HappySalesman

iTrader: (3)

Just like the topic says... if I get headers and an off-road (or catted) y-pipe... will i need to get the car tuned? Does it need to be dyno-tuned?

And could anyone possibly give a reasonable idea as to how much a tune for this job would cost?

GiggleJuiced_SS

iTrader: (31)

When you remove any egr or smog components without a tune you will get a (check engine light) cel. Won't hurt anything just have the annoying light on. I wouldn't waste the money on a dyno tune for just an exhaust upgrade. Just go for a mail order tune around $150 from most people. If you were getting a cam or heads that would need a dyno tune to take full advantage of those mods.

ULTIMATEORANGESS

iTrader: (4)

if youre planning on more upgrades then wait otherwise id have it tuned.

MonmouthCtyLS7

iTrader: (6)

Mail order will be cheap and ad some nice power. No need for a dyno tune with your limited mods.

Rise of the Phoenix

iTrader: (27)

Best to get it tuned. If you run headers and exhaust without a tune to compensate for the increased air/power, the car will run lean.

murphinator

iTrader: (2)

this ^ and if your going to long tubes it will tend to throw 02 codes due to different location for sensors from stock that can be addressed by the tuner.

ragtopz28

iTrader: (57)

Both of the above two posters speak the truth! I go for full re-tune after every mod. and it DOES make a difference in getting what you paid for. Example, I just went from 1 3/4" mids to 1 7/8" LT headers and it affected the spark and a/f...gained 19rwhp.

Rise of the Phoenix

iTrader: (27)

And to add on that, a lot of tuners won't keep charging you after the initial tune. My tuner is cool with me bringing the car back out for touch up tuning.

scotty2000ss

iTrader: (2)

Must be nice! Lol

WS6wanted

I got my car dyno tuned after headers, air and egr delete. My car was running dangerously lean so it was a good thing i got it tuned. Plus my car had a 108mph speed limiter on the car my tuner got rid of along with skip shift. It was expensive but at least I know the car is safe to beat on now and glad I did it

Rise of the Phoenix

iTrader: (27)

I opted not to get a tune until after I did heads and cam, and my tuner said from the way the plugs looked, it was running pretty lean. I added heads and cam not long after longtubes and duals, but looking back, probably wasn't too smart.

HappySalesman

iTrader: (3)

Alright. Sucks cause I was quoted somewhere along the lines of 6 to 900 for a tune but... giess thats what tax returns are for lol

Rise of the Phoenix

iTrader: (27)

That's way out of line. Who was this through; a company or an individual? A tune should never cost more than $450.00. Now, if you're FI and have a pretty wild setup, then maybe more, but for a heads/cam/bolt-ons car, $450.00 seems to be the going rate.

LSCha0s

iTrader: (4)

Wow thats Crazy$$$ twice as nuch as you pay around here.

I'm in the same boat but a little different. My car has been tuned but it had stock manifolds. I was running a MS3 cam under drive pulleys and a LS6 intake. Now that I have added headers I should need a retune. Im almost afraid to drive it at all considering it has already been tuned and not running on the conservative stock tune.

ULTIMATEORANGESS

iTrader: (4)

i agree but if its done right its better than it running an unsafe tune.


me and others used a local shop that blew mine and many others setups because he was clueless.


while hes a good guy hes still tuning motors and i feel bad for anyone that is or was using him.

RevGTO

iTrader: (12)

For that price you can buy EFILive or HPTuners and do it yourself - and all future tuning adjustments are free!

murphinator

iTrader: (2)

where are you from ? theres some good grassroots tuners around and someone from your area may be able to refer you to someone that can help you out .

I would be concentrating on finding out what your air fuel ratio looks like if its in the 12.5-13 to 1 range at wot your fine leave it be until you can get a full tune done. You may even be able to find a dyno shop that does a dyno day where you can get a pull with AIR fuel readout for under $100 then you will know if your safe or not.

You could also buy a basic wideband for around $200 then you will always have it whether to check your own work when you buy a tuner down the road or to make sure your future tuner has you safe - some pretty jacked up AFR's have come out of some shops that should know better from time to time....a wideband is a great insurance policy.

badformulaLS1

iTrader: (1)

I would do a mail order tune. IMO when I did full exhaust I paid $250 for a street tune and it wasn't worth it. No difference felt on the butt-dyno. Perhaps I got scammed... Or maybe my expectations were too high. But either way for just bolt ons I'd probably opt for a mail order tune if I were to do it all over again.

HappySalesman

iTrader: (3)

I live in western washington. I didnt call to many shops, just the one to get an idea of the cost.

I think when the time comes ill go for the mail order tune. Any idea how long they take? The car is my dd so I'd have to make arrangements.

ragtopz28

iTrader: (57)

^^This^^ I've never been a believer in mail-order-tunes (plus a week of down time). They might be close but for about $100-150 more you could get a good street tune.