Signature CUSTOM TUNING
… for all 01-09 Duramax vehicles, 2500, 3500, 4500, 5500
REFINED DURAMAX INJECTION TIMING HISTOGRAM
-courtesy of EFILive and ENER-vative
WHAT IS IT? In short, Signature Custom Tuning is premium grade Duramax ECM and TCM programming from a most trusted source. We are highly specialized in this one area, so you won’t find a more highly refined tuning product, tailored to your specific requirements, ANYWHERE.
BACKGROUND AND HISTORY: We have tested and used all known commercial box tuners, and in each case, the results were impressive…for about the first 10 miles. The first time you feel it, it is very impressive, like the much hyped roller coaster, or a TV on the showroom floor with full bright and contrast settings. Risking cervical herniation gets old very quickly, and then you develop a “tolerance” for its refinement shortcomings. I thought, “It has to get better than this”. So I peeled back the code on several of these commercial plastic box tuners to see what changes were made. Of the 200 or so significant histograms and settings in the ECM/ECU, the typical box tuner “adjusts” only about 5 to 10 of them, just those necessary to create the tactile performance increase. Seat of the pants performance increase with all inherent tuning flaws from the factory are left intact. We finally concluded that all of these plastic tuners were just magnifying these existing stock tuning flaws.
These are the same low-effort “complimentary” tunes you get from the many EFILive resellers, some advertising on Craigslist. The reality is, there is no qualification or license requirement to do any of this. Sometimes you will even get a commercial knockoff tune this way…and if you are lucky that is as bad as it will get. “Custom tuners” are viral in numbers, with a rainbow of abilities and ethics to match. Be aware that there is very little actual talent, regardless of price, though they all have equally broad claims. So we suggest that you KNOW YOUR PROGRAMMER
It is important to determine first if your “programmer” even has a grasp of tuning science, or just a good webmaster. Your $10,000 diesel engine is depending on it. Interview him. Ask questions about internal combustion. Ask for specific methodologies. For example, we traced refinement limitations to one source: the stockrail pressure histogram. Yet, not even one commercial tuning company makes an effort to refine it. Not surprising, as few people are even aware that a refined alternative exist when testing harsh tuning. Since all remaining ECM histograms revolve around fuel pressure… boost, timing, etc, the entire ECM file needed to be rewritten, a monumental effort. …3 years and 2000 hours later, with over 140 of the histograms rewritten and tested at all altitudes and weather conditions, rest assured you will receive a “custom” product without equal, guaranteed. This approach improves response and feel, optimized economy, pollution, and noise levels.
WHY BUY FROM US? What you may never know, when selecting a tuner for your custom tuning needs is what happens behind the scenes. Since we have the ability to view the actual code produced by these tuners, we have seen it all. One area you should understand is that your vehicle came from the factory equipped with many diagnostic tests, and OBD codes to warn you of various system failures and malfunctions. When a tuner with little understanding of how to tune tries to apply conflicting concepts, what often happens is that a vehicle diagnostic fails, and codes result. His solution? Disable the diagnostic and disable the code reporting. We don’t do that. If this happens, we determine the source of the issue, and we FIX IT. This is so that you retain the full factory protection originally intended. This is only one example of the integrity we have built into our tuning program. No bandaids or “tricks”.
With a systems integration engineering background and performance aviation career spanning 20 years of experience, we are likewise passionately devoted to vehicle systems integration. Here is a published article on diesel tuning that we authored while on this road.
ENER-vation: Rooted in diesel theory and optimization, nobody else couples throttle feel with software code using unique re-engineered throttle springs. Nobody else provides software “wastegate” tuning to help your VGT Turbo-Diesel cope better with the absence of this heat limiting device. With 11 power options, plus no-cost options, like Switchable Tuning (DSP), an Exhaust Grade Brake, Valet mode, Kill Switch mode, even “Bait Car” theft protection, multiple Idle and Warm-up Modes, DPF deletion…there is no more comprehensive selection of CUSTOM options, anywhere. Best described as:
- Discreet part-throttle feel-empty ride no longer jerky. All tunes exhibit controllability, even the 500HP can be driven on ice in 2-wheel drive, only possible with this approach.
- Best fuel economy, usually a 20% improvement. 22 mpg hwy is typical, 24+ mpg has been reported. DIC is corrected and accurate (01-05). Note: not one commercial box tuner does this, leaving the operator “amazed” at his newfound success.
- Conspicuously quiet, using a complete balanced look at correct combinations of fuel pressure, main pulse timing, pilot injection quantity and pilot timing. We balance noise emissions into the tradeoff equation.
- Seamless integration. Obsessive shifting refinement-defuels are corrected and shifts are shortened. Many part throttle shifts cannot be felt. This is a personal pride issue.
- Highly progressive mid-throttle response, again discreet feel and feedback similar to sports cars refinement: the “fun-to-drive” aspect.
- Reduced turbocharger lag using a “fuel first” spool up approach, then an equivalence ratio relationship between air and fuel for boost. Plus even this detail saves fuel by not wasting fuel that just goes out the tailpipe as uncombusted, black or white smoke.
UNRIVALLED VALUE and a simple V.I.P. GUARANTEE: This is an industry where you do not necessarily get what you pay for. This is not typical cookie-cutter code and it does NOT exist anywhere else, in any form, the ride quality demonstrates this. This is protected ECM programming, we do not use downloaders and all proprietary tunes are locked. ALL selections include a 30 day NO RISK refund guarantee! We are that sure of it. If not happy about your decision, send it back within 30 days, we will process a full refund, excluding shipping, no questions asked. We are guaranteeing , Value Integrity and Pride.
ABOUT SOME OF YOUR OPTIONS
You can supply the ECM, purchase one, or we can supply one with a core charge. Here are some details on some of the other available options.
FREE TWEAK OPTION: With Free Tweak, you get an unlimited number of adjustments or updates and there will not be any re-programming charges, ever, just a $20 handling charge. This option is included with the P4 Value package.
ECM EXCHANGE or PURCHASE OPTION: You can ship us your ECM, and get it back programmed. or we can ship you a programmed ECM with programming, then you ship me back your vehicle ECM and you are then refunded the core charge. Many prefer to keep the stock ECM for dealer warranty protection, or as a spare under the back seat. Note: All new programmed ECM’s include a one year warranty, Void when tampered with.
MULTIPLE TUNE OPTIONS: You can now literally “unlock” the power of your Duramax, an ENER-vative exclusive. DSP5 is 5-tune, on-the-fly switching, from an included switch you can mount anywhere. You can have a valet mode as well as race power, and anything in-between. DSP2 is a 2 tune version. We manufacture both, a non-keyed 5 and 6 position version, and a higher quality metal lockable Keylock switch.
METAL KEYLOCK DSP switch. Invented here, provides security theft or valet protection, or maybe you just don’t want your 17 year old to have access to 500 HP: now you can LOCK your desired program setting. DSP2 and DSP5. DSP5 gives you 5 modes of your choosing. DSP2 Keylock is a 3 position, 2 circuit switch that will allow you to arm your nitrous or WI system, allowing it to operate only when a specific tune is selected on the switch. DSP2 also has momentary-on “prime” position. Or you could use it to disable your fuel pump for security protection. Both are metal switches, superior to the plastic build quality.
DSP5 Keylock is available in black and chrome to replace conventional DSP5 switches. These switches can be seen HERE.
ELEVATED IDLE OPTIONS: Maybe you are a contractor that uses the truck as an electrical or air source, perhaps you want increased idle speed for AC effectiveness while stuck in traffic. Or maybe you just want to be able to charge dead batteries faster, even when it is warm outside.
TRADE-IN CREDIT OFFER. Not everyone falls in love with EFILive after they purchase it. If you have purchased EFILive or a commercial programmer from another source and you have realized that you weren’t cut out for it, I provide a trade-in credit toward tuning when I receive your shipment. This is what we offer with all original packaging.
CREDIT ALLOWANCE:
- Commercial Tuner*-$100
- EFILive V1-$250.
- EFILive V2-$400.
Subtract $75 for each license used. *must be useable, not VIN locked-some tuners cannot be used unless the vehicle they were installed on is returned to stock.
FUEL ECONOMY: We have done the best job that can be done here. You decide what your economy will be. I can say that the test bed stock LD SRW 2500HD limited to 1900 rpm on highway, gets 22 mpg. All our tunes perform identically this way. However, the higher performance tunes “permit” you to get as bad mileage as you feel inclined to enjoy, and quite honestly, you will find yourself enjoying them a lot at first. If you must have the best economy, but have no discipline, stick with the “valet” tune mode. DSP5 switching is the best way to have it all.
If you want to order custom tuning, the process begins by filling out the TUNING WORKSHEET and email it to killerbee@killerbeeperformance.com.