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3.6 tuning for power?

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19K views 7 replies 7 participants last post by  red91rt  
#1 ·
Someone mentioned in another thread that I should look into tuning for my 3.6 for better performance. I'm not really disappointed with the car in stock trim, and I think the Thrush exhaust and K&N intake has already added a few ponies, but I'm curious what levels there are to step up to. Is this something that requires a laptop or a $400+ tuner such as Diablosport? Are there plug-n-play boxes that are easy to install? I have to admit the trans shift tuning is obviously set for economy with its rapid upshifts and lazy downshifts so there is room for improvement in that area alone.

Any other simple ways to boost things are welcome suggestions.

Thanks guys!
 
#5 · (Edited)
I believe that in 2017 the PUG, Pentastar Upgrade Program, will deliver a revised engine that's been reworked for greatly lowered internal friction losses, new heads/valve train, full EFI, and possible super/turbo charging.

Lots of makers are encrypting the control code in their PCMs (I believe Mitsubishi was the first with the ECUs for the 6g75 v6 motors) and not releasing any kind of development kit to enable third-party tuning.

As computer-dependent as modern engines are, a tuner has to have full-decode and reprogram capability for the PCM computers. Not too many tuner shops are willing to spend that kind of money these days unless it's a huge market.
 
#6 ·
Note the thing about the market, btw. Diablo's DCX for the 6speed 3.6 is for Avenger and 200 VIN's ONLY. I've pestered a bit about my minivan but they won't bother unless they get enough interest. There's not a lot of difference. Same mappings and all as I understand. just a little different signal from the shifter but that should be a relatively easy thing to deal with too (since as said above there's no TCM adjustment yet.) We'll see. I'm crazy enough I'm going to try a turbo setup this next winter on my 200 (warranty's gone) and I'm sort of hoping that will drive up some more interest for DS to look at shifts, and maybe if I threaten to turbo my van (which wife says I'm okay as long as I can tune it safely) that may grew interest a little too with youtube videos. (Viral marketing is such a blessing if you can get it to go for you.) the other thought I had on the Van is investigating if I can swap PCM's and get a dealer to help me with key to retain the 200/Avenger VIN in the PCM and then try a DS tuner on top of that. Near as I can tell all the pins and the wiring is really the same, it's just the "call for gear" signal from the shifter/transmission that's a little different, and it might just work with the van shifter in Drive all the time anyway...maybe even with shifting. Not sure.
 
#7 ·
Trust me... filters and pipes have done nothing to improve your performance yet...


For the 11'-14's - The DiabloSport tuner will give you an increase you will notice and your muffler + filter will be a small compliment to the tune. I like the fact that I can set my speed limiter appropriately to match the speed rating of my tires (149 - limiter set to 145), despite the fact that odds are I won't ever go that fast anyway - except I may have gone over 118 once just to verify the limiter was defeated.

If you don't want a tuner run a few tanks of E85 and you will see a difference, nothing like a tuner but worth it. NOTE: MPG will decrease running E85 but if the fuel is 25% cheaper then you will be spending the same $$ - if more than 25% cheaper you are saving $$ by running it.
 
#8 ·
What BlackKnight said! I've run the car at the strip with my stock (fuzzy blanket) filter, with a short-stack cone filter setup I made, and totally open. It didn't make a dang bit of difference in ET...although it sounds cooler with the more open filter.

Also, seconded on what Black Knight said between the lines. I noticed my car takes some time to adjust to the E85, at least on the HemiFever tunes I use, and I think I recall on the stock PCM too. Right now if I switch between 91 to E85 full tank using Sean's latest 91-E85 wide tune I would say it takes about 40 or 50 miles before it starts adjusting timing enough to notice. Run a tank, refill with E85 again, and see what you think per BK's instruction.

My only problem is there's only four E85 stations in the whole great state of Utah (we grow cows, not corn) and so they get the exact same price for it as the same station gets for low-grade (85octane at our elevation). it's about 2.95 for both right now. The good thing is the one station is only 5 miles from my house. So I justify it by 1) It's hella fun on Sean's tune; 2) I convince myself I'm saving the planet despite the total costs of producing and shipping E85...kinda like the lithium addicts in Prius's charging their cars on Utah's mostly coal-powered power plants.