LT1 dyno tuners...what happened to them?
05-09-2012, 08:24 PM
#21
My tuner will no longer take new LT1 cars becasue most of the ones that show up, have issues and are not ready to be tuned. Most new LT1s he normally sees have ignition (opti) problems or something else wrong and it turns into something much larger than just a normal dyno tune. Most of the guys who have LT1 cars around here have them hill-jacked and thrown together and its just no longer profitiable to fool with them. Also they tend to be pissed off when they dont make the power of the LS1 cars and then cant accept reality.
He did recently tune mine however becasue he can count on my motor being "built right" with no issues to chase other than the ones relevant to the tune itself. BTW he charges insanely low prices compared to what is stated above and the quality of the work is very very good. He spent 4 hours on mine and only charged me $150.
In short, most good tuners simply dont want to screw with them anymore especially if they are coverd up with LSX jobs.
He did recently tune mine however becasue he can count on my motor being "built right" with no issues to chase other than the ones relevant to the tune itself. BTW he charges insanely low prices compared to what is stated above and the quality of the work is very very good. He spent 4 hours on mine and only charged me $150.
In short, most good tuners simply dont want to screw with them anymore especially if they are coverd up with LSX jobs.
Pretty well stated.
05-09-2012, 10:16 PM
#22
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I'm in Charlotte as well OP. The only place I found was a shop named pcm calibrators. They're in rock hill, and rent out prodyno's shop in Fort Mill. He quoted me like $400 something for a street tune, then he'd finish on the dyno
http://www.pcmcalibrators.net/contact.html
http://www.pcmcalibrators.net/contact.html
05-10-2012, 08:48 AM
#24
My tuner will no longer take new LT1 cars becasue most of the ones that show up, have issues and are not ready to be tuned. Most new LT1s he normally sees have ignition (opti) problems or something else wrong and it turns into something much larger than just a normal dyno tune. Most of the guys who have LT1 cars around here have them hill-jacked and thrown together and its just no longer profitiable to fool with them. Also they tend to be pissed off when they dont make the power of the LS1 cars and then cant accept reality.
He did recently tune mine however becasue he can count on my motor being "built right" with no issues to chase other than the ones relevant to the tune itself. BTW he charges insanely low prices compared to what is stated above and the quality of the work is very very good. He spent 4 hours on mine and only charged me $150.
In short, most good tuners simply dont want to screw with them anymore especially if they are coverd up with LSX jobs.
He did recently tune mine however becasue he can count on my motor being "built right" with no issues to chase other than the ones relevant to the tune itself. BTW he charges insanely low prices compared to what is stated above and the quality of the work is very very good. He spent 4 hours on mine and only charged me $150.
In short, most good tuners simply dont want to screw with them anymore especially if they are coverd up with LSX jobs.
I'm in Charlotte as well OP. The only place I found was a shop named pcm calibrators. They're in rock hill, and rent out prodyno's shop in Fort Mill. He quoted me like $400 something for a street tune, then he'd finish on the dyno
http://www.pcmcalibrators.net/contact.html
http://www.pcmcalibrators.net/contact.html
RPM motorsports replied back and quoted $450 for a full street
and dyno tune....they did mention: "As you know the 94 PCM is a little stubborn sometimes, so if you have a spare PCM bring it with you" 
I never knew my PCM was such a bitch to tune lol.
05-10-2012, 09:23 AM
#25
https://ls1tech.com/forums/forced-in...ding-area.htmlhttps://ls1tech.com/forums/pcm-diagn...-not-tune.html
Looks like the LS folks don't care for him too much
Might just have to keep looking....sucks you got to sort through what few tuners who are left to figure out who actually knows what their doing. 
05-10-2012, 09:43 AM
#26
I know you are saying you are down south but doesn't Bryan Herter still tune for PCM for less? I've been planning on having him do a dyno-tune on my car as soon as I can get my act together. He has/had a location in Ohio to dyno tune. Isn't Bryan normall based in PA or something? (might have a location there).
Looks like I will probably go to some shop in Raleigh/Durham as that seems to be the LT1 shop mecca for some reason 
05-10-2012, 09:57 AM
#27
I'm in Charlotte as well OP. The only place I found was a shop named pcm calibrators. They're in rock hill, and rent out prodyno's shop in Fort Mill. He quoted me like $400 something for a street tune, then he'd finish on the dyno
http://www.pcmcalibrators.net/contact.html
http://www.pcmcalibrators.net/contact.html
05-10-2012, 02:38 PM
#30
I've gotten replies from about every tuner within 200 miles that will bother with a LT1 and have narrowed it down to 2 options (possibly 3) based on cost and reputation:
1. RPM motorsports in Garner; wants $450 for the full street and dyno tune.(3hrs away)
2. Mayhem motorsports in Raleigh; wants $400 for full dyno/driveability all day on the dyno. (3hrs away)
*3. Tick performance in Mt. Airy....I just called them again, they have parted ways with PCM for less BUT they are getting a dyno installed RIGHT NOW in their new Mt. Airy shop (2hrs away) and are reopening next week. They said they will still mess with LT1s
But, the new tuner that starts next week was primarily a Ford tuner ...I dunno if he should be trusted or not haha.What's the consensus on these choices?
05-10-2012, 05:57 PM
#31
Start out around 8:30 in the morning,and as one would come off the dyno and another one strapped down,he goes to next up sits with you in the car asks you all the things that need to be known then configure and download a base tune then make several pulls and fine tune and that's it. Till at least 10 at night. $300 a pop
05-10-2012, 10:33 PM
#33
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1. RPM motorsports in Garner; wants $450 for the full street and dyno tune.(3hrs away)
2. Mayhem motorsports in Raleigh; wants $400 for full dyno/driveability all day on the dyno. (3hrs away)
*3. Tick performance in Mt. Airy....I just called them again, they have parted ways with PCM for less BUT they are getting a dyno installed RIGHT NOW in their new Mt. Airy shop (2hrs away) and are reopening next week. They said they will still mess with LT1s
But, the new tuner that starts next week was primarily a Ford tuner ...I dunno if he should be trusted or not haha.What's the consensus on these choices?
05-10-2012, 11:06 PM
#34
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you couldn't pay me to take my car to Creech at CAM. Highly recommend RPM or Mayhem. Had my car tuned at RPM and couldn't be happier. Both have great reputations!
05-10-2012, 11:52 PM
#36
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Like I said. There's a guy in rock hill that does a street tune then finishes on the dyno for $450. His Ohio shop has multiple dynos as well. PCM calibrators
05-10-2012, 11:59 PM
#37
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Wow...this is really a problem for some of you guys isnt it? Thankfully skilled tuners are not scare here in NE Florida. While some people go the LSX pcm rought I still prefer the stock pcm and have not had problems with tuning peoples cars while doing so. Keep the faith...it aint all that bad.
05-11-2012, 07:53 AM
#38
only $350 for just a street tune The $150-200 I save by going to RPM or Mayhem should more than pay for my gas and both seem to be more well known for good work while this other guy....who knows. I just hope I don't have any mechanical issue after driving 3hrs away lol
05-11-2012, 09:37 AM
#40
I think one thing to keep in mind, over the last several years, the software for the LS based cars has gotten a lot better and easier to use. But I still think is stands to reason, though some one can navigate software doesn't necessarily indicate that they can really tune. So looking at it, if some one has a proven track record, it may be worth the difference in price.