Superchip Cortex Vs. Blackbear Custom Tuner

JFree · February 23, 2009

Can anyone tell me what the upside is to having a custom tune done for you (Black Bear Perf.) vs. doing it yourself? (Superchip Cortex)

BTW - I have a 2004 6.0l Silverado 2500HD with dual exhaust and a CAI. I'm thinking that info will make a difference.

I am very new to the 'tuner' game, but it seems to me that if I can custom program my own truck over and over again, for almost the same price as having Black Bear Perf. do it once, plus, I could then whore my tuner out to help pay for itself, why would I not buy my own tuner? Craigslist is full of Superchip tuners for around $300 for my 04 Silverado. Most literature says I should gain around 24hp, and about 2 MPG with a Superchip Cortex. How much do I stand to gain with a tuned Black Bear Perf. chip?

Forgive me if I am missing something, like I said, I'm new to this game. Does the Superchip Cortex only let you put in preset programs vs. the Black Bear Custom job? Has anyone tried both in similar vehicle that could compare real-world results?

svensk · February 23, 2009

Because it doesn't let you edit very much. With a custom tune there are literally thousands of parameters and variables that are edited to make the truck respond different. Custom tuners like Black bear use a software called EFI-Live which is extremely complicated, much more so than anything a hand held programmer can do. I recommend you email justin@blackbearperformance and he will give you a much more detailed answer to the advantage of his tunes.

Shaners · February 23, 2009

Most handheld tuners will link themselves to your VIN so you will only be able to tune just your truck. Maybe the Superchips is different (I am not familiar with it).

JFree · February 24, 2009

Most handheld tuners will link themselves to your VIN so you will only be able to tune just your truck. Maybe the Superchips is different (I am not familiar with it).

Apparently Superchips is linked to your VIN as well. I just called a speedometer calibrating shop, and they want me to buy the Superchips Tuner at full retail and then $40 labor on top of that just to calibrate the instrument cluster. Not to mention the fact that he wants $280 for the tuner, and it is the one that only does the speedometer, no hp increase or rev limiter or changing shift points, etc.

So here is what I found out:

Custom Tune:

1000s of parameters

Best performance

Most of them offer unlimited retunes if you mod your ride again, change tire size, etc.

Tuned to the way you drive

Highly recommended - have not talked to a single customer that is dissapointed

Will only tune your one vehicle

Buying a DIY tuner:

About the same price (CL/EBAY/ETC.)

Potentially inferior performance increase

About 15-16 parameters (some of which I don't know what to change them to)

Lots of customers went on to buy the custom tune from Black Bear or others.

Will still only tune your one vehicle because it locks itself to your VIN.

Unlimited retunes

Looks like a custom tune job like the ones Black Bear Performance do is the way to go. I emailed them yesterday. (Got an auto-response from Justin that said to email Jenna, and apparently that was for 'PCM Emergencies'. My apologies to both of you.)

I'll give them a day or two to respond to my emails.

Thanks for the helpful advise.

VMax2007 · February 24, 2009

Looks like a custom tune job like the ones Black Bear Performance do is the way to go. I emailed them yesterday. (Got an auto-response from Justin that said to email Jenna, and apparently that was for 'PCM Emergencies'. My apologies to both of you.)

I'll give them a day or two to respond to my emails.

Thanks for the helpful advise.

Justin was in DFW doing live tunes all weekend. He should be back now and I am sure once he has caught up, he will respond. Might want to PM Jenna too.