Fosscore's 2013 Suburban LTZ Build Thread

[BlackBearPerf]

28626 miles

The Black Bear Tune has been flashed.

Many thanks to Justin @BlackBearPerf for setting up the tune and working with me to get the AutoCal and tune file in sync. Thanks to Jarrad for answering my emails as well.

I went for a drive tonight and made a few WOT runs to see how the tune performed. Wow! What a difference in the way the truck runs now.

She sounds good and of course knowing she is tuned kept a smile on my face.

I will be interested to see what/when/if my wife notices any changes in the way the Suburban drives.

The shift points are smooth and tight.

There isn’t that drop/lag from dead stop when hammering it out of the hole (I would never abuse the wife’s DD).

The AFM is deleted.

The tachometer ran hard to 5500 RPM and kept propelling that long body as much as I could give her on the city streets.

I somehow managed to chirp the tires at one point making a turn and giving the accelerator a bit of a punch. Ssssh don’t tell my wife.

Excitement yes!!

Here are the tune parameters.

89-87OctECm
Engine computer tune designed for optimal use with 89 or in some cases 87 octane as well.

ModTCM
Transmission computer tune designed for all around shift patterns and response improvement.

View attachment 207160

I topped up the tank with 89 and reset the MPG to see what the next tank numbers are. See how much the wife is hot rodding. Lol

Can’t say enough about the Black Bear tune. Now having 2 GMs tuned, it is one of the best mods you can do for your truck IMHO.

Thank you! We appreciate you taking the time to give a review about your tune experience. We are happy you are enjoying it. Let us know if you need anything else.

 

[07Burb]

Sounds like you had the same experience as me with your tune on your burb. Truly makes a night and day difference on the big girl

 

[adventurenali92]

blackbear tune is the best! Lots of fun!

 

[Fosscore]

Sounds like you had the same experience as me with your tune on your burb. Truly makes a night and day difference on the big girl

Yessir. It was worth the wait. I've been stealing the Suburban to run errands or pick up the kids and I keep getting yelled at as to why I keep taking her truck. Ummm....ahhh...just wanted to drive your truck.

She still has not said anything with regards to the tune.

blackbear tune is the best! Lots of fun!

Yes it is.

Took the Suburban for a 100 mile drive with the wife on I-95 on Friday to see how the truck felt off the stop-and-go streets. I thought she felt really good.

 

[Fosscore]

Got the Suburban washed along with the Tahoe this morning. Just a shot of being clean.

 

[Miami-Dade]

Looks awesome!!!

It is next to impossible to keep a vehicle clean in South Florida with constant passing showers and worse yet nasty landscapers blowing debris all over your vehicle everywhere you go every day of the week all year long. I have seen violent behavior between motorists [with just washed vehicles] and landscapers in Miami Beach and all over Miami-Dade and Broward County.

 

[Fosscore]

Looks awesome!!!

It is next to impossible to keep a vehicle clean in South Florida with constant passing showers and worse yet nasty landscapers blowing debris all over your vehicle everywhere you go every day of the week all year long. I have seen violent behavior between motorists [with just washed vehicles] and landscapers in Miami Beach and all over Miami-Dade and Broward County.

Thx man.

Too right about the landscaping. I do my own most of the time, but got hit at a Saturday morning practice and the grass clippings were stuck pretty good to the rear bumper. Grrr.

I always move the trucks around when I cut the grass or turn the sprinklers on to avoid the hard water spots.

I had a lawn service for a while and one day a rock flung out the back of the edger and hit the Tahoe wheel. GRRR!!

 

[Fosscore]

After I had the Suburban BB tuned, I asked Justin a few questions to clarify the details of the tune for my own knowledge. As well I thought it might be beneficial to anybody else wanting to know what the tune consisted of.

As I said with my Tahoe, and strictly my opinion, but if you are not sure about doing the BB tune either in person or via the AutoCal, just do it. This is one of the best $ mods you could do for your GM. I absolutely love having both trucks tuned and the Suburban reacts so much better after the tune.

1. Is the AFM deleted? --- Yes sir. AFM is a gimmick on a Suburban (and any full size vehicle of that generation) and potentially detrimental to engine longevity.

2. The tow/haul button is not part of this tune? --- Tow/haul button changes shift patterns only and is left as a towing mode due to the way the 6 speed transmission is controlled.

3. Tuned for 89, but 87 can be used if needed? --- It is possible, but best to never run 87. The factory tune is not "tuned" for 87, it requires 89 as well for optimal efficiency.

4. What is the torque management? --- All important TM is removed by default (engine TM). Transmission TM effectiveness is reduced slightly, but that impacts shift feel and timing only.

5. The shift points felt good. Firm but smooth and I saw the tach go up to 5500. --- At WOT, you should see around 5750/5900 depending on the gear you are in.
@BlackBearPerf

 

[HiHoeSilver]

After I had the Suburban BB tuned, I asked Justin a few questions to clarify the details of the tune for my own knowledge. As well I thought it might be beneficial to anybody else wanting to know what the tune consisted of.

As I said with my Tahoe, and strictly my opinion, but if you are not sure about doing the BB tune either in person or via the AutoCal, just do it. This is one of the best $ mods you could do for your GM. I absolutely love having both trucks tuned and the Suburban reacts so much better after the tune.

1. Is the AFM deleted? --- Yes sir. AFM is a gimmick on a Suburban (and any full size vehicle of that generation) and potentially detrimental to engine longevity.

2. The tow/haul button is not part of this tune? --- Tow/haul button changes shift patterns only and is left as a towing mode due to the way the 6 speed transmission is controlled.

3. Tuned for 89, but 87 can be used if needed? --- It is possible, but best to never run 87. The factory tune is not "tuned" for 87, it requires 89 as well for optimal efficiency.

4. What is the torque management? --- All important TM is removed by default (engine TM). Transmission TM effectiveness is reduced slightly, but that impacts shift feel and timing only.

5. The shift points felt good. Firm but smooth and I saw the tach go up to 5500. --- At WOT, you should see around 5750/5900 depending on the gear you are in.
@BlackBearPerf

So the 6 speed means no haul a$$ button?

 

[Fosscore]

So the 6 speed means no haul a$$ button?

I think it may depend on the which tune you request. I think @07Burb has that feature, but he may have a different tune loaded.

This is off the Black Bear website regarding tunes.

http://www.blackbearperformance.com/autocal_management.asp

Common Tune File Names and Descriptions

Below are a list of some of the most commonly used file names and basic descriptions associated that we will provide for customers.

• "ECM", "TCM" - Refer to Engine Control Module and Transmission Control Module respectively. Those vehicles with separate computers for each will have separate tune files for each which must be programmed independently.
• StockTune, StockECM, StockTCM - All refer to OEM factory tune files. To revert to factory configuration, program all files with "Stock" in the name onto the vehicle.
• 89-87OctECM - Engine computer tune designed for optimal use with 89 or in some cases 87 octane as well.
• 91+OctECM - Engine computer tune designed for 92-93 octane with acceptable operation on 91 octane as well.
• ModTCM - Transmission computer tune designed for all around shift patterns and response improvement. Tow/haul shift functions will remain unaltered on truck platforms.
• SportTCM - Transmission computer tune designed for more aggressive shift patterns and response. On 4 speed trucks, this is primarly accomplished on the tow/haul option only.
• EconTCM - Transmission computer tune designed for more economical shift patterns. Throttle response may suffer as a result.
• 89-87OctTune, 91+OctTune, ModTune - Vehicles with a single engine/transmission computer with standard shift pressure/response improvements. Tow/haul shift functions will remain unaltered on truck platforms.
• 89-87OctSport, 91+OctSport, ModSport - Vehicles with a single engine/transmission computer with more aggressive shift pressure/response improvements. On truck platforms, this will take place of the tow/haul shift pattern.