I'm thinking of the Mopar TCM as my next mod...

Even though they're designed for the 5.7's, I've been reading some good results about it's applicability to the SRT8. Anyone given the Mopar TCM any thought? I'm assuming it would need to be programmed to the vehicles VIN with a Starscan but it does make a difference in shifting etc. Has anyone used it here?

 

Hmmm... I think I'd wait for the real TCM programing from DS or B&G. The TCM is very tightly coupled to the PCM and any changes there are likely to require changes to the PCM control of the TCM as well. I'm not saying it wouldn't work or that you wouldn't see (beneficial) changes but I'm thinking that you'd get an order of magnitude more benefit if you tune the TCM to precisely work with your PCM tune. Right now engine tunes are done to use the current behavior of the TCM (torque management, shift points, etc, etc). If you had the ability to tune the TCM with everything else then it would open it up for a lot more customization and optimization.

 

^^yeah, what he said. your hot.

 

What will it do that the Predator won't?

 

The Predator (currently) does not program the TCM at all. It only programs the PCM which controls the TCM. The PCM tells the TCM when to shift, what gear, and initially puts it into one of a couple of operating modes. For example, with the the 5.7L, the Predator has options for shift firmness. The "firm" mode is what the 6.1L starts with. It's the same TCM but the PCM puts it into a operating mode. The predator option changes the "mode" value for the TCM in the PCM. Each mode has preset settings for stuff like line pressure, maybe clutch lockup, etc.

The things that the TCM does autonomously are not currently programmable. When the PCM tells it to shift to gear x there are a number of things that the TCM does to complete the operation. I believe it's the TCM alone that decides when to lock up the clutch. These are some of the things that you would want to get at to optimize it for your tune and preferences. I'm not sure what the Mopar TCM changes but I'd expect it to be programmed specifically to work with the stock 5.7L tune. So it might give you some desireable effects with the 6.1L but it's unlikely to be optimal.

 

Go with the RDP unit...........this may be on my Christmas list for the spring with an FJO contoller and 360 degree nitrous sprayer.

 

Kayce, it's my understanding that the RDP unit has been discarded because it was to abrupt and not driveable.

 

Now there's an idea. Call Steve and see what he thinks about it?