Performance Mod Recommendations & Warranty

[Uila6g]

My bronco is under warranty for the next 6 years and I’m not tryna void it by any means. I know with aesthetics I’ll be all good but does anyone have any performance mod recommendations that would be beneficial for the 2.3L in the meantime while I wait til my warranty is underway ? I plan to do the big boi stuff under the hood later on but it would be nice to have at least some things under the hood for now.

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[Brian_B]

So... without voiding your warranty. That leaves Pro Cal (depending on how you interpret the Ford Performance warranty)

I used to be on board with ProCal, but now that they've taken away Rev Matching and ASS Memory - you get more features and better control (and often better power) with an aftermarket tune, like JB4 or Panda. But those are gonna be aftermarket with engine ECM dongles. ProCal is plug and play, with nothing physically left installed after the tune is running. I don't know if JB4/Panda/etc have updated their tools for the new dual injection 2.3 or not.

As far as Big Boy toys - there isn't much for the 2.3 right now, since they haven't cracked the ECM yet (neither the new 2.3 or the older 2.3) -- cold air intakes, Intercooler/charge pipe kits, axle-back exhausts... that's about it unless you are a very good mechanic that doesn't mind leading the pack.

 

[Uila6g]

Haha dude I wish I was a good mechanic and had the money I’d put a coyote in the thing. I was planning to at least do a dual catback either from magnaflow or Awe (which I’d install on my own). Is the ProCal like the aftermarket piggyback tuners or is it different?

 

[Brian_B]

Haha dude I wish I was a good mechanic and had the money I’d put a coyote in the thing. I was planning to at least do a dual catback either from magnaflow or Awe (which I’d install on my own). Is the ProCal like the aftermarket piggyback tuners or is it different?

ProCal is an official Ford reprogram of the ECM. It comes with a little OBD2 adapter box from Livernois, you download the tune file from Ford with a computer onto the box... then plug the box into your Bronco and it reflashes the ECM

The ProCal tune will get locked to both a Ford Performance online account (to get the proper tune file) and to the VIN of the vehicle (the box won't work with any other vehicle once the first flash is done). Once it's installed, a ECM/PCM update by the dealer can overwrite the tune, but you can use the Livernois box to uninstall/reinstall the tune at any time without needing to go back online. You need the original Ford Performance account to get updates, and they would install from a computer to the box. The Livernois box is locked to the VIN of the vehicle, so you can't just buy a used box and be good either.

So no piggyback with that one. The JB4/Panda/etc tuners are Piggyback tuners though

 

[Uila6g]

ProCal is an official Ford reprogram of the ECM. It comes with a little OBD2 adapter box from Livernois, you download the tune file from Ford with a computer onto the box... then plug the box into your Bronco and it reflashes the ECM

The ProCal tune will get locked to both a Ford Performance online account (to get the proper tune file) and to the VIN of the vehicle (the box won't work with any other vehicle once the first flash is done). Once it's installed, a ECM/PCM update by the dealer can overwrite the tune, but you can use the Livernois box to uninstall/reinstall the tune at any time without needing to go back online. You need the original Ford Performance account to get updates, and they would install from a computer to the box. The Livernois box is locked to the VIN of the vehicle, so you can't just buy a used box and be good either.

So no piggyback with that one. The JB4/Panda/etc tuners are Piggyback tuners though

Well damn, I might as well go with the ProCal and a dual catback exhaust for now and do a proper tune with a downpipe later on then.

 

[BigBend530]

My bronco is under warranty for the next 6 years and I’m not tryna void it by any means. I know with aesthetics I’ll be all good but does anyone have any performance mod recommendations that would be beneficial for the 2.3L in the meantime while I wait til my warranty is underway ? I plan to do the big boi stuff under the hood later on but it would be nice to have at least some things under the hood for now.

My first question would be how good of a "relationship" do you have with nearby dealers? Ford can see when and where your vehicle is when SES light/codes happen remotely as well as other systems warnings.

The ProCal when done as stated gets a 3yr/36k warranty. Does that effect the terms of your extended warranty? Would a not so friendly dealer try to link a warranty item after the 3yr/36k period a result of the tune? Strange things can and do happen when Ford has to pay to fix things through warranty.

 

[Uila6g]

My first question would be how good of a "relationship" do you have with nearby dealers? Ford can see when and where your vehicle is when SES light/codes happen remotely as well as other systems warnings.

The ProCal when done as stated gets a 3yr/36k warranty. Does that effect the terms of your extended warranty? Would a not so friendly dealer try to link a warranty item after the 3yr/36k period a result of the tune? Strange things can and do happen when Ford has to pay to fix things through warranty.

All great questions. I bought this car from a used car dealership. My warranty is compatible with any shop that’s ASE certified. So, I’d have to look at my contract. I have a great relationship with the dealership that sold me the car so if I took it there I’d be fine, but I do wanna take my car to Ford because of things like TSBs and what not.

 

[23OBX2.7]

Well damn, I might as well go with the ProCal and a dual catback exhaust for now and do a proper tune with a downpipe later on then.

The 2.3 pulls hard down low and Procal is a good bet unless want to take a $15K risk with poorly funded tuners with a billionth of Ford resources.

My HPP stock 2.3 Mustang was quicker 0-40 than V8s that had no bottom end at all. My 2.7 is spirited in S mode.

Best to lose unsprung weight (wheels and tires) which is worth a lot of HP then get plastic bumpers and composite or alu belly protection save a few hundred more lbs.

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