Thread: NA vs SC PCM

Quick question... Is there a difference in the PCM's from the NA or SC engines?

I ask because I have a spare JY PCM from a '99 NA Grand Prix that I want to use as a donor for my "tuned" PCM in my '00 GTP.

I want to keep my stock '00 PCM untouched, as a backup.

Ahh, yes! Money well spent then.

Looking forward to jumping into the tuning game in the near future.

Thanks!!

Physically they are the same but the programming in each are different like he said.

So you can't just plug the 99 NA computer into the GTP car and make it run, you will have to write a GTP file into that NA computer.

So depending on what tuning software you are using will make or break if you can overwrite it.

I am pretty sure with HP Tuners you can't write a S/C file onto a NA computer, but maybe you can.

Not sure if my terminology is correct, bare with me. I was planning on taking the bin file from my stock gtp pcm and writing that to my spare pcm and using that as a starting point for tuning. Was also planning on using HP tuners.

Maybe one of the tuning guru's can confirm this will work? Or not?

It can be done. Not super sure with HPT though.

if you unlock your stock to read the file you then have to unlock the other one to write it. So you have to use twice the credits.

Originally Posted by dsmuts

if you unlock your stock to read the file you then have to unlock the other one to write it. So you have to use twice the credits.

I guess I didn't think about that. Seems like a bad plan. Or a costly on, at least.

Maybe I'm getting ahead of myself, but ultimately I'm just wanting to use the na pcm as a core to tune for the gtp. Sounds like its doable in theory. Just might be an issues using HP tuners.

Just did a little reading, and it looks like we're basically after the same thing.

http://www.grandprixforums.net/threa...oning-your-PCM

I thought DHP was dead. (?)

Originally Posted by darkhorizon

why? they are illegal to be sold used or something?s

I guess not. (?)

My only experience with purchasing software is for cad/cam design, cnc programming type software. That stuff is not re-sellable. You even have to pay maintenance fees to get updates and support.

All that just to say, I didn't know you could buy a "used" tuner.

You can definitely buy a used tuner. You can also flash a SC bin file to an NA PCM. My 00 bonneville SLE thinks its an 01 SSEI as far as it knows. Was done with HPT.

Originally Posted by SnowTh1ef

You can definitely buy a used tuner. You can also flash a SC bin file to an NA PCM. My 00 bonneville SLE thinks its an 01 SSEI as far as it knows. Was done with HPT.

Good deal! That's exactly what I'm after. Maybe I shouldn't have said I wanted to "clone" my stock pcm. I just want to use the NA pcm, that I have on the shelf, as a core for tuning in the GTP. Leaving the original untouched. Looks like it shouldn't be to hard to find a stock bin file for it either, so I won't have to read it from my original pcm.

Like I said, I'm not there yet, but I like to kind of know what to expect before I get there!

Hoping to be able to split cost on tuner with a brother-in-law who has an '02 Regal GS.

Originally Posted by darkhorizon

You cant swap operating systems with HPT...

Christ Scott...learn what you are talking about.


All he has to do is have both unlocked. Say he unlocked full year 99 and full year 00, this is no worries at all. Flash and smile... poof. If not, then the DHP would make it easier.

True.. and yet I can't tune my 2000 truck with it also. Each has their positives and negatives.