may be a dumb question but i’m new at this, after you save the stock tune to the touch tuner, does the truck still have the stock tune or is it bricked until you install the new tune?TL;DR: Excellent customer service from Livernois, excellent product, should have been like this from the factory. A must buy if you like a non-stupid transmission and a bit more power
Just installed the 91-93 Soft Shift Tune from them yesterday. Here are my initial thoughts on the process from purchase, to installation, then driving it around. Eventually I'll do an update to see if my opinion changes or if weird appears, etc.
(Yes I have another topic talking about finally getting it delivered after backorder but I spelled the name wrong in the title and that bugs me so I made a new one)
Purchasing: Could not have been simpler. The website was easy to use. Mine was on backorder but they beat the estimated shipping by two weeks. Excellent customer service. Also; they used UPS for mine; who provided a lot of detail on where it was, etc. Happy with that as well.
Installing: The instructions might seem like a lot at first until you read them. Most of it is warnings about messing around with the truck while doing the backups etc.
The software could not be easier to use; updating the module - sending the stock tune back - and finally downloading your tunes from them is automatic other than clicking a button. Note, you must be able to figure out square peg/round hole level logic for what cable to use and when. If this is a challenge you may want to get help overall.
The following picture was one of many warnings you will get to see while downloading your stock tune to send back to them. The information you have to gather is super easy. I took a picture to make it easier to load the ECUs data in their request form. The instructions tell you how to get it. I don't trust my own handwriting so; a picture was taken.
THIS IS NORMAL - when backing up the stock tune and when you install your tune. If the box is connecting and talking to the ECM you will get to see all the warnings
THIS IS NORMAL
My stock backup took about 20 minutes to finish; others have seen up to an hour.
After doing the backup, filling out the online form, etc - I got my tune in less than 48 hours.
After getting my email saying they were ready; Again it was nearly automatic (after hitting update on the software) to get my tunes downloaded to the tuner box.
Then you get to see this:
The tuning goes WAY faster than the backup of the stock tune.
Note: I had a moment of panic. The instructions clearly warn you to not keep your foot on the brake while this is being done. So when I went to turn the key.... my foot was off the brake. I got a click and no attempt to start. I thought I have killed my truck. Panic started to set in until I figured out I was being a moron. I shifted it out of and back into park (not sure why) and it started. What I didn't think about was when I did the park thing.. guess what my foot did..... .. ... .... ... So don't do that! Put your foot back on the brake after it's finished before trying to start.
The first drive: It warned that the shifts could be bad until it calibrates. Maybe because I went with the soft shift, but it was IMMEDIATELY better than stock. Maybe a few clunky 1-2 shifts for the first drive or two.
Throttle: Feels more like it is actually connected via a cable vs doing whatever the hell it wants. Much better
Transmission: My 5th gear bang is gone as is my weird thump into 1st on a quick stop. I no longer feel the need to put it in S to get it to not be derpy. Just put it in drive and it's not racing to 10th anymore. Very happy.
Engine: It won't break your neck speed - but it's VERY noticeable. I would put it alongside if not faster than my old Genesis 3.8 coupe and stock Cobalt SS. Both low 14-second cars or high 13s with the right tires on them.
Disadvantages: In the past, it always seemed like some normal driving habits of a car are worse because of mods. Either because of noise, moving the powerband weirdly high, or with something like a clutch - just being a PITA in stop and go. So far I have found nothing like that. Everything works as expected. Smoother in many ways thanks to the transmission mapping. The only impact to daily driving I could see is if you forget you have the extra power and hit someone in front of you who is going too slow.
Recommendation: 5/5 would do this over again. Just minus the foot brake thing.... Some like the Towing tune for fuel flexibility, etc. I might try it out later but I am super happy with the soft shift
Outlook: I installed it at 12k miles. Let's see how things go into the future with the extra power. However, this engine/trans seems more than capable of handling it based on what else it shows up in and their stock power levels.
@Livernois Motorsports
Stock tune is in the truck until you switch to a different tune
You are just copying the stock tune to the programmer. Nothing else changes and it still drivable.
Did Livernois send you a tune for your downpipe upgrade? I saw on some previous threads here from years ago that they and other tuning companies stopped doing that because of EPA regulations, but I wasn't sure if that's still the case now. Any thoughts on if the downpipe is worth it if you're not able to get a tune? I've been using the Livernois 91/93 tune for a few months now and I'm happy with it, but I'm looking to do the mods you've done and I'm trying to learn more about how tuning complements mods, particularly an upgraded downpipe.
Keep in mind that tuners can't give you a tune that deactivates or ignores Emissions Protocol. Even with the Downpipe mentioned it would still use the Emissions even though it is a high flow cat.
Livernois dosnt send you revised tunes for bolt on mods for the ranger. Ecoboost engines are pretty good at adjusting for airflow changes without adjusting tuning. Until you start going bigger turbo, or upgrading fuel pump and injectors there really is no need to. You are better off working with other tuners at that point.
I see, I think I had a misunderstanding about their product since they asked what modifications you have when purchasing, I thought one could reach out to them and they will send you one based on your modifications. I think really my main question is whether or not tuning is necessary/beneficial after bolt ons, i.e. not much benefit is to be had with the bolt ons without tuning. I was considering the possibility of a JB4 on top of the Livernois after reading another members experience with the JB4 plus the FPP, but I may not have the time to play around with something like the JB4.
Ummmmm....... Livernois operates out of Michigan..... They still choose to have a tune that can be 50 state legal so the customer base is available in more than California along since other states are starting to follow California Emissions.
Your right morning fog.
