PCMFORLESS users come in
a mail order tune should be used to drive to the dyno, to get a full dyno tune done. Don't be cheap, don't be lazy. But everyone reading this will think, "well yea maybe, but i'll be fine"
My car is mailorder tuned with logs sent back and forth. A dyno tune only works if it is setup to load the drivetrain right. Not all dynos are capable and of those that are not all operators are capable of using them correctly.
i think mail order is great for mildly upgraded engines (intake/bolt ons/mild cam), but not for full on builds. Made my numbers in sig with a tune from them. AFR was dead on at 12.8-13.0 for all 3 pulls
Rockstar
iTrader: (15)
Joined: Feb 2009
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From: I'm on a boat! in Shreveport, La
For what they are, his tunes are good, and really wake the car up from a stock tune, but a dyno tune is best as no two cars are the same.
TECH Veteran
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 4,985
Likes: 112
I will add that most tuners do stay on the safe side for mail order tunes with defaulting to a slightly rich tune.
Like Dwayne, capricemgr., I have mail order tune but can log data and send back to Ed for any adjustments.
If you are in SoCal Tad, aka ProTools is very good.
I hope this doesn't take this too off topic. I am building my system for a move to California (new cam, different injectors, etc). Bryan tuned my car in person Las Vegas (LVFB brought him in). There are NO tuning options in Utah, and it is a 700 mile drive to Ryne at CMS where I will be getting it tuned.
Should I trust a "re-tune" for a 700 mile cruise to a real tune?
Also, does Bryan still offer $50 re-tunes?
Should I trust a "re-tune" for a 700 mile cruise to a real tune?
Also, does Bryan still offer $50 re-tunes?
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I first planned on going with pcmforless, but after talking to a lot of people and doing research, Madtuner is the way to go.
Ive read several testimonials that claim they got a mail order tune from Madtuner, and afterwards dyno'd their car and the tune was not able to be improved upon at all or only slightly (1 or 2 hp @the wheels)
Ive read several testimonials that claim they got a mail order tune from Madtuner, and afterwards dyno'd their car and the tune was not able to be improved upon at all or only slightly (1 or 2 hp @the wheels)
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 1,169
Likes: 1
From: Born/Raised North East, MD Lived in VA, NC, MI Back in Yorktown, Va
brian was there who i talked to about a year ago when i built my 383 and man did amazing work. 2 days total without my pcm and then retuned it 2 days total when i swapped over to an auto definately give him a thumbs up
TECH Resident
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 749
Likes: 1
From: Spokane, WA
this guys got the right idea. My car is mail order tuned by Ion @ Mad Tuner. My only power-adding mods are my headers/exhaust and my cold air intake. Pretty damn basic stuff that I can't imagine a dyno tune getting a whole lot more out of for the cost. Once you get into major engine mods though really mail order should only be used as a base line to get the car close and drivable before getting a dyno tune.
My engine is mild and made the numbers in my sig from a PCM4less tune. I had it dyno'd almost immediately in order to check the A/F ratios and they were spot on. I would agree however that with a full built car, especially with a more radical cam, the benefits of a dyno are that you can get a bit more out of it. For a mild street setup under 400 hp with a mild cam I think a mailorder tune can work fine but there's no garantees. It still should be put on a wide band dyno to check the A/F ratios just to be sure.
TECH Fanatic
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 1,745
Likes: 18
From: Lansing, MI via Bowling Green, KY, Dalton GA, Nashville, TN & Atlanta, GA
Based on everything I've read over the years, I can't imagine there is a dime's worth of difference between PCMFORLESS and Madtuner when it comes to mild builds. It seems like the more radical the build, the better it would be to have a dyno tune. I was going to go with Bryan for my tune simply because he's a Steeler's fan, but my car is essentially stock.
I'm convinced now that I would use Ed Wright, even though he seems to be quite a bit more expensive.
I'm convinced now that I would use Ed Wright, even though he seems to be quite a bit more expensive.
For mail-order tuning, I've had good luck with Solomon at lt1pcmtuning.com. It's pretty cheap and he goes back and forth with you with datalogs you provide and gets the tune pretty spot-on.
I personally have used Ion of MadTuner. He's a very accomodating guy and he almost ALWAYS answers his phone if you have any questions and he does all of his work out of his apartment. I have met with him as late as 10pm just to get a re-tune. Given I live nearby him, but he still has a quick turnaround and does a pretty good job.
Some people have had bad experiences but as you will read, nobody is perfect
Some people have had bad experiences but as you will read, nobody is perfect
