Lets talk tuning, piggy back vs ECU flash.

[Lord3Putt]

Maybe it’s something with your car as all Stingers I’ve been in shift just like that in Sport mode.

There’s even been articles comparing our auto to Porsche’s PDK and they said it’s almost on par with shift times. Here’s just one quote about the shift speed from C&D. “Its gearchanges, like those of Porsche’s PDK-equipped cars, are rapid enough to be invisible on the speed trace plotted by our VBOX test gear, which is to say they’re pretty damned fast.“

My shifts are extremely quick and literally “bang” into the next gear especially from 2-3 & 3-4. I’m not trying to take anything away from Torks TCU upgrades as I’m sure they help, I’m just saying stock gear changes in Sport should be almost instantaneous.

Ummmm.....

My last car (stage 2 B8.5 S4 w/TCU tune) had the fastest shifts that I have personally ever felt. It was probably similar to a stock PDK in that regard, but PDK's are not only known for the speed of their shifts. They always seem to be in the right gear. Something that our Kia's noticeably lack.

I won't compare our transmission to a dual-clutch, because that wouldn't be fair, but it's not as good as any of the ZF8's I've been in. It does run circles around whatever shitbox they put in the Infiniti Q50 Redsport, though.

 

[Sales@Tork]

Aren't the shift points limited to the amount the torque converter can handle?




I don't want anything crazy pushing the limits on my Stinger. Is stage 0 exactly that? Does it match 396 whp like presstechs? Also, what is the usual turn around once you receive it? I figure it would take 3 days to get to you since I'm in NJ, and another 24 ours for the tune, then another 2-3 days for a return? In that case, I might just put up 1k for a loaner on a CC.

On our stage 0 tune we are right about 400whp for it. I believe Pressuretech goes by crank but I may be wrong. Yes it usually takes 24-48 hours to get the tune out and we can also do express shipping back if needed.

 

[Regs120]

That sounds right - presstech does 396 to the wheel but then adds 15% for the drive train loss. I'll probably get a tork tune by the end of the month. I like pressTech's professionalism, and they have a long history of tuning on the Mercedes platform, but their 1250 dollar price tag is steep.

 

[Tonkabob]

On our stage 0 tune we are right about 400whp for it. I believe Pressuretech goes by crank but I may be wrong. Yes it usually takes 24-48 hours to get the tune out and we can also do express shipping back if needed.

I think you mean the stage 1 is 400hp unless you up'ed the stage 0 to 18 psi.
(Website shows 14 psi for stage 0)
My stock car w 18 psi tork tune did 407 crank hp.

 

[StungBlueGT2]

Ummmm.....
My last car (stage 2 B8.5 S4 w/TCU tune) had the fastest shifts that I have personally ever felt. It was probably similar to a stock PDK in that regard, but PDK's are not only known for the speed of their shifts. They always seem to be in the right gear. Something that our Kia's noticeably lack.

I won't compare our transmission to a dual-clutch, because that wouldn't be fair, but it's not as good as any of the ZF8's I've been in. It does run circles around whatever shitbox they put in the Infiniti Q50 Redsport, though.

Ya, a true pdk car is no comparison to a stinger. I’m not sure what your power level is, but for me, with what I’m making the shifts are lackluster and leave more on the table.

Have you driven a proper PDK / DSG car before? There's no comparison between the Stinger gearbox and those; the Stinger's is sluggish from the factory (even in sport mode)

No I haven’t, but I wasn’t making that comparison myself either. I was simply quoting C&D editors and other experienced reviewers that stated the similarities in shift speed.

I have had stage 2&3 shift kits added to my TH350 & TH400s which made super quick shifts so I know the difference between sluggish and fast.

I was simply stating that my Stinger shifts so quick it literally “bangs” gears and reminds me of my TransAm’s shift kit transmissions.

I know Kia has offered “updates” on our transmission shifting and heard it made Sport mode sluggish. It’s possible 2018-2019 builds got that updated software and why some people think they’re slow.

Maybe I just got lucky and got a “hot” early release like C&D did, or Kia just changed the transmission shift algorithm after 2017 build dates and only a few lucky people got the fast transmissions.

 

[brancky3]

Maybe I just got lucky and got a “hot” early release like C&D did, or Kia just changed the transmission shift algorithm after 2017 build dates and only a few lucky people got the fast transmissions.

No offense but I think you just don't know what a fast transmission is.

 

[Tonkabob]

No I haven’t, but I wasn’t making that comparison myself either. I was simply quoting C&D editors and other experienced reviewers that stated the similarities in shift speed.

I have had stage 2&3 shift kits added to my TH350 & TH400s which made super quick shifts so I know the difference between sluggish and fast.

I was simply stating that my Stinger shifts so quick it literally “bangs” gears and reminds me of my TransAm’s shift kit transmissions.

I know Kia has offered “updates” on our transmission shifting and heard it made Sport mode sluggish. It’s possible 2018-2019 builds got that updated software and why some people think they’re slow.

Maybe I just got lucky and got a “hot” early release like C&D did, or Kia just changed the transmission shift algorithm after 2017 build dates and only a few lucky people got the fast transmissions.

My Stinger bangs shifts too, in a good way, and i own a merc single clutch and have owned vw dual clutch.

 

[Tonkabob]

JohnB the "master of details" strikes again. From the 1/4 mile thread that you're generally active in.

Just for posterity we are finding track times are running .3 slower than dragy due to heat soak and mixing dragy and track times was a big mistake.
Any slip 11 in a Stinger is a stellar time and you need to be in the 11.7s dragy to hope for an 11 second slip.

 

[brancky3]

Just for posterity we are finding track times are running .3 slower than dragy due to heat soak and mixing dragy and track times was a big mistake.
Any slip 11 in a Stinger is a stellar time and you need to be in the 11.7s dragy to hope for an 11 second slip.

That's not the fault of Dragy vs track, that's the fault of using Dragy when it's like 15 degrees outside and your car is substantially faster. The same will happen comparing your track times from <right now> compared to July - August.

 

[Tonkabob]

That's not the fault of Dragy vs track, that's the fault of using Dragy when it's like 15 degrees outside and your car is substantially faster. The same will happen comparing your track times from <right now> compared to July - August.

Not really. It's more about sitting at the hot track than ambient temps but a little of both. Some made runs at 16 degrees. Dragy is more often slow than fast.
On the way to the track dragy 11.62, at the track 11.89. (And my dragy at the track said 11.9s often .05 slow)
Also cold temps dont help me as much since i dont have iat wires to fool the ecu on temps. So i run 19 psi at 50-60 iats and 22 psi at 110-140 iats.

 

[brancky3]

Probably a combination of IATs, heat soak, and more rolling resistance at the track then. 0.05 off a track time is extremely accurate.

 

[Whiteybird]

Just for posterity we are finding track times are running .3 slower than dragy due to heat soak and mixing dragy and track times was a big mistake.
Any slip 11 in a Stinger is a stellar time and you need to be in the 11.7s dragy to hope for an 11 second slip.

My draggy comes in today, and since I have no track around me, I'll go to a spot in Mexico i've been hitting for my 0-60 pulls on my jb4. Hoping to fine tune it and gauge where my car actually sits finally. This guessing game is driving me crazy. I'll also have an accurate dyno pull hopefully in the next week or so without hitting the pedal switch and getting a full run with the new WMI setup.

I'm just impatient and bugging Tork about a new flash/tcu tune so I can take advantage of more potential I see in this platform. I love my JB4, and will keep it no matter if I flash the ecu or not, for logging and easy WMI controls.

 

[Terry@BMS]

Probably a combination of IATs, heat soak, and more rolling resistance at the track then. 0.05 off a track time is extremely accurate.

+1, and who is to say the track is even any more accurate than the dragy. I've seen variances from timing light spacing issues on tracks that bring the equipment in for weather and put it back out. One track here Sac raceway used to notoriously read 2-3mph traps high due to the last 60' sometimes being placed at 58'.

 

[StungBlueGT2]

No offense but I think you just don't know what a fast transmission is.

None taken, but respectfully disagree. I'm my days of building hotrods Ive driven and built multiple transmissions with stage 2-4 shift kits added. These kits were expected to drop a few hundred milliseconds off 4-600ms gear changes. That put my shifts in the 2-300ms range which is on par with some of the fastest autos to date, and very close to PDK/DSGs abilities.

I may not be able to compare to the seamless feeling of PDK trans, but I do know what qualifies as a fast transmission. So all I'm saying is my Stinger' auto feels as quick if not quicker than my previous semi-race transmissions, and its actually on the borderline of harsh.

I do know a few members complained about harsh gear changes a while ago, but once Kia updated their TCU software they were disappointed it felt sluggish, even in Sport mode. So if some Stinger owners dont experience extremely fast shifts that literally "bang" into the next gear like Torks, then we probably arent talking about the same TCU software.

If I get a chance to drive a 2019 Stinger I'll be able to tell if there is a difference or not. But at this point if people are describing their trans as "sluggish" then something seems wrong and is the opposite feeling I get in Sport mode.

 

[Lord3Putt]

None taken, but respectfully disagree. I'm my days of building hotrods Ive driven and built multiple transmissions with stage 2-4 shift kits added. These kits were expected to drop a few hundred milliseconds off 4-600ms gear changes. That put my shifts in the 2-300ms range which is on par with some of the fastest autos to date, and very close to PDK/DSGs abilities.

I may not be able to compare to the seamless feeling of PDK trans, but I do know what qualifies as a fast transmission. So all I'm saying is my Stinger' auto feels as quick if not quicker than my previous semi-race transmissions, and its actually on the borderline of harsh.

I do know a few members complained about harsh gear changes a while ago, but once Kia updated their TCU software they were disappointed it felt sluggish, even in Sport mode. So if some Stinger owners dont experience extremely fast shifts that literally "bang" into the next gear like Torks, then we probably arent talking about the same TCU software.

If I get a chance to drive a 2019 Stinger I'll be able to tell if there is a difference or not. But at this point if people are describing their trans as "sluggish" then something seems wrong and is the opposite feeling I get in Sport mode.

Post a video of that bad boy running thru some gears.
Also, harsh shifts are not a good sign.

 

[eflyguy]

If I get a chance to drive a 2019 Stinger I'll be able to tell if there is a difference or not. But at this point if people are describing their trans as "sluggish" then something seems wrong and is the opposite feeling I get in Sport mode.

Thank you. I see all these complaints about the shifting and wonder what people expect. It's smooth as silk in normal driving, but crisp and fast when pushed. Can't ask for much more.

 

[Tonkabob]

Thank you. I see all these complaints about the shifting and wonder what people expect. It's smooth as silk in normal driving, but crisp and fast when pushed. Can't ask for much more.

Thats because you have an ecu tune. Mine shifts great as well.

 

[StungBlueGT2]

Thats because you have an ecu tune. Mine shifts great as well.

Interesting. What build date is your Stinger? Are you saying your Stinger didn’t shift quick without the ECU tune? So you had sluggish shifts before, but now they are fast & “bang” gears?

Why do you think an ECU tune is changing how your transmission shifts? Or are you just talking about more boost & less throttle closer on shifts, that the ECU tune helps?

Tork just explained in another thread he’s stills working on the TCU tune and his ECU tunes don’t include transmission adjustments. Did he make a special ECU/TCU tune just for you?

 

[Tonkabob]

Interesting. What build date is your Stinger? Are you saying your Stinger didn’t shift quick without the ECU tune? So you had sluggish shifts before, but now they are fast & “bang” gears?

Why do you think an ECU tune is changing how your transmission shifts? Or are you just talking about more boost & less throttle closer on shifts, that the ECU tune helps?

Tork just explained in another thread he’s stills working on the TCU tune and his ECU tunes don’t include transmission adjustments. Did he make a special ECU/TCU tune just for you?

No TCU adjustments yet. Stock GT2s shift by wire shift pretty well with no throttle close. Mine is a 11/17 GT2 and did sift well stock and shifts faster with the tork ECU tune. Stock gts also dont close throttle but have heard the shift logic update made them shift slower? Piggybacks add power and the shifts become slower than stock with throttle closure in many cases. Highly moded jb4 has this problem i know from complaints and logs. Other piggybacks may as well but not positive as i haven't heard complaints or seen the logs.
Torks changes are in the power delivery before and during shifts. He holds the power longer (less taper) and limits the timing drop during the shift. Stock and piggybacks go negative on timimg and tork drops it to +5 degrees. I think he has done more but not sure of the details. If you go back through the dragy G force graphs you can see the shift time differences.
Tork has a video of his car on the dyno and you can hear the shift speed. Maybe I'll do an in car video here shortly.
Tork also seems to have raised the LC RPM by 200 although indirectly through limits. We both launch at 2450 and most others are 2250.

 

[eflyguy]

Thats because you have an ecu tune. Mine shifts great as well.

There was no change in shifting after the tune. I also had a day at the drag strip before it was tuned.