[squatchy]

Just a feedback/process thread. I already had an in person tune with Blackbear, decided I wanted to be able to have a little more control, and to be able to change/try things. It made sense since I will eventually regear, as well as running different size tires for winter/summer I can always be calibrated correctly. I ordered it on Feb 11th, and installed my tunes tonight (Feb 20th). So the process moves quite fast. Would have been done a day or two sooner if I didn't have such a hectic schedule. Relatively painless process, just a bit confusing with all the downloading and new programs and figuring out what to do where. It is all explained on blackbears website, just gotta make sure you do the right stuff.

I am pretty impressed with it as well. I had a few things tweaked, and there is a definite difference over my in person tune. Also had Justin set a program to get the best fuel economy possible. So I have my main tune with no afm, and then an economy with afm, I believe he set it to switch to 4 at higher intervals, I had afm and it would only go to 4 cyl going downhill and only occasionally, with the economy tune it kicked on and stayed on even at 25 mph. Will post in the future with mileage comparisons, as well as mileage and how it tows compared to before.

 

[squatchy]

@99'HEARTBEAT let me know if you have any specific questions

 

[Chesters]

Just a feedback/process thread. I already had an in person tune with Blackbear, decided I wanted to be able to have a little more control, and to be able to change/try things. It made sense since I will eventually regear, as well as running different size tires for winter/summer I can always be calibrated correctly. I ordered it on Feb 11th, and installed my tunes tonight (Feb 20th). So the process moves quite fast. Would have been done a day or two sooner if I didn't have such a hectic schedule. Relatively painless process, just a bit confusing with all the downloading and new programs and figuring out what to do where. It is all explained on blackbears website, just gotta make sure you do the right stuff.

I am pretty impressed with it as well. I had a few things tweaked, and there is a definite difference over my in person tune. Also had Justin set a program to get the best fuel economy possible. So I have my main tune with no afm, and then an economy with afm, I believe he set it to switch to 4 at higher intervals, I had afm and it would only go to 4 cyl going downhill and only occasionally, with the economy tune it kicked on and stayed on even at 25 mph. Will post in the future with mileage comparisons, as well as mileage and how it tows compared to before.

Sweet Squatchy, Look forward to reading about the outcome, I like the firmer shifts that they set up for me.

 

[squatchy]

The trans tune may be my favorite part of it. Mine isnt firmer, just quicker. He didnt adjust line pressures, just sped up the shift time. It happens quick and could not be any smoother.

 

[the phantom]

This may be something I will be looking for in the future. To be able to turn AFM off, Change the shift points, and be able to change gearing and tire size. I currently use a bullydog tuner but that will not shutoff AFM and allow me to change shift points. Right now I have to use Tow/Haul mode to have the transmision shift when I want.(Im not a fan of continually manual shifting with the + - on the shifter)

 

[squatchy]

Yeah I can't stand the manual +/-, only time I really used it was when I pulled my boat on the interstate, and after a couple hours I forgot about it, get up to the stop on my exit and tried to take off with zero power. Ha.

 

[99'HEARTBEAT]

squatchy.......Thank you for getting back to me, regarding the Auto Cal......at this Point, what do you Like about the Unit, and is there anything that you don't Like about the Unit???

 

[Chesters]

squatchy.......Thank you for getting back to me, regarding the Auto Cal......at this Point, what do you Like about the Unit, and is there anything that you don't Like about the Unit???

Justin, Is quick and very helpful. I do like the firmer shifts, and the fact they provide what they feel will benefit you the most, and try not to let you damage your engine.

Thanks Justin

On Jan 30, 2015, at 11:05 AM, Black Bear Performance <[email protected]> wrote:
Hi Chester,

That is correct, crank relearn is not needed on that model.

Underdrive pulleys would not require any tune update, just install and enjoy.

In terms of the tune, we set you up for 87 octane, Firmer than average shifts, all transmission TM removed. Didn't go too high on the full throttle shift points though, as your engine is fairly high on the miles and doesn't need to be subjected to that extra abuse.

Justin

 

[the phantom]

Yeah I can't stand the manual +/-, only time I really used it was when I pulled my boat on the interstate, and after a couple hours I forgot about it, get up to the stop on my exit and tried to take off with zero power. Ha.

So when your in manual shift mode and you come to a stop your truck doesn't automatically shift back down into 1st gear?? If I shift manually from 1-5 or 6 and then come to a stop, mine automatically goes into 1st gear again. But If I forget at that point and go to take off it will not shift into 2nd until I do it manually. Lol then I realize the rpm's are way up there and Im like whooops, forgot about that.

 

[squatchy]

Yeah the one time I did it I was keeping it in 4, it didn't go back down. Maybe when I go to work I'll see what it does again. I guess 3 on the tree was never something I was ever in, so the idea of shifting on the column shifter doesnt compute haha.

I guess I wouldn't say there are any real likes/dislikes about the autocal unit itself. It is exactly as expected...other than the stickers. They have stickers for it on sale on the website, but it came with them already on it. I guess I do like that it is nice and simple, I like simple.

I gave the "economy" tune a go, On my drive to work afm would only kick in a couple times, and not very long when it did. I would get about a minute of afm in my 20 min drive, this morning on the way home afm was on for about 5-6 mins. Hopefully that can translate to a descent mpg on trips to the cabin

 

[Chesters]

Yeah the one time I did it I was keeping it in 4, it didn't go back down. Maybe when I go to work I'll see what it does again. I guess 3 on the tree was never something I was ever in, so the idea of shifting on the column shifter doesnt compute haha.

I guess I wouldn't say there are any real likes/dislikes about the autocal unit itself. It is exactly as expected...other than the stickers. They have stickers for it on sale on the website, but it came with them already on it. I guess I do like that it is nice and simple, I like simple.

I gave the "economy" tune a go, On my drive to work afm would only kick in a couple times, and not very long when it did. I would get about a minute of afm in my 20 min drive, this morning on the way home afm was on for about 5-6 mins. Hopefully that can translate to a descent mpg on trips to the cabin

Squatchy, Notice on my previous post Justin set mine for 87 octane gas. Have you done that with your new one?
Do you think it might improve performance? I don't keep track of MPG on the K2500 especially when the plow is up front providing such a sweet draft! ⛽

 

[squatchy]

Oh yeah it pulls harder than it did, and it was already tuned by them in person a couple years ago. Maybe now that things are broke in he was able to make adjustments that made a difference? I only had around 5k on it when he tuned it originally. I have 89 w/ afm, 89 without afm, and 91+ for when I run e85. Modded trans file and sports trans file. Im only a few days into my first fill up, won't know til the weekend if I'm getting actual better mileage, but the instant mileage numbers are higher than they were. I'm running the 89 without afm and modded trans set up. I anticipate that will be my what I have it set for 90% of the time. Once things warm up and stuff starts moving between farms again I'll see which trans mode is better for pulling.

 

[squatchy]

Gave it try, same thing, from 4 in +/- it did not shift back down to 1st. I sat at a stop sign for about 10 seconds just to let it do what it was going to do, took off with no balls in 4th

 

[Chesters]

Gave it try, same thing, from 4 in +/- it did not shift back down to 1st. I sat at a stop sign for about 10 seconds just to let it do what it was going to do, took off with no balls in 4th

So THATS how CAPONS are created!! :} Keep rolling don't let them catch you scary! very scary!

 

[the phantom]

Gave it try, same thing, from 4 in +/- it did not shift back down to 1st. I sat at a stop sign for about 10 seconds just to let it do what it was going to do, took off with no balls in 4th

Wow thats strange, Now your making me think twice and I want to go fire up my truck and go around the block just to verify mine does shift back down.

 

[the phantom]

Gave it try, same thing, from 4 in +/- it did not shift back down to 1st. I sat at a stop sign for about 10 seconds just to let it do what it was going to do, took off with no balls in 4th

So I did fire up the Phantom, (to see if it sees its shadow for 1 week left of spring) and when I took it down the road it definitely shifted down when I came to a stop. I tried the same gear as you did @squatchy which was 4th gear. I got up to 4th and then came to a stop. I then procedeed and it shifted from 1st back up to 4th while the whole time I was in the manual mode with 4th selected. It begs me to wonder if something is wrong with yours because I can't imagine that GM would allow the transmission to remain in a high gear at a stop. It seems that it wouldn't take long for the transmission to fail if that was the case. Im sure many people forget to Manually shift it back down and you would think you would see more transmission failure complaints. (unless people are to embarrased knowing they caused it from not downshifting)I dont know but Im glad mine does automatically shift down because I know I would have probably taken off in a high gear by accident a few times and that might be all it takes to ruin it.

 

[squatchy]

Hmmm. would be just my luck that it is defective, and GM would politely tell me to go f myself since its tuned. Not to worried, it acts as it should when just left in D, family just has the one boat now and it will be staying on a lift at the lake, so it will only get pulled there in the spring and back in the fall, no need to worry about what gear I'm in I guess. Further more, things are pointing towards my dad getting rid of his avy and going back to a duramax this year, he can take it. Haha

 

[squatchy]

Couple weeks in, and my mileage with afm disabled is identical to having afm.

 

[99'HEARTBEAT]

squatchy......Sorry for not Getting Back and Replying Sooner......Thanks for taking the Time to give All of Us(the Member's)your Input regarding the Workings of the Auto Cal........Its Time for me to Save Some $$$$......and Buy the Autocal

 

[squatchy]

You'll have to update me on what it does for a nbs vs the in person tune. I have a guy at work asking lots of questions, and I keep trying to tell him at the end of the day we are talking about very different set ups. He has an 07 nbs