Has anyone had their A8 tuned as you increased your HP/TQ via bolt ons? Is it necessary? At what level of power is it necessary? Does tuning hurt the realiability of the transmission?

 

Look for Chuck Cow:

https://www.google.com/#q=site:corve...m+a8+chuck+cow

 

yes it's necessary. we have plenty of a8's making 850+ rwhp and a few at 1k+ rwhp stock transmission and living.

 

HP tuners doesn't have full potential on the trans just yet... but you can adjust some stuff and be safe... I wouldn't Remove Tq management though

 

Any personal experience with their A8 tune Dave?

 

there are a few things you need to do (that I wouldn't call "tuning" exactly) to realize full potential but if you try to make similar adjustments as one would have done with the 6 or 4 speeds you will have problems.

 

Can you elaborate on what those "few things" are?

 

Shift timing and torque management, don't touch them...

 

 

No, sorry, just remembered the post and the CHUCK COW thing stuck in my memory....

Are they secret things? Or can you share? I don't know if you mean remove a checkball, change the fluid, or modify a table!

I barely understand how powerglides work, I won't be hacking on my 8L90E myself anytime soon!

 

Nothing mechanical, not really a secret but k.i.s.s. applies here.

A forum member just lost the clutches in his A8 due to a poor trans tune. Not sure if the tuner is stepping up or not.... can't blame the power level or a bad manual trans driver on that one. ;-)

I did see the tune and it's way aggressive and appears to use A6 mentality.

 

FWIW I made some very minor changes which have improved shift speed and feel, tested during many days of 1/2 mile racing. I'm only running around 620whp though.

 

YES, we do lots of them... Vettes and TRUCKS. Software updates are a key and knowing what's new and old is a trick.

2015 for instance has about 6 or 7 TRANS UPDATES from GM.... Sorta took a while to make it right.... and still not perfect in my book.

15, 16, and 17 are all very different and most people can't even tune a 2017 A8 trans.

It works very differently than the controls we previously have for A6....even though they are different units.

My advice is stick with someone that knows and also our AutoCal device is fantastic because, with it

I can remotely update your base trans software and you have the ability to upgrade or downgrade your trans software

any time we feel the need to do so and as new updates come out from the manufacturer, at any time in the future, we

can apply those changes to your vehicle from 1,000s of miles away or on the other side of the world.

Call any time if you have questions.
Chuck CoW

 

Anyone with HPTuners can tune a 2017 A8 as of January.

HPTuners can also tune the A10 as of about a month ago.

 

Hey Higgs.... I was referring to ME with Efi Live specifically, but I have not updated my HPT recently as I don't

use it as often. Is it a BETA release or has it trickled down to public release yet?

Usually HPT is first to market with coverage and that's awesome, but I still prefer working with EFI LIVE.

Are you liking the support you have with HPT or is it "in development" still?

Thanks for the info.
Chuck CoW

 

I have both Chuck, support is much better at HPT, EFI seems to be catering to the diesel crowd. I have not used EFI in about 3 years, but my buddy says they swing mostly diesel stuff. Got a problem with the latest HPT, just post it, it wii get looked at and you won't wait 6 months for an update or for a PID to be supported.

John

 

Chuck I much prefer HPT

 

If it matters... I much prefer HPT as well..

Chuck haven't seen ya on the HP tuner forums in a bit

 

Hey there. It's a great tool and I'm one of their original customers....

Lots of people use it.

I use it for lots of things....but not much GM tuning. I never liked the scan tool and that's my main objection.

I'll assume most of you use HPT..... And never really "used" Efi Live either.

I won't get into a back and forth over it..... but, their 7.5 scan tool is really nice....and the new V8 scan tool is INCREDIBLE. Period.

Again, HPT is often first to market with coverage and that's a big plus.... but sometimes the turtle wins the race for me.

HPT seems LESS EXPENSIVE to most of you.... Because you don't use it much.

If you were an EFI LIVE tuner.... That does BIG VOLUMES of work across many platforms....EFI LIVE is MUCH CHEAPER.

Most people buy HPT because it is slightly cheaper...and they don't use it much so that works for them.

I use mine every day..... just not the way you guys use it. I love the fact that I can ADD TABLES as necessary that the

company does not make available. I LOVE doing Virtual VE right in the software with one click....

Having the ability to add custom tables and modify stuff you can't even see.....or know is there, is a BIG plus for me and my customers.

There is no better or worse.... it's just what works for you.... and EFI LIVE works for me......How I use it.

Both platforms have come a long way recently...and yes, EfiLive does lots with Diesels.... BUT SO DO I.

Having the compliment EfiLive AutoCal to enable me to distribute my tunes and log them remotely in other countries with MY

serial / digital wideband mod...... Can't beat it at a reasonable price.

Lots of people on forums sharing information about tuning with HPT.... Very good for you guys. My info comes from

somewhere else. Again.... They both do their thing they way they do it....

When someone sends me a pcm and it's locked, or got MUNCHED with a wrong year OS flash, or it's an HPT custom OS.....

Most guys are dead in the water..... Not me. I can still see and edit those pcms.

I'm not razzing anyone here, but I just mention these things because I don't want anyone reading this thread to just assume

there is a better or worse product..... You guys with HPT are just not using the tool in an environment like mine and it works great for you.

Thats great.... I'm using EFI LIVE, because without it.... I wouldn't be me.

I still have my old HPT V1 cable and I still use it..... I also got one of the 40 MPVI (pre release) beta cables to test back in the day.

LOVED IT. This post isn't designed to dump on anyone or persuade anyone either way.... HPT is a fantastic tool.

I have 4 EFI LIVE V2 cables and can't wait for V3! and that's how I roll..... (or flash)

Thanks....
Chuck CoW