PCM aceleration boost?

What benefit can a PCM do for a Stock 2004 Grand am gt? My main question is does it help acceleration much?

[SpyhunteR]

it adds computer precision control to your car.

but what about acceleration? can u feel a difference?

[5-lO]

Your car already has a PCM, its the brain of your car. WIthout it, it would not run.

My recommendation, lurk the forums a little longer before you start posting. The fastest Grand Am's in these parts are running mid 13's and that took a lot of money, and hard work, and ALOT of knowledge. To "smoke everyone off the line" as you put it in your other thread, you simply dont have enough knowledge or experience (evidenced by your posts) to even try to take on such an endeavor.

[ganut]

neither of these threads has anything to do with forced induction....

[5-lO]

Also a good point

[Psi]

Originally Posted by 5-lO

you simply dont have enough knowledge or experience (evidenced by your posts) to even try to take on such an endeavor.

Money is a simple way to deal with that.

And are you having fun riding your "high horse"
Some people may not want to learn, others might.
Rather then discouraging him, why not keep it clean?

[DrFabulous]

Originally Posted by Am_I_Grand

What benefit can a PCM do for a Stock 2004 Grand am gt? My main question is does it help acceleration much?

Without other mods, not much.

[5-lO]

Originally Posted by Psi

Money is a simple way to deal with that.

And are you having fun riding your "high horse"
Some people may not want to learn, others might.
Rather then discouraging him, why not keep it clean?

My high horse?

LURKING IS THE BEST WAY TO LEARN!

I asked alot of dumb questions when I came, got shot down, shut up and read for a while, then finally had an understanding of certain things. Before you should take on anything involving as much money as cars do you should have a relative understanding of what you are taking on, dont you agree?

[hofulstrof]

Originally Posted by 5-lO

My high horse?

LURKING IS THE BEST WAY TO LEARN!

I asked alot of dumb questions when I came, got shot down, shut up and read for a while, then finally had an understanding of certain things. Before you should take on anything involving as much money as cars do you should have a relative understanding of what you are taking on, dont you agree?

x elevently billion

[atc3434]

Ok, well, all the childish banter aside, there are PCM options for the Grand Am. DHP makes a reprogramed PCM, it uses more aggressive timing and fueling, designed to take advantage of high octane gas. It has some nice little mods for the tranny, firmers shifts, higher shiftpoints, topspeed limiter is removed. Fan on temps are lowered. Intense was also making a PCM for the Grand Am for a while, but I'd steer clear of the enterprise, for a variety of reasons. DHP also makes PowrTuner, which is software you run on a PC to edit the parameters on the PCM for your car. I wouldn't reccomend this for a novice, and it really isn't needed until you start modding heavily. Jet and ASE both make some kinda chip/PCM upgrade deal, doesn't do much. DHP PCM would be the way to go for you. On a stock GA, its not really going to do much for you. The best first mod is definetely exhaust, you gotta get the thing freed up. After that, I'd buy headers, then a CAI, then the PCM.

[Psi]

Originally Posted by 5-lO

My high horse?

LURKING IS THE BEST WAY TO LEARN!

I asked alot of dumb questions when I came, got shot down, shut up and read for a while, then finally had an understanding of certain things. Before you should take on anything involving as much money as cars do you should have a relative understanding of what you are taking on, dont you agree?

I agree, knowledge and understanding is very helpful and should be done before taking things on ... BUT ...

My point was, rather then saying "You don't have enough knowledge", it would have been better to say "Read up on _____ and _____ then ask some more questions and we'll help out"

I know most people (myself included usually) want the answer right away and don't want to put any work into it, the key is making people 'want' to work for it and have fun with it.

As far as the "high horse" comment, was just reacting based on how people are being treated in this section/"All Go" specifically if they ask a 'basic' question.
Appologies if you were offended, just trying to wake people up.
In a batch of 10 idiots, one might come out and help out in this forum, as long as they don't get chased away.

Note: I'm not saying you're an idiot Am_I_Grand heh

[AaronGTR]

Psi and 5-lO both have good points, and I agree with atc3434. A tuned pcm is a good mod and will definitely make your car faster (and easier to drive in daily driving too), but you need a few other supporting mods first to really take full advantage of it.

[mm2311]

Yea you can't go wrong with the PCM....just get the exhaust mod first like they said above...

Since we are on the topic of the PCM....I might as well ask for a recommendation....

I have my custom CAI and my Borla.....do you recommend me getting the PCM now?

I would like to get headers/throttle body first.....however, its a lot of work to install and they are a bit pricey considering....I just bought my Borla...
...(maybe down the long run...but most likely will not be getting them)

I am interested in the "fine -tuned" adjustments...especially the shifting & keeping the car from running hot...(a + with my fan switch/thermostat)

What do you guys think?.....is it time?

Forced induction will come one day......but not to this car......one day!
My stock exhaust is not whats restricting me........its my CASH flow..

[mm2311]

AM I Grand....
here this will help acceleration ....will run the bill up quite a bit!

1) CAI
2) cat-back exhaust
3) headers and high-flow cat
4) DHP pcm and 180 T-stat
5) ported cylinder heads
6) ported upper/lower intake and 62mm TB

That should be good for at least low 15's. After that if you have the time/money/patience, you can get a cam, a DHP powrtuner for custom pcm tuning, and larger injectors. That should get you deep into the 14's

Advice from the master himself..

[coupe]

I got into the 14's with CAI, DHP PCM, and FULL exhuast.
5 & 6 on you list you wont need to get into the 14's.

[atc3434]

Originally Posted by coupe

I got into the 14's with CAI, DHP PCM, and FULL exhuast.
5 & 6 on you list you wont need to get into the 14's.

I would argue that its possible to go 14s with just intake, exhaust, headers, and PCM, but not always. I have the trap speed for 14s, but can't lock down the 1/8th mile times anywhere near close enough to get 14s. SE gearing may have a lot do to with that... having a 99 that runs pretty rich on DHP is probably the other. But, I have seen guys do it, so whats that, $1,500 if you buy all new parts to get I/E/H/PCM. I have that setup and have maybe a grand invested, I bought a lot of stuff used. That'll drop you nearly a second in the 1/4, thats not a bad increase at all. Port the whole topend, and and a 62mm TB for another $1,200 or so invested an you'd be defintely in 14s. Whats the cam cost.... that would drop you to 13s from their.

[coupe]

I dont care who says modding the GA isnt worth it. Its been worth it to me. I cut off damn near a full second off my 1/4 with "basic" bolt ons. Not bad if ya ask me.
Your gearing may have alot to do with your times, but thats the fun of it, trying to figure out what is wrong.

[atc3434]

Yea, Tim and I were talking about what holds my car back. It'll run 9.96 in the 1/8th at like 70mph, but trap 90+ at 15.3. 2.25 60 foots.... power limited, I can put my foot down hard and just chirp the tires. So, the bottom end isn't there, but the motor pulls pretty good on top. Too rich on the bottom is my feeling... o2s go to like 950mvs and hold. No KR, so it isn't that. The gearing sure doesn't help either, pulling first to 50, and hitting third about the time I run through the lights isn't exactly giving me that much mechanical advantage.

Edit: And I defintely agree, modding the GA is very rewarding. I love getting the takedown on cars that arn't susupecting.

[coupe]

Yeah dude i love lining up with stangs, poor bastards have no idea bwahahaha