Ok, so now a friend of mine has a SCT LiveWire, and we've been running the Performance Tune that was Pre-Loaded on the tuner, truck runs pretty stout...

It's a 2005 6.0 SuperDuty, and it has a MBRP Dual Exhaust and a K&N CAI...

We're currently working on installing gauges for Tranny Temps, Boost and Pyro on a AutoMeter Z-Series Pillar..

Can i get any Custom tunes for free to try on the SCT LiveWire tuner ?

We're not ready to pay for something we've not tried.... IMO it's like buying jeans without fitting them on first...

We're looking for something that would be called "Extreme Dirty Street" tune...

There are no emission control laws here for diesels so it can be pretty dirty, but we don't want anything too hot...

And last but not least, can the SCT be programmed to have the Tow/Haul trigger the tune?

 

First your wasting your time and money with those analog gauges. The Livewire can monitor Trans and Boost. What you need to do is use the LiveLink SCT software to add the EOTpid to the Livewire in order to compare ECT/EOT delta, this will tell you if your oil cooler has fail or going to fail. LiveWire will also read EGT if you get the SCT pyro probe. Now then the only analog gauge you will need is Fuel Psi, when psi drops below 45psi at idle to WOT, then your doing damage to the injectors and expect to replace the expensive injectors. While we are talking gauges, be sure to check your FICM voltage while cranking and running. When FICM volts fall below 46v, them expensive injectors will be damaged in the long run.


With SCT custom tunes, you can NOT share tunes. The tune writers lock the tunes to the SCT device serial number. The only free version out there are from years ago when Spartan jumped out of the SCT tuning and offered there tunes for free on there website. With that said, some people had saved the tunes onto there PC and have posted the tunes for others to use. The issue with this is, some websites have corrupted tunes, so be careful where you upload these tunes from.


Finally, No the SCT can't be programmed to be activated with the Tow/Haul button.


Do yourself a favor and don't be a cheap @$$. Spend $100 for a three tune package with updated tunes. You won't regret it, the canned tunes suck when compared to custom tunes.

 

Good tunes cost money for a reason.

The only free tunes I've ever seen was the old spartan data bank with tunes, but those were some of the worst tunes I've ever used, couldn't get it to shift right or anything.

The canned tunes on the livewire are pretty much like every other generic tunes out there, they're just ... eh.

Go with custom from a reputable vendor, your transmission will thank you.

Most tuners are going to laugh at you if you ask for a "dirty" (aka, "smoke") tune. They don't write them anymore.

I'm sure if you wanted to lose the functionality of your tow/haul mode, you could rig something up to trigger a tune, but it's going to be like "shift on the fly" which is absolutely terrible for the 6.0's and more specifically the 5R110... the trans in these trucks can not take on the fly adjustments.


Just call up Innovative diesel or Gearhead diesel.


Also, those are NOT the 3 gauges I would choose for a 6.0.

Fuel pressure
Engine Oil temp
Engine Coolant temp
Pyro.

 

Ok, so... i've got the Spartan Tunes...

i have VXCF5 tunes downloaded, should i be using VXCF4 instead...

The truck's Strategy Code is VXCF7D3...

Can anyone point me in the direction of where i could read the differences between the stategy codes ?

 

Some are for 03/04 trucks, others are for 05+, definitely don't want to mix those up, it wont start with the wrong one typically.

Just one more fair warning, those tunes SUCKED. Made my trans shift REALLY funny and even corrupted the Innovative tunes I had on my SCT. I had to put the truck back to stock, erase all of the tunes off of my SCT, and re-load the Innovative back to the Xcal, then reload to truck before it worked right again.

 

A pyrometer and a Live Wire are pretty redundant. While I advocate a pyrometer, haven't seen the need for two.

The consenus is that smoke tunes suck, why waste the fuel?

As for tunes, I really like my SRL tune from Gear Heads. I also have an Extreme tune from Innovative, it's pretty snappy as well. To extrapolate on what Lilpooh said, the Tow/Haul can't be used to 'activate the tune' because it becomes part of the ECU, hence why you don't have to leave your X-3 or X-Cal connected to the truck once the upload is complete. Furthermore, NOTHING on these trucks is cheap, if it is, it's probably going to break. 'Go big or go home' is the cliche when buying parts for a heavy duty truck.

"Too hot"? I'm running high 13s on 35" BFGs and OEM head bolts, but I also don't pound the loud pedal below 188*/190* EGT and I investigate EVERY little tick, quirk or shutter. A good tune writer will ask for Stategy and a COMPLETE list of mods. This prevents them from giving you a tune better suited to a studded truck with injectors and a big ol'honkin turbo.

 

The strategies that start with VXA are for the '03-early'04 trucks with the '03 motor/ECM. The strategies that start with VXB are for the late 04 trucks with the '04 motor/ECM. The strategies that start with VXC are for the 05-07 trucks with the 05-07 motor/ECM.


After the first three letters, the next two number/letter I believe are for the calibration. The number determines the type of flash like, inductive heating, inferred EBP, vane sweep, ect,ect. Sort of like software updates for your ECM.

You should be able to use any of the VXC spartan tunes, some run better than others based of the second set of number/letter.


In the link below, is an example of the '03 (VXA) changes associated with the ECM changes per calibration.

http://www.backglass.org/duncan/calsum6.pdf

 

Ok, i tried three tunes on the truck...

All were VXCF5 tunes...

I put these three on the tuner;

Ultra Competition, named it RACE

Agressive Tow w/Brake, named it Tow/Street

Max Economy, named it Economy/Chill

These three tunes seem pretty good... the truck shifts fine, though the Ultra Competition seems to Smoke a lot before it spools, and even after it spools it fogs... just what the owner wanted... although there are lots of tunes out there that can make the truck behave a lot better and perform better these tunes don't SUCK at all..

We're taking the truck to a DYNO after the weekend to see what it puts out, i don't really get why you are all so negative about these tunes...

I did a rolling road calculation and it seems that it puts down around 500hp with the Ultra Competition Spartan tune, 500hp on a tune alone (yeah i know, exhaust and CAI too) is not a SUCKY tune IMO...

 

Just be careful with some of them Spartan tunes, some are not OEM head bolt safe!!

BTW, with the mods you have listed, no way is it even close to 500rwhp. More like 400-425rwhp.

 

i'm calculating this as flywheel hp.... est .20

so 450whp should be around right... ?

i'm seeing 33psi peak... climate here is pretty cold... we were running @ 13 Centigrade today..