All of their PCM'* seem to be that price.....and they don't give you a PCM. Their only option is to send in yours (and deal with the down-time) and get yours back with the new programming.

Being my daily driver, I have no way to deal with the down-time.

Personally, I like to have the OEM computer (in stock form) in case there is a problem.

When I got the PCM for my last vehicle, I provided all of the specifics to the guy, and he sent a new (used) PCM WITH the updated programming. I just had to take it in after the install for a crank relearn.

Ken

$495 for a canned tune? I could get someone to come out and tune MY CAR for that, not just a Bonneville in general but specific to an individual car, every car will react different to changes in settings and there is no way to get it totally right without hundreds of miles of road testing while scanning and making little tweaks to have an edge

IMO just a tune without any mods especially one where you are just making a canned tune isn't going to unlock much other than speed/rev limiters and traction control settings

I agree it'* high.

They are claiming 20hp/25tq and 10-15% improvement on mileage.

Unfortunately, unless someone else gets this computer unlocked and offers something better it'* either that or nothing.

I will probably do nothing....to the computer anyway.

I am going to do a CAI and fab up some larger exhaust. I love the way Northstars sound with good exhaust.

BTW, where in Ohio would you go for a custom tune that is less than the $495 for the cann'd tune?

Ken

It'* a pipe dream. N* PCM'* are Not "locked". They are written in ROM. Dealer'* can't even flash them. Which is why People like California Hot Rod Fabricator'* sell "Controllers" like the Holley Commander and the software/sensors that go along with it. http://www.chrfab.com/Ignitions.htm
If you have a couple of thousand $'* laying around, a Controller can be added which uses it'* own timing sensor and piggybacks the rest of them. Initial costs are high and can soar if your not familiar with using tune software yourself. The do it yourself method looks to be around $3000. Expect alot more to take it to Cali and have them fabricate.






















For $800 for a nice NOS kit, and $50 a bottle; I'll just keep spraying, TY

Based on what you (GXP Venom) just said, Wester'* is fabricating truth, not programming.

And, there isn't a snowball'* chance of EVER getting PCM upgrades for this car without HUGE expense.

Talk about deflating one'* dreams with a single post!!

Oh well.

Other than the NOS, have you made any improvements to your that gave any additional power and/or gas mileage?

Ken

Not much to improve "as is". Pontiac already nicely equipped the N* with intake and exhaust given what they had to work with. With 4 years of looking into things, I really don't see much out there that has any value, Hp vs money wise. You can add a MAF for $300, rebore the TB a smidgen, Jet Chip has a chump controller for a little over $300 that doesn't do much. Nothing that brings out a bang. I would love to find something that would wake the engine up, but still looking and hoping. The modern LD8 sits in a couple Caddies, our GXP, and the Lucerne. Perhaps we will yet see a simple aftermarket "plug and go" PCM. Even Intense Racing at one time said they had the GXP PCM slated to be work on. It fell through. And I'm sure the same will happen with yours as they get into it. You never know. I got what I "know" from a Buick Service Manager where I bought my car. He told me 4 years ago what I repeated in this thread and I havent' heard any evidence to the contrary since then.

As for the NOS, even that is limited by not being able to back the timing off. I have the mild 75Hp orifices in mine. Anything more causes a "stumble" in mid RPM range.

I'm going to stay in contact with them and see where it goes. I'll post if they actually release something.

I'd definitely put it in my pipe and smoke it if became a reality.

Not sure exactly, one of my friends was going to get his Regal tuned with similar mods to mine for about $250 I think, with our hardware of course so another $100 for a liscense if you don't have anything yet

This doesn't apply to a GXP though, just the 3800 models

Intense-racing tunes our PCMs don't they?