A real tune on the 3.5 will net you a lot of power.

 

Ok so with that being the case...can you explain this real tune? Sorry I’m a newbie when it comes to that sorta thing

 

You need a tuning device, sometimes called handheld tuners, they connect to your ODB port in order to 'load' the new mapping to the engines computer, then you remove the device.

Most tuners will come with some kind of basic tune that makes some difference, but they're generic and "safe" - the mentions of companies like OZ Tuning and 5* Tuning etc. are custom tuners, that work a lot on their custom tunes from real world experience, you can buy their tune and they will email it to you and you can use the handheld tuner to load that to your truck.

 

Gotcha. What is the average cost for the tuner you would recommend and the average cost of a 5* tube file?

 

That depends on how much you want to spend. I bought a $600 SCT Livewire TS+ tuner with a $60 dash mount for $300 used off of this site. It's touch screen and offers all kinds of additional uses like running DTC's and having up to 9 gauge readouts to monitor everything like voltage, O2 sensor readings ect. They also make cheaper ones that do a lot less but will still be able to load tunes into your truck. Most tuning companies offer package deals if you buy a tuner and their custom tunes. Either way you're going to be looking at a few hundred just for a simple tuner/tune package. 5* I believe is $125 for one tune and then add ons are $10 a piece like if you wanted a 87 economy tune and then added a 93 performance/tow tune that's an extra ten. Others like Oz Omega is somewhere around the $200 range for one tune but it's an adaptive tune and will adapt to whatever octane you're running. @[F2C]MaDMaXX has an Omega tune and i'm considering them for my tune as well but everyone has their own opinion on who they like better.

 

Thank you for all that information I really appreciate it

 

Pretty much this.

I have little to no desire to have an extra display giving me info, especially as i'll pay extra for that, so i just have an SCT BDX tuner that i can connect and use to install tunes and/or read codes when i need to, otherwise it's unplugged.

 

That’s pretty much what I’m going for as well. Don’t need an extra garage or anything. Just want to tune it and unplug

 

So if someone got one of the programmer units could you use it on a Ford and Toyota, just purchasing separate tunes? If so what type of programmer would be easy to use and not break the bank?