Black Bear Tune

[SouthCo]

Ok I'm really thinking about getting an Autocal this summer or maybe attend the next PA in person tune but was just curious if anyone has hard data pre/post tune (i.e. a dyno showing the improvement). From all I have read Justin is the man for tunes and I don't doubt it. I'm just curious what kind of real world numbers are being achieved if anyone has them. I know seat of the pants it feels better and I'm sure it does. Just looking for hp and torque improvements and do I have to go with 93 octane tune to achieve them. Or would I just be better off selling my 3 month old 5.3 and just get the 6.2?

 

Thanks, Steve

[Ron_CA]

Most of the posts I've seen don't claim hp gains, at least not big gains, just a lot better driveability with some reduced tq management and improved transmission shifting. I'm sure a tune would feel better on a 5.3 just as it does with a 6.2

 

You have a beautiful truck, is trading to a 6.2 really an option?

[SouthCo]

My truck has everything I wanted. I didn't consider the 6.2 a must have or I would have waited to find the one that had what I wanted. I went to a few dealers this past weekend and they had 6.2's but none with the options I have/wanted. I don't think it's worth trading in for a 6.2 as the 5.3 has plenty of power and the cost difference (now that mine is used 1800 miles) wouldn't make sense.

 

Just curious what kind of improvement I could get. I don't have any issue with the AFM but would probably turn it off. I feel like the 6spd shifts great and not sure how much that would improve. My wife and I also have a 05 yukon denali xl and a 03 tahoe and the 6spd, to me, is was better than the 4spd on those. I don't really know anything about torque management and what that does. So would reducing torque managment improve hp, torque, 0-60, or just seat of the pants (which is just that).

[Ron_CA]

Have you ever gave your truck more gas and it didn't feel like much happened, so you gave it some more and then some more and then finally started accelerating or downshifted and started accelerating? That is where you will notice the difference.

 

My truck has the 6.2 and it will spin the tires easily on takeoff but there are times when it should downshift a gear and doesn't and requires more right foot than it should. I will be looking for a tune once I break it in, especially since I think BB is in San Diego.

 

My truck has everything I wanted. I didn't consider the 6.2 a must have or I would have waited to find the one that had what I wanted. I went to a few dealers this past weekend and they had 6.2's but none with the options I have/wanted. I don't think it's worth trading in for a 6.2 as the 5.3 has plenty of power and the cost difference (now that mine is used 1800 miles) wouldn't make sense.

 

Just curious what kind of improvement I could get. I don't have any issue with the AFM but would probably turn it off. I feel like the 6spd shifts great and not sure how much that would improve. My wife and I also have a 05 yukon denali xl and a 03 tahoe and the 6spd, to me, is was better than the 4spd on those. I don't really know anything about torque management and what that does. So would reducing torque managment improve hp, torque, 0-60, or just seat of the pants (which is just that).

[txab]

If you contact Blackbear they can provide you some info

[Black02Silverado]

I can at least say that the 87 econo tune makes a difference. On my Scangauge II I have been getting an average of 15.2 mpg. I installed the 87 econo tune and on my trip to and from PA, a 450 mile each way drive I averaged 17.8 mpg. To me that is a win win right there.

 

The performance tune is all seat of pants. The fact that before I had the tune I would stand on it and it would just get up and go. Now if I do that both back wheels will spin and they are BFG All Terrain's. Scientific, no but a difference. AutoCal is well worth the $$$.

[Jennabear]

We have done plenty of dyno tunes, however, every setup is different- so results vary. We also use load bearing dynos, as we are not just doing pulls.

[SouthCo]

I appreciate the info. Again, a BB tune is something I see in this truck's future. I'm not so concerned with increasing MPGs, just HP and Torque. I also don't won't to do stuff to the trans just to make it feel more powerful. I would like real power increase. Jenna or Justin, is there a ball park estimate that I could expect to see with regards to HP and Torque on a stock 5.3 6spd? The only mod I may do is a Corsa exhaust. I know there will always be varying results but just curious what a tune alone can do for HP and Torque? Again, thanks so much for all the info.

[Jennabear]

What octane?

[marine_devildog801]

I am curious to see these numbers for our trucks as well. How about a 5.3 with a 89 Octane tune? 2007+ year if it matters.

[SouthCo]

What octane?

 

If you have all three 87, 89 and 93. I really don't know which I would choose or even if I could choose more than one. I would probably decide which tune to get based on the difference in power amongst them. I really appreciate the info.

 

Steve

[Jennabear]

I don't have many scanned in, as most are at the dyno shop- here are two:

 

2005 5.3

 

2004 5.3

 

We don't take pics of all the sheets, but maybe some of the dyno customers will post up the ones they took. These are load bearing dyno numbers- add 20% to compare to DynoJet numbers.

[Jennabear]

What octane?

 

If you have all three 87, 89 and 93. I really don't know which I would choose or even if I could choose more than one. I would probably decide which tune to get based on the difference in power amongst them. I really appreciate the info.

 

Steve

 

 

Higher octane (provided good quality) will yield best results.

[66nova]

Let me start by telling you that I can guarantee you will not be disappointed with the decision to go with a Black Bear tune. I have had the privilege of talking to literally close to a hundred of their customers and all of them have the same smile on their face.

 

I don't have any dyno numbers personally but have seen dyno sheets. The gains are substantial. I do think you're looking at things wrong when you say you don't want it to feel faster. The thing to remember is while GM tells you your truck has 315 hp, rarely does your computer let you use that power. This is because of nannies like torque management and throttle delays, etc. The things pull timing and fuel from your truck to decrease the power when you hit the throttle or between shifts. This greatly inhibits acceleration. So most of the time you probably only have in the mid 200hp range. Justin can give that power back to you. Along with gaining you another 25 to 50 hp depending on what tune you go with and your other mods.

 

I have autocal and I have a 87 and 93 octane tune. The 87 feels greatfor most daily driving but there is a definite difference when I'm pulling my trailer or hammering it to get on an onramp. If you want the most out of your truck go with the 93. I use it through the spring and summer when I'm towing a lot. 87 goes in this time a year after I'm done with race season.

[Stevens03]

I had justins tune on my last truck and will on my new truck too.

 

Very happy with the results.