Predator advice? New user.

Hi all,

I just bought a used Predator from ebay, got a really good deal. I've been checking them out and reading up on them for a while now and finally found a good deal.

I'm a little concerned about putting this on a daily driver but I'm too intrigued to pass it up. I plan on running the canned 91 tune (probably with 93 gas just so I don't get knock). I have zero mods on my R/T R&T performance wise I've only sealed off the bottom of the airbox (so it draws from thru the hole and put in a K&N drop in.

From the research I've done the SRT/Road and Track intake is pretty good so not looking to swap that out and I haven't put on a lower T-Stat yet.

Do you guys recommend firming the shifts? Any long term damage to other drive components or not likely from an otherwise stock car? I know the transmission probably won't care but with harder shifts and less torque management is there a concern?

Any other helpful tips for a Predator newbie?

Thanks.

Actually the canned tunes are there to install just until you can get it on a dyno. Do it and your Hemi will come alive like you won't believe. Leave the stock airbox if you want to, but throw on a Jet 180 thermo. and yes firming shifts won't damage anything.

Wait till dyno day at Mr. Norms next summer imo. Then get Tim to tune it for ya!

-vagrant

vagrant wrote:

Wait till dyno day at Mr. Norms next summer imo. Then get Tim to tune it for ya!

-vagrant

That is what I am doing.

eviltrycycle wrote:

vagrant wrote:

Wait till dyno day at Mr. Norms next summer imo. Then get Tim to tune it for ya!

-vagrant

That is what I am doing.

I'll be volunteering my time to tie down cars at the next one.

i bought a 180 t-stat from jeg's ,and the only reason i switched it was because the car was still running hot in the summer .and even after changing the t-stat it still ran warmer,so we adjusted fan setting.

Illinois Chaos wrote:

I'll be volunteering my time to tie down cars at the next one.

Good then if mine goes flying I get yours be default????

eviltrycycle wrote:

Illinois Chaos wrote:

I'll be volunteering my time to tie down cars at the next one.

Good then if mine goes flying I get yours be default????

I'll take extra care with Camm cars. Might even use the axle straps.

Mine isn't powerful enough to go anywhere.

I'm trying not to pine for summer since we haven't hit December yet.

Although I changed the oil on the mower and put it away and get the snow blower ready this past weekend

Is there a dyno day already on the calendar?

Nope not yet. We will have to work something out with Tim once the snow starts melting.

Well I ordered the Jet 180 T-Stat since I needed the Husky Liners for the impending snow.

I've been putting off changing the spark plugs for a while so I can tackle the T-Stat when I do that before it gets too damn cold.

Probably not the smartest thing to Predator tune right before the snow flies... I haven't driving the Charger in snow yet (bought in April). Hopefully my Hankook SUV tires hold up well in the ice/snow.

Put that t-stat in when spring comes. You will be glad to have the 212* for winter.

Illinois Chaos wrote:

Put that t-stat in when spring comes. You will be glad to have the 212* for winter.

Yeah I guess you're right maybe just leave the tstat out for now! The Predator arrived today had to update my car before I could use it but that was easy enough. I never have luck on ebay but this guy had a really cheap buy it now and it included the usb cable and charger too.

I loaded the 91 tune with increased shift firmness. Probably won't drive it until later this weekend, can't wait

Update: So I loaded the canned 91 tune with shift firmness added and reset the tcm adaptives.

That canned tune really dials back the ESP I'm used to having it kick in. I don't think I'll run this tune in the winter unless I can have a Diablo moderator sprinkle back in the ESP.

Now the car really felt like my old 96 Impala except with 100 more horsepower and 60 more pound feet of torque

The exhaust sounded different on the tune as well unless I'm imagining that. I have to get used to the throttle boost and quicker downshifts much more responsive with the 91 octane tune.

Glad to hear it!!!! It's amazing how restrictive these cars are from the factory

The pred. is a must have mod for the hemi.

how do you adjust shift firmness ,with the 93 tune?

inkedup wrote:

how do you adjust shift firmness ,with the 93 tune?

Check out the quick adjust settings there you can select increased shift firmness but it only works with the 5.7 not the 6.1 and I'm not sure about every year/model either.

It depends on the Crom vers. It got removed on a rev.

i have the original ver. i never updated,and dont plan on it since egr delete was removed

It should be there. I used to have it on my other predator.

Just looked on the diablo site. N/a for 6.1. It's been removed in the newer version, I guess.

As far as I can tell shift firmness has always been there for the 5.7 and never there for the 6.1 since the SRT already has increased firmness basically.

I'm running the very latest CROM v.29 which includes a mileage tune that supposedly works with 87 octane on the 5.7 I might try that later this winter to see if the mileage is any good.

Did my first commute today with the 91 canned tune and shift firmness with the TCM adaptives reset. Very nice I see why people love the Predator. Really wakes up the car very noticeable the "Throttle Boost" that they bake into the newer tunes. Very quick downshifts too a few times I wasn't even looking for a downshift and I got it just during moderate 50-70 acceleration.

I'm glad to see that ESP still works although the threshold is very much raised. I had my not so sticky Hankook SUV tires squealing today.

Honestly the biggest difference in the tune is the tightening of the reflexes with the Throttle Boost and firm shifts. I'm sure the +2 degrees timing of the 91 tune makes a little more power but it was the lessening of torque management and quick firm shifts that make the difference.

In '09 when I bought my pred, which Jesse has now, I swear it had shift firmness. Now I need an "un" shift firmness feature, lol. Higher stall and it might carry the wheels next season.

Your right Tom it has shift firmness. I can get those big nittos to still bark in second