8.1 Program, Which One To Choose?

goodi8650 · March 30, 2009

Hi everyone I am looking to get my ecm reprogrammed in my 01 2500hd 8.1/ally 4x4 with 4:10 gears. Ive heard good thongs about westers, blackbear, waite4me but im not sure which one to get. The 8.1 ain't no slouch to begin with but id like more! Whats the best tune for the money thats actually noticable. I emailed the guy at waite4me and claims there program is like 20hp gain. Am i going to feel that in a 6200 pound pickup or whatever it weighs? Thanks

dewfpo · March 30, 2009

Hi everyone I am looking to get my ecm reprogrammed in my 01 2500hd 8.1/ally 4x4 with 4:10 gears. Ive heard good thongs about westers, blackbear, waite4me but im not sure which one to get. The 8.1 ain't no slouch to begin with but id like more! Whats the best tune for the money thats actually noticable. I emailed the guy at waite4me and claims there program is like 20hp gain. Am i going to feel that in a 6200 pound pickup or whatever it weighs? Thanks

IMO, it's not worth the effort or the cost for such a small gain (6%). Highly unlikely you'd even feel that SOTP. My 05 is set up just like yours mechanically with a crew cab, it comes in around 7,200 lbs.

DEWFPO

66nova · March 30, 2009

Hi everyone I am looking to get my ecm reprogrammed in my 01 2500hd 8.1/ally 4x4 with 4:10 gears. Ive heard good thongs about westers, blackbear, waite4me but im not sure which one to get. The 8.1 ain't no slouch to begin with but id like more! Whats the best tune for the money thats actually noticable. I emailed the guy at waite4me and claims there program is like 20hp gain. Am i going to feel that in a 6200 pound pickup or whatever it weighs? Thanks

IMO, it's not worth the effort or the cost for such a small gain (6%). Highly unlikely you'd even feel that SOTP. My 05 is set up just like yours mechanically with a crew cab, it comes in around 7,200 lbs.

DEWFPO

You better believe you will feel 20 hp. If we were talking about 600hp to start and added 20 then maybe not, when you are starting around 300 and add 20 that is a good gain.

BUT!!! The horsepower benefits of a custom tune are just a small part of the improvement. The overall driveability that is added, the change in shift points (up and down), shift firmness, etc are where a custom tune shines.

As far as tuners go, pick one. Most on here (including me) like Justin (Blackbear). I did a lot of research before getting my tune and I could not find anything bad about Justin. His customer service is top notch and he is just a great guy. My number 2 choice would be Nelson again, could not find really anything bad about him.

The others, especially wait4me I have read a lot of bad reviews on. Not necessarily tune wise, but customer service.

I am sure they all do a good tune, but not all of them do the datalog tune which is the next best thing to an in person tune.

dewfpo · March 31, 2009

Last I heard, custom tunes can't adjust anything on the Allison's. As well I believe the stock 8.1L's are 330 hp but I may be wrong. I agree, drivability and throttle response can be greatly improved.

DEWFPO