FICM Flash

[Mwilbur516]

Not to derail or anything but Mwilbur how do you like your 58v FICM from Quick Tricks?? Is it tuned??

Love the 58v FICM. Really want it tuned though. Un-tuned you can still tell a difference over the 48v unit when towing. Better low rpm torque and response. Some say there's no difference, but I disagree.

 

[Mwilbur516]

ahh....you sure about that?

Allow me to clarify. KEM will live tune your FICM. AS FAR AS I KNOW, the other tuners have FICM tunes that they simply load onto your unit. Meaning you and I could get the exact same FICM tune, but KEM will hook up to your truck and live tune your FICM to your specific setup. If I'm wrong please correct me.

That being said, I don't think I'll go with KEM's FICM tuning as long as I'm running stock injectors and turbo. I think that price wise it makes more since for me to go with IDP or PHP.

For me PHP will probably win out just because as soon as Eric releases his remote FICM tuning, I would bet there will be a several month wait for the tuner. I know a lot of guys are chomping at the bit to have Eric tune there FICM's, but are to far away to just take the truck in and can't afford the down time to remove their FICM and send it to him and wait to get it back. I can drive to PHP with cash in hand and have those guys tune my FICM in an afternoon. I like IDP and Eric is a wonderful tuner and I'd love to try his tune, I just think there will be a long wait.

 

[chappy]

I know for me if the truck starts, doesnt lope, and doesnt run like it has stiction; I would say it runs fine.

I wonder if my tuned 58v ficm from idp is why my truck starts so damn good in the cold with no stiction?

 

[Mwilbur516]

I wonder if my tuned 58v ficm from idp is why my truck starts so damn good in the cold with no stiction?

I would bet good money that your tuned FICM has a lot to do with it. I'd also be willing to bet you keep your oil in good condition as well.

 

[smokinstroker]

im contacting mike tomorrow to find out about the ficm as i am going to send one to him over christmas, ill let everyone know what i hear from him and what my options are.

 

[Jeremy]

You guys make ficm tuning out to be a big deal...after all were'nt the first diablo sport predators, FICM tuners....100 hp!? :shocked: LOL

 

[Rob D]

So is the best solution to get a 58v and program it?

 

[windrunner408]

That is what I have gathered is probably the best option and what I plan to do. It seems whether you go 48v or 58v, you need to tune it.

 

[SickStroke6.0]

I just got mine tuned by PHP.. it is a custom tune, as it is custom made with all the best things from all the different FICM flashes. I have noticed a much smoother powerband, better throttle response, and virtually zero turbo lag.

I can't wait to get the Batmowheel in this thing, you'll think you're driving a gasser because my truck won't have ANY turbo lag.

 

[Mdub707]

I will say I have had a few dozen different FICM's hooked up to my truck and some of the earlier 03ish 7 pin FICM's I've had, which clearly had different programming on them, have been the smoothest starting and running one's. I had one 7 pin I swapped on that literally cut my injector noise at idle in half and ran like a champ. Throttle response was great on that one. Wish I never sold it.

 

[smokinstroker]

I just got mine tuned by PHP.. it is a custom tune, as it is custom made with all the best things from all the different FICM flashes. I have noticed a much smoother powerband, better throttle response, and virtually zero turbo lag.

I can't wait to get the Batmowheel in this thing, you'll think you're driving a gasser because my truck won't have ANY turbo lag.

It is not a custom tune. Essentially it is just a roll back with the heat inductive strategy loaded on it. It is not tailored to your specific mods.

I've ran the php, and both ID ficms. The race from ID. Was a hair snappier.

The kem is tuned to the injectors you run etc, mine goes out to mike next week

 

[Pizza pig]

the PHP isn't just a rollback, its entirely custom, talk to bill about it. I honestly dont think you'll be getting any more power from the KEm over the IDP or PHP it will just be tailer to driving style and the way the power comes on. The ficms are maxed out as far as they can go when all the fueling restrictors are removed.

 

[windrunner408]

:whs: I think PHP is tough to beat considering their tune is the lowest priced.

 

[golfer]

We've received excellent feedback from the hundreds upon hundreds of customers that are running our FICM with the PHP tune...

(without going directly to Bill @ PHP for a more indepth explanation)...

The PHP flash is not simply a rollback to a more desirable OEM/Ford FICM strategy.

(to the best of my knowledge) Bill has evaluated the attributes of all the previous Ford FICM strategies, and has melded the best parts of the various software releases together into one, unified calibration that gives the best overall performance.

Performance is quite subjective...but this flash has better cold starting, better fuel economy, as well as better power, than any single calibration that Ford has released.

We work pretty closely with Bill @ PHP, as well as Eric @ Innovative...though current hardware & software limitations preclude us from having the ability to flash the Innovative tunes in house...we have sent quite a number of FICMs to IDP to be flashed (upon customer request) and direct shipped.

I won't speak FOR anyone...however, I believe my description to be quite accurate.

one thing to keep in mind with the HEUI injection system...

these are UNIT injectors...so the maximum horsepower is really, ultimately dictated by injector size..

i.e. NO ONE can "tune" more fuel than exists in the (bore x stroke) displacement of the injector...

If a truck has alllll of the custom (ECM) tuning in the universe on their truck...and has tapped every last (peak) hp through ECM tuning...then that is allll there is to be made (in terms of PEAK hp).

The FICM 'tuning' can & will make the truck perform differently...probably/possibly even better in some driving scenarios..but these increases in "power" related to the FICM will not show up at the peak of a dyno curve...rather, the gains will be seen on the leading and trailing ends of the curve.

and of course..there would be exceptions to this if the truck being tuned HAD a "bad" ficm..and then swapped on a good &/or modded &/or flashed FICM...

hell..we've had customers report 6mpg INCREASE with our 58v std flashed FICM, as well as over 1 second quicker 0-60mph times....but these types of gains are 90+% attributed to a truck that was getting 4-5 FEWER mpg than it should have been...(like running around on a 30-something volt FICM for 6 months)...so we're not out there claiming 6mpg increases on every truck.

The moral of the story is...any TUNING is going to be ultimately limited by the performance of the hardware..be that the FICM being 'bad' with low voltage...or the fuel injectors, or the turbo, etc...

These tuners could sell "1000hp" tunes to everyone in the world...but only those WITH the injectors...AND the turbo...AND the fuel system, etc, etc...would even approach those numbers...

take care~

Dave

 

[Mwilbur516]

I believe Dave is spot on in his response. I also agree with Windrunner, PHP would be hard to beat, especially for me since I'm within' driving distance. Depending on the price and waiting period, IDP's remote FICM tuning would be worth looking into as well. Although, if I had bigger injectors and turbo, I would probably get KEM to live tune it for maximum performance gain. I just think that with stock turbo and injectors you'd be better off with the PHP or IDP tuning, then saving your money for bigger sticks and more air. AGAIN, this only my opinion. I'm by no means knocking any of these companies. KEM is a great company with thousands of very satisfied customers, just like IDP and PHP.

 

[windrunner408]

EXACTLY :whs:

 

[strokin6L]

It is not a custom tune. Essentially it is just a roll back with the heat inductive strategy loaded on it. It is not tailored to your specific mods.

I've ran the php, and both ID ficms. The race from ID. Was a hair snappier.

The kem is tuned to the injectors you run etc, mine goes out to mike next week

Would really like to hear the feedback on the KEM tuned FICM when you get it on the truck.

 

[alwil]

We've received excellent feedback from the hundreds upon hundreds of customers that are running our FICM with the PHP tune...

(without going directly to Bill @ PHP for a more indepth explanation)...

The PHP flash is not simply a rollback to a more desirable OEM/Ford FICM strategy.

(to the best of my knowledge) Bill has evaluated the attributes of all the previous Ford FICM strategies, and has melded the best parts of the various software releases together into one, unified calibration that gives the best overall performance.

Performance is quite subjective...but this flash has better cold starting, better fuel economy, as well as better power, than any single calibration that Ford has released.

We work pretty closely with Bill @ PHP, as well as Eric @ Innovative...though current hardware & software limitations preclude us from having the ability to flash the Innovative tunes in house...we have sent quite a number of FICMs to IDP to be flashed (upon customer request) and direct shipped.

I won't speak FOR anyone...however, I believe my description to be quite accurate.

one thing to keep in mind with the HEUI injection system...

these are UNIT injectors...so the maximum horsepower is really, ultimately dictated by injector size..

i.e. NO ONE can "tune" more fuel than exists in the (bore x stroke) displacement of the injector...

If a truck has alllll of the custom (ECM) tuning in the universe on their truck...and has tapped every last (peak) hp through ECM tuning...then that is allll there is to be made (in terms of PEAK hp).

The FICM 'tuning' can & will make the truck perform differently...probably/possibly even better in some driving scenarios..but these increases in "power" related to the FICM will not show up at the peak of a dyno curve...rather, the gains will be seen on the leading and trailing ends of the curve.

and of course..there would be exceptions to this if the truck being tuned HAD a "bad" ficm..and then swapped on a good &/or modded &/or flashed FICM...

hell..we've had customers report 6mpg INCREASE with our 58v std flashed FICM, as well as over 1 second quicker 0-60mph times....but these types of gains are 90+% attributed to a truck that was getting 4-5 FEWER mpg than it should have been...(like running around on a 30-something volt FICM for 6 months)...so we're not out there claiming 6mpg increases on every truck.

The moral of the story is...any TUNING is going to be ultimately limited by the performance of the hardware..be that the FICM being 'bad' with low voltage...or the fuel injectors, or the turbo, etc...

These tuners could sell "1000hp" tunes to everyone in the world...but only those WITH the injectors...AND the turbo...AND the fuel system, etc, etc...would even approach those numbers...

take care~

Dave

I think you have just changed my mind on who is going to get my business when I do my FICM.
I think those 2 posts you just made are the best posts I have ever seen on modded FICM's.......thank you.

 

[Pizza pig]

I believe Dave is spot on in his response. I also agree with Windrunner, PHP would be hard to beat, especially for me since I'm within' driving distance. Depending on the price and waiting period, IDP's remote FICM tuning would be worth looking into as well. Although, if I had bigger injectors and turbo, I would probably get KEM to live tune it for maximum performance gain. I just think that with stock turbo and injectors you'd be better off with the PHP or IDP tuning, then saving your money for bigger sticks and more air. AGAIN, this only my opinion. I'm by no means knocking any of these companies. KEM is a great company with thousands of very satisfied customers, just like IDP and PHP.

Even with injectors and a turbo I still fail to see the power increase from the custom tuned ficm from KEM. The FICM tuning just removes the limitations in the fueling allowing you to get the max fueling and tuning out of the ECM.

:morons:

i'd like to be proven wrong

 

[Mwilbur516]

Even with injectors and a turbo I still fail to see the power increase from the custom tuned ficm from KEM. The FICM tuning just removes the limitations in the fueling allowing you to get the max fueling and tuning out of the ECM.

:morons:

i'd like to be proven wrong

Greg, you may be right. I just don't know enough about how the FICM tuning works. I would think however that live tuning would benifit more with aftermarket turbo/injectors. Just my opinion. I think that live tuning with a engine tune combined with live tuning of the FICM would net more power, but that is just an assumption. The only way to know for sure would be to put a truck with a custom tune and a tuned (PHP or IDP) FICM on a dyno, then live tune the FICM and engine and run it again. Not trying to start a pissing match or anything, these are just my thoughts. I'm gonna get my FICM tuned by PHP after the first of the year.