Coltf1991

Which is better? There is PCMforless, hypertech programmer, jet performance chip.

LT1

iTrader: (1)

Hypertech is waste of money (stay away from that product).

383 Z

agree

RamAir95TA

iTrader: (2)

I don't entirely agree. If all you're looking to do is adjust for gears, tires, or fan operation it's not a complete waste. If you can get your hands on a used one for cheap then it might be worth it.

The "performance tuning" though is definitely junk. It definitely isn't a substitute for PCMforless or the like.

LT1

iTrader: (1)

RamAir95TA what that products gives you for the cost is a rip off. I did a few searches most used going for $300. With that kind of money i would hope you get some sort of performance gain. That product is junk in my opinion at least for LT1 equipped cars.

If someone was selling it for couple dollars then i would say go for it! but i don't think that's the case.

At least mail order tune will fix the gear, tire size, and do a better tune than factory.

bleakdragonmage

iTrader: (1)

yea...not really a fan of the hypertech unit...Not worth the money imho

Coltf1991

Well I am glad I got the answer I was looking for! I know its gonna be a PITA blah blah blah but does anyone have a How-To on shorty headers on an lt1?

RamAir95TA

iTrader: (2)

I don't disagree with you there...which is why I said, "If you can get your hands on a used one for cheap then it might be worth it." Maybe you missed that? We said the same thing.

FWIW when I first bought my car 10 years ago, I bought one used for $100.

RamAir95TA

iTrader: (2)

You are entitled to your opinion and so am I. I'm not saying everyone should go out and buy one tomorrow...I'm saying for what features it DOES have that work just the same way as any other performance tune, if it can be had cheaply enough it's just another alternative. 99% of people will opt for a tune, but for the 1% who just need a few things fixed it's a viable alternative, ONLY FOR THE SPEEDO CORRECTION AND FAN OPERATION, NOT THE ENGINE PERFORMANCE TUNE.

If you need your speedometer corrected because you put in an aftermarket gear-set and want your fans to come on sooner, and you had a choice between a $150 full mail-order tune, and someone selling a Hypertech for $75, what choice would you make? Some people might consider the fan operation and speedo fix worth it, others won't. To each their own!

z_speedfreak

iTrader: (3)

fixed. can't go wrong w/ any of those ^ 3.. unless you have a '93 I've heard some bad things about pcmforless and 93's

94LTZ

iTrader: (5)

Hypercrap is junk and you should be slapped if you use it lol.. I use Madtuner and love it. Also why the shorties? Why not a mid length or long tube??

Elliott's94Z

iTrader: (12)

Ion at Madtuner. I wouldn't have pcmforless do mine again for nothing.

baylove

iTrader: (35)

a hypertech isnt the proper way to try tune a car with mods such as heads cam intake etc after i did a motor swap my car ran like **** i took it two to different shops BOTH of the shops tried to program the pcm with a hypertech programmer the car ran good until it warmed up then it would idle really low and bogg out and eventually shut off i posted a thread on here when i first signed up for this forum asking why would my car do that and members directed me to pcmforless and madtuner i went with pcmforless bryan changed my tune the car ran like a champ after that

pillarpod

Just got my PCM back on friday from mad tuner and love it. Agree RamAir for the hypertech programmer, good for quick fixes, tire size, gears, limter, thermostat, stuff like that

Coltf1991

I have a 95. And I got a set of Hooker Super Comp shorties for dirt cheap and I was not gonna pass on them. Ceramic coated and everything.

the_merv

iTrader: (88)

There is a reason why it's called Hypercrap..



Yes it's good for little things..and the only way it will make it's money back is if you know a bunch of people that needed those little things done.

But like mentioned..finding the cheap program for your needs is a good idea too.. I just picked up HP Tuners Pro for $300..normal cost is $650..

bowtienut

iTrader: (1)

Wow! all this bantering over the not-so-impressive Hypertech unit, and no mention of the other option the OP asked about: the "jet performance chip"!

JET = complete junk, cleverly package snake oil.
Hypertech has a few benefits. JET?.........NONE!

PCMforLess is your best option.

cumminsram06

Don't forget about www.LT1pcmtunning.com he has been helping me troubleshoot a problem with my car now and has a great reputation on other boards. I'm going to be using his tune as soon as I get these other parts I have installed and throwing my hypertech chip against the wall!

koolaid_kid

iTrader: (21)

Actually, the best is to purchase Tunercat and a cable and do it yourself. You can monitor the PCM using the 20 free trial runs of Datamaster, along with VEMaster which is free. The cost is about the same as a mail order tune and you can fine tune the PCM all you want. To tune WOT you'll need a wideband, which would be expensive if you can't borrow one.
If you purchase a tune it will be close, but not perfect, and then you are stuck with it forever. Until you shell out more money, of course.
The Hypertech can only mod one car at a time. Whiile its changes are in a PCM, it is VIN locked to that PCM. A used one can be picked up cheap, and will make several adjustments, especially for an automatic car. Shift points, rev limiter, speed limiter, tire sizes, rear end ratio changes, fan temp changes (for a 160 thermostat). And you can do it without a laptop, which is handy. But its "performance tune" has little value added.

bleakdragonmage

iTrader: (1)

Unless you dont know how to tune...I would do both. Get tuner-cat, and send your ECU in and use it as a basemap so you can know what things do what when you change certain values.


Make sure to get a wideband too...