What tuner for 1999 Suburban (5.7 vortec)? Gear ratio change, need to calibrate speedo

redfishsc · Jun 25, 2017

Trying to find out what old (cheap) used tuner I should be looking for. Not interested in Black Bear and similar, even though I know they are good products. I'm just not interested in spending that much money on it.

Last October I discovered my mystery noise to be a whining rear end. Pinion and carrier bearings all had a lot of pitting on them and the races were streaked up when I pulled it all apart. First time I'd ever done it but thanks to the folks on this site and a few others, I rebuilt it all pretty much without incident.

I took the opportunity to change the gear ratio from 3.42 to 4.10, and it's probably the best upgrade I've ever made to a vehicle. While the heavy Sub isn't going to impress anyone for acceleration, it is a whole lot more fun to drive and I've not noticed a bit of difference in fuel cost (I don't really track it much anyhow).

Net result though, my speedometer is stupid wrong. I'm using a dashboard HUD speedometer (gps based) but I really want to get the main speedometer fixed.

I can easily find what "new" tuner models are available (Flashpaq, etc) but all the used ones I'm finding are still crazy expensive.

This Sub has been out a LONG time, what older model tuners are out there that I'm likely to find on Ebay cheap that will work?

I'm not likely to mess with the transmission shift points. This truck seems to have the original 4L60e at 211K miles, and it performs flawlessly, fluid stays red (Valv Max Life), and the trans pan never has anything more than minor fuzz on the magnet.

Curt · Jun 25, 2017

redfishsc said:
Trying to find out what old (cheap) used tuner I should be looking for. Not interested in Black Bear and similar, even though I know they are good products. I'm just not interested in spending that much money on it.

Last October I discovered my mystery noise to be a whining rear end. Pinion and carrier bearings all had a lot of pitting on them and the races were streaked up when I pulled it all apart. First time I'd ever done it but thanks to the folks on this site and a few others, I rebuilt it all pretty much without incident.

I took the opportunity to change the gear ratio from 3.42 to 4.10, and it's probably the best upgrade I've ever made to a vehicle. While the heavy Sub isn't going to impress anyone for acceleration, it is a whole lot more fun to drive and I've not noticed a bit of difference in fuel cost (I don't really track it much anyhow).

Net result though, my speedometer is stupid wrong. I'm using a dashboard HUD speedometer (gps based) but I really want to get the main speedometer fixed.

I can easily find what "new" tuner models are available (Flashpaq, etc) but all the used ones I'm finding are still crazy expensive.

This Sub has been out a LONG time, what older model tuners are out there that I'm likely to find on Ebay cheap that will work?

I'm not likely to mess with the transmission shift points. This truck seems to have the original 4L60e at 211K miles, and it performs flawlessly, fluid stays red (Valv Max Life), and the trans pan never has anything more than minor fuzz on the magnet.

What's your budget for a tuner? I used a Superchips 2842 to tune my truck and I love it. If you're interested in the 2842 tuner, do not buy one that is VIN locked. I have more info about it in my build thread if you're interested. Anyways, I have an unmarried Flashpaq F4 tuner and it states that it works with 99-07 GM gas vehicles, although I'm not sure if it's aimed towards GMT800s instead of the 1999-00 GMT400. If you're interested in it, let me know.

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BowtieBrody · Jun 25, 2017

Any recommendations for a 1996 7.4L? I can't find anything reasonable for the basic tuning I would like to do, 411 would be a pain in the ass so that'll have to wait, and Black Bear doesn't offer it for my model year.

df2x4 · Jun 26, 2017

BowtieBrody said:
Any recommendations for a 1996 7.4L? I can't find anything reasonable for the basic tuning I would like to do, 411 would be a pain in the ass so that'll have to wait, and Black Bear doesn't offer it for my model year.

Black Bear can absolutely tune a '96... They just can't tune the '96 or '97 computers in person or via AutoCal. Standard mail order tunes only. They tuned my red '97 with no issues.

As always, I strongly recommend that anyone considering a handheld programmer reconsider and spend a little more on a real tune. Most companies will make alterations later on for free if you decide you want to change something. It's a little more money, but you get a lot more for it.

GarrettGmc · Jun 26, 2017

Dnt mean to hijack thread but couldn't find any info an since already on tune topic figured I'd ask. Got 99 burb an was thinkin abt having a black bear tune done, question is can i get a pcm from wrecked truck and use it? Does it matter if it came out of a different vehicle but same year an model?

redfishsc · Jun 26, 2017

df2x4 said:
Black Bear can absolutely tune a '96... They just can't tune the '96 or '97 computers in person or via AutoCal. Standard mail order tunes only. They tuned my red '97 with no issues.

As always, I strongly recommend that anyone considering a handheld programmer reconsider and spend a little more on a real tune. Most companies will make alterations later on for free if you decide you want to change something. It's a little more money, but you get a lot more for it.

It's good advice. In my case it won't really reap much, I am actually quite happy with the power of this old Sub, the 5.7 still shoves it along surprisingly well (the 4.10 rear end admittedly helps lol). I might take the time and firm up the shifts, it has a fairly sloppy 2-3 and 3-4. Mainly I wanted it for swapping gear ratio and tire size.

I found a Flashpaq on Ebay for half the cost of a new one. So long as it's not "married" it will be a good deal. I tried to find a speedometer calibrator (hypertech) but nothing offered fit the Sub. Would have been a lot cheaper.

redfishsc · Jun 26, 2017

GarrettGmc said:
Dnt mean to hijack thread but couldn't find any info an since already on tune topic figured I'd ask. Got 99 burb an was thinkin abt having a black bear tune done, question is can i get a pcm from wrecked truck and use it? Does it matter if it came out of a different vehicle but same year an model?

You need to call Black Bear for that one. I think they can, but I am not sure about that.

BowtieBrody · Jun 26, 2017

df2x4 said:
Black Bear can absolutely tune a '96... They just can't tune the '96 or '97 computers in person or via AutoCal. Standard mail order tunes only. They tuned my red '97 with no issues.

As always, I strongly recommend that anyone considering a handheld programmer reconsider and spend a little more on a real tune. Most companies will make alterations later on for free if you decide you want to change something. It's a little more money, but you get a lot more for it.

Now could I just buy a tuned 96 PCM from them? Or would I need to send my computer in? It would be damn near impossible to send in the black box seeing as how my truck is my daily,

GarrettGmc · Jun 26, 2017

Ok so I contacted black bear and asked em if I just took a pcm from junkyard truck, same make n model could they use that. Answer is yes. As long as it's from the same make model for what you vehicle is you can send it to them to be tuned so that you don't have down time with your truck an then just swapped an out.

df2x4 · Jun 27, 2017

BowtieBrody said:
Now could I just buy a tuned 96 PCM from them? Or would I need to send my computer in? It would be damn near impossible to send in the black box seeing as how my truck is my daily,

The answer to this is yes, you can just buy a tuned PCM from them. There's a core charge in addition to the price of the tune ($50 or $60 IIRC) which you can choose to have refunded or not, depending on whether you want to keep your stock PCM or send it into them as a core. I kept mine so I'll always have another PCM to swap in if the tuned one needs to be sent in for adjustments, or I just feel like getting better gas mileage.

redfishsc said:
It's good advice. In my case it won't really reap much, I am actually quite happy with the power of this old Sub, the 5.7 still shoves it along surprisingly well (the 4.10 rear end admittedly helps lol). I might take the time and firm up the shifts, it has a fairly sloppy 2-3 and 3-4. Mainly I wanted it for swapping gear ratio and tire size.

I found a Flashpaq on Ebay for half the cost of a new one. So long as it's not "married" it will be a good deal. I tried to find a speedometer calibrator (hypertech) but nothing offered fit the Sub. Would have been a lot cheaper.

I was thinking a tune wouldn't help my truck much either really, especially considering the fact that my red truck has the 4.3L V6. It was a bigger improvement than anything else I've done to the truck by far. More noticeable than my full exhaust with shorty headers. Just made the truck way more fun to drive!

I understand if you really just want a programmer for the tire size and gear change, but I would not go messing around with the shift points or anything related to the 4L60E with a handheld programmer. 4L60Es are pretty weak. When I first got my Black Bear tune for the V6 truck I had them remove 100% of the factory torque management and firm up the shifts on my factory 4L60E, and about a week later it failed during a WOT 2-3 shift. Had it rebuilt and beefed up considerably (with parts that a user here, @rhino kindly helped me pick) and had Black Bear put all the TM back into the tune, but it still worries me. Even behind the V6. Be careful tweaking a 4L60E for sure.

What tuner for 1999 Suburban (5.7 vortec)? Gear ratio change, need to calibrate speedo

redfishsc

Tired of fixing lousy engineering.

Curt

Sometimes when I close my eyes, I can't see.

BowtieBrody

Jesus Murphy!

df2x4

4L60E Destroyer

GarrettGmc

I'm Awesome

redfishsc

Tired of fixing lousy engineering.

redfishsc

Tired of fixing lousy engineering.

BowtieBrody

Jesus Murphy!

GarrettGmc

I'm Awesome

df2x4

4L60E Destroyer

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