Blackbear Traditional Tune

matt3 · December 31, 2008

I am most likely going to get a Blackbear tune. I am probably going to get the normal mail order tune vs. doing the data logging. Who has the traditional Blackbear tune and is it as good as the data logging? I realize that data logging will customized to my specific truck but, how much of a difference can it make. I am already going over my budget some by keeping my original ECM and TCM and don't really want to add any more extra cost.

Who has the traditional tune and do you wish you would have data logged or is the normal one bad ass enough?

davzog · December 31, 2008

Iwent with the data logging tune and am very happy with it. It was not a big hassle, and Jason got everything do quickly with no issues. The chances are that once you change the pcm you will have to pay someone (dealer?) to do the crank relearn process.....you do this yourself with the data logging tune....money saved. I kept my original pcm, also, just in case I ever need to go back to the stock tune.

txab · December 31, 2008

I am most likely going to get a Blackbear tune. I am probably going to get the normal mail order tune vs. doing the data logging. Who has the traditional Blackbear tune and is it as good as the data logging? I realize that data logging will customized to my specific truck but, how much of a difference can it make. I am already going over my budget some by keeping my original ECM and TCM and don't really want to add any more extra cost.

Who has the traditional tune and do you wish you would have data logged or is the normal one bad ass enough?

It can make a difference. An in-person tune would be even better. Why don't you see if you can get a group of 10 or more guys in your area to get a tune, or find out if a tuning session is being held within a reasonable driving distance. Justin will come to you and fix you right up. Any tune you get from Justin will be better than what you have now

matt3 · December 31, 2008

Thanks for the replies but, does anybody HOW much better a data logged tune is vs regular mail order?

Is the data logging the only thing that sets Blackbear apart from the other mail order tuners? Or, is a standard tune from Justin going to be better than say Nelson, Wheatly, or Wait4me?

txab · December 31, 2008

Thanks for the replies but, does anybody HOW much better a data logged tune is vs regular mail order?

Is the data logging the only thing that sets Blackbear apart from the other mail order tuners? Or, is a standard tune from Justin going to be better than say Nelson, Wheatly, or Wait4me?

you might pm VMax2007. I think he had a tune by someone else before he got the Blackbear tune.

wlvrn1215 · December 31, 2008

Bad experiences from Wait4me. The guy is a joke. Nelson and blackbear seem to have a good rep. I myself have a nelson tune and love it!

Justin @ blackbear seems like a real stand up guy too.

VMax2007 · December 31, 2008

Thanks for the replies but, does anybody HOW much better a data logged tune is vs regular mail order?

Is the data logging the only thing that sets Blackbear apart from the other mail order tuners? Or, is a standard tune from Justin going to be better than say Nelson, Wheatly, or Wait4me?

you might pm VMax2007. I think he had a tune by someone else before he got the Blackbear tune.

OK, I'll chime in here.

Yes, I have a set of Nelson tuned modules (mail order) and to be honest, they are quite good too. I could not tell you offhand which one would beat which at the track. I may compare them next year.

I did have to send mine back to get "tweaked" though as he did not tune the tranny very well the first time. That is where I believe the real advantage comes in. It does not take as many attempts to get your tune dialed in when he has log data to go off of to begin with. But if you don't mind sending your modules back and forth a few times, you can get a regular mail order tune pretty darn good too. IMO, it's not worth the hassle. I would suggest doing the datalog tune to minimize the re-tune effort to get your tune dialed in the way you like it.

VMax2007 · December 31, 2008

Bad experiences from Wait4me. The guy is a joke. Nelson and blackbear seem to have a good rep.
Justin @ blackbear seems like a real stand up guy.

Yep, both are excellent tuners, but Justin's customer service and personality are 2nd to none.

wlvrn1215 · December 31, 2008

I agree with Jeff. I talked to Justin a couple of times. Nice guy and doesn't BS you

matt3 · December 31, 2008

Last question, is there any chance that some sort of spyware or virus that may or may not be hiding undetected in my laptop could be transferred over to my truck's computer. That would suck big time! Plus I'm am not very handy with a computer AT ALL, hell I can't even figure out how to resize pictures so I can have a real avatar and signature. Having to do the data logging and email the info back and forth and then having to do the crank relearn myself seems way out of reach of my computer skills. (In my mind computers are good for 3 things: buying things online, forums, and occasional porn. That is the limit to my computer skills) That is why I'm so set on a traditional tune from Justin that way it's plug and play and have someone else do the crank relearn. I found a local shop that has a GM Tech 2 so, I don't have to explain to the dealer why I need a crank relearn.

TheNikeMan · January 1, 2009

Last question, is there any chance that some sort of spyware or virus that may or may not be hiding undetected in my laptop could be transferred over to my truck's computer.

No, they run completely different operating systems so that will not be an issue.

thecraft · January 1, 2009

Last question, is there any chance that some sort of spyware or virus that may or may not be hiding undetected in my laptop could be transferred over to my truck's computer.

No, a virus would have to be programmed specifically for your truck's PCM in order to harm it. It can't jump the "species barrier" from Windows to whatever PCM you have, so to speak.

VMax2007 · January 1, 2009

Last question, is there any chance that some sort of spyware or virus that may or may not be hiding undetected in my laptop could be transferred over to my truck's computer.

No, they run completely different operating systems so that will not be an issue.

Just think if it did though....modern day "Christine".

GARB55 · January 1, 2009

Last question, is there any chance that some sort of spyware or virus that may or may not be hiding undetected in my laptop could be transferred over to my truck's computer.

No, they run completely different operating systems so that will not be an issue.

Just think if it did though....modern day "Christine".

That's Christine up there, one of the scarier cars in movie history and star of Stephen King's love-gone-wrong story about a 1958 Plymouth Fury and her owner. Christine is one of the more famous cars with a name, and she's my tidy segue to the topic for today's Frivolous Friday (the 13th): naming your car.

My dad had a green '67 Ford Mustang fastback who was named The Frog by his then-girlfriend. I have an 8-year-old Civic named Dee Dee who has never let me down and as far as I know isn't in love with me...

Ryan00TJ · January 1, 2009

While I have not yet had my truck tuned I have alot of experience with tuning on my SS. I had four different tunes on the car after adding different mods and all were data logged tunes on the dyno and street. IMO save up for a data logged tune specific to your truck. A mail order tune may get close but I believe there is more to be had my a data logged tune.

From Blackbear's FAQ's it seems pretty easy to perform the logging process and such even if you are not great on computers.