I am open to pretty much any of the kits on the market:
Maggie 1900/2300
SLP 2300
Edelbrock 2300
Whipple 2.3
Kenne Bell 2.8
Whipple 2.9

Obviously with no "truck" kit the M2300, KB 2.8, Whipple 2.9 will all need a custom tune. Are the M1900, SLP2300, or Eforce 2300 unlocked?

I'd like to start learning how to tune, but I want power "now". Goal is to buy HPTuners the instant I choose a power adder and then start playing with the stock tune. My expectation is that I will not be ready for the supercharger tune wise when it gets here so I'd like a stock setup that I can read and learn from. Of course this means I need a kit that has an unlocked tune.

Are any of the above?
Are there vendors on here that would supply a tuner kit and a tune and leave it unlocked?

I've searched but can't find anything. Would assume I am not the only one in this sort of situtation.

 

If it helps, my truck has over 100k miles on it so I expect no warranty.

 

I dont think any of them are locked...I would call to make sure though.

I recommend learning how to tune first before you buy a power adder, but thats just my opinion.

 

I asked because all mail order tunes seem to be locked, can't find a reference of kit tunes, and was maybe leaning towards a kit that didn't include a tune. The last option would mean I need a local tuner that would leave it unlocked. Being I know none, I thought it safest from a generic tune from a kit.

I plan on that, just didn't want to run out and buy HPTuners if I find out that the system I buy has a custom OS from EFI Live or I use a local guy to tune it first with something other than HP.

Once I know what power adder I am going to buy I'll start playing with my truck right away.

 

I could see in person tunes and mail order things being locked because that is very specific to your truck, but programmers that are sent with kits generally tend to be very generic and therefor there is not much of a need in locking them.

My point was really if you know how to tune, you dont need to even use the included programmer, so you completely avoid the whole issue of it being locked or unlocked.

 

The Superchips tuner that Magnuson supplies with there superchargers is locked and nothing can be adjusted. Not the speed or rev limiter..... nothing.

 

Magnuson longer use Superchips. I believe they use SCT.

Even the last PCM I purchase from someone with a maggie used a Superchips and I was able to read the tune with EFI Live. I still have the PCM somewhere...

The Handheld tuning unit is a different story.

 

He just got the kit new a few months ago. His truck is an 04 so maybe SCTdoesnt support them yet. He will be doing an 80e swap and a custom tune soon though.

 

Called Edelbrock and they will supply an SCT file for free, or for $400 you get the SCT tuner. I'd like to avoid spending money for no reason. I also have no local contacts so that doesn't make me feel great about grabbing a tune locally.

I realize, but a really safe baseline is a nice thing for a starting point. I fundamentally understand how to tune, but have way more reading to do before I adjust things. It is hard to absorb all of the reading without the actual tuner. My timing for learning is definitely much shorter than my "need" to upgrade.

I would have bought the tuning software earlier, but have been a bit delayed working on getting a Windows 8 machine with a 10" monitor in the dash.

 

I am open to a remote tune via Teamviewer or the like from a vendor. Would gladly buy a kit that includes that as a service as well. Was going to ask Black Bear in that regard, but since they use EFI Live which seems harder to learn and with less online tutorials I didn't want to mix tunes. They also might want theirs locked.