Wester's?

hr1511 · February 5, 2009

Hi - I'm new to this forum. I am looking at replacing my computer and the Wester folks seem pretty good. I have a 2004 GMC Sierra Z71 with a 5.3. I use it as my daily driver and I tow a 24' enclosed car trailer on the weekends (approx 7000 lbs).

Has anyone had any experiences with Wester's and/or any suggestions for how I can get 20-25 more hp?

Thanks

Ted

VMax2007 · February 5, 2009

Butch has a pretty good reputation. Most here have used Justin at Black Bear Performance though.

Either way, you can't go wrong. Just stay away from the handhelds.

Wingnut · February 5, 2009

And a year ago they were using somebody else...A year before that, everybody was using Wester's....Oh...It's Lyndon, not Butch, that is "Wester's".

It just goes from one to another...Almost any of them will set you up right and almost ALL of them trash talk each other. Tuners talk more crap about each other than Pepsi and Coke.

svensk · February 5, 2009

And a year ago they were using somebody else...A year before that, everybody was using Wester's....Oh...It's Lyndon, not Butch, that is "Wester's".

It just goes from one to another...Almost any of them will set you up right and almost ALL of them trash talk each other. Tuners talk more crap about each other than Pepsi and Coke.

I haven't heard any of the big name tuners ever talk crap about each other. I know the customers to do that quite a bit, myself include but not the tuners.

ALange · February 5, 2009

Welcome aboard and good luck with the computer.

Wingnut · February 5, 2009

And a year ago they were using somebody else...A year before that, everybody was using Wester's....Oh...It's Lyndon, not Butch, that is "Wester's".

It just goes from one to another...Almost any of them will set you up right and almost ALL of them trash talk each other. Tuners talk more crap about each other than Pepsi and Coke.

I haven't heard any of the big name tuners ever talk crap about each other. I know the customers to do that quite a bit, myself include but not the tuners.

Talk to the tuners themselves, in person. 90% of them will trash at least one other tuner. The only tuner I've ever met that didn't was Ed Wright (FastChip)...But he's a very quiet fellow to begin with.

Truth be told...The vast majority of tuners out there are going to get you within +/- 5 horsepower of each other and the vast majority of them will be safe for your truck.

If it were me? I'd not dream of paying $400 and up for a tune unless it's got dyno and street time. Not again anyway. If I'm going mail order, I'm going with Alvin at PCMForLess, Wait4me, or one of my local guys. Locally, I got the Frederado tuned for $50 or so and the GTO will get a basic tune for $125 once the headers go on. It's safe, gets me more ponies, gets rid of the codes that will be thrown, and it's local so I can poke the guy in the eye or get an update easily if/when I add more parts.

Of course...All of this is based solely on MY personal experiences with about a dozen tuners and I understand that I'm painting with a broad brush.

VMax2007 · February 5, 2009

And a year ago they were using somebody else...A year before that, everybody was using Wester's....Oh...It's Lyndon, not Butch, that is "Wester's".

It just goes from one to another...Almost any of them will set you up right and almost ALL of them trash talk each other. Tuners talk more crap about each other than Pepsi and Coke.

I haven't heard any of the big name tuners ever talk crap about each other. I know the customers to do that quite a bit, myself include but not the tuners.

Talk to the tuners themselves, in person. 90% of them will trash at least one other tuner. The only tuner I've ever met that didn't was Ed Wright (FastChip)...But he's a very quiet fellow to begin with.

I have spoken with Allen Nelson, Jesse Bubb, Charlie Wheatley and of course Justin and NONE of them ever said a bad word about the others. In fact, the only times they mentioned the others, they only had good things to say about them.

The only one I bash is "The Hack" (Jesse Bubb). He is the ONLY one I have heard alot of negative stuff about regarding his tunes.

Oh, and Mike, I believe (but may be wrong?) that Lyndon is the tuner for Westers Garage, but Butch is the US Rep (Westers is in Canada).

LSVLance · February 5, 2009

I had Westers tune my 8.1 about 4 years ago because at the time he was the only one that could correct my speedometer for my larger tires. I've been very happy with the tune and have no complaints. It's been trouble free since day one.

I did refer a friend to him for a tune on his 2007 Duramax though...and he's had all sorts of trouble with it. Now, this friend is one of those guys that a black cloud seems to follow him no matter where he goes...so I'm not sure if it was that or the fact that the 2007s were different than previous models and this was when they first came out, but Lyndon talked about getting close to 20 mpg with a 2007 max and my friend never got better than 14 mpg with his after the tune. Lyndon swapped the ECM out for him several times trying to correct the problem, but I never heard if the MPG ever got any better.

Wingnut · February 5, 2009

And a year ago they were using somebody else...A year before that, everybody was using Wester's....Oh...It's Lyndon, not Butch, that is "Wester's".

It just goes from one to another...Almost any of them will set you up right and almost ALL of them trash talk each other. Tuners talk more crap about each other than Pepsi and Coke.

I haven't heard any of the big name tuners ever talk crap about each other. I know the customers to do that quite a bit, myself include but not the tuners.

Talk to the tuners themselves, in person. 90% of them will trash at least one other tuner. The only tuner I've ever met that didn't was Ed Wright (FastChip)...But he's a very quiet fellow to begin with.

I have spoken with Allen Nelson, Jesse Bubb, Charlie Wheatley and of course Justin and NONE of them ever said a bad word about the others. In fact, the only times they mentioned the others, they only had good things to say about them.

The only one I bash is "The Hack" (Jesse Bubb). He is the ONLY one I have heard alot of negative stuff about regarding his tunes.

Oh, and Mike, I believe (but may be wrong?) that Lyndon is the tuner for Westers Garage, but Butch is the US Rep (Westers is in Canada).

Did you miss the part where I said "MY EXPERIENCE"?

VMax2007 · February 5, 2009

And a year ago they were using somebody else...A year before that, everybody was using Wester's....Oh...It's Lyndon, not Butch, that is "Wester's".

It just goes from one to another...Almost any of them will set you up right and almost ALL of them trash talk each other. Tuners talk more crap about each other than Pepsi and Coke.

I haven't heard any of the big name tuners ever talk crap about each other. I know the customers to do that quite a bit, myself include but not the tuners.

Talk to the tuners themselves, in person. 90% of them will trash at least one other tuner. The only tuner I've ever met that didn't was Ed Wright (FastChip)...But he's a very quiet fellow to begin with.

I have spoken with Allen Nelson, Jesse Bubb, Charlie Wheatley and of course Justin and NONE of them ever said a bad word about the others. In fact, the only times they mentioned the others, they only had good things to say about them.

The only one I bash is "The Hack" (Jesse Bubb). He is the ONLY one I have heard alot of negative stuff about regarding his tunes.

Oh, and Mike, I believe (but may be wrong?) that Lyndon is the tuner for Westers Garage, but Butch is the US Rep (Westers is in Canada).

Did you miss the part where I said "MY EXPERIENCE"?

Nope, and I also saw where you said: "Talk to the tuners themselves, in person. 90% of them will trash at least one other tuner."

My flag was also based on my personal experience.

wlvrn1215 · February 5, 2009

And a year ago they were using somebody else...A year before that, everybody was using Wester's....Oh...It's Lyndon, not Butch, that is "Wester's".

It just goes from one to another...Almost any of them will set you up right and almost ALL of them trash talk each other. Tuners talk more crap about each other than Pepsi and Coke.

I haven't heard any of the big name tuners ever talk crap about each other. I know the customers to do that quite a bit, myself include but not the tuners.

Talk to the tuners themselves, in person. 90% of them will trash at least one other tuner. The only tuner I've ever met that didn't was Ed Wright (FastChip)...But he's a very quiet fellow to begin with.

I have spoken with Allen Nelson, Jesse Bubb, Charlie Wheatley and of course Justin and NONE of them ever said a bad word about the others. In fact, the only times they mentioned the others, they only had good things to say about them.

The only one I bash is "The Hack" (Jesse Bubb). He is the ONLY one I have heard alot of negative stuff about regarding his tunes.

Oh, and Mike, I believe (but may be wrong?) that Lyndon is the tuner for Westers Garage, but Butch is the US Rep (Westers is in Canada).

+1,000,000,000

gave20 · February 5, 2009

And a year ago they were using somebody else...A year before that, everybody was using Wester's....Oh...It's Lyndon, not Butch, that is "Wester's".

It just goes from one to another...Almost any of them will set you up right and almost ALL of them trash talk each other. Tuners talk more crap about each other than Pepsi and Coke.

Yep

L29er · February 5, 2009

I use westers, no complaints, very helpfull and knowledgable....

hr1511 · February 6, 2009

Why stay away from the handhelds?

2000DV4.8 · February 6, 2009

Why stay away from the handhelds?

Not worth the money, a custom tune will yield much better results.