The Random Thought Thread

Post by **Speeder** » Tue Oct 17, 2017 8:55 pm

Bummer. Good news bad news - good news is the 2015 Tahoe I bought has a 12 bolt rear diff, which is much stronger than the 10 bolt. Bad news is, it's unsupported by the aftermarket. Can't get anything but a G80 locker for the rear. Wanted to put 3.73s with a Truetrac back there, but it's not going to happen.

Why 3.73s? The 3.08s in there now keep the engine too low in the powerband to cruise efficiently. It gets better mileage at 85MPH than at 65MPH. It has a hard time with hills. And, I'm about to make it worse. I need to put a lowering kit on it because the wife has a hard time getting in and out of it (handicapped) and the kits I'm looking at look like they will require larger than stock wheels. Since I don't like rubber band tires, that will mean even larger diameter tires. When it's all said and done I'll likely have the equivalent of a 3.42 rear end.

CrazyHoe · Post by **CrazyHoe** » Wed Oct 18, 2017 6:40 pm

You sure it's a 12b?

CrazyHoe · Post by **CrazyHoe** » Wed Oct 18, 2017 6:56 pm

I guess you're right.
It's an error in the Car-Parts description

CrazyHoe · Post by **CrazyHoe** » Wed Oct 18, 2017 7:01 pm

Good news is that they make it in 3.73.
Bad news is that it's back ordered here:

https://www.ringpinion.com/b2c/PartsLis ... 8&CatID=35

Post by **Speeder** » Thu Oct 19, 2017 11:12 am

Guess it's a popular conversion. Thanks though. Nice thing is I don't have to do it this minute.

Post by **Speeder** » Fri Mar 30, 2018 7:26 pm

Bleah, March in Oklahoma. Cold and wet. I've only been getting 1 day out of 5 when I can do anything outside. Can't wait till summertime when it only rains once every 3 months.

Post by **Speeder** » Mon Apr 23, 2018 6:50 pm

Might make for a fun project, like a go-cart or some tiny little car like a Miata or something.

http://www.chevrolet.com/index/performa ... s/ltg.html

Turbocharged inline 4, 272 HP@5500 RPM 295 LB-FT@3000 RPM, and what's neat about it (and what prompted me to post it) is it looks like they combined a turbo with a twin screw supercharger, calling it a twin screw turbo. I may be behind the times, but I've never seen anything like this one before.

Post by **Speeder** » Tue Apr 24, 2018 10:16 pm

TBIâ„¢'s back baby!

https://paceperformance.com/i-23872517- ... i-efi.html

Uses this

https://paceperformance.com/i-23432995- ... c-kit.html

Post by **Speeder** » Sat Nov 17, 2018 9:52 pm

This is disturbing.

https://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2014/ ... el-cycles/

97k15004wd · Post by **97k15004wd** » Wed Nov 21, 2018 8:32 am

Speeder wrote:This is disturbing.

https://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2014/ ... el-cycles/

That's from May 2014. The DMCA has been defanged a little in the last two years. Also, there is the right to repair movement.

So probably not as bad as it looks. All thanks to John Deere pissing off the farmers - of all things!

Post by **Speeder** » Thu Nov 22, 2018 7:35 pm

Might be, but only the right to repair as federal law will stop it. Right now it's only a copyright office policy, and law in a few states. Even then, you may have the right to repair but you'd still have to be able to afford the tools. What I really need right now is a tool that will allow control over the BCM, or better yet a way to access and program within the CAN network. Working on a way to adapt EPS to an older vehicle but as they all come in a CAN...

97k15004wd · Post by **97k15004wd** » Fri Nov 23, 2018 7:41 am

There are a couple of "easy" ways if you use an arduino or pi. Lot's of good youtube vids on both ways. can bus modules are pretty cheap.

1999 Tahoe 4x4 · Post by **1999 Tahoe 4x4** » Fri Nov 23, 2018 2:51 pm

As far as I know Jeep already has locked ECMs. At least that is what I understand from this:

https://superchips.com/shop/f5-jeep-fla ... 15-2018-jk
PCM Swap Options:
Option 1: Cross-ship PCM swap (subject to availability of PCMs)
Option 2: Send in your factory PCM to be unlocked

97k15004wd · Post by **97k15004wd** » Fri Nov 23, 2018 4:56 pm

They are "locked" but can be unlocked. There is a piece of hardware inside the pcm that is modified or removed (cummins pcm) and then the unit can be programmed. Bullydog just got hammered by the EPA for this (physically unlocking the pcm on cummins, etc.)..

1999 Tahoe 4x4 · Post by **1999 Tahoe 4x4** » Fri Nov 23, 2018 8:53 pm

97k15004wd wrote:Bullydog just got hammered by the EPA for this (physically unlocking the pcm on cummins, etc.)..

Interesting. I wonder if it would have helped if they marketed their products as for racing only. Or maybe they did already?

Post by **Speeder** » Fri Nov 23, 2018 8:54 pm

I looked for several weeks, no luck finding those things. I search "arduino can" and hit exactly what I was looking for. Thanks.

97k15004wd · Post by **97k15004wd** » Sat Nov 24, 2018 5:20 am

1999 Tahoe 4x4 wrote:
97k15004wd wrote:Bullydog just got hammered by the EPA for this (physically unlocking the pcm on cummins, etc.)..
Interesting. I wonder if it would have helped if they marketed their products as for racing only. Or maybe they did already?

They always used that "disclaimer". EPA probably asked for their sales records to prove it and they either didn't provide them, couldn't provide them, or otherwise failed to prove their point of "off-road use only". EPA has busted several big tuner hardware manufacturers over the years put them out of business or hurt them very badly financially

H & S was a big one years back. They are out of the tuner business now.

97k15004wd · Post by **97k15004wd** » Sat Nov 24, 2018 5:25 am

Speeder wrote:I looked for several weeks, no luck finding those things. I search "arduino can" and hit exactly what I was looking for. Thanks.

Glad it helped. I've been really impressed with what a lot of what those guys are doing and posting on youtube. They aren't scared to share what they know - unlike a lot of the automotive tuner industry (which makes sense since they are trying to make money and sharing their knowledge cuts into their profits.)

The guys with arduinos are open source directed and want to contribute to the growth of the products. They are motivated by a completely different set of principles.

1999 Tahoe 4x4 · Post by **1999 Tahoe 4x4** » Sat Nov 24, 2018 7:36 am

97k15004wd wrote:They always used that "disclaimer". EPA probably asked for their sales records to prove it and they either didn't provide them, couldn't provide them, or otherwise failed to prove their point of "off-road use only". EPA has busted several big tuner hardware manufacturers over the years put them out of business or hurt them very badly financially

H & S was a big one years back. They are out of the tuner business now.

I'm wondering what are the exact legal tactics under the EPA is able to charge a business that othervise seemingly operates within the law (sells off highway equipment). Actually, I heard that IRS is doing something similar. They make accusations and then offer the option of settlement vs. lenghty and costly litigation. I heard most companies just take the settlement and pay.

I wonder if it would help if tuner companies moved their production out of the country.

Post by **Speeder** » Sat Nov 24, 2018 5:50 pm

97k15004wd wrote:
Speeder wrote:I looked for several weeks, no luck finding those things. I search "arduino can" and hit exactly what I was looking for. Thanks.
Glad it helped. I've been really impressed with what a lot of what those guys are doing and posting on youtube. They aren't scared to share what they know - unlike a lot of the automotive tuner industry (which makes sense since they are trying to make money and sharing their knowledge cuts into their profits.)

The guys with arduinos are open source directed and want to contribute to the growth of the products. They are motivated by a completely different set of principles.

You know, it's amazing how many different companies I've offered money to produce what I want, with none of them willing to even entertain the idea.