Ok I have some info. I have a friend with an 04 F350 that ran a Bully Dog triple dog (different truck I know) but from a stand still at WOT it would be in OD in less than a quarter mile, he ended up having to replace his tranny (5r110 is much better than our 4r100)..so if it were me I wouldn't run it on my truck..jmho

 

When you're talking about a $4,000+ shortblock "Better safe than sorry" comes to mind.

The other option: Let her TRULY live with her choice of "You're not touching anything on my truck!!" . When it breaks, let her sort it out. Pretty awesome if she can do it herself (and of course some FTE help). And yes, I'm 100% fine if she reads my response. It's not meant as nasty, but if someone insists on it being "my way or the highway" then leave it alone... COMPLETELY. Certainly give her a ride home if it does break, but beyond that... give her what she demanded and don't touch anything.

 

I'd just run it in stock form. I never felt the need for more power with my 7.3

 

But you still apply it to a 7.3L truck which is completely different.....

The 5R110 is much better than a 4R100? That's funny.
Not to mention that the shift characteristics (mechanical and programming-wise) are on completely opposite ends of the spectrum.

I just LOVE how most folks here ASSUME that the programming is going to "break" the truck since it doesn't come from a certain place.


Do you want to hear a REALLY awesome story about TRUE custom tuning ("true" as in "I wrote it right there as he was standing there watching me."....there was no pulling a pre-written calibration pulled from a folder containing a list of tunes for his particular PCM code - I don't work that way because I have a VERY low volume of local customers and time isn't an issue).

I recently (as of two weeks ago) wrote some programming for a local guy. It was nothing but a 30-40 HP towing program but the next day he towed a 7K lb. trailer down the road. His transmission failed (burned up) after about 70 miles......

Was it my programming's fault? I don't think so (but it's not impossible). He put a new Ford transmission in it a few days ago and drives the hell out of it.....with no problems.

A back story....

He JUST bought the truck about three weeks ago. It turns out that he found a few quarts of transmission fluid behind the seat when he got it....and there was transmission fluid coating the underside of the truck (which he washed off when he brought the truck home).

Guess what. It doesn't matter who does the tuning or how "generic" it is or not. If the truck's broken, it's broken. No tuning is going to fix it; it will only exasperate the problem.

 

$#@%..Cody is rollin today isn't he

 

I say it has been there for 252K, so leave it. You know if you do anything to the truck it will have issues (Murphy's Law). And you better know it will be YOUR fault. Do the right thing, leave it alone, and buy your wife gauges if you think it needs them and she will use them.

 

^^^^
id have to agree with dave on this one. if it aint broke don't fix it.
bully dog is a very big, very reputable company, and they're stuff is not cheap or junk.
gauges are always a good idea on any mill, so id just get them and then see what it looks like. if then you don't like the readings or feel that it isn't "safe" enough, then by all means change it! its your truck. but cross that bridge when you get there....

 

Thanks for the replies, guys. The truck is mostly going to be used empty, maybe towing about 4k max (2 horse trailer and all our goodies) for now, anything heavier gets pulled with the dually 6-speed. It seems like there are some differing opinions on here, and some people have had good experiences, some not so good, but I appreciate all the info and will make my decision soon. again, thanks, and I didn't mean to open a can of worms!!

 

Man, you really love to jump on people don't you? Let's roll back a little and take more of my comment in to effect to get a COMPLETE picture, m'kay? How about we start with the VERY FIRST SENTENCE....

"When you're talking about a $4,000+ shortblock "Better safe than sorry" comes to mind."

Did I say anything like "Don't use this tuner, it's bad! Only so-and-so is safe! I'm an expert so I know!!"

Umm... nope. Not at all. "Better safe than sorry" is what I said. Then, to let the primary driver live with their decision, that's all. A little reading comprehension goes a long way.

OP - I hope nothing bad happens but part of my livelihood is preparing for worst-case scenarios. I put gauges on my truck before ANY tuner, so I would KNOW what was happening, and (hopefully) avoid a catastrophe. I take my risks (rockclimbing, skydiving, etc.) but not with my head in the sand. Maybe your best option is to buy her some gauges, a little friendly education on what's not good for the engine, and leave it be. Or just leave it alone completely might be the best option.

 

So seriously guys, lets knock the sugar coating off of it and tell them how we really feel...

OP: My truck originally had all Banks stuff(programmer, trans command, intercooler, turbo wheel, big head actuator, and exhaust) and a K&N air filter. Most of this stuff is, well, we will say less than sought after on these types of forums. I changed the programmer air filter(CAI) and removed the trans command. Looking back I thought the truck drove nice with all those items and I havent seen any real damage they did to the truck yet.
Were it mine, I would let her continue to drive it as is, but my first investment would be guages(pyro, boost, trans temp). Good luck with everything.

Ryan

 

i nevre had any issues running the bully dog either.