Topic: Westers New TCM Tune Feedback???

[spicy3480]

Anyone (DickW) have any feedback regarding Wester's TCM tune?  I am sending mine out this summer to get it and want to know what changes and how it feels.

[Imaj]

What does TCM stand for?

[LiquidPT]

What does TCM stand for?

Transmission Control Module...

[DickW]

Spicy, I am very happy with it. The trans shifts smoothly and downshifts when it should. GJ also has the TCM tune. I took his module to lyndon when I went up. He had some trans issues before the tune. I think it straightened them out for him.

[spicy3480]

That's awesome....are the shifts more firm and quick?  Any effects during daily driving around town, or just when u get on it?

[Gentleman Jack]

TCM Tune is good.  It changes some of the shift points and firmness.  The biggest difference that I notice is when driving in "I" it will stay in gear a bit longer and won't shift quite as quick when you lay off a bit.  Allows a bit more engine brake. 

GJ

[markrat]

How much does this cost?  I looked on the website but can't find it listed.

Thanks...

[DickW]

I think Lyndon told me $190.00

[spicy3480]

I will be sending mine to him this summer.  I think it will be helpful, especially the firmer shifts.

[NavyKnight]

OK, first, the TCM tune only applies to Auto right?  Also, does this mean there has been a development with HP tuners to open up the TCM tables?

I have some experience with driving the AUTO like a criminal and at the track.  The prefered gear is "I".  When I am lucky, and on the highway cruising at 100-120km/h   my "I" gear will keep my RPM at 4800, which is a nice place to sit before you want to punch it.  When you do punch it, the RPM climbs from 4800 to 6200(redline) and gets you in any spot of the highway/track that you want to be at very quickly.  At 6200rpm, the AUTO trans will shift you into another gear, but at this point you are already doing 160km/h so it's already time to calm down.   NOW, if I am unlucky, my "I" gear will not keep me at 4800rpm, and have already shifted me into a higher gear, even though I am in "I" gear.  so sometimes to get my engine to sit in that magic 4800rpm I need to shift into "D" then quickly back to "I" so the lower gear kicks in.
 WHat I am hoping is that the new Westers TCM tune recognizes this magic 4800rpm affinity, and uses it to keep the "I" gear in this range consistently, until it needs to shift at the redline.  What will be even more beautiful, is if I upgrade my valve springs to handle a higher RPM redline, imagine sitting in the 5000rpm range and dancing through the track with all the power?  :  )  It's like having a 12 gauge shotgun cocked and ready to fire when needed.

[Gentleman Jack]

NavyKnight,

I'm not sure about the 4800 rpm in I on freeway / track.  I can go out and check that, but one of the other benefits that I noticed is it stays in gear just a bit longer, up to 6500.  I am not sure what kind of power the engine is putting out at that RPM, but it feels better to shift a bit higher.

GJ

[kennysabarese]

There's gotta be a way to signal specific gears on the trans. I haven't heard of an electronic trans that couldn't do this. I know the 5L50 allows for it from the factory, maybe a TCM swap would do the trick. Basically any trans that supports the +/- stuff would work

Other option is a trans swap to a 6L80. That is what's in the Vette  

[DickW]

NavyKnight, Lyndon said you can't do this with HP  Tuner.As far as I know he is the only one who has cracked the Kappa TCM.

[spicy3480]

Yes, you have to send Lyndon your TCM.  There are no extra cores to swap.

[Gentleman Jack]

Yes, you have to send Lyndon your TCM.  There are no extra cores to swap.

Not true!  Both DickW and I have second TCM's.  There are about 5 cars that use our TCM's, but they use them as BCM's.  They work just fine.  Mine came out of an SRX I believe.  If you need any help, let me know.  So far, DickW and I are the experts    Scary huh?

GJ

[spicy3480]

Hmmm...my error then!  Lyndon told me I had to send mine in.  Where can I get one of these to send to him?  Does he have to mate it to my VIN?

[DickW]

Spicy you can find TCMs for $50 up. get on the internet and look. It does not have to mate to your VIN.

[Gentleman Jack]

but it DOES have to be the same SERVNO.  Make sure of that!  Really really make sure of that!

Steve1,
PM me if you need some help with this.

GJ

[spicy3480]

DickW led me in the right direction.  I called and got the last one and the lady on the phone assured me that it was good in the Solstice.  She named all of the compatible cars to me on the phone.  Thanks DickW and GJ:)

[U4EA]

OK guys, you have some time in on the tunes now. How about an update!?
May a tune to keep the car in 4th gear for a proper dyno run?

[DickW]

DDM did a dyno on my GXP. I think you have to drop the tran down one notch below drive. I got a good dyno.
 The tune makes it shift correctly for a tuned car.

[joshmass]

Just to balance this out a bit I'll let you know that Lyndon's first attempt at tweaking my TCM did not work. I asked for a 7000 redline in all gears. What I got was 7000 in 2nd gear and something else in all the others. When I asked him about it, he asked if we had the car in "I" when we tested it. Seeing that it's not the normal way of driving this car it hadn't occurred to us to do that. Regardless it didn't work properly in "I" either. I'll be sending it back to him to fix after we're done tuning the car. I hope that the second go round is the charm.

[spicy3480]

My performance shift mode works in "L", not "I". 

[DeepBlueGXP]

DDM did a dyno on my GXP. I think you have to drop the tran down one notch below drive. I got a good dyno.
 The tune makes it shift correctly for a tuned car.

Dick,

How were the numbers?

[DickW]

As best I remember around 280rwhp I don't remember the torque. I did not get a print out. I will ask Dave if he has it.