Which is better?

Supercop8100 · September 22, 2005

Okay, im having a terrible time with this decision. Someone please help me out here. I want a performance increase with noticeable gas mileage improvement, probably the mid-package(89-91). Jesse's associate(I think it was his wife) at Wait4me tunes stated that he had the most current and state of the art programming for tuning. They also stated that the reason he is so low priced is because the other guys charge so much when it costs so little to tune. They also stated that they can do anything that anyone else can do and I can even keep my factory PCM. If I sent the my PCM in as a core, the tune would only cost me $92.67.

This is killing me. I hate to spend the money for the Westers if the tunes are even near equal.

I cant get hold of anyone at Westers for their comment, but I will keep trying.

Give me some opinions from both sides. There has got to be people out there with both tunes, or at least has one or the other.

Freyguy · September 22, 2005

I think this is one of those things where everybody just has one tune and they love it and think it's the best one ever. It's such a huge increase in performance, any of them will prove their worth. My theory is to get it for as cheap as possible. I got mine from PCMFORLESS before Wait4me was around. I love it, but to tell you the truth, I'd prob go Wait4me if I had to get another. (Just might for the wifey's tahoe!)

Machine · September 22, 2005

To be honest, unless someone has proven that either one of these tuners is actually better than the other in matters of performance - I would go the economical route. Wester’s has built a fine reputation over the years, but his price reflects that.

99-2door · September 22, 2005

The fact that you can't get the Wester's guys on the phone would make my decision for me.

luvs hds · September 22, 2005

Well, here we go...Westers gave me over 1/2 sec gain in quarter and around 2mpg while towing with 10X's better shifting...BUT, it would be nice to still have my factory PCM because I sent mine in to have it re-done....takes $100 off the price. I chose Westers because all the good talk around here about them, AND their customer service...but I did it all by email. Common sense tells me go w/the guy that can do it for a 5th of the $$$. But I'm one of those who believes in the ol say'n.."you get what you pay for"....and sometimes I get screwed!!LOL

Supercop8100 · September 23, 2005

Okay, thats it, im going with the Wait4me. Thanks alot guys for all your help. I will let you know how it turns out in about 2 weeks.

3500in nc · September 23, 2005

Okay, thats it, im going with the Wait4me. Thanks alot guys for all your help. I will let you know how it turns out in about 2 weeks.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

CONGRADS u finally made a choice lol hope all that has been said helped ya in some way

update us when u get the tune

SS Crew · September 26, 2005

Since I purchased a Wester's tune and had numerous conversations with Lyndon prior to ordering my tune and he always had time to take my call, I'll have to go with Wester's on this one.

SHOGOR · October 26, 2005

Stay away from Wester's. It has been over a year of back and forth 4 times from NJ to Canada, over $400 in freight and Lyndon can't get it tuned right. 1st PCM had multiple missfires anf threw a trouble code P1571. Lyndon jerked me around for 4 weeks, sending me faxed pages from service manuals to trouble shoot the wiring harness. He insisted that the P1571 code was my fault, that I must have screwed something up during install. What a jerk-off, Its his friggin tune that caused the code P1571. He knew it, he just wanted me to go away. And the missfires are because you cant just swap out your PCM, it requires a crank relearn to get it right, and you can't do it without a Tech 2 scan tool.

Sent MY original PCM to Wester's so he could put his tune on it to eliminate the requirement for the crank relearn and he was going to fix the P1571 code. Yeah sure, he friggin down tuned it to lame, thats how he tried to fix the trouble code. Friggin 8.1L couldn't even do a burnout from a standing stop on a cold morning.

Sent that one back again. Got it back, it hauled ass, but still threw the P1571 code and the shifts were all screwed up.

Sent it back a 3rd time, got it back, fixed the trouble code but it wont up-shift from 4th to 5th at wide open throttle.

Sent Lyndon 2 e-mails, no reply. Called him and he says, whats the problem, re-send your e-mail. Called him again and Lyndon answer the phone but dosn't reply to my request to fix it and pay the freight. He just sits silent on the phone and ignores me.

This is how Wester's Garage has treated me. Don't think it can't happen to you.

trever1t · October 26, 2005

Well, I just spent some time and read a lot of posts, here, and elsewhere in regards to Wester's and other's tuning.

I have read posts both from those with complaints and praise. I have read posts directly from Lyndon and other Tuners addressing individuals on message boards.

I decided to buy a Wester's tune based on my experience with Lyndon on the phone and with Wester's sales reps. I also evaluated some complaints by the experience level of the poster and weighed that against the others and have come to the conclusion that while it is an imperfect science, with some patience even the difficult issues can be resolved.

-Trever.

P.S. Hope my install goes smoothly!

linda · November 23, 2005

I have a westers tune (which i love), but for $150, i might try the wait4me just for giggles and see if there is a difference.

Fishpilot · November 23, 2005

I had the same question so I called wait4me and asked a few questions. They seem to have the same variety of tunes regarding octane and dual octane setups. They can pretty much customize whatever you need. They can not tune the allison tranny, I'm not sure if anyone can. Finally it is only $82.70, not $157.70, for the entire tune if you send them your PCM and they tune it instead of them sending you another PCM. For $75 I will let my truck rest for a few days while it is being tuned. For that price, I am next on the list!! Even if I dont like it they will return it to normal for free plus shipping.

Whatever money I save eating 3 days of leftover turkey is going to this mod!

3500in nc · November 23, 2005

I had the same question so I called wait4me and asked a few questions. They seem to have the same variety of tunes regarding octane and dual octane setups. They can pretty much customize whatever you need. They can not tune the allison tranny, I'm not sure if anyone can. Finally it is only $82.70, not $157.70, for the entire tune if you send them your PCM and they tune it instead of them sending you another PCM. For $75 I will let my truck rest for a few days while it is being tuned. For that price, I am next on the list!! Even if I dont like it they will return it to normal for free plus shipping.

Whatever money I save eating 3 days of leftover turkey is going to this mod!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

good to here that u gettin a tune

but to inform every1 about the allison with a tune is just not changable with just a ecm tune

now i wouldnt mind seeing if a tuner can take my allisons computer and reprogram it now that would be nice

just putting the info out there 4 everyone that wonders

DiegoYJ · November 24, 2005

So far my experience with wait4me hasn't been all that impressive in that I called them a week ago and haven't heard back from them yet. We'll see what happens...maybe they already have enough customers

PewterC3 · November 24, 2005

Well here's my opinion for whatever its worth.

First off...you don't need a TechII to do a crank relearn.

Second...there can be codes thrown when you get tune (know matter who did it) that will clear after 3 or 4 (can't remember) start/run cycles. Not saying all codes will clear, but some will.

Third....I've noticed that a high percentage of Wester's bashers generally have a "newbie" type status or low post count, although they sometimes may have been a member for quite some time. Draw your own conclusions from this.

Forth....All trucks are not created equal. There's that 2 or 3 out of a 100 that have a marginal network of sensors and anything but the most generic tune will tend to throw a code.

As far as the post about the P1571 DTC did you ever ask to see what it was? I don't know what it is for an '02 but for an '03 truck its this:

DTC P1571 - Traction Control Torque Request Circuit

As tuners go Westers has been in the business longer then just about any other custom tuner (along with Ed Wright and I think one other). Westers has a longer track record with his customers then just about any other custom tuner. Westers has the best warranty over just about any other custom tuner....much less anyone having a full purchase credit trade-up policy as he does. Westers also has a network of US reps, so your not trying to chase down one guy like many other tuners that are sales, administrative, and the tuner all in one. Plus a few of those other tuners have regular day jobs so tuning is only a sideline.

As far as performance... no one has ever been able to put together a tuner test with them all together and probably never will. I tend to think the guy with more experience is better suited to meet most peoples needs. Some of these so called custom tuners simply modify some LS1Edit files they got off the internet.....hardly "custom" for your vehicle. The question you have to ask yourself is saving a few bucks worth burning up a transmission or something else? And to my knowledge when you trade up and get a new truck...you loose your investment in your tune with everyone else... but Westers.

Yes... I have a Westers tune. I have had one since October or November 2003 so I guess it's my 2 year anniversary. During that time I have gone from my original 93 tune to a 91/93 Dual tune. My truck went from a 15.67 @ 86.67 to 15.23 @ 90.89 with the 93 tune. Others have seen even better results. I made several passes at a drag strip (no g-tech guestimates here) with my Westers and stock PCM's and the gains from the tune were consistent. Now my truck runs a 15.02 a@ 92.37 with a small exhaust change and the 91/93 tune. It also is getting around 14-15mpg average around town (depending on how much I put my foot in it) and around 17-18mpg at highway cruise speeds and 19-20mpg at 55-60mph....much better then stock. And consider that my truck has a 6.0 and also is full time AWD.

For those that say they need their truck to still be able to haul or tow, just get a less aggressive tune. It will still be way better then stock. Or if you just have to have the most performance possible and still tow 8k lbs, just keep your stock PCM and purchase a "core" PCM off the net or from a salvage yard. Send that PCM back for the core charge and you can swap back and forth as you please. It cost me $55 shipped for a 2001 truck PCM to send in as a core. Unfortunately, the newer the truck, the more expensive the PCM cores are.

So I say go the cheap route if thats what suits you. I used to do that. I'd buy the cheaper furniture, electronics, boots, etc., etc. AS I got older....I realized it was really costing me more money to go that route. There is certainly something to be said for that old saying that refers to buying cheap goods....... "you get what you pay for".