black maxx tuner
Post Fiend
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 10,626
Likes: 7
From: Plano TX and Brentwood TN
I wouldn't do the LiveWire at all. If you are going to go SCT, go with the X3 or maybe the Xtreme, but not the LiveWire. You have a 50/50 shot of getting a good one or a crappy one. The LiveWire is kinda like SCT's 6.0.
You Keep What You Kill
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 4,902
Likes: 2
From: Huntersville, NC
From what I have read, the SCT X3 and Livewire tuners have the identical programmer. The only difference is the display capability (real time) of the Livewire. I highly recommend getting "custom" tunes with your tuner to maximize performance and/or economy.
Hotshot
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 10,101
Likes: 40
From: Pa
That black maxx tuner you posted the link to looks like a rebadged tuner from someone else with custom tunes.
Best to go with a tuner and tuning guy that has a good reputation and people have experience with. Lots of guys here on FTE have Spartan for their 6.4ls and they put out a lot of power and try to be as safe as possible doing it. From my reading it seems spartan knows what they are doing. Just remember you have to pay to play and greatly increasing power can be hard on your wallet.
Best to go with a tuner and tuning guy that has a good reputation and people have experience with. Lots of guys here on FTE have Spartan for their 6.4ls and they put out a lot of power and try to be as safe as possible doing it. From my reading it seems spartan knows what they are doing. Just remember you have to pay to play and greatly increasing power can be hard on your wallet.
Post Fiend
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 10,626
Likes: 7
From: Plano TX and Brentwood TN
I still would stay away from the LiveWire:
1. They are touch and go as to getting a good one. Some do have good ones, I'm not saying you can't get a good one, but there are just too many that have had issues(and still do), so I wouldn't trust it.
2. They actually don't have all the capabilities with the 6.4 as they do with the other engines. I remember a thread on the .org and the guys that were on there were just flaming SCT for advertising as having features for the 6.4, but they weren't able to get them. I might add that this were guys that had the LiveWire and SCT products for the 6.0 and would still recommend those products for the 6.0, but not for the 6.4.
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer
Joe Kucinski
2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)
Brett Foote
Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies
Joe Kucinski
AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make
Brett Foote
Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!
Michael S. Palmer
Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home
Verdad Gallardo
10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!
Joe Kucinski
2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?
Brett Foote
2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package First Look: 12 Things You NEED to Know!
Michael S. Palmer
You Keep What You Kill
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 4,902
Likes: 2
From: Huntersville, NC
Is this the Spartan Tuner that you are recommending?
SPARTAN PHALANX DASHDAQ 08-09 Ford 6.4 DPF Delete Tuner:eBay Motors (item 380096856007 end time Jan-08-10 19:45:35 PST)
SPARTAN PHALANX DASHDAQ 08-09 Ford 6.4 DPF Delete Tuner:eBay Motors (item 380096856007 end time Jan-08-10 19:45:35 PST)
Post Fiend
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 10,626
Likes: 7
From: Plano TX and Brentwood TN
Is this the Spartan Tuner that you are recommending?
SPARTAN PHALANX DASHDAQ 08-09 Ford 6.4 DPF Delete Tuner:eBay Motors (item 380096856007 end time Jan-08-10 19:45:35 PST)
SPARTAN PHALANX DASHDAQ 08-09 Ford 6.4 DPF Delete Tuner:eBay Motors (item 380096856007 end time Jan-08-10 19:45:35 PST)
Now if you want to know all the neat features that the DashDAQ can do(which is the platform that Spartan uses to deliver their tunes), you can go here:DashDAQ from Drew Technologies That'll give you an idea what this thing can do.
Super Moderator
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 37,379
Likes: 1,862
From: Frederick, MD
when you run a programmer such as the spartan, they have made it off-road capable. In other words they have reprogrammed the PCM so it does not try to clean the DPF. So since you are not cleaning it, then you might as well take it off and put it in the garage.
No it won't pass emissions without it. But not every state is inspection oil burners so you may be fine.
Tampering with the emissions is a no-no but for off road apps or farming you would not want the fields to catch on fire from the hot exhuast.
No it won't pass emissions without it. But not every state is inspection oil burners so you may be fine.
Tampering with the emissions is a no-no but for off road apps or farming you would not want the fields to catch on fire from the hot exhuast.