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Frontier Tuning - Yes, we do that D40, D41, VQ38, VQ40, VK56DE and more

24K views 35 replies 17 participants last post by  Cut em’  
#1 ·


Nissan Frontier Tuning options are now available available for the 3.8L. We've been tuning Nissan's for for over 20 years now with coverage from 90's vintage Z's to the newest models. We've been tuning VQ40 & VK56 Truck & SUV's for well over a decade. We are proficient in EcuTek & Uprev Tuning for NA and forced induction applications.
We offer tuning support by email or on-site with one of our 2 dyno's.



The dyno sheet for our 2022 Frontier below illustrates the average power gains seen on a truck with basic bolt-on modifications (Z1 Intake & Exhaust). Our test truck gained an additional 37 ft-lb at 4400 rpm and 32 whp at 4400 rpm. Peak torque moved from 5000 rpm down to 4200 rpm and increased by 23 ft-lb while peak horsepower is maintained at 6200 rpm, but increased by 8 whp. Our calibrations address the air fuel, sharpen the throttle response, raise the rev and speed limiters, and provide performance timing on corresponding octane performance maps. Yes, you can make great gains still on 87 octane but we went ahead and built one for 91 as well.

Allow for burnouts on our EcuTek tune for max hooning if you're feeling froggy.



We offer improved calibrations in our Level 1 EcuTek Tuning package for the 3.8L and Custom tuning support with Level 2 tune for any combination of larger diameter Air intakes or high flow cat equipped trucks. See the full details in our tuning listings here.

How 3.8L tuning works:

See how easy the flash process for your 2020+ Frontier is here:


Additionally we offer Uprev Tuning services via mail in (send us your ecu), Email, or in house for Vq40 equipped Nisan Frontiers (most Vk56DE's are welcome and supported too). This made a huge improvement in my truck and I honestly don't think my transmission would have lasted this long without it.


If you're looking to make the most of your Frontier whether it's on-road or off-road, we would love to serve you.

We'll continue to update examples of our work in this thread and look forward to many of your success stories.
 
#2 ·
Good stuff. Expensive but still a decent HP/$ ratio.
 
#11 ·
Really close already in our testing with the tune to reach Maximum Brake Torque (MBT) on 87 so not a massive difference maybe 10 HP between the two different maps.
The nice thing is it's easy to switch between them.

No, the Bluetooth dongle can be removed and the updated tune will stay on the truck.


I am definitely going to jump on this. I have the Z1 intake, so I guess that narrows me down to level 2 option only. Any idea on how much the gain is with just the intake? I'd be all for the exhaust, but I am just not the biggest fan of how our V6s sound with any of the aftermarket exhausts
Probably somewhere in-between the the stock tuned truck graph and our intake and exhaust tuned graph (Green and blue) below. Gains vs the baselines are really strong so I would still expect to see a really nice improvement especially around that 4500 RPM window.


I will wait and see how others fair with the upgraded tuner. Nice that a stock or Level 1 is offered to those of us not planning to go crazy. Curious how this effects factory warranty or if Nissan techs will see this in Consult??
Haven't heard of NA tuned cars in the past being denied but ultimately it's the servicing dealer and Nissan.

Looks like the tuner app offered a hold of your original 'stock' set-up, so I assume a 'reflash' to the original factory settings would be satisfactory in meeting this scenario?
Yes, reverting to a stock MAP is doable.


Gains are pretty strong on a 2020 3.8L D40 we just did that was stock.

This is a comparison between the two. The Red (pre-tune) and Blue (tuned) lines are from our 2022 D41 with Z1 intake & Z1 exhaust Before and after tune.

The Orange (pre-tune) and Green (tuned) are from the 2020, it was bone stock.
Solid gains and goes to show that even with a bigger tire the Intake + Exhaust + Tune really provide some nice power improvements (I like those mid range gains.

They limited the speed on the Dyno on our D41 as this was with the bigger tire. It does have the full rev range like the green run this is just what I could grab quickly.

Image
 
#6 ·
I am definitely going to jump on this. I have the Z1 intake, so I guess that narrows me down to level 2 option only. Any idea on how much the gain is with just the intake? I'd be all for the exhaust, but I am just not the biggest fan of how our V6s sound with any of the aftermarket exhausts
 
#12 ·
Spencer, I'm in Villa Rica, so I drive by your shop all the time. Can you tune out the clunky downshifts coming to a stop and the throttle lag if you are not completely stopped and then step on the gas? That's the stuff I hate about this truck... I don't need more power but better driveablity would be really nice.
 
#15 ·
Would be cool to see a side by side comparison to similarly equipped model doing some real world stuff - towing for example - or just drivability in scenarios where a tune makes a diff. Don't recall seeing commentary here, but three have done their review via Z1 web.
 
#16 ·
Just read the reviews and I'm confused by this one line in the first review:
", and no more high RPM jumps using cruise control (truck used to jump to 6000 RPM when when using cruise control and going up the smallest of hills). Thanks Z1 for making an already great truck even better! "
I was under the impression from this thread that the TCU controls the shifting and this tune wouldn't adress that issue.

So who is right and who is wrong?
 
#18 ·
While we don’t do any formal TCM tuning with the upgrade he’s probably experiencing fewer downshifts than he did before. More power at the same or less load (throttle angle) is reducing the frequency of partial throttle downshifts. Tough to plot this on the dyno and we try to be cautious in how to “up sell” the tune, I will say after driving a number of trucks it’s my experience too that the aggressive uncalled for down shifts are far less frequent.
 
#17 ·
A LOT of folks were convinced pawl recall fixed this that and the other. Shifting reacts to throttle input and Z1 is NOT doing any trans programming at this time. Even if there was an applicable change for Cruise in the ECM side of the house, I don't see where they did so, or would even try.

Is it possible that a higher output would impact shift/cruise behavior? Maybe, say if one now needs less throttle, but I don't have any data to support it. I certainly wouldn't consider this a "fix" unless they claim it otherwise.
 
#21 ·
@Spencer@Z1Off-Road

Curious again about the flash counter question (D41). EcuTek states in multiple places they don't make efforts to hide their tracks. The minor concern might be "would Nissan notice?" Seeing the below in your FB group and figured to ask.

"There is no flash counter that can be accessed with consult III+"

We know there are tells even if hidden, but the counter is fairly concrete even if only picked up by someone other than the tech. Any extra detail?
 
#22 ·
@Spencer@Z1Off-Road

Curious again about the flash counter question (D41). EcuTek states in multiple places they don't make efforts to hide their tracks. The minor concern might be "would Nissan notice?" Seeing the below in your FB group and figured to ask.

"There is no flash counter that can be accessed with consult III+"

We know there are tells even if hidden, but the counter is fairly concrete even if only picked up by someone other than the tech. Any extra detail?
Sorry I'm just seeing this. Unfortunately (or maybe fortunately), I haven't heard anything on flash counter or updates. I suspect their may be a tell as well but I haven't hear of anything concrete or anyone being called out or denied up to this point.
 
#24 ·
Hi,
how come your dyno graphs start recording data at around the 3100rpm mark instead of just off idle Like other charts?

when are you sending your exhaust to be peer reviewed by a YouTube channel, or other accredited independent testing service?
future customer asking.
Graphs start there because if we try to roll into power earlier the transmission kicks down and we don't have a way to hold the gear. We test in higher gears to try and get a more accurate reading with gearing closer to 1:1 when speed limiters and tires allow it. Most graphs are like this, we do similar on manual transmission vehicles too to avoid lugging the engines when loaded on our chassis dynos.

No plan for send out our exhaust at this point. If a customer wishes to validate ours or any other exhaust they are certainly free to do so, we're confident in the results we have published for any systems we have tested.
 
#26 ·
If you take your hotrod to the dyno, they will do their best to capture 1:1. Old TH350? Data looked at will be 3rd gear. Any downshifts will skew the results and are largely ignored when measuring gains - especially peak.

Without a manual valve body (not avail to us), you can't force a gear, only "request" it. If it thinks you need a shift it will.
 
#28 ·
You can data log and tune for any rpm or load, but fact is you try to eliminate torque multiplication from gearing in this situation as it throws a whole wrench in the works by adding a non static variable.

It isn't a trick to avoid your desires, it is just a common method.

Ex:
 
#33 ·
If we have any tuning available it would only be for the engine, if you email our team with your VIN we can check to see if we have access to tune with UpRev. Not familiar with any option on the bcm side to enable the fog light into drl but I think you could likely do that with some wiring updates.
 
#35 ·
Flashed my 2024 pro4x today. It's where it should be now, less downshifting on the interstate, and throttle off the line feels good.

I was/am a Nissan PROCAP student and master mechanic for Nissan 20 years ago. Outside of putting in a custom cam this is the best ways to make power over a broad range of usable rpms for a truck. Idles smoother as well with the cold wet weather.
 
#36 ·
Anyone with the tuning care to make a video the difference tuning made? I’m looking to just fix the sloppy factory laziness like stated earlier and just make the drivability better. I bet a lot would agree that pedal to the metal is not that bad (besides the lag), it’s the everyday coming to a stop, then the light turns green and you accelerate and it feels ‘off’.