Westers Custom Tune Trailblazer inline 6 (LL8)

[Trailblazin]

I should be getting around the same amount as a Westers tune this coming week and would just like to ask some more info about the tune. Here are some questions (I know it's a lot but plz bear with me) :

1. Are you still happy with the tune?? And does it adapt to your driving style which might make the tune better??

2. Have you raced anyone that you previously raced before and noticed any major differences??

3. For the dual 91/93 Octane tune, how does the ECU read the different octanes and alter fast enough before any pinging or detonating issues??

4. For those who added the +200 rpm limiter, do you feel the extra power in the top end or would it be best to stay as stock??

5. For those with the firmest shifts, is the shift uncomfortable or does it make you feel your riding in a sports car :p

6. Any idea why the towing or hauling would be included in the specs form?? Does it help if you have no towing whatsoever?? (As in power gains?)

I know there are a lot of q's, but i live half way around the world from you guys and if anything went wrong or I wanted to change something, I wouldn't have an extra PCM to use. So I'm trying to get as much info as I can on the tune before purchasing it.

Thanks!

ps. Jman I know you moved this post to the Hows your Westers tune, but that post was very old and I don't think ppl were looking into it so I could get enough feedback, I will be buying the Tune this week coming so I need as many answers as possible, sorry to go against you


Posted by ltz03:
1.:iagree: :iagree: :iagree:
2.dodge dorango 5.9 he won without, I won with, he has a chip intake and exhaust. my brother still smokes me highly modded DIESEL POWER nothing like it he will smoke all of the SS guys too, he ran low 12's at the track all motor no nitrus, no propane
3. i got the hot 93 so i dont know
4. yes I did get it raised and alittle bit it gets to shift into 2 and 3 at a higher rpm which i think aided in acceleration
5. I've got the firmest and it is comfortable driving around town, then floor it and it's a swift, quick shift and it's not harsh
6.if your towing at the fullest capacity of your truck then yes, but if your just towing around 4 wheelers or jetski, smaller things probally not
7. as far as something going wrong he sends you a pcm and you send the other one back. you are never left without one

Posted by JimmyJam:
1. f*** yes. mine felt good out of the box. engine got a little smoother after a few hundred miles. I've still got my stock ECM, I think i'm going to throw it in this weekend for sh**s and giggles
2. never raced anyone.
3. i've got the 89/93 and i haven't heard it ping with 89 in the tank.
4. n/a
5. i've got the shift firmness on medium and i think i'm going to crank it up to firmest. its still very very comfortable on medium.
6. towing is one of the options. i told them NO so i'm sure that changes something, probably transmission-wise.
disclaimer: my :m2:

[Trailblazin]

Posted by ltz03:
2.dodge dorango 5.9 he won without, I won with, he has a chip intake and exhaust. my brother still smokes me highly modded DIESEL POWER nothing like it he will smoke all of the SS guys too, he ran low 12's at the track all motor no nitrus, no propane


this is music to my ears, I raced my friends rumblebee (slt 1500 ram HEMI 5.7L) and i was right at his bumper when I had only an intake. He bought a superchips programmer and intake, we raced again and he beat me by nearly 3-4 cars length, so if i buy this tune i just wanna give him a run for his money, coz i still haven't heard the end of it from him...

[ltz03]

ya you'll get him dont worry:thumbsup: dont tell you are getting it , just find a stop light and go he will be suprised. :yes: you will switch places he'll be at you bumper reading your plates.:confused: thow a few buck on it first or a beer :raspberry what ever but after you get it you can have the big mouth.... hehehehe. i was in the same position I had a headache listening to my buddy for months:suicide:

[T-Mac]

3. According to Westers, the computer somehow reads the octane level if you put at least 5 gallons in the tank, and adjust accordingly. I thought it was worth every penny. Oh, and with what the others said...:iagree:

[Trailblazin]

niiice, so this tune is purely more sports/race orientated then anything else.... id love an extra 30whp at the touch of the pedal, and with higher revs use alll my potential :D

[ylab]

From what Brian posted some time ago, when you add 5+ gallons of gasoline the tune will try the higher settings and if it encounters more than a programmed level of ping the lower octane table is used. This process occurs each time 5 or more gallons of fuel are added.

(Seems to work well, I ordered the 87/91 tune and ran a tank of 93 and the next tank was 87.....when gasoline was over $3.00 a gallon and it handled the change just fine).

I opted for the mid-level shift firmness and it is by no ways harsh, just enough firmness to get rid of the slippy feeling from the factory.

You'll notice the tune DOES learn, just like the factory tune does and that over the few trips it seems to get quicker. - I temporarily swapped back my PCM (had a spare programmed) and its night and day different.....you REALLY notice it going back to the stock tune!

As far as the towing options, the one applies the other doesn't. (There is no tow button on the TB/Envoy). Brian indicated if you don't plan to tow, select that option as it will be quicker. In any event, make sure you remove most of the TQM and select 3D Mapped shifting.....makes the truck a whole lot more responsive.

Hope this helps,

[Trailblazin]

In any event, make sure you remove most of the TQM and select 3D Mapped shifting.....makes the truck a whole lot more responsive.

Hope this helps,

Hey ylab, thanks for the info...I will be removing most of the TQM, but what on earth is the 3D mapping?? would this be something to do with economy gains in mpg and lose performance, I mean for me, i don't tow, heaviest load is like 3 other ppl in my car, and i will be using 91 as regular fuel, but will opt for the dual tune just for those racey days hehe

[ylab]

On Wester's work order, the far right option for tranny shifting is 3D Mapped or something like that. They tune the tranny so that the shift points are sort of progressively mapped, yet will hold the gears optimally if you mash the pedal. It also adjust how quickly its willing to downshift when you hit the throttle while cruising. I was unsure which option to use and after some correspondence with Brian & Lyndon, that's the option they think works best......it works really well and the truck immediately drops down a gear when you give it some juice to pass. (No need to floor the pedal to get the little stinker to drop down a gear and go). - That option alone almost makes the tune worth the money, its just so much better/smarter than the factory tuning.

Funny part is that much of the economy gain IS from the 3D Mapping, but its also what makes the tranny more responsive.....Lyndon did a really nice job tuning the shift points with it.

[ltz03]

just spoke with lyndon and he was looking for responses for the tunes Please call him and tell him how the tune is for you . How your gas milage is, are you happy with power gains, shifting etc.... drop him a line when ever he just wants to know

[jimmyjam]

no one else offers a tune to date. tuning software for the 4.2L is supposedly entering beta testing soon, but its more expensive and if you're inexperienced at ecm tuning like myself you'll do more harm than good going that route