After having the truck for 20 years I found out that I can actually tune my truck. I have recently replaced some sensors along with installing a 180 Tstat and the truck is running great. I also replaced the cat back with a straight through 3", it was rusted out after 15+ years. The only other mods are shortie headers and a top mount open air K&N.

The tuner arrived this evening so tomorrow morning I will remove the Jet chip, that apparently does nothing, and install the tune provided by Shawn at Hemifever. He has tuned my Durango so I have worked with him before. He set me up with tunes for the new 4.56 gears so I'm stoked. I'll give as much honest feedback as I can. I have driven the truck for 20 years and know it inside and out so I will be able to tell a difference for sure.

 

Definitely waiting to hear your results. This spring I'll be regearing my truck to 4.56 and stepping up to 35" tires. Headers in the future and eventually a cam upgrade.

 

I'm very interested in hearing your results, too. I have an early production '96 Ram 2500 4x4 and it appears to be an OBD-1 and OBD-2 hybrid truck. My truck has a 46RH transmission. Are you using an SCT 9550 to apply the tunes from HemiFever? Also, what type of fuel are you going to run with your truck along with the new tune (regular, mid-grade, premium)?

 

I was able to install the tune today in-between taking down and putting away Xmas stuff. I am using the X3200 I believe or X3000 whatever one that is needed for the older models like mine. It came directly from Hemifever. I am running 92 fuel in it which means more money for fuel but not that much more I figure. Hell every other rig I have is tuned and needs premium so what one more right?

Anyway as I was installing the tune it told me the battery in the truck was too low and to cancel. The cancel button did not work so I ran out and got a battery charger to throw on the truck. I know that you can brick your ride if you try to tune with a low battery. Anyway without being able to cancel my only option was to continue because you can't unplug it in the middle of a tune or you can brick the CPU. Anyway the tune installed successfully and I chose the 91 octane because all we can get here in town in 92. I may jump to the 93 tune after I talk to Sean and see if I am safe with that. He said I would see the best results by using the 91 and up tunes.

Initial start up the truck runs as normal and with the new exhaust it sounds great. I went for a quick trip around the block but keep in mind it's snowing hard here and we already have several inches on the ground so I'm not going crazy. However I do first notice that it seems to rev much smoother from 2K on up. There used of be a sort of delay to get to 3K but now it just climbs right up nice and smooth. I rarely get it up in the 4K range but pushed it a little and it responded nicely. I'm sure over the next few days I will be able to notice more but for now I'm happy. I would have to say that with the new gears and this tune it's like it's finally alive after so many years working it's *** off to push those 35's. If you are on the fence to do this mod I don't see why you wouldn't want to do it.

I would like to know if there are any options via the tuner for changing shift points and increasing the idle a little or if he has to do that for me. I will find out more this week.

 

Thanks for posting your initial results with your new tune. Do you know if your truck has a 46RE or 46RH automatic transmission in it?

 

You bet and I believe I have a 46RE but I couldn't be 100%. It's only a 1500.

 

Yes, looking forward to hearing more! 96 was a changeover year for the 46rh/re. I've experienced both in a 96. Simple to check though. Crawl under your truck and look at the main plug in. If it has only 3 wires it's rh. If there's 8 wires then re. The main plug is on the driver side and the plug is vertical. Don't confuse it with the neutral safety switch which is also on the driver side but horizontal.

 

how much is the tuner ?

 

Can you also please let us know what the exact model number is of the tuner you are using?

 

So driving around today I can really notice the added power in the 2500-3000 range and with the 4.56 gears I can feel it. For me it's a big seat of the pants difference. It just get's there so much faster and smoother and keeps pulling.

I paid $390 for the tuner with 6 tunes set up for my truck. It's a very basic tuner but that's all I need it for anyway. It also works as a OBD reader and clears out CEL's. Those alone are $50-100. And the tuner is the 3200. Get a hold of Sean at Hemifever and he will hook you up.