i just put on a airaid tbs, it has a gm cold air intake, flowmaster exhaust, im looking for a tuner to change shift settings, gov speed, and to monitor trans slippage, and give a lil more ponys

 

you should look into a black bear performance tune...i've heard nothing but good things about them.

 

Besides what cam3439 said, you can depend on a programmer to change parameters,or read and clear trouble codes.

I haven't heard a lot about programmers helping either in the horsepower or the economy department.

At @ 350$ a pop for a programmer, I'd have to agree the money's better spent on a chip.

 

First remove the TBS and sell it on ebay, they do nothing for 96+ GM trucks.

second, custom tune or tunning programs (efi live, hptuners) are the way to go, they have far more capabilities than a handheld.

if you are dead set on a handheld, the diablo is about the best there is.