New to HP Question

[FCA]

Hello -

I'm new to HP tuners. Forgive me if I have posted this in the wrong section and/or for the beginner level questions. I'm doing a turbo ls swap into a 99 gmt 400 Tahoe. In order to get started in HP Tuners, I'm understanding I would have to purchase am MP3iv and download the latest version of vcm suite.

I have an 0411 I purchased off of an EBAY vendor that sells hundreds of them with excellent feedback. They come as stock pulls "tested for communication". Nothing else done to them or info know.

It is my understanding that I would have to re-flash or flash a tune onto the 0411 as a base to get started with to get the truck running.

Does this sound accurate? How many credits would that require?

The truck is 4x4 4l60e, autotrac, cruise, AC. I'm retaining the 4l60e and autotrac (with adapter flex plate), and using a re-worked harness (for engine/tuck).

What base tune what I be looking for to get started? Would it be something from an ls based 5.3 4x4 Tahoe or Silverado with autotrac etc?

I have read you are not supposed to use tunes from the repository, but it that's the case, where or how do you obtain a base tune?

If I do get a tune loaded, and get it running or working OK, an then decide to take it to a tuning shop, does that require more credits or licensing cost (besides their fee)?

Any other info or help would be appreciated. Thank you!

[5FDP]

The computer you buy better have a tune file already on it or you will not be able to do anything with HP Tuners.

Whoever is selling those 0411 computers is probably just giving you a random computer pulled from some random truck from the sounds of it. So you'd have to read the file off whatever computer you get to see what you are starting off with.

Hopefully it's from a Silverado or Sierra from like 2001-2002 as those are the best years for tuning. There are work arounds if it was not the exact combo you are using. The segment swap feature can change the 4L60e and 4L80e transmission segments around and it's very easy to copy over 5.3 data to a 6.0 file for example.

No matter what, it's 2 credits to license any file. So it will be 2 credits to tune your computer if you end up using that one. Finding out what is on the computer you get is the first step before you commit to license it.

[FCA]

Thank you this was extremely helpful.

So I guess I have to commit to purchasing an mp3iv in order to do that read, and then possibly a different t 0411 depending on what my findings are?

Would I be ok doing that with a ?bench top? type harness as I currently have the existing harness out of the truck being cleaned up.

Also, how does a vin number play into this? At some point of this process am I entering my tahoe Vin into which ever 0411 I?m using?

[2xLS1]

What are you paying for that EBAY pcm? Because those older 0411 pcms can be purchased for as low as $20 at some salvage yards.

[FCA]

Paid 90.