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Can I drive without a tune?

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Old May 28, 2011 | 02:15 PM
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Default Can I drive without a tune?

So I'm about done putting my engine in my 1968 camaro. It is an lq4 from a 2006 silverado. Up top is some stock ls3 heads, a stock ls3 intake manifold, stock ls3 injectors, and a custom ground comp cam 222/230 with .570 lift. The car has full length headers. I have a 4l80e transmission with a stock converter. I had Brendan at lt1swap.com set my lq4 ecm with an ls3 base tune and a 4l80e code segment based on 3.23 gears. He deleted the second sets of o2 sensors. I'm actually going to be putting in a posi rear with 3.42 gears.
Once I get the thing running, I need to get the exhaust welded up and then to get the car dyno tuned. two questions: 1) would it be safe to drive four blocks with open headers to the exhaust shop? 2) After the exhausted is welded, would it be safe to drive the car from Miami to west palm beach to masport - about 100 miles - so I can have the car dyno tuned?
I'm just worried I might hurt the engine driving it.
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Old May 28, 2011 | 03:17 PM
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If it starts up and run ok for the most part, I would say it is safe for the four blocks to the shop.. But would see how it is running after you get the exhaust and everything setup before taking a long ride. .check the plugs and how it runs at idle and on Throttle.

Those changes would normally expect some tuning.. that being a change in intake, heads, injectors, cam, etc.. But lets see how it starts up and runs first..
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Old May 28, 2011 | 03:56 PM
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Originally Posted by bczee
If it starts up and run ok for the most part, I would say it is safe for the four blocks to the shop.. But would see how it is running after you get the exhaust and everything setup before taking a long ride. .check the plugs and how it runs at idle and on Throttle.

Those changes would normally expect some tuning.. that being a change in intake, heads, injectors, cam, etc.. But lets see how it starts up and runs first..
Well it does have a base LS3 tune. The only difference between this engine and the stock Ls3 is the cam and the fact that it is a 6.0 liter instead of a 6.2.
I should be test firing it next weekend.
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Old May 30, 2011 | 09:40 AM
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I wouldnt drive it farther than up onto a trailer
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Old May 30, 2011 | 11:49 AM
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1) yes. 4 blocks should be no problem at all.

2) is a maybe. Without being able to monitor what the computer is doing it's tough to say. My guess is it'd probably be fine, especially since it's already tuned for the injectors. Without having the scanner on, there's just no way to know for sure, though.

Whatever you do, just don't floor it or get too heavy on the gas. Just cruising is no big deal, since it's closed loop and the O2s control the AFR. You also may have to 2 foot it to keep from dying when it goes back to idle. The 4 block drive should tell some of the story here.
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Old May 30, 2011 | 12:52 PM
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Should I remove the maf and/or the o2 sensors?
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Old May 30, 2011 | 12:57 PM
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That is, when driving to the exhaust shop. Wont the o2s read lean due to reversion and dump fuel into the manifold?
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Old May 30, 2011 | 08:27 PM
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Yeah, it would. I don't think it's a big deal for 4 blocks, especially if you don't warm the engine up. Just don't stand on it.
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