LT1-LT4 Modifications - Headers and X pipe on the way

Hows it going guys. Long time lurker around the forum. I've finally been able to catch a break and have enough money to order long tubes and an x pipe from summit. Any sense in getting a mail order tune right away or wait until I can furnish some more mods? The car has been wrecked for a long time. I traded my old 3.4 for it. I finally got another lt1 to drop in the trans am since the original has a knock in it. I also have deleted the AC and replaced it with the delete pulley. So back to the original question, is it going to be worthwhile to tune with such little mods? Thanks in advance.

The gains to are not going to offset the cost of a tune.

Yes, you need a tune since the factory tune is crap! Definitely not designed for performance..........
WWW.madtuner.com will hook you up with a great tune for the mods you have and then some.
You will notice a very nice gain especially if you have a 6 speed;)

Mail Order tunes are just to get the car running decent. Want a real tune, get a street tune.

Have you even looked at the stock tune?

When I first started with my build, I did the K&N intake/ Pacesetters LT/ SLP lm2 and ran around on that for awhile. I then spent the money to have it tuned and could really tell much of a diff.

Thanks for the input guys. So about the factory tune. Is it under tuned or something? I'll have to check out madtuner. It's an A4 car. I'd like to eventually get a stall but I've never been this involved with a project lol. But, I'm sure once I replace the engine and do a whole exhaust, I'll feel more comfortable with it.

The factory tune has tune has no timing in it that's why many get away with n2o without problems. As for an NA set up its quite bland........ the money on a tune is like money in the bank.

Good to know. Thanks

The factory tune has tune has no timing in it that's why many get away with n2o without problems. As for an NA set up its quite bland........ the money on a tune is like money in the bank.

Have you ever looked at a stock tune timing table?

Max timing is 44*

That's MAXX and not all are the same that's why not every Lt1 gains the same from a tune......... Back to my statement stock tune is a CRAP for performance ;)

I've ran the same bolt-on, mail order tune for the last 8-9 years. I got it because of the 160* stat I installed. Even bone stock cars will benefit from a tune

That's MAXX and not all are the same that's why not every Lt1 gains the same from a tune......... Back to my statement stock tune is a CRAP for performance ;)

Once again obviously you haven't looked at a stock timing map. The AFR ratio stock is in on the rich side in WOT, it needs to be leaned out to make better power.

I'd post pictures of the stock maps but LS1Tech is retarded for pictures.

Yes there is room for improvement. Worth getting a tune just for them? Nah, unless thats all you plan on doing to the car.

The reason stock cars benefit from a tune is because automakers put in a conservative tune because there is differences in variables in different places.

Well, I definitely plan on doing a lot more to the car over time. I think before I do anymore to the car, I'm going to get the front 2 seats re upholstered and get a dash. Once I paint it (got the paint the other day), I'll at least be able to say it looks road worthy. Honestly, I've only driven the car one time. I ran the shit out of it down the street and back on the bad engine with the driver side fender, both bumpers, and hood removed lol. It was eating at me for the longest time to do it. I have to say though, it felt good.

A stock tune will run headers fine. So if thats all going on right now, I'd hold off. Save the money because a retune costs the same I do believe. So why pay for headers, then add something else, pay again blah blah blah.

If its an all stock motor with just say a CAI and headers and no cats, you will leave a little on the table , but the butt meter will probably not feel it.

If you got any other mods you plan to do soon, id go ahead and do them first though. That way you only have it tuned once.

Well, I don't know if I'll have enough dough to spend on any other mods. So here's what I've got going on with the car now. 98 front end conversion, slp lid with ws6 hood. Should have good air flow going to it. A/C delete. ABS delete, headers, X pipe, car has 3:23's factory. I'd like to eventually get 3:73's and a 3600 stall along with a cam, but I don't have enough for that just yet. Any other ideas on some cheaper bolt on's before I plunge into a tune?

forgot to mention the manual fan switch I added