Is a Black Bear Tune worth it with a completely stock engine?

[exzelz]

I have a 2007 5.3 Tahoe 2WD as my daily driver

I am considering getting a Black Bear Tune for my truck, the engine is completely stock. I do have a Range AFM disabler installed.

I was first considering the Scan Cable tune cause it was relatively cheap, but I wouldn’t want to be without my ECM. Then I looked at the AutoCal but the price is steep but what’s getting me is that it’s all email based and I can reuse it.

Is one recommended over the other? I love the price tag of the Scan Cable tune, but I love the convenience of the AutoCal and would I notice a big difference in drivability even though I have a stock engine?

I am also stuck debating wether I want to get a Black Bear Tune or an AR as my birthday gift hahah

 

[Marky Dissod]

Is a Black Bear Tune worth it with a completely stock engine?

L YES. Let me say again: L YES.
Doubt you'd notice if only the engine got tuned, until the MpGs improved, or you felt stronger accelerations.
When you give your VIN to BlackBear, he should be able to say whether you have an ECM & a TCM, or just a PCM.

Engine Control Module = ECM
Trans Control Module = TCM
Powertrain Control Module = PCM

I recommend you get whichever tunes BOTH your engine and transmission.
You WILL notice, almost immediately if the transmission gets tuned -
Unless you drive like you're trying to save gas ... then again, that would be a different type of transmission tune ...
Let me explain ...

 

[exzelz]

L YES. Let me say again: L YES.
Doubt you'd notice if only the engine got tuned, until the MpGs improved, or you felt stronger accelerations.
When you give your VIN to BlackBear, he should be able to say whether you have an ECM & a TCM, or just a PCM.

Engine Control Module = ECM
Trans Control Module = TCM
Powertrain Control Module = PCM

I recommend you get whichever tunes BOTH your engine and transmission.
You WILL notice, almost immediately if the transmission gets tuned -
Unless you drive like you're trying to save gas ... then again, that would be a different type of transmission tune ...
Let me explain ...

It would be both an ECM and a TCM tune

 

[Doubeleive]

TUNE OR AR HMMM, both equally enjoyable
I would try and swindle both, lol

 

[exzelz]

TUNE OR AR HMMM, both equally enjoyable
I would try and swindle both, lol

I could always get a cheaper AR haha

 

[Marky Dissod]

That's good news. The most immediately noticed and appreciated thing about a tune is the transmission's eagerness to shift.

GM provided two different shift patterns: Normal mode & Tow / Haul mode.
GM programmed Normal mode to let you POSSIBLY get 14MpG city & 20MpG hiway - assuming you drive like gas is $9 a gallon.
BORE RING.

Once you notice that the transmission shifts very reluctantly, you press the Tow / Haul button.
Initially, ever so slightly more fun, but you soon get how it protects the powertrain from most leadfootery.
Still, it does seem a bit more fun than Normal mode.

Now that my pcm is tuned:
My Normal mode shifts a wee bit more eagerly than GM's. (I need discouraging, but not quite so much as GM provided.)
Still, if I dragraced another '02 Tahoe Z71 4WD with GM's OE tune, mine'd upshift at WOT 100RpM AFTER the other one, in each gear.
I win, just barely, but every time.
If we're both rolling at the same speed, and we somehow both stomp the gas simultaneously, mine'd downshift sooner and likely to a deeper gear than the other one.
I win, barely, but every time.
Driven sedately, however, my 4L60E actually stays a lil bit cooler than GM's OE tune. That usually goes unnoticed by most ...

Since I neither Tow nor Haul, my Tow / Haul mode is tuned like a Performance mode.
On the very rare occasion that I want or 'need' to make haste in a hurry, I press the Tow / Haul button ...
and I wish I had 4.10 axles ... but at least the 4L60E is TRYING ITS GOTTDAMNDEST to make up for not having 4.10.
Also the WOT upshifts will occur 250RpM later than GM said, should I decide to keep my foot down.
When I rarely loan the truck to my very good friend, he knows NOT to touch the Tow / Haul button ... I hope ...

There are a myriad other things done to it - like overheat management, which I hope I never need, but it's nice to know it kicks in sooner.

So long as the tuner has a trustworthy reputation, you are wasting your time not getting tuned.
The better the pre-tune conversation you have with your tuner, the more you'll wonder why you waited.

I also heartily recommend 4.10, but that is another conversation, which would also require a tune ...

 

[Marky Dissod]

More important is that your tune will be written to suit your taste(s), like a Five Guys burger.
Your burger will likely be somewhat different than mine, yet we'll both be glad we didn't settle for WacDonells.

And then you'll have to convince someone else to get tuned ...

 

[Joseph Garcia]

You get what you pay for, AT BEST.

Go with a Black Bear Performance tune, and you won't regret it.

 

[blackelky]

I could always get a cheaper AR haha

Palmetto state armory premium line is rebadged FN products

 

[exzelz]

Palmetto state armory premium line is rebadged FN products

I was looking at PSA; what is their premium line? Is it PSA Sabre?

 

[blackelky]

Should be a premium upper and lower option. Might be called sabre now.

 

[Geotrash]

I have a 2007 5.3 Tahoe 2WD as my daily driver

I am considering getting a Black Bear Tune for my truck, the engine is completely stock. I do have a Range AFM disabler installed.

I was first considering the Scan Cable tune cause it was relatively cheap, but I wouldn’t want to be without my ECM. Then I looked at the AutoCal but the price is steep but what’s getting me is that it’s all email based and I can reuse it.

Is one recommended over the other? I love the price tag of the Scan Cable tune, but I love the convenience of the AutoCal and would I notice a big difference in drivability even though I have a stock engine?

I am also stuck debating wether I want to get a Black Bear Tune or an AR as my birthday gift hahah

I'll add my voice to those saying a Blackbear tune is worth it on a stock vehicle. My '07 is bone stock and it woke it up.

 

[TheStir]

On my 4th tune with BB. Awesome to work with.

Just got a ‘07 Escalade about a month ago and did the basics, cleaned TB and MAF, wires, plugs, air filter the first weekend. Ordered a license and tune the day we got it and flashed last Saturday without telling the wife.

She drove it to work Monday and when she got home she asked me what I did to her car, it drove much smoother.

Basically just optimizes what the factory left on the table with a cut and paste EPA tune.

Used to have to jet, play with timing and distributor weights, and shift kits now you just flash away.

 

[petethepug]

BB tune, check! Previous untapped driving enjoyment, check! Run tank of e85 on BB tune, Weeee!

 

[swathdiver]

The tune is the foundation upon which all other mods build upon. It's also your best bang for the buck performance wise.

While I don't have before and after numbers, my 2009 Yukon XLs engine was rated for 310 horsepower SAE Net. With the tune, it has made a maximum of 318 rear wheel horsepower through the traps in the quarter mile. The BlackBear tune was intentionally made mild since my wife and children also drive the truck. Favorite part of the tune is in how the transmission performs.

 

[George B]

Run tank of e85 on BB tune, Weeee!

You even get the Weeee with a 5.3eeee

 

[petethepug]

Heheheeeee!

 

[intheburbs]

If you don't already have an AR, get an AR. You can get a basic AR from PSA for well under $500. And then buy some ammo and take a class or two.

I've had a Blackbear tune on my Suburban for over 10 years. I believe it's also extended the life of my transmission because I had them tune out a lot of Torque Management. 247k miles, and the transmission still shifts perfectly.

 

[petethepug]

Just saw an episode on the PowerNation channel where they added a 500hp 5.7, 6L80 and the AWD system from a NNBS / 07-14 Denali/Esky to a C10 pick up. Beautiful job and used all OEM parts with one custom machined spline adapter on the xfer case

After it was taken out to be ripped up in a field, the front CV joint did not like the 500hp on lap 2. A good wake up call for limitations of the OEM front AWD CV joints and motor mods.

 

[petethepug]

If you don't already have an AR, get an AR. You can get a basic AR from PSA for well under $500. And then buy some ammo and take a class or two.

I kept thinking what kinda tune is AR. What’d I miss going from BB tune to AR and finally noticed, Ammo. We used to joke around like that on another forum and later found out a lurker who would pm us weird questions about our equipment was a bat ship crazy parolee.

Poor SOB had no idea we were all retired DOD and AF living on same street. All our kids all played together. Long story short … the lurker & his buddy planned and were later apprehended for home invasion because the lurker believed our sarcastic comments online (similar to yours) would lead him them to a trove.

We’re extra careful not to discuss “the fight club” online with anybody who isn’t already in it. You’ve really got to respect other folks apprehensions now unless you’re kin or grew up with them.