SCT and pro racer software

[shami02]

Have any of you purchased (and used) the dongle and pro race software from SCT?

[Krytin]

This is my next upgrade to my Xcal 2.
Any first hand feedback would be more helpful now than latter!

[shami02]

Feedback before purchase is exactly what I am looking for... Anyone?

[merc6]

Xcal alone is worth it. If you computer litrate I bet the pro racers series is something to have. Xcal alone only alows you to do so much.

[jdando]

Just a heads up, I have used the XCAL II and had to get a "special" interface cable for my OBDII cable since my car has the Trilogy daughter board.

No experience with the ProRace software, I believe Todd "Hooked on CV" has used this extensively on his S/C crown vic. Hopefully he can chime in here.

jeremy

[shami02]

Pro Race software I mean.... I am thinking very hard about buying and trying it out... Guess I be the tester... I'll let you know

[TooManyFords]

I know Zack has a copy and I do too. In fact, I just received my 75 page tuning manual and also ordered the DVD that shows hands on how to tune a car from scratch. I'm reading the manual and must tell you that you'll do yourself a real favor by reading it through once, maybe twice!

I plan on using the info to get my base tune assembled myself before heading over to Sutton for fine tuning on the Dyno. All I'm waiting for, besides blower parts, is the new Autometer wideband for datalogging. This is an absolute must-have if you're going to do any tuning yourself.

However, if you're just looking to make simple changes to a base tune already done, then you should have no problems. Again, just be sure you know what switches you're twiddling and always, always, ALWAYS keep the original tune backed up and safe!

If you have any questions, just ask!

john

[FordNut]

I recently got it but don't have enough experience with it to comment yet. Dongle?

[Krytin]

I know Zack has a copy and I do too. In fact, I just received my 75 page tuning manual and also ordered the DVD that shows hands on how to tune a car from scratch. I'm reading the manual and must tell you that you'll do yourself a real favor by reading it through once, maybe twice!

I plan on using the info to get my base tune assembled myself before heading over to Sutton for fine tuning on the Dyno. All I'm waiting for, besides blower parts, is the new Autometer wideband for datalogging. This is an absolute must-have if you're going to do any tuning yourself.

However, if you're just looking to make simple changes to a base tune already done, then you should have no problems. Again, just be sure you know what switches you're twiddling and always, always, ALWAYS keep the original tune backed up and safe!


If you have any questions, just ask!

john

Thanks for that! This is what I had hoped to hear. Time to order up!

[shami02]

I recently got it but don't have enough experience with it to comment yet. Dongle?

I assume it has a dongle... Most of the custom software/hardware combos have a dongle "special plug thingy" to keep people from sharing the software... maybe it dont have one!

[Andras]

I have the PRP and the old style 9100 tuner for my Crown Vic. I love it. I even bought a laptop just to run the PRP.

[HookedOnCV]

I purchased the Pro Racer package a couple of months after its release (Feb. 2004). It has a software authorization key that is tied to a specific computer. The authorization code is issued from SCT after you send them a code from your installation on your computer. Version 3 of the software is supposed to be released soon and it will use a USB dongle in place of the authorization codes - this means it will be less work for SCT, and will give us more flexability on our end too. We can install on multiple computers and just move the dongle to the computer we are going to work on.

The software is VERY powerful - way more than just changing a few parameters on a flasher like the Preditor or the XCal2. You can mess things up and do some real damage to your engine if you don't know what you are doing. I haven't seen the book John mentions, or the DVD. I got my software way before those came out. The online help is what I've been using and it is OK. Two great resources to further understand the software are the SCT ProRacer forum on Modular Depot (http://forums.modulardepot.com) and SCT's own forum SCT Flash (http://www.sctflash.com/forum/). Both sites require special access from the moderators to get into the Pro Racer specific forums (after proving that you have purchased the software).

I did a lot of road testing with my car and tweaking of my base tune. Of course the testing should be done on a dyno, but you could burn up a lot of dyno time if you are just experimenting/learning the software. You had better know the software fairly well before going in.

The best option IMHO would be to get you car dyno tuned by a reputable SCT tuner, with the understanding that you will take the files from that tune as a base file for you to start tweaking using the ProRacer package. Buy the ProRacer software from your tuner/dealer so you get local support for your specific tune besides the sites mentioned above.

This way as you make changes to your car, you can tune it yourself for those specific changes, but for major power adders it would still be worth it to go get a new base tune established from your local SCT tuner/dealer on a dyno.

After my blower install, I had Jerry Wroblewski of SCT tune my car on a dyno first, then I purchased the software and got my base file from him once the software was released.

Since then I have added P&P heads and larger injectors, where I needed to go into the software and make some adjustments. I also fine tuned the MAF transfer function for my specific intake system to get good data into the EEC so it can compensate the A/F correctly for the incoming air. I have changed spark in certain RPM ranges under different load conditions to maximize power without detonation.

What I find the most important feature of purchasing the software is that you can modify transmission shift tables and torque converter lockup tables, along with tons of other things that affect the drivability of the car on a day to day basis.

Great software...just be prepared to take baby steps learning all about it, and spend some time on the road testing your modifications.

Good luck!

Todd

[TooManyFords]

Todd, would you do me a favor? Please do a screen capture of your Tranny shift, lockup graphs for posting. I'll do the same for mine. I've just started messing with mine as I want to get the converter to lock sooner in 4th as it now waits till 52mph.

Maybe we can get others to post what works for them so we can try each others out.

Cheers!

john

[Krytin]

Now this is the kind of feedback I was looking for!
Thanks for sharing and please wait up for me and the rest who are just gettinig started!

[shami02]

I purchased the Pro Racer package a couple of months after its release (Feb. 2004). It has a software authorization key that is tied to a specific computer. The authorization code is issued from SCT after you send them a code from your installation on your computer. Version 3 of the software is supposed to be released soon and it will use a USB dongle in place of the authorization codes - this means it will be less work for SCT, and will give us more flexability on our end too. We can install on multiple computers and just move the dongle to the computer we are going to work on.

The software is VERY powerful - way more than just changing a few parameters on a flasher like the Preditor or the XCal2. You can mess things up and do some real damage to your engine if you don't know what you are doing. I haven't seen the book John mentions, or the DVD. I got my software way before those came out. The online help is what I've been using and it is OK. Two great resources to further understand the software are the SCT ProRacer forum on Modular Depot (http://forums.modulardepot.com) and SCT's own forum SCT Flash (http://www.sctflash.com/forum/). Both sites require special access from the moderators to get into the Pro Racer specific forums (after proving that you have purchased the software).

I did a lot of road testing with my car and tweaking of my base tune. Of course the testing should be done on a dyno, but you could burn up a lot of dyno time if you are just experimenting/learning the software. You had better know the software fairly well before going in.

The best option IMHO would be to get you car dyno tuned by a reputable SCT tuner, with the understanding that you will take the files from that tune as a base file for you to start tweaking using the ProRacer package. Buy the ProRacer software from your tuner/dealer so you get local support for your specific tune besides the sites mentioned above.

This way as you make changes to your car, you can tune it yourself for those specific changes, but for major power adders it would still be worth it to go get a new base tune established from your local SCT tuner/dealer on a dyno.

After my blower install, I had Jerry Wroblewski of SCT tune my car on a dyno first, then I purchased the software and got my base file from him once the software was released.

Since then I have added P&P heads and larger injectors, where I needed to go into the software and make some adjustments. I also fine tuned the MAF transfer function for my specific intake system to get good data into the EEC so it can compensate the A/F correctly for the incoming air. I have changed spark in certain RPM ranges under different load conditions to maximize power without detonation.

What I find the most important feature of purchasing the software is that you can modify transmission shift tables and torque converter lockup tables, along with tons of other things that affect the drivability of the car on a day to day basis.

Great software...just be prepared to take baby steps learning all about it, and spend some time on the road testing your modifications.

Good luck!

Todd

Todd Thankx a million that was exactly the kind of review I was looking for... This site is awesome! Thankx for sharing!!