So I just did a heads and cam swap on my 2007.5 NNBS Silverado with the LMG 5.3. I used TSP-PRC Stage 1 ported 243 heads milled to 63cc, BTR Truck Stage 2 Cam 212/218 .553/.553 113+2, as well as Cometic 3.910" Bore .045" Head Gaskets. 10.5:1 Static Compression, 8.5:1 Dynamic Compression at Sea Level (Around 8.2:1 at Las Vegas elevation of 1800), .038" Quench and running good quality 91 octane. I also used all new GM/AC Delco sensors throughout to ensure good tuning. I went through the entire engine and used all new gaskets and cleaned it all up, have no plans for Boost or Nitrous either.

I have had BlackBear do my tunes but unfortunately he wont be available in my area and I need to send my ECM into him and may take a few weeks. So I looked into local tuners here in Las Vegas. The one I looked into seems to be the largest LS tuner in Vegas and he said I must use NGK TR-6 Plugs gapped at .030" before he does any tuning, or will charge me an extra $100 to change them out before tuning. Their basic stage 1 tune starts at $900 which is not cheap.

Does anyone have any input on this and should I make the swap. Some other tuners I had talked to said the stock AC Delco 41-110 gapped at .040" was fine for my current setup.

 

$900 for a tune? Seems high but I don't know the Las Vegas area.

Most I've paid was $550.

NGK's are what came in my TA stock AC Delco head been on strike. NGK's are well proven in LS motors.

NGK TR55's & TR6 are common.

 

TR-6 @ .040" has worked well for me tuned on 91 pump with 11.4/8.55 CR. $900 for a tune? Sounds kind of high.

 

Tr6 is a good plug for your application. But 900 for a tune is out there

 

Find a new tuner! Either plug will work. $900 is crazy for a basic tune.

 

Find a different tuner. Sounds like a hack. Especially considering the spark plug statement. I'd probably recommend TR6s are well with your compression and the size of the cam, but it could be tuned with warmer plugs.

And for that cost, you could buy HPTuners and a wideband and have Lorentz or James Short or Blackbear do remote tuning for you and it'd work great.

 

900 bucks crazy! I think I paid 500 including Dyno time

 

I'm with everyone else. I've ran TR6 plugs with good luck but $900 for a tune is a rip off. And i'm from Vegas.

 

All you guys east of the Mississippi are lucky. We don't have the luxury of so many LSx tuners on the west coast. My local tuner charges $850 for a full tune, from idle to WOT.
$750 if I let him use my own HPT Cable...

And don't get me started on the 93 octane and E85 that's readily available to you guys lol.

Just throw in the TR6 and forget about it. They're proven plugs anyways

 

Thanks guys, Ya I really didn't want to pay that much for their "Stage 1 Tune and Dyno". They do not offer just a tune and specialize in vettes. I got a buddy who might get me a good deal on a tune from another shop.

Is a TR6 plug necessary for my mods? He recommended them gapped at .030 as well.

I also know another guy who owns Voodoo racing here in vegas but specializes in Fords but he said he has dabbled in LS tuning. If all else fails I will send out my ECM to Blackbear, it wont cost me anything since I have had him tune my truck about 5 times and he specializes in LS based pickups/trucks. Blackbear used to charge $250 for in-person tunes, don't know if it is still that price but I like the fact he offers free re-tunes for the time you own that vehicle.

 

Hi LV, you may want to call Tony A at PEP # 146.

The FIRST "tech" would be for you to state the Ignition Coil Fitted.

The SPG should be .060" with the correct coil dwell/dwell value table settings.

The .030" SMALL GAP will cost you HP and a REDUCTION in Fuel Mileage.

The "tuner" I too wonder.

Lance

 

So in everyones opinion, should I stick with the stock AC Delco 41-110 Gapped at 0.040", which is stock plug and gap, or make a switch to a NGK plug, Which one and what gap setting?

Mods again are:
-Stock Bottom End Gen4 LMG 5.3, Stock 0cc Flat tops. Removed all AFM/DOD Hardware, No VVT.
-BTR Truck Stage 2, 212/218 .553/.553 113+2
-TSP-PRC Stage 1 Ported 243s milled to 63cc
-Cometic 3.910" Bore, 0.045" Thickness head gasket
-ARH 1-3/4" x 3" Longtubes with 3" Corsa Sport Catback
-Airaid Jr kit with Dry Filter
-Stock NNBS intake, Stock 87mm Throttle Body, Stock NNBS coils and plug wires, Stock 1600-1800 Stall
-Built 4L70E with 4.56 gears
-10.5:1 Static Compression (Stock was 9.9:1), 8.5:1 Dynamic Compression at sea level (8.2:1 in Vegas), 180 Cranking PSI, 0.038" Quench. Running quality 91 Octane only.

Vehicle weight, if it matters, is 5,500 lbs. with me in it full of fuel.

 

Very common to switch ngk tr 55 or tr6 plugs. Gap at stock gap and it will be ok. But AC delco plugs are just fine.

 

Hi ALL, the LS-1 Ignition System was designed for a SPG of .060".
This is WHY I asked for Coil/Dwell REPORT NOT PROVIDED.

The later GM LS models have five different coils that can be fit.

MY 2007 L-92 "Caddy" had an OEM SPG at .060" with the truck coil AND dwell calibration.

The main reason for GM to reduce the SPG to .040" is for Idle and LOW SPEED concerns.

The coil Arc Duration IS related to SPG with a .040" vs .060" allowing for a LONGER spark at .040".

A good tuner can match the Arc Duration required by "mapping" coil dwell along with the SPG to discharge the spark into the cylinder for thirty degrees of crankshaft rotation.

THUS , if the coil can "keep up", my help was to provide data needed by the OP to answer his question using SCIENCE.

Lance

 

My truck has the stock coils and uses LS3 Square coils, AC Delco - Mitsubishi D510C/ 12611424. I have no idea how to measure dwell.

 

Just find another repeatable tuner. Don't worry about dwell and all that. That's the tuners job.

 

Hi "07" you have GOOD QUESTIONS, ways to "test" a tuners ability.

My example on SPG : 2007 L-92 stock with SPG of .060". (measured at removal)
The mileage was 22.3 with the same level road traveled, same wind, same average speed, best noted many times.

A tune up with plugs gaped at .040", new oil of same type as last change, new belts and air filter.

The new mileage was 20.8 best with same road, direction, etc.

The engine operation "felt" the same as before the Tune Up.

I did put My HP tune using My cable many years ago with higher dwell times.

Your stated GEN-IV coil (510) is good, a ten amp coil@65mj with max dwell at WOT of 4.5ms AND cruse dwell of 2.75ms.
The truck coil, 580 or 585 may perform better as would the IGN-1A coil.

My next test is to increase SPG to .060" with mileage reported.

Lance