help if you can and act like you are talking to a dummy lol. I know it probably doesnt help but I have been a mechanic on the side for 25 years, I have background and college credits in mechanincal engineering, autocad, architecture, computer programming, electrical engineering, etc so I usually learn and understand very quickly after asking a lot of questions as to why, what it means, and how it affects what I am working on. TIA!

Looking at your other thread, it appears that your truck is a 1998. If that's the case, the 0411 PCM swap isn't entirely necessary for tuning. The '98+ black box PCMs in these trucks are supported by HPTuners and EFILive, so you can tune your existing PCM with either of those solutions.

df2x4 said:

Looking at your other thread, it appears that your truck is a 1998. If that's the case, the 0411 PCM swap isn't entirely necessary for tuning. The '98+ black box PCMs in these trucks are supported by HPTuners and EFILive, so you can tune your existing PCM with either of those solutions.

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this is true, but everything I have read says the 0411 swap will give me much more control for my future mods as well as dialing in the stock tune much better for better driveability and maybe even a little more ponies and fuel mileage. Though I am not countin on the fuel mileage lol.

Bachert24 said:

this is true, but everything I have read says the 0411 swap will give me much more control for my future mods as well as dialing in the stock tune much better for better driveability and maybe even a little more ponies and fuel mileage. Though I am not countin on the fuel mileage lol.

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I have HP tuners now because I needed it to be able to tune my 2011 Suburban, but I started with an OBDxPro VT(now discontinued and moved to the VX for the same functions plus more) https://obdxpro.com/product/obdx-pro-vx-obd2-diagnostics-and-tuning/

Using that tool, you can then use free software like LS Droid or PCM Hammer to change the VIN, segment swap, read/write the PCM, datalog, etc... You can then use Tunerpro RT or Universal Patcher to adjust just about every parameter that you could need to adjust. All of that software is free, but less intuitive and user friendly.

Finally getting back to this thread. Does the PCM need to be in the vehicle to be tuned or is there a way I can hook it up in my house and use my laptop prior to installing it? I have to look for tunes to modify as well and learn to understand what each parameter means and how to use it and modify it so might be a while before I attempt this.

Bachert24 said:

Finally getting back to this thread. Does the PCM need to be in the vehicle to be tuned or is there a way I can hook it up in my house and use my laptop prior to installing it? I have to look for tunes to modify as well and learn to understand what each parameter means and how to use it and modify it so might be a while before I attempt this.

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I did the 411 swap and HP tuner, it is kicking my butt trying to figure out everything! So I will be watching this for tips myself! HP Tuner is not user friendly, they are assuming you know how to tune and not starting from scratch. There are some folks on here that really know their stuff, but I am trying not to waste their time until I put in the effort to learn it. I have seen youtube videos where someone builds a bench harness and tunes the PCM out of the truck.

Bachert24 said:

Finally getting back to this thread. Does the PCM need to be in the vehicle to be tuned or is there a way I can hook it up in my house and use my laptop prior to installing it? I have to look for tunes to modify as well and learn to understand what each parameter means and how to use it and modify it so might be a while before I attempt this.

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I have a $25 or so bench flash harness that programs both the P01s like the 0411s and P59s. Connects to the Blue side of the PCM, provides it power and has an OBD2 port to connect the flash tool into. Works great. I have both the desktop PC and the flash harness power supply plugged into a battery backup to spare bricking a PCM if the power goes out.

I have used HP Tuners, Tunercats OBD2 and the PCM Hammer setup with an OBDLinkSX cable to flash through the bench harness. I bought a 2nd one of those flash harnesses, removed the 0411 connector and put black box connectors on it to make my own black box flash harness as well.

www.amazon.com/gp/product/B087P84G95/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?smid=ANK84Z5ZTQION&psc=1

i am going the pch hammer route, i found it very easy to go through the software to modify the Express van file for basic stuff to match my vehicle, i havent dabbled yet with any tuning aspect though. i dont even have an engine put together to tune yet lol. I am on the learning journey same as you

caw_86 said:

www.amazon.com/gp/product/B087P84G95/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?smid=ANK84Z5ZTQION&psc=1

i am going the pch hammer route, i found it very easy to go through the software to modify the Express van file for basic stuff to match my vehicle, i havent dabbled yet with any tuning aspect though. i dont even have an engine put together to tune yet lol. I am on the learning journey same as you

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I'm still trying to find the correct files lol

Universal Patcher (free) is what I am using. Made my own bench harness from scrap stuff (free) and bought an OBDX Link, I think the SX (at work and stuff is at home) Had EFI Live years ago, but now just doing what I need with UP

Bachert24 said:

I'm still trying to find the correct files lol

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What files are you looking for?