Sliding the power steering/air conditioning and alternator mounts onto the guide studs and bolting them in place was next. Reattaching the power steering, air conditioning, and alternator units to the hoses, wiring, and bracketry was a breeze.
But, as any performance enthusiast will tell you, "more power is good." So, this truck was shipped off to DynoTech Engineering, Inc. (DTE), in Fort Wayne, Indiana, to have the powertrain control module (PCM) calibrated for the new powertrain combination. DTE has specialized in the C5/C6 Corvette performance vehicle platforms for years, but they also apply their successful computer calibration services to the performance-truck market. DynoTech has done many crate engine PCM calibration tune-ups and did a fantastic job on this HT 383E-equipped truck. The HT 383E definitely lived up to its potential for generating miles of stuff-hauling truck-smiles.
Tuning For PowerGMPP says the factory powertrain control module will run the HT 383E, which it did, but after driving the truck for a few hundred miles we felt there was additional power to be had by having a tuned calibration created and installed. We contacted DynoTech Engineering, in Fort Wayne to have them upload one of its crate engine calibrations into this truck's computer. The result was dramatic.
Connecting the wiring for the throttle-body throttle blade position sensor and idle air-control sensors, along with the wiring for the coil, manifold air pressure sensor, and other electronic sensors was next. We pushed the connectors together until the lock tang snapped into place.
If you don't find peak power gains over the stock controlled HT 383E of 212 horsepower at 4,500 rpm and 150 lb-ft of torque at 3,400 rpm, then you aren't breathing. These aren't the total power numbers-just the additional power DynoTech found!
Even better, the power lift only starts to tell the real story. The new DynoTech calibration reduced the start-on-the-key crank time, smoothed out the cold start idle quality and off-idle throttle tip-in and created a thick, impressive mid-throttle power surge we had not felt before. In all, the truck felt even better than the difference we felt after the HT 383E was installed in place of the original Vortec 350ci engine.
For crate engine upgrades, DTE provides a base PCM calibration for your truck's new engine combination; assuming it's a stock drivetrain other than the crate engine. If you have any additional modifications done to your vehicle, other than what the calibration was written for, you need to take your truck to DTE for a final calibration tuneup or you can take your vehicle to your favorite local tuner so they can tweak the calibration to suit your particular needs.
DTE is one of the few calibration shops out there that can truly create a big hp vehicle that does everything you'd expect an electronically controlled vehicle to do from the factory. This is important for this truck, as it is a hauling, towing, full-season workhorse.