LS1_K1DD

iTrader: (3)

I've been reading on LS1's for awhile and am planning on getting one but i have one more newb question to ask. This may be a retarded question but my main priority here is to learn and learn more. When would a tune be needed for your engine? i see everyone talking about a "tune" after installations of H/C and i can see why, but i also heard of a "tune" after installation of L/T's and full exhaust. Can someone answer my question w/ a When? Why? and How to tune/where to take your car? Thanks any info is greatly appreciated!

ULTIMATEORANGESS

iTrader: (4)

any mod that effects your air fuel ratio will require a tune.


thats why i suggest being patient and get all your mods youre planning done at one time and be done. i know its never that easy.

LS1_K1DD

iTrader: (3)

Thanks for the info.. where the hell would i get a tune done? or could it be done through a certain hand held?

BLKWS.6

Even a lid leans things out by .2-.4

BLKWS.6

EFIlive, LS1edit, HPtuners. Big Stuff III.

LS1_K1DD

iTrader: (3)

Where could i purchase any of the 4 you just listed? are they all hand helds?

BLKWS.6

Big Stuff III is NOT! necessary until you do some pretty radical stuff. It allows TOTAL! tuning control. LS1edit ect. are all commonly available from normal F-body sites/stores online.

LS1_K1DD

iTrader: (3)

Thank you, i appreciate all the help and info

RPM WS6

iTrader: (3)

No "need" for a tune for any of the common bolt-ons. Will the car gain a little more power with a tune after bolt-ons? Yes, but it's not required. The car will run just fine with basic bolt-ons and the stock tune, and you'll still gain some power from the mods without tuning.

Keep in mind, even a stock car usually will gain a bit from a good dyno tune.

On the flip side, my WS6 still ran even with a cam and the stock tune. It just didn't run very well. Tuning was MORE than worth it for those mods. If you plan big mods, plan on getting some custom tuning as well.

SHINER

iTrader: (18)

Whenever you change the flow characteristics of a motor, you need a tune.

BLKWS.6

In this and only THIS one respect (as well as not randomly dying ) my 5.0 when I still had mass-air (before the Demon carb setup) didn't need a tune. Just jack with the FPR a little and it was fine. Ford REALLY! did a GREAT job on creating the most self-adapting ECU I have ever heard of.

But yes, on an LS1, after LT's most people get a tune.


PS. the 5.0 had a .542 lift cam with 224/224. 1 point more compression, and full bolt-ons with heads.

SHINER

iTrader: (18)

I was refering to the LS1, but...alright you got me..


Travis

DrkPhx

iTrader: (15)

So true. The LS1 PCM has adaptive learning and will adjust for most, if not all bolt ons. This is most obvious when headers are installed and cats are removed. Usually right after the install and on the initial drive, the car will run like crap and in fact feel slower than before. After several drive cycles that include all types of driving (idle, cruise and WOT) the car will run much stronger and have adapted within it's limits. That doesn't mean you shouldn't tune, but it's not really neccessary.

FWIW - When I was in the bolt-on stage, I ran a LS6 cam/intake, 3200 TC, headers and all bolt-ons with no tune for 2 years without a problem. Car ran fine. I had it dyno tuned and picked up 11 rwhp.

RPM WS6

iTrader: (3)

Good info.

It's a shame that I see some people get talked into a dyno tune when they're still at bolt-on level, and they expect some kind of big power gain. I mean yeah, they'll see a gain.... but they get their hopes up for the same sort of gain that a big H/C car would get from tuning and when they only see 5-10rwhp it's a big let down.

IMO, hold off on the tuning till the mods get big....unless you don't plan to mod much and you just want to squeeze every last drop out of a stockish setup.....

LS1_K1DD

iTrader: (3)

Thanks for all info. its been appreciated.. i hate living in a small town closest dyno is 175 miles away

TAtoad

iTrader: (22)

Yup, after 3 "trips" or cycles as he stated, the PCM starts getting a hint of what conditions it's going to be dealing with.

lsx24

iTrader: (45)

Typically you want to get a tune after a successful round of mods. For instance, after getting full boltons, it's worthwhile to get a tune. Or after getting a cam installed, it's worthwhile getting a tune. Or after getting heads/cam installed, get a tune.

Typically for basic bolt-ons you don't need to spend money on a tune, as they are expensive (most will run at or above $400).

The handhelds are pretty much worthless. But people like to use their own tuning software, like HPTuner or EFI-live. Most professional tuners will use one of these two softwares to tune your car.

2002/ws6

if your gonna stick with headers/exhaust and no more a tune would be good, but if your planning to get a h/c swap wait till then, then your gonna need one

CJDZ24_Z28

iTrader: (75)

Where are you located? You could always do a mail order tune

Blknight6989

iTrader: (2)

OK another newb question to add to this....aftyer i install LT's and full exhaust and what not....jsut how extensive of a tune are we talking....for example...ont he speed inc website...would i be at the $500 tune or just the basic one??