Hey guys (gals) wanted to start a thread about Superchips (3865, or Cortex). Want to hear your experiences. What tune you are running, what do you like best/least. Hope to make this a sticky if we get some decent info for those who are thinking about buying one.

The only difference between the 3865 and Cortex is the Cortex offers a powertrain warranty. See their website for details.

I hear most of us say the superchips is the best mod they have done (so far), me included. I will start:

I started with the 87 tune. Immediately noticed different shifting. No longer dogs when shifting from 1st to second. Holds gears longer. Mileage did not change significantly enough to mention. Truck does have more power, can take grades without downshifting that normally caused a downshift.

Purchased the trans tuning package and tuned the trans to hold gears even longer (this shift schedule can be found in the FAQs section). Whoa what a difference. Now, I have all my torque settings to 1.6% and I do not notice that much difference during normal driving, but WOT it will shift real firm (I'm running the Sonnax as well). and she screams. the feel and sound is phenominal. (to me)

A few weeks ago, I decided to try the 91 performance tune when I was going on a trip to Myrtle Beach. Filled up with 93 (because we dont have 91 around here and it pissed me off immediately because the tune overwrote my shift schedule...BUT...I averaged 19.5 MPG on the trip and I have never had that kind of mileage. I really did not notice any performance improvement because the truck was shifting like stock (into od by 25 mph). I then did the towing tune using 89 octane. All the sudden my shift schedule was back, but not quite like it was. Shifted a bit lower in the RPM band unless I was really on it. It did downshift sooner, I guess thats so while towing it can take advantage of compression braking. I ran this tune for several weeks and just could not get used to the way it drove or shifted.

I reinstalled the 87 tune last weekend and my shift schedule. my experience is the 87 tune, combined withy my shift schedule is the best feel for me. I have no performance numbers to back this up, just my seat of pants feel.

Let's hear your story....

 

I was using yours, but since I have the 3.92 rear end I almost get to 3000 RPMS in first gear under light throttle.

So now I using a hybrid mix of yours and rengnath and adjusting the 1 up to shift a little lower in the RPMs. It will take a bit, but I'm sure I can figure it out.

 

Superchips 3865:
I stated off using the 91 octane tune, was extremely pleased with the shifting and response of the truck. After a while a tried the 87 octane tune, and didn't notice any noticeable change from the 91 octane tune. So I figure with the cheaper gas that 87 octane was the tune to run. I really didn't notice any MPG difference with either tune.
Then i tried the mileage saver tune (forget exactly what it's called), and it did not improve mileage over the 87 tune at all for me.

I have the trans tuning package, but never went through and changed all the shift points.
I am going to sit down and give it a try soon though, and steal one of the posted shift point schedules.

I would definitely recommend the tuner to anyone considering it, being able to adjust tire size, read & clear codes, and all the rest that it does makes it just about necessary, IMO.

 

I started with the 87 tune. Enjoyed every minute of it.

Then the 91 tune with 93 gas. Felt better but the shifts seam worse. More high end power, but crappy low end.

After a while with that I tried the tow tune recommend from someone here. I used 93 gas. Low end torque was way better. And carried through the power band better that the performance tune. About 8 months ago I changed to 89 gas with the tow tune and the.truck was even more responsive. I have stuck with this set up ever since.

 

Superchips 3865.

Ive tried the 87 and 91 tunes and liked the power gains but couldn't notice the power differance. I didn't like the shift schedules either. I like the short shifting of the stock for mpg's. Now I'm using the 91 tune with 87 gas and the stock shift schedule with tm turned down to 10%.

 

Pretty much the same story here. I really need to make some time and actually try the trans tuning but with winter coming up I might just wait for spring. Highly recommend the Superchips though, it's well worth the cost of entry.

 

the trans tuning is really easy, just time consuming because the sc really does not have a user friendly interface. Bobby did a great jopb with the spreadsheets.

 

Yeah it's not the difficulty that has me putting it off, more my remembering to actually do it. I'll hardly get to use it anyway, I live 3 minutes away from my work and there's 3 stoplights on the way there so most mornings involve me sitting still in the truck swearing at the idiot who won't turn right on a green arrow.

 

I have a question about the lines crossing. When I input my numbers from the tuner listed as STOCK have lines crossing all over the place. Now when I look at the different pages in the Excel Spreadsheet (1up-2dn, 2up-3dn, 4up-5dn, 2pup-3-2pdn, upshifts and downshifts) none of them cross, but when I look at the DATA tab some of them cross over.

So is it alright if I have lines crossing on the Data sheet, but as long as the rest look ok with no intersectoins I will be alright?

Here is the STOCK shift points on the DATA sheet. Every other one there aren't any lines intersecting.

 

I haven't been too satisfied with my superchips, The power was nice....but the shift schedule was not nice for normal driving. I do not have the trans tuning on mine. No mileage improvement in any tune. Mine has been sitting in my drawer for some time. If anyone wants to make me a reasonable offer, hit me up.