which is the way to go? i know the stock computer doesnt respond to mods very well without being reprogrammed. does the peformacne ecu recognize more air, more fuel etc and change for it or does it need to be reflashed as well? would a programmer be the way to go? would love to hear your suggestions. im leaning towards the mopar pcm as long as it will recognize mods.

 

anyone?

 

depends on the modifications you are going to do.

 

my planned mods are going to be simple. just headers, m1 manifold, throttle body, CAI, and high flow cat.

 

A flash is always going to be the best way to go because it can be tailored to match the mods you have. It has its downsides though, including possible emmisions issues, might not work the first time and needs to be redone, no more CEL and stored codes, etc... It is also difficult to do flash tuning through the mail. The proper way to optimally flash a PCM is to have it on a dyno while settings are being adjusted.

A Mopar PCM is better then a programmer in the performance results it provides, but a programmer has a little more flexibility with the type of fuel you can use, and the other settings you can change (like tire size, rev limiter, etc...). Most programmer are designed for stock vehicles with little or no mods though.

I have tried 2 of the 3 (first a programmer, then a Mopar PCM). The PCM was the best so far. I plan to do a flash some day, but not until I have completed all the mods I want to do on the engine. That way, I don't need to flash it again if I add something else.

If your going with the M1, I would recommend the flash as the best option for you. With out B&G's M1 flash, you might experience low end torque loss (commonly reported with the M1).

 

ok. looks like im goin with the pcm, as my other mods are going to be very slow and gradual. how much horsepower can i expect from the performance pcm alone? and can the performance pcm be flashed?

 

I would think the performance pcm could be flashed but good luck trying to get a hold of a Mopar Performance PCM since they are discontinued. I just went through that headache a little while ago. Keep your eye open on e-bay if your going that route. As far as HP gains I am not sure I have yet to install my Mopar Performance PCM. But if anybody has some numbers thay can post I would like to know also.

 

Yes, it can be flashed just like any PCM. The only difference between it and a stock PCM is the program table values it has stored in it. A custom flash changes all of those, no matter if it is a stock PCM or a Mopar Performance PCM. If you have it flashed, whatever values are on the PCM are replaced with the flashed values

 

ok so it would be a good idea for me to get the mopar pcm. and then later on when i do the mods i can just flash the mopar one? how much of a gain should i see with the pcm alone?

 

That's what i'm doing, using the Performance PCM as is for now, and then will custom flash either it or my old stock PCM when I finish doing all the mods I want to do (if I ever reach that point).

As for gain, I was told they used to advertise 26hp and 27ft lbs torque for a 5.2, 20hp and 26ft lbs torque for the 5.9. It is 4 degrees or so of timing advance if I remember correctly (depending on if you have a 5.2 or 5.9), so plan to run premium fuel all the time or you will ping. Would help to also have a 180 t-stat and cooler plugs (Autolite 3923) to help with the pinging, escpecially if you live in a hot climate and/or like to haul loads or tow.