Black Bear Performance Tune Event Chicago, IL; October 26-28, 2018

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HiHoeSilver

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@BlackBearPerf

I know it is in best interest to have the trucks in tip top shape for the tune.
I know it is nice to have certain mods completed prior to the tune.

Two questions :

1. I usually run e85. What should I do (read : what would you do) for fuel in the weeks leading up to the tune?

2. My f*ing airbag light came on this morning. Is this something that needs to be addressed/corrected prior to the tune event?

Any other tips/tricks for us as this highly anticipated day approaches?
 
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BlackBearPerf

BlackBearPerf

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@BlackBearPerf

I know it is in best interest to have the trucks in tip top shape for the tune.
I know it is nice to have certain mods completed prior to the tune.

Two questions :

1. I usually run e85. What should I do (read : what would you do) for fuel in the weeks leading up to the tune?

2. My f*ing airbag light came on this morning. Is this something that needs to be addressed/corrected prior to the tune event?

Any other tips/tricks for us as this highly anticipated day approaches?
In regards to fuel, you just want to show up to the meet with a tank full of the fuel you want to be tuned for.

The airbag light has no association with the PCM, so it will not have any impact on tuning.

Really no other tips, tricks, aside from what you already mentioned. Just make sure to let us know in advance if you are unable to make your scheduled time.
 

Samuraj

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Can you check previously installed tune for flaw ?
Many times my trans hunts for gears while downshift with 50% throttle
 
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BlackBearPerf

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Can you check previously installed tune for flaw ?
Many times my trans hunts for gears while downshift with 50% throttle
If it is a tune we previously provided, we would be happy to take a look at the tune. If you bought our AutoCal you can do a quick datalog, try and capture what is happening, and email that in for the tuner to analyze.
 

HiHoeSilver

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I have been patiently awaiting this event. Last year I had my deposit in, but there weren't enough of us to confirm the trip. Understandable. Now the time has come.

I had an alcohol composition snafu the weekend prior to the tune. Got it it sorted out, but had to go back to gas to reset the numbers. I endured my mechanics lecture about e85 and figured winter is coming anyways, so 89 it is. I'm good with it.

I did not get to the plugs /wires like I hoped. I will do them shortly. I will ask @BlackBearPerf if the tune needs to be looked at /adjusted when I do.

REVIEW:

Great to meet Justin. Solid guy. We sat and chatted for a few minutes about my mods, the fuel situation, and sport mode button. He had me cycle the key, blah blah blah, typing sounds.

A little drive at in-town speeds. He commented that I was one of the ones whose vette servo had impacted both 1-2 and 2-3. We swapped servo install stories. He told me that the shifts were excellent from his perspective (he had increased pressure a bit already). I was glad to hear that after having done the fluid /filter /servo job a couple weeks ago. Feelin' good!

EDIT: Forgot to mention here that Justin told me to clean my throttle body. On the short list now.

He had me pull into a parking lot and shut her down. More typing, key cycles, typing. Fire it back up.

We talked about the Chevy rough idle and his theory regarding pulse width, etc. I think he's on to something.

On to the highway. He tells me "nail it" lol. Love it. More clickety clackety from his laptop. Then he tells me to just drive and play with it for a minute. It felt great. Quick response, super firm shifts under load. Holding gears for a looooooong time. I told him I am a "grandpa driver" most of the time, but am often in spots where I want to pound it and pass /change lanes or something like that (read: piss off some douche in his little sports car). Justin said it would be even more responsive in sport mode (he was right).

We exited he freeway, and then hopped right back on and headed back. This time I put it in sport mode. I didn't go crazy, but Holy Cow, this is a different truck! Like a horse that just dumped the carriage.

Done with the highway and Justin said he wants to look at the 1-2, so he had me slow down to about 25, let a guy pass us, and says "hammer down". lol again. Let me tell you, it puts you back in the seat and gives you a nice little chiropractic neck job when it shifts. He says it's looks beautiful and seems to be pleased with my trans behavior overall. He says we're all good, and we pull back into home base.

He sets up my autocal with 87-89 sport button, 87-89 tow/haul button, 91+ sport button, and stock tune files. Gives me the rundown on how to log /load, etc.

I bust out the cash, he busts out the decals. Done deal. Almost exactly 1 hour start to finish.

THOUGHTS SINCE:

I am loving my new ride. Just a couple of commutes, really, but I have found a couple of reasons to play. It is really hard to keep my foot out of it now, even just to feel it shift. Sidenote: the Carven likes to bark a little with the engine braking. Awesome.

I took a little sport mode jaunt this evening, and pulled a couple "weaving" maneuvers. Just enough for some guy to start flashing his lights at me, lol. A few WOTs from stoplights. This girl pulls. Pulling hard right past the speed at which the brakes started calling. This is gonna be fun. It's already addicting.

Had a few minutes before the rain came, so ...

20181030_181706.jpg

Thank you, Justin and everybody at @BlackBearPerf! Good things come to those who wait......or to those who order an autocal and have an email account.
 
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Tonyrodz

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I have been patiently awaiting this event. Last year I had my deposit in, but there weren't enough of us to confirm the trip. Understandable. Now the time has come.

I had an alcohol composition snafu the weekend prior to the tune. Got it it sorted out, but had to go back to gas to reset the numbers. I endured my mechanics lecture about e85 and figured winter is coming anyways, so 89 it is. I'm good with it.

I did not get to the plugs /wires like I hoped. I will do them shortly. I will ask @BlackBearPerf if the tune needs to be looked at /adjusted when I do.

REVIEW:

Great to meet Justin. Solid guy. We sat and chatted for a few minutes about my mods, the fuel situation, and sport mode button. He had me cycle the key, blah blah blah, typing sounds.

A little drive at in-town speeds. He commented that I was one of the ones whose vette servo had impacted both 1-2 and 2-3. We swapped servo install stories. He told me that the shifts were excellent from his perspective (he had increased pressure a bit already). I was glad to hear that after having done the fluid /filter /servo job a couple weeks ago. Feelin' good!

He had me pull into a parking lot and shut her down. More typing, key cycles, typing. Fire it back up.

We talked about the Chevy rough idle and his theory regarding pulse width, etc. I think he's on to something.

On to the highway. He tells me "nail it" lol. Love it. More clickety clackety from his laptop. Then he tells me to just drive and play with it for a minute. It felt great. Quick response, super firm shifts under load. Holding gears for a looooooong time. I told him I am a "grandpa driver" most of the time, but am often in spots where I want to pound it and pass /change lanes or something like that (read: piss off some douche in his little sports car). Justin said it would be even more responsive in sport mode (he was right).

We exited he freeway, and then hopped right back on and headed back. This time I put it in sport mode. I didn't go crazy, but Holy Cow, this is a different truck! Like a horse that just dumped the carriage.

Done with the highway and Justin said he wants to look at the 1-2, so he had me slow down to about 25, let a guy pass us, and says "hammer down". lol again. Let me tell you, it puts you back in the seat and gives you a nice little chiropractic neck job when it shifts. He says it's looks beautiful and seems to be pleased with my trans behavior overall. He says we're all good, and we pull back into home base.

He sets up my autocal with 87-89 sport button, 87-89 tow/haul button, 91+ sport button, and stock tune files. Gives me the rundown on how to log /load, etc.

I bust out the cash, he busts out the decals. Done deal. Almost exactly 1 hour start to finish.

THOUGHTS SINCE:

I am loving my new ride. Just a couple of commutes, really, but I have found a couple of reasons to play. It is really hard to keep my foot out of it now, even just to feel it shift. Sidenote: the Carven likes to bark a little with the engine braking. Awesome.

I took a little sport mode jaunt this evening, and pulled a couple "weaving" maneuvers. Just enough for some guy to start flashing his lights at me, lol. A few WOTs from stoplights. This girl pulls. Pulling hard right past the speed at which the brakes started calling. This is gonna be fun. It's already addicting.

Had a few minutes before the rain came, so ...

View attachment 210187

Thank you, Justin and everybody at @BlackBearPerf! Good things come to those who wait......or to those who order an autocal and have an email account.
Let's see what your mpg goes to now lol!
 

HiHoeSilver

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Let's see what your mpg goes to now lol!

Lol. It went down slightly during the tune, but has gone back up since. I was actually surprised after my "cummute" home today when it was up by 0.2. Time will tell. Sitting at 14.4 now.
 

Fosscore

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Damn good report right there. Love it!!

MPG.....lol have fun man you waited long enough to make it happen. That 1-2 shift and pull is a pretty sweet feeling.

Yessssss!!
 

HiHoeSilver

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Damn good report right there. Love it!!

MPG.....lol have fun man you waited long enough to make it happen. That 1-2 shift and pull is a pretty sweet feeling.

Yessssss!!

Mpg up another tenth this morning. I have only had a couple of spots to hold it long enough, but the 2-3 is just as good. Lol
 
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