1. When asked if the tuner would work on other Fords that were NOT listed(only Mustangs listed) Shift Masters reply was
"NO- Not really so this leads to Q 2.
Well, the tuner MN12 sells is a shiftmaster piece. It simply uses software that is for the SC. If you look deeper into the shiftmaster site, you will see that the site is old and most of the pages have not been updated which is why that statement is listed.
2. Since Shift Master is NOT supporting any other cars besides the Mustang this leads me to think the SC versions are hacked Mustang Tuners done by another party. Is that the case?
MN12 with the help of Spiro (former SC owner and computer whiz) came up with all the addresses to edit the EEC in our car by reading the processor. Hacked you could call it, I look at it as deciphered information.
3. Shift Masters states on there site that the only computer operating system there software works on is Windows NT and Windows 95. Now this has to be a joke! But is it true?
Win 95 and up are based on NT technology and the software works on 98, NT, 2000 and XP. (not sure about Me)
4. I could not find anything telling me if I would get any type of info on understanding any of the info there software would produce, kinda like if you change this it affects that.....you know what I mean. Where do we get the info needed to decipher the code?
The software for the most part does not tell you what does what. That is a primary reason why I would like to get a tuning forum started on the BBS. Everyone has something to contribute and if we all share what we know, tuning the car will become much easier. There are many people currently using the software who have some experience, post up for them to start a discussion, again this is where a tuning forum would be helpfull. Take a look
HERE for a peek at how things work. If you buy the tuner from Rich, he will also aid you in using the tuner.
5. Shift Masters states on there site that there is NO waranty and you buy it as is. What are they smoking? I build computer systems and I have never bought a chip or any boards that did not have a waranty and could not get a replacement or refund on DOA parts. What gives here? Is that true, NO waranty?
I cannot speak for shiftmaster, again, their site is not very current, email them and see what they have to say. Also, ask Rich what his policy is, I know a few people have had tuners that were bad from Rich in the past and he made right by them.
I buy a tuner for $380.00 and then I have to have someone else write me files for another fee and this keeps going on untill we find the majic spot. So to get started I need a $380.00 Tuner a $25.00 starter file for a total of $405.00 and thats not the end of it. At $25.00 a file I could see eating up another $100.00 just trying to tune the thing and it could be more!
Any decent tuner will write the base file and corrective file for the base price. Usually, 2-3 files need to be used before meeting that happy medium. Example: Base file yields good WOT power, however, runs rich at 4000RPM, fuel curve needs to be adjusted....Next file fuel curve is correct but car is pinging a bit, some timing needs to be removed. HOWEVER, this is where things get choppy, lets say you build a monster motor, toss in a monster fuel pump, upgrade your fuel lines and run 50lb/hr injectors and the tune is all worked out. You are now thinking great, EEC tuner fixed my woes, motor makes gobs of power and car pulls like a top fueler, but wait! It doesnt like to idle, low RPM stumbling and poping occurs and fuel economy sucks! Well, thats the boat I am in, could it be fixed through emailing files? Kinda, but it will never be right unless you or someone else adjusts the file realtime, in person. Thats the drawback and thats the limitation which I oppose. It is also the problem I have with my 93 and the reason why I am learning how to use the tuner myself, no one knows my car like me just as you and your car and so on and so on. <edit>Add into the cost some quality dyno time, its a must regardless of whether you use an EEC tuner or other tuning method if you want to do it right.</edit>
Another thing I'm not liking very much is the fact that for that kind off money this thing should datalog as well, But no.....According to Shift Masters that is extra. Give me a break this little thingy costs more than the whole ECU and doesnt do 1/4 of the things a ECU does...so why so pricey?
It does datalog, you will need some software and it is only available on 91+ processors (could be wrong on the year, someone correct me please) because the cars PCM doesnt support it. This is one of the reasons why George D swapped in a newer year PCM on his SWB5. Remember this, you are looking at the price from a perspective of a consumer buying an electronic product just like if you bought a computer for example. Shiftmaster is not Dell or Toshiba, it is a small company that buys small volume of product to make the parts. Everyone has to start somewhere and the fact that we even have the tuner to use is a wonder in itself. This brings to mind that an old MM&FF mag had an article on the EEC tuner used in a stang, see if Vernon has it handy, I believe he keeps a library of them.
Dont get me wrong Paul I'm not trying to start any trouble about the thing and I certainly am not trying cause any problems between you and I. I'm just wanting answers and I never realy see any. Everytime the tuner is mentioned the conversations seem very vague at best.
I realize that I have gone on too long in this post and I'm sorry for that. But do you think that you could shed some light on the things I've mentioned here and I'll leave you alone.
Thanks for taking the time to talk to me about this.
No problem at all, we all need to learn from experience or someone else and start somewhere. I agree about the vagueness of this product. I am always happy to help out when I can so feel free to fire away on the questions or contact me via email or phone. I am always available to help out SCers (well, when Im not working one of my other 2 jobs {and even then I take calls if I can, just ask Paul Levine
} or sleeping), regardless if they are clients or not. Remember, this is more of a hobby for me than a business and though I take the business seriously, I am not in it for the money.