A MUST mod for the 4.3!!

[wreckless123]

I just spent the best $220 I have ever spend on my Sonoma... Most of the mods like the pullys and aftermarket MAF sensor are expensive and you hope to feel a difference but you never do. Last week I went to the scrap yard and got a core PCM out of a similar year Sonoma/S10 ($50) and sent it to www.pcmforless.com (http://www.pcmforless.com/) and hoped for the best. I had already put aftermarket exhaust on and a K&N CAI and never noticed a difference. I got the PCM back today and after a quick install I took it for a test drive.. I was impressed!! It is very rare that you can put few hundred $ mod on something and actually feel the difference in the "Seat-of-the-pants" factor. This thing now pulls hard up to the redline, the shifts are firm and crisp and I can feel an overall power gain. My truck now is how it should come from the factory in my opinion, it is fun to drive. I hated how it would fall on its face around 3500 RPM before the custom program and how the shifts were as soggy as a wet fart. No, my truck will not run 12's but it is faster and now fun to drive! The down side is now I have to run 92+ fuel and I will be visiting the trans shop a bit earlier now..

I just wanted to give a good company a bump so if you are interested in getting your PCM tuned contact Bryan at www.pcmforless.com (http://www.pcmforless.com/)

It was well worth the money!

[Maximus]

Actually the firmer shifts are because of less slippage which is a good thing.Now that added stress on the drive line might show a failure of some sorts but you are not making enough power to worry to much.I would suggest though if your U joints start going bad replace them with heavy duty replacements that can take the banging better and for longer.A custom tune can make a night and day difference.I was gonna get a chip programmed for mine but I found a guy who can convert OBDI ecm's to flash program OBDI's like in 94 & 95 LT1 F-bodies.But glad every thing worked out good for you.What year is your truck.

[wreckless123]

What year is your truck.

Its a 98 Sonoma. They were the only people programming 4.3 trucks that old. Most only programed back to 2000..

[flatblack]

thats cool, any idea on hp gain? i'm guess in if you can feel the diff. its gotta be over 10hp+ gain...

[Maximus]

PCM for less has a pretty good reputation for their work and customer support.What are future upgrades gonna cost you if you don't mind me asking.

[wreckless123]

PCM for less has a pretty good reputation for their work and customer support.What are future upgrades gonna cost you if you don't mind me asking.

At this point I am not sure.. I have done just about all the bolt-ons except boost.. I have the CAI and aftermarkert exhaust with the PMC tune. I dont know what else would work well, any ideas?

[Maximus]

Headers,cam,higher stall converter,gears,there is plenty of stuff you could do that more programming would benefit.

[wreckless123]

Headers,cam,higher stall converter,gears,there is plenty of stuff you could do that more programming would benefit.

My gears are already 3.73 dont really want to gu much lower. I am considering headers but this motor is so funny, if it does not have enough back preasure all your power is gone. I will do the cam when the motor dies, I am 125K deep so It is not to far off!!

[biglouie_underpressure]

brian did a good job on mine!

[Hammer]

put a cam in that thing and you could get 40hp with the retune.... especially if you have exhaust modifications that can benefit from such things.

[nomaboy]

Headers,cam,higher stall converter,gears,there is plenty of stuff you could do that more programming would benefit.


you gotta watch out for higher stall on 98'-up trucks because the computer will sense the extra "slipping" and it will increase the line pressure too much and blow the trans apart. or it will kick the Torque managment in. i have heard both stories.

[nomaboy]

BTW. i have no cat plus exhaust mods in my sig and my truck loves it. i did all of the exhaust mods before the cam and stuff and i have never felt loss of power with it. it jumped off the line faster with a restrictionless exhaust. i personally don't believe in the "low backpessure makes no torque" theory