SCT XCal2... update or buy a new one?

[Onespeed]

I have an SCT XCal2 that I used for my Expedition, maily for better fuel economy (yeah right!). According the SCT website, once the original vehicle is returned to the stock tune the tuner can be "unlocked" and ready for uploading new tunes for a new PCM/vehicle.

If I bought two new tunes for the ZX2 from an SCT dealer and uploaded them, it would be ~$100 or so, but the tuner would then be only for the new car.

Would you go ahead and buy a new tuner for ~$400, and have one for each vehicle, or would you save the difference and forgo the Expy altogether?

Also, has anyone ever done this? Are the email tunes reliable enough, or should I send it off to someone like LaSota and have them load it directly?

[Stretch]

There's never any guarantee against communication error. You can have problems with either form of media. I have both an XCal2 and switch chip and have experienced various communication errors with both. Nothing is perfect.

You have pros and cons either way, but keep in mind that sending a program to your EEC using an XCal2 is FAR more convenient than having to dig out the EEC to install a chip.

I don't understand why you'd buy a second XCal2 when you don't have to. Just buy the extra tune(s) and swap them around. That's all I ever did. It might be a bit of inconvenience, but I spent the extra $$$ on other more important things.

[Onespeed]

How did you swap them around? When you tune car "A" with the XCal2 it locks the tuner to that computer until it is returned to stock. You can't load a tune on car "A" and then download a tune for a different car on to your tuner and load car "B" with it. Even if you have two identical cars with the same ECU you still can't tune both of them.
If I get the tuner unlocked and reloaded with tunes for the ZX2 I would lose all ability to tune the Expedition. If I am missing something here, please enlighten me....

[Stretch]

How did you swap them around? When you tune car "A" with the XCal2 it locks the tuner to that computer until it is returned to stock. You can't load a tune on car "A" and then download a tune for a different car on to your tuner and load car "B" with it. Even if you have two identical cars with the same ECU you still can't tune both of them. If I get the tuner unlocked and reloaded with tunes for the ZX2 I would lose all ability to tune the Expedition. If I am missing something here, please enlighten me....

You understand the way the system works properly, no worries there. Remember that you can keep all/any tunes on your computer and d'load them to the XCal at any time you wish.

What i'm getting at is the decision you need to make - money versus convenience. I was simply voicing option you didn't list. It's more work, but far less money (dependent on specific vehicles and EEC location).

Also keep in mind that the info you posted only applies to flash-type devices (but then the work factor goes WAY up).

[Onespeed]

OK, I thought maybe someone had found a way around the VIN lock...

The more I think about it, the more I think the tune didn't yeild a whole lot for the Expedition, maybe 1-2MPG at 91 octane, so no real savings there. Definately helped when pulling the toys through the mountains, but not a necessity.

On top of that, I just got a call from the Ford dealership (truck is in right now for possible head gaskets), sounds like I will be getting a whole new motor. A fresh motor at 110K miles would be amazing.

I think I will just have my tuner converted over for the ZX2 and be done with it.
Thanks...