End Of The Quest: SVT w/JRSC+BBK Tune

[oldoutboardjim]

Well, as many of you know, I have been debating this for years. The Ford Racing tune is okay – but is there significantly more performance to be had????
So far the biggest hurdle is cost: the cost is high, and I’m cheap. You gotta buy a dang flash unit, and the cost of the tune is on top of that.
Anyway, past blogs have steered me to DB Performance, so they would be the ‘tuner of choice’. Yesterday, when I saw the XCAL3 for sale on MNFOCUS, I thought to myself, “I might just do this!” So I called Dan at DB, and the direction things went was different than I anticipated.
First of all, the SVT has the special (translated: PITA) ECU. It turns out that the XCAL1 & XCAL2 work ‘fair’ with the SVT, but Dan has had problems with the XCAL3 to the point that he won’t even do an SVT tune with an XCAL3.
Secondly, tuning an SVT is a painful, time-consuming process. Every time he changes a parameter it takes about 20-25 minutes to reload the flash.
Thirdly (this is kinda important!), he can’t promise any results. In the end, he said, you might end up with zero gain. Hmmmmmmm!
Dan’s parting words were, and I quote, “Leave it alone.” I appreciate his candor in all this. I’d hate to invest a ton of $ and end up with zero gain.
So I’m done. What I have is what I’ll stick with. It works well. It’s pretty quick – although you can never have too much horsepower.
Thanks to everyone who has offered guidance in the past.

[Steve@Tasca]

If that was his response then I'd have to disagree, there's a lot more there, you just need a more experienced SVT Focus tuner.

Have you contacted FS Werks?

Pappy was making about 220whp with his standard Zetec with a Frankenstein JRSC/BBK setup.

[Redlineracer12]

Pappy was making about 220whp with his standard Zetec with a Frankenstein JRSC/BBK setup.

Where do you keep getting that from? He made 200whp as far as I remember The 220whp he made was with the nitrous and cams back in the day...

[Stilz]

Pappy was making about 220whp with his standard Zetec with a Frankenstein JRSC/BBK setup.

Tuning an SVT is a painful, time-consuming process. Every time he changes a parameter it takes about 20-25 minutes to reload the flash.

Pappy had his done at DB and he has a NON SVT. Thats probably why it turned out so well. Much easier to tune, I'd guess.

This is actually VERY disappointing to me, because I was planning on going to DB once I got my SVT done...
ftw...
Guess I'll have to go buy a mustang or a VW like all the "cool kids"

[Steve@Tasca]

Pappy was making about 220whp with his standard Zetec with a Frankenstein JRSC/BBK setup.

Where do you keep getting that from? He made 200whp as far as I remember The 220whp he made was with the nitrous and cams back in the day...

From everything I've heard the dyno at DB reads low, that's where I get it from, Pappy says the same thing and I've heard it from others.

And Jim, DB must simply not be comfortable tuning SVTs because I know for a fact that theres more there and it can also be simply tuned "better" to smooth out some of the issues you're having.

Try FS Werks, I think they have a basic JRSC safe tune and he'll have you do some data logging to tweak things a bit.

[Steve@Tasca]

.
Guess I'll have to go buy a mustang or a VW like all the "cool emo kids in girl pants"

Fixed that for you.

BTW-you could also try Hi-tech, they didn't seem to have a lot of trouble with Rsheaks or Patalrobs Powerworks SVTs, Patalrobs engine did pop but his had suffered from severe nitrous abuse before he bought it so it was probably going to blow anyways.

[Stilz]

.
Guess I'll have to go buy a mustang or a VW like all the "cool emo kids in girl pants"

Fixed that for you.

BTW-you could also try Hi-tech, they didn't seem to have a lot of trouble with Rsheaks or Patalrobs Powerworks SVTs, Patalrobs engine did pop but his had suffered from severe nitrous abuse before he bought it so it was probably going to blow anyways.

bwahahaha girl pants.
That sounds like a plan there Steve. Thanks for reuping my enthusiasm.

[oldoutboardjim]

Try FS Werks, I think they have a basic JRSC safe tune and he'll have you do some data logging to tweak things a bit.

FS Werks isn't exactly 'local'. Are you suggesting that I take a road trip to Anaheim, CA?
I'm assuming that you mean they can do something via email downloads or some such. If that's true, I'd be a little nervous. What if they send me a tune and the car won't start, or runs terribly, or some such? How do I get that resolved? A tow from Osceola to Anaheim costs somewhere in the neighborhood of $800.

[Steve@Tasca]

Try FS Werks, I think they have a basic JRSC safe tune and he'll have you do some data logging to tweak things a bit.

FS Werks isn't exactly 'local'. Are you suggesting that I take a road trip to Anaheim, CA?
I'm assuming that you mean they can do something via email downloads or some such. If that's true, I'd be a little nervous. What if they send me a tune and the car won't start, or runs terribly, or some such? How do I get that resolved? A tow from Osceola to Anaheim costs somewhere in the neighborhood of $800.

FS Werks is widely recognised as one of the finest Focus tuners in the country, if they say they can tune your car remotely, they can do it.

I'd trust Randy to tune my car in a heartbeat. He tuned o2designs car and CH435s car both FI and both tuned remotely.

[oldoutboardjim]

He tuned o2designs car and CH435s car both FI and both tuned remotely.

Does that mean he was just 'remotely' successful?
Seriously, though, maybe I'll give these guys a call. I sure ain't havin' any luck locally!

[goinloco1]

db did mine last year and got a whoping 197whp @5psi. I know for a fact it was reading low, they pulled a wrx on afterwards and it pulled 210whp stock. should have been in the 230 range.
the reason svtf are a bitch to tune is the vct. its really a pain to dial in and if someone hasn't worked with it before it'll cause all sorts of problems.
I'll be taking mine back there this winter. but mines easier since the vct is deleted and the knock is shut off and run through the J&S. basically all they have to mess with is fuel and timing. also adjusting the cam gears, which he was afraid to touch since last time neither of us knew how much adjustment we had to play with

[Patalrob]

I am happy with Casey's "hitech" tune on mine he had mine done in about 1.5 hrs on the dyno for tuning. I have had thoughts of a retune but I haven't done any major changes to justify for it.

[oldoutboardjim]

I am happy with Casey's "hitech" tune on mine.....

What is your motor configuration (SVT, non-svt, boosted, etc.)?

[Pappy]

He's got a powerworked super charged Svt.

[oldoutboardjim]

I am happy with Casey's "hitech" tune on mine.....

Okay, who is Casey and where is "hitech"?