stupid computer

[Brinson Smith]

I have an '03 GMC 1500 with the 6.0L engine, In an effort to increase performance I have ported and polished the heads and changed out the cam to corvette specifications. The motor thinks like a corvette, but the computer thinks like a truck. Anybody know how to manipulate the computer? I have already talked to diablo sport and they don't have a program for that application. Do you think a corvette computer will work? Biggest problem is low idle so the truck wants to cut off at red lights.
thanks for any input.

[Craig S.]

Re: stupid computer

Brinson - while I am not up on the details of the current model castings and components, usually a truck engine is designed for low end torque and pulling power in the lower rpm band. This would influence the cam design, head runners and shape, and combustion chamber design and CC's, plus piston choice. All of the above coupled with engine management software in the computer chip result in the overall performance, efficiency, and characteristics of the engine. By modifying cam design, porting and polishing the heads, and leaving the pistons and lower end the same, you obviously have modified the engine management curves dramatically. However, as you know, GM never intended this for their vehicles, and doesn't provide means of tuning, like the aftermarket companies. I would suspect substituting a corvette chip for the truck chip will not be your answer....the computers, (and there are multiple) affect many other facets of the vehicle in terms of management etc. In my state (AZ) you would probably never get this vehicle through our emissions testing as they are now reading out the DTC's via the OBD2 port on late model vehicles, this may not be an issue for your state.

I know some of the aftermarket chip makers have come up with self tunable chips to modify the performance curves of the engine, and given your vehicle and situation, I am guessing you need to seek out and find that type of supplier, then you will need to rent some time on a dyno of the variety that you can run your engine/vehicle together, and, with someone familiar with race tuning performance engines using computer management methods to begin setting up your engine.

These new engine managemement systems are highly engineered and tuned by the design team at the factory, and, while some of the aftermarket development compaines have and do make strides in this area, it is not an area where the shadetree tinkerer can do well like days in the past.

Best of luck, maybe someone else has some ideas, but I think you are going to have to work with a company that will help you custom tune your truck with the modifications...Craig

[Brinson Smith]

Re: stupid computer

thanks, a company called PDQ said they could help me out.