Running head/cam car without tune

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Mar 30, 2007 | 01:27 PM

kilrb

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Running head/cam car without tune

I recently installed a 224/224 .581/.581 on a 112 with Texas Speed's Stage 2.5 5.3 liter heads. I have an appointment for a dyno tune in three and a half weeks. I have always been under the impression that I'm not going to risk damaging anything if I drive the car some without getting on it, but I thought I'd post to see if anyone begs to differ. Is there anything I can do to check to see if it's running lean/rich? I don't see any smoke when I rev it up (just a little bit) at idle. Someone once told me I could pull a plug and see if it was white (lean) or black (rich). Am I being overly paranoid, or should I just leave it in the garage? It's not my DD, so I can let it sit. I just enjoy driving it once or twice a week, even if I can't get on it...

Mar 30, 2007 | 03:15 PM

Tootall

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From: League City, Tx

let it sit . . .

Mar 30, 2007 | 03:21 PM

5.3LJimmy

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From: Napoleonville, LA

You should be fine driving w/o a tune, especially w/ a 224 cam. Lots of people run the 224 cams on a stock tune anyway. I've done it myself w/ a tr224 and a tr230.

Mar 30, 2007 | 03:24 PM

kilrb

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Quote:

Originally Posted by 5.3LJimmy

You should be fine driving w/o a tune, especially w/ a 224 cam. Lots of people run the 224 cams on a stock tune anyway. I've done it myself w/ a tr224 and a tr230.

Is that cam only, or do the heads even factor in? I was assuming throwing heads in makes the tune even more critical, as it is even farther of a departure from stock. I sort of figure that the bigger the cam and farther from stock, the more likely the stock tune is to be insufficient. Again, I'm only looking at mild acceleration, not WOT or anything...

Mar 30, 2007 | 03:38 PM

5.3LJimmy

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The PCM can correct the air fuel ratio for heads and cam. As long as the idle of the cam is not so radical that the Long Term Fuel Trims are out of whack. It would be no different than putting on headers and a catback. New heads improve flow thru the engine, so the effect would be the same. Drive away.

Mar 30, 2007 | 03:42 PM

99WS7

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From: WY

aslong as you dont get hard on it and just put around you should be fine. I drove my car around a little bit before I got tuned and 200 miles to get tuned and it did fine. Its also not my DD aswell and I have a A/F gauge to monitor the car. You will be ok...

Mar 30, 2007 | 07:19 PM

Ryan02SS

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From: Lake Anna, VA/ Fairmont, WV

You should be fine driving the car, but I would stay far away from WOT runs. Your chances of detonating a piston due to a lean AF/R are highest at WOT. Drive it sensibly until you have it tuned and then have your fun. I drove mine around 300 miles before I had it tuned staying off the loud pedal.