Page 6 of 27
Re: '96 252 454 Magnum performance benchmark
Posted: Sun May 05, 2019 7:55 am
by Big Block Power
Ok this is what Matt and I think they sent you.

I bet it's got better torque ratings.
It's a BRDA240hp/dp program.
Too Soon!
Re: '96 252 454 Magnum performance benchmark
Posted: Sun May 05, 2019 8:38 am
by cmattj
Big Block Power wrote: Sun May 05, 2019 7:55 am
Ok this is what Matt and I think they sent you.

I bet it's got better torque ratings.
It's a BRDA240hp/dp program.
Too Soon!
Never too soon. 240hp is ahead of its time. Imagine when you let everyone know .... βIβm getting 2.6 mpg at 26 mph.instead of that silly 1.8 at 46 mph.
Good call!
Re: '96 252 454 Magnum performance benchmark
Posted: Sun May 05, 2019 12:54 pm
by akorcovelos
Big Block Power wrote: Sun May 05, 2019 6:32 am
Is that a mefi1 2 3 or 4? It looks totally diff then my mefi4. I'm guessing 2 or 3 because it's much easier than mine. When you found it I thought it was the same part number. I know the mefi4 is used in a ton of fuel injection options.
Both are MEFI 1. MEFI 4 is far superior as it has way better resolution on tables and boost control. If I ever wanted to supercharge it Iβd have to convert to 4.
99C9A9F2-BC08-481B-99DC-ADD33AFBA590.png
Re: '96 252 454 Magnum performance benchmark
Posted: Sun May 05, 2019 12:59 pm
by akorcovelos
Ytmsn wrote: Sun May 05, 2019 6:44 am
That too bad Akor, I feel bad for you as I know you had high hope's and expectations. But I suspect you'll get it sorted out and come roaring back!
Thanks YT, really hoping itβs just a mistake on their end. I know when I called to check on it because it was taking way longer that they said to turn it around the first time they mixed my order up with someone elseβs, maybe they really did put a tune for another engine on it by mistake.
Re: '96 252 454 Magnum performance benchmark
Posted: Sun May 05, 2019 1:03 pm
by akorcovelos
Big Block Power wrote: Sun May 05, 2019 7:55 am
Ok this is what Matt and I think they sent you.

I bet it's got better torque ratings.
It's a BRDA240hp/dp program.
Too Soon!

felt like 240 raging HP out there yesterday!
Re: '96 252 454 Magnum performance benchmark
Posted: Tue May 07, 2019 10:55 am
by akorcovelos
ok, I'm torn. Whipple wants my original ECU to look at the tune to see the difference compared to their tune...A) my boat will be down as long as they have it, B) I'm nervous about them corrupting the factory tune and them I'm SOL...
What say you?
Re: '96 252 454 Magnum performance benchmark
Posted: Tue May 07, 2019 11:11 am
by tgrace98
akorcovelos wrote: Tue May 07, 2019 10:55 am
ok, I'm torn. Whipple wants my original ECU to look at the tune to see the difference compared to their tune...A) my boat will be down as long as they have it, B) I'm nervous about them corrupting the factory tune and them I'm SOL...
What say you?
I'm not into hot rodding boats so I might not give you the answer you want.
But I would not send them your factory ECU. like you said if they corrupt it you are SOL. I'd rather have a good running reliable boat than gain 2-3mph.
Re: '96 252 454 Magnum performance benchmark
Posted: Tue May 07, 2019 12:50 pm
by cmattj
akorcovelos wrote: Tue May 07, 2019 10:55 am
ok, I'm torn. Whipple wants my original ECU to look at the tune to see the difference compared to their tune...A) my boat will be down as long as they have it, B) I'm nervous about them corrupting the factory tune and them I'm SOL...
What say you?
Im torn as well but I understand.
As they have proven programs for your application it obviously has them at a loss... as im sure they expected the same result . Knowing this you could have sent them your and then they could have base lined the timing and fuel trims to their improvement range. Maybe they can mirror your ecu for base idle, and controls and leave it unscathed? Im ok with that then. Did some one say free overnight shipping back!
Re: '96 252 454 Magnum performance benchmark
Posted: Tue May 07, 2019 1:22 pm
by akorcovelos
I know, I'm sure that's what they want to do, but it's not just them messing with it I'm worried about. What if it gets damaged/lost in shipping, I'm done...I'll need to go crash at BBP's place because Mrs. akor will boot my ass out. I'm actively messaging Dennis from the tuning department, trying to work something out.
Re: '96 252 454 Magnum performance benchmark
Posted: Tue May 07, 2019 1:46 pm
by cmattj
Nice to hear !
Re: '96 252 454 Magnum performance benchmark
Posted: Tue May 07, 2019 2:00 pm
by Ytmsn
Doitdoitdoitdoit
Re: '96 252 454 Magnum performance benchmark
Posted: Tue May 07, 2019 3:25 pm
by Big Block Power
I sent mine to California. Lots of insurance to cover a new one if lost. They have a copy of my factory tune and he said he could put it back to that at anytime. I think he can Even do it remotely with the software that I have or I may have to buy some other software if needed. I had mine back within a week. He was awesome. He communicated like a IT guy not a car guy though. Sorry Nauti's and tgrace98. I would ask fur a discount on the tune then. It's messed up somewhere.
Re: '96 252 454 Magnum performance benchmark
Posted: Tue May 07, 2019 3:32 pm
by akorcovelos
Well if they can't fix it I'm asking for a refund, that tune is useless as is. I just can't believe they didn't make a huge mistake on this one, nobody would accept that tune, I mean all in it's 800 RPM less than advertised, not to mention not even being able to idle. This isn't a tune requiring a tweak, it needs to be wiped and the right calibration loaded. Not impressed with the responses I'm getting either, I ask several questions and get a sentence back stating they need my old unit to look at. Been radio silent for the last couple hours, but being in CA I'm hoping he's just taking a long lunch.
He said they would try to turn it around in 2 days, but they said that initially and it took 2 months. I didn't care because it was winter, different story now.
Re: '96 252 454 Magnum performance benchmark
Posted: Tue May 07, 2019 4:09 pm
by Big Block Power
Yea I hear you. Send it priority mail. It will be there in 2 days they will tune it the next and back to you in 2 days. You don't need it this weekend anyways. You will have it back by the 18th weekend. I sure then though. Take pictures of both of them so you have records of it. Read the usps fine print on what they will cover if lost. I marked mine so I knew I got mine back too.
Re: '96 252 454 Magnum performance benchmark
Posted: Wed May 08, 2019 10:42 am
by akorcovelos
After several emails, and a phone call I'm not impressed with the customer service at Whipple. They claim they need the actual computer from your boat to re-calibrate off of, which is not what the website advertises. They claim to have developed a tune with specific metrics for a specific engine, but are now saying they need the stock calibration to work off of. On the website it says you can buy new ecus from them and they will flash the tune on it, so how do they do that if there isn't a base tune? The guy was pretty rude when he couldn't answer the technical questions I had, and admitted the website verbiage was misleading, but it's basically a 'too bad so sad' situation. He's the department manager, the guy who actually did the tune was out of the office until today so I asked to talk to him when he's back. I'm not comfortable sending them the original ECU as they just don't seem to care about customer satisfaction at all. I mentioned last time they told me 2 day turn around it was 2 months to get it back, he didn't even acknowledge that was a problem, and didn't assure me it wouldn't happen again. Maybe this is a small revenue generator for them, but the responses I was getting were unacceptable for any level of work they do. He went so far as to talk about how many of their customers don't know what they're talking about and he has to assume as much. really? So he's basically blaming all their mistakes on ignorant customers.
He said he spoke with the calibrator. There is no generic tune for the 385 HP 454 There are 8 different calibrations that were used. To ensure the correct one they need to verify what one I have...