If you are getting into “TUNING” using either HP-Tuners or EFI-Live Hardware and Software… Your prior experiences with Hunting will remind you that doing so is just like Skinning A Fresh Kill: If you Do NOT Know the Beast you've just shot and have hanging there in front of you… You won’t know where to begin cutting. Likewise, without doing enough research to develop an understanding of the PCM-ECMs being TUNED, you are more likely to make harmful mistakes in the process that might
...SPOIL THE MEAT!
If you intend upon making a successful LS Performance Engine Swap into your Vehicle, a good place to begin is to check out this link showing a Spreadsheet of the Delphi Year-Makes-Models that these various PCM-ECMs vs. the Year-Make-Models of Vehicles they support. The things you learn in advance will lessen the chance of you purchasing an Old PCM off of eBay that winds up being incompatible with your set up. I’m recommending that you Clone your OEM PCM and Keep Your Original PCM and BCM on the Shelf ...just in case ANYTHING goes wrong with your TUNING efforts that would benefit from a rapid recovery via the Swap-In of your OEM PCM-BCM Hardware:
http://www.lsmotorswap.com/ecu-tuni...-factory-gm-ecu-hardware-service-numbers.html
Next… Check Out Youtube on this subject, so you can find “Show and Tell Videos” like this one describing the variations between these PCM-ECMs. DOWNLOAD AND SAVE THESE for future re-plays to reinforce your Knowledge about the “Brains Inside The Box”. In time, you’ll learn enough to empower your LS Swap Engine to Run Like a MAD MONSTER as soon as you massage and install the right “TUNE”.
This Video comes from “The Sloppy Mechanic”; a Man
who has trained himself in the use of HP-Tuners as well as Trial and Error “Wrenching” on many LS-Based Engines managing to create as much as 1,000 HP Motors that RUN RIGHT because he KNOWS THE BEAST. He’ll tell you... “If I Can Do It… YOU Can Do It”:
These Videos demonstrate his knowledge with Turbo-Charging a 2007 Chevrolet Silverado:
One of the troubles that you might have to overcome can occur if you unfortunately wind up getting a Legacy PCM that has a TUNE installed that is LOCKED OUT from your Tuning Software. You COULD solve this problem by using a Tech 2 if you have one to re-install a Fresh PCM Calibration. But if NOT… This Video shows you a Physical Workaround inside the PCM to overcome this problem:
Just remember that you have to be cautious about opening up ANY PCM-ECM for fear of Electrostatic Sparking that will RUIN the device. Ground your Gear and Ground Yourself… and make sure to Clean the Electronic Parts inside with
CRC Electronic Component Solvent as well as the Upper and Lower PCM-ECM Casements and Clean the Rubber Sealing Grommet well before buttoning up the casements back together.