Wallj

iTrader: (1)

So I have my hotcam kit from Jegs ordered. I'll be home from school in a couple weeks to install it. My question is this, I may not be able to fork out the money for a tune by that time, but I really need to install it while I have the time. Can I run it without a tune? Like basically easy daily driving? No racing or anything. Then get the tune later? I just don't want to risk hurting anything

Badazz 97 TA

iTrader: (18)

you can, but it will run pretty crappy. Even a $150 mail order tune is better than nothing.

Ed Wright

iTrader: (1)

Mostly idle issues. Might have to keep it idling with your right foot. Had several driven to me from many miles away before tuning. Not a big deal.

BALLSS

OP

the motor will most likely have idle issues which can be cumbersom when DD, especially in traffic. you can "drive" it but won't run as it should until the PCM is tuned.

I would find the $150 and send PM out whle you do the cam swap. Hot cam tune with some bolt ons is a pretty well known combo to qualified tuners

moderate Z28

I drove mine around the block twice and it fouled the plugs so bad it wouldn't even crank. I would not suggest doing it unless you feel like working on it again. Only thing I would do is crank it to se if it runs.

Wallj

iTrader: (1)

Sounds good guys, ill get it tuned right away. Who seems to be the best for hotcam and full Bolton tunes? I've heard a lot of good things about madz28 tunes with the hotcam.

guppymech

iTrader: (7)

I have a Madtuner (I think he also goes by madz28) mail tune for my hotcam and the car runs great. Ion told me he has a large database for the hotcam and that it would almost run as good as a dyno tune. The PO of my car had a base mail tune from him and he only charged me his tune update fee of $50 for the hotcam update even though I wasn't the original purchaser of the tune from him. He's local to me and a great guy.

96capricemgr

iTrader: (1)

What was the engine setup and were the injectors stock?

Injector size swaps require tuning before the engine is even cranked, and far as cams go the LT4 is mild, and this guy is stock displacement yet.

nascarnate326

iTrader: (1)

I wouldn't even install it without a tune.

The good news? It sounds great with a tune. This was my hot cam LT1 with tune by mad tuner :

moderate Z28

Heres my first start video, untuned, bed head and all. You can see it didn't run all that great. Madtuner did mine. It runs good but hesitates off idle. Ive been told a stall will fix that. Already have 3.73's.

Ed Wright

iTrader: (1)

If it hesitates with a stock torque converter, something is wrong. Doubt you will fix it with a converter. I have many customers running that cam with stock converters.

Wallj

iTrader: (1)

Sounds really good man I've actually watched that video before. Did he mess with the idle? It looks about stock. Also what exhaust is that ran through? Magnaflow?

Catmaigne

iTrader: (6)

You can drive it around on a stock tune as long as you don't touch the injectors. My 503 wasn't horrible on a stock tune, just some cam surge.

moderate Z28

Maybe it needs a dyno tune?

96capricemgr

iTrader: (1)

A Hot cam with a complete honest mod list sent to the tuner and everything in good working order should gain very little from a dyno tune. Guys think big gains from dyno tunes are a good indicator for the dyno tune when in reality is is more a bad sign for the mailorder tune.

Ed Wright

iTrader: (1)

As common as that combo is, it should not take a dyno tune to get it right.
The dyno isn't needed or used for that area of the tune anyway.
Somebody competent at diagnostics should be able to find it. Could be many things.

nascarnate326

iTrader: (1)

I had his performance tune. Because he's done so many of them, the tune was damn near perfect right out of the box. Hooker exhaust. I have other videos where I get on it, it was a great combo.

With all the right mods the hot cam is just good fun.

Wallj

iTrader: (1)

Damn i always thought hooker was pretty mild. I have flowmaster with a cutout so it should sound pretty good. I'm glad you like the cam. That's why I went with it. I wanted a good daily driver that i can drive back and forth to school easily, and a cam on a high schoolers budget

moderate Z28

The IAC has quit working a while back too. Maybe that's it. I have to warm it up to get it to idle. Runs like a carb setup.

nascarnate326

iTrader: (1)

Here is my car accelerating. It moved out pretty good for being a small cam 350.