EFI -3G hemi
there are countless car and trucks running the cmr with cams heads turbos superchargers strokers and nitrous. I can think of 8-9 tuners off the top of my head, 3 of witch I have delt with. And those 3 they all have done really good email tunes. And have done enough of them that they can get you close the first time. With just about any combo of parts you can come up with. Then it's a matter of getting miles on the pcm to get it to learn. Then data log and retune. After a few cycles of this you will have a really good if not dead on tune. And not once would you even strap it to a dyno. That is a tune that can be had for about 250. That is how I plan to go on my cammed, headed and turboed build.
^^Right on.
The tuning process through email is fairly straight forward even with a turbo or supercharger. Go with a tuner that knows what he's doing, supply him with accurate datalogs and there's generally no issues. Also, the DSP does allow quite a bit of adjustability to the end user too. WOT Timing and A/F(rev limit,ect) can still be moved around a significant amount just with the tool.
There's really no comparing the factory PCM's idle and drivability quality to what most stand alone EFI offer. You really need to be a top rated tuner and spend a crap load of time with a car to get a stand alone to attain the drivability that comes free with the stock PCM. Drive quality is one of the most difficult things to tune,,,
usually but the stock PCM offers the tuner a HUGE advantage.
The stock PCM is unmatched in its adaptive learning and protection strategies. Idle, Closed Loop A/F, Tip-in timing, and Knock sensing all complex learning capability to actively improve drivability and maintain engine performance. With ETC, the PCM has the option to override the Pedal and can close the throttle if any parameter is out of line.
The added benefit of readily available parts is there along with the comprehensive (and
free) Diagnostic procedures offered by Mopar. Very few EFI systems offer little if any fault detection procedures. If a sensor goes south and the car runs like crap, on most EFI systems you're stuck figuring it out all on your own.
If the stock PCM was just another aftermarket stand alone, it's quality, power, sophisticatoin and added value would cost over $15,000 easy.
imo, every attempt should be made to use the stock PCM when ever possible.