I know getting a tune will most likely make more power than not getting one. Are there cams that run and drive well without having to get a tune right away? This is for my A4 99 t/A.

 

any changes made to the engine require tuning. some things you can get away with, not recommended. a cam i would think requires tuning right away, otherwise damage may occur in some way.

 

You will definitely need a tune with any cam swap that is worth your time. Even if your A/F ratio is safe to drive, your car will run like total **** and you will hate driving it. You will also want to get a stall converter since you are a A4. I think its time to do some searching!

 

I'm not sure why so many guys skip out on getting a tune. Makes no sense. To get the full potential out of your performance modifications and to have the car running decently and to it's full potential, you will need a tune. Since you have a A4, you should look into a different stall or it will run like poop.

 

absolutely get a tune. you will not maximize the gains from the cam without one

 

edelbrock has a no tune cam that should work just fine. The ls6 cam will also work well with no tune if you bump the rev limiter up to like 6500 rpms

 

a mail order tune is $150.

 

Awesome. The man answered the question...instead of correcting the op.

 

You should find a set of heads that don't require a tune as well

 

I come from the world of EECIV ford. That system can adjust to anything without getting a tune. I am finding the later GM stuff just doesn't take as well to internal changes. I was looking to make changes one at a time and didn't want to retune each time.

 

what setup did you have that required no tune?

 

So do everything at once and then tune it, if you can't afford a mail order tune I wouldn't mod your car. But to answer your question an LS6 is just about the only one, but even that would benefit from a mail order

 

I have a stock cam ill sell ya... Im positive you could go without a tune.

 

HCI and supercharged.

 

Only thing cost has to do with it is I don't feel like dropping $500 on a dyno tune each time I make a change.Just hits me as wasteful spending. It looks like I will have to make all of the mods at once.

 

So drop $650 once and buy HPTuners and retune it 1000 times.... And itll be better than most "tuners" actually do.

 

If you have an A-4, I would look to a bigger Stall converter 1st!!! Then set some Power goals and go from there. This will help you stay within a budget and get you to where you want to be. It is not neccesary to dynotune everytime you change your set-up, usually just need to tweek the tune.

 

If you go with an LS6 cam(which requires no tune) you must get an 02 and up cam. Also you must change the valve springs. Get someone who has Efi live or HP tuners to adjust your redline to 6500. If not car will slow down in the 1/4. That cam works awesome after 5500 compared to the stocker. If you go with that cam get an LS6 intake as well-those too will make that car have great power up top compared to what you have now. Intake can be had for cheap.
Even a bolt on car benefits from a tune. You need a tune if you get a converter which all a4s should have. If you are on a budget get a converter etc and install them all at the same time and then get a tune.

 

that would be the LS6 cam...but IMO i dont think its worth the money and time.

 

No one charges $500 every time you need a tune. Usually $300-$500 for the 1st tune when they add your car to their software. Usually just pay the dyno time each tune thereafter. (about $100 per hour)