Black box tuned and spare 411 value

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rangrayy

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i found a black box that has been tuned by BBP for sale and dude told me to make an offer. Can’t tell me about the tune other than it shifts better and egr delete. What would fair value be? He also has a 411 he’d throw in the deal.
 

454cid

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I have never gotten a PCM tuned, but I wouldn't think it was worth anything more than any other black box, if the tune isn't for your truck. Maybe if it's for a stock truck it would be ok (assuming you have a stock truck)... engine and transmission combinations are important. I don't know if an exact year match is.
 

df2x4

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Unless your truck is EXACTLY the same as the one the tuned PCM came from (engine, transmission, gear ratios, PassLock if applicable, etc) then you're wasting your money because things aren't going to work properly. Also I believe I've read that the '96-'97 boxes are physically different from the '98-up models when it comes to wiring. I can't confirm that personally though as both of my trucks are '97s. Honestly I wouldn't want to buy a tune for someone elses vehicle, anyway. I'm sure BBP won't help you with anything if you send it in for alterations and someone else's name is on the sticker. (Yes, they do label them.)

All that said, I think the junk yards around here charge $60-$80 for used PCMs. I wouldn't pay much more than that.

EDIT - Also if it's a 4L60E tune/truck and BBP removed or reduced torque management, you're basically signing a death sentence for your transmission by installing the tuned PCM. I'd want to make 100% sure they left that alone if you're running a 60E.
 

BNielsen

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I paid $330 or so for my PCM from Black Bear, so if you could get it for less than $100 I would jump on it, but I'd send it back into Black Bear so they could adjust it for your truck if possible

I agree with @df2x4, make sure it's the correct year pin out for your truck, 96-97 have an extra plug in the middle, 98+ has the 4.
I've got a 4L80E in my 96 K2500, but I still left TQM alone and had them leave shift firmness alone. I'm debating on when I retune having it turned back some, but I know my trans can take thw abuse. A 4L60E will not.
 

John Cunningham

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I paid $330 or so for my PCM from Black Bear, so if you could get it for less than $100 I would jump on it, but I'd send it back into Black Bear so they could adjust it for your truck if possible

I agree with @df2x4, make sure it's the correct year pin out for your truck, 96-97 have an extra plug in the middle, 98+ has the 4.
I've got a 4L80E in my 96 K2500, but I still left TQM alone and had them leave shift firmness alone. I'm debating on when I retune having it turned back some, but I know my trans can take thw abuse. A 4L60E will not.
I have a 97 454 and wondering if these tunes show any value..k3500 and I tow
 

BNielsen

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I have a 97 454 and wondering if these tunes show any value..k3500 and I tow

Any sort of tuning on a 454 will help, I regret not buying a tuned PCM sooner; although I'm looking at an 0411 swap now so I can learn to tune and make adjustments myself.
I only had Black Bear do two or three things, and my truck is still so much nicer to drive. Throttle response is snappier, and it'll pull harder all the way through the gears.
For a simple plug and play option that shows instant results; Black Bear is the way to go.
 

ryeguy2006a

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I was just thinking the same thing, about just looking at the 0411 swap. Many more tuners out there use HP Tuners or EFI Live so you'd likely end up paying about the same.
 

GMTMark

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I have HP Tuners and they support the 1998 black box on my truck. The tables arent as versatile as the 411 but for what little I'm doing it simplifies. I'm not a tuning expert so simple is better for me. All I've used it for so far is to turn off VATS.
 

eshaw

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If I'm not mistaken the earlier black boxes, before 98 have the 5th plug but it doesn't hook to anything. If I remember correctly (I'm old!) the wiring for it runs into the loom, does an about face and runs right back to the same plug. Does this mean it doesn't do anything? I don't think so. I think basically it's acting like a jump wire. Personally if I had to change a PCM I'd go ahead and use the 0411 unit. It's leaps and bounds ahead of the black box. You're going to find a lot more support for it also.
 
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