LT1-LT4 Modifications 1993-97 Gen II Small Block V8

LT1 OBD2 Tuning Software

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Old Nov 22, 2014 | 07:33 PM
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Default LT1 OBD2 Tuning Software

I did a search and came up with a few good posts but they were kinda old (at least I'm honest) so I don't know if things have changed or not. So I felt the need to make a thread over a few questions I have.

First things first, I don't know anything about how to tune a car or what I need really so bare with me. I really want to learn this stuff.

Car is a 1996 Pontiac Trans Am

1) It seems like Jet DST is the best tuning software for my car. But I've heard nothing but good things about HP Tuners, so I'm wondering if its made for my car or not. I found old threads that said no but it's 2014 we can put a robot on Mars but can't use HP Tuners with LT1 cars. So is it made for an OBD2 LT1?

2) If I go with the Jet DST is there any thing else I need?

3) Is Jet easy to learn on?

4) If/When I get stuck and need help I'm sure I'll turn to LS1Tech for the answers. Will you guys being willing to help me?

5) Am I on the right track wanting to tune my car myself or is it better to just have it done?

The reason I'm asking questions now is because that's a lot of money for me at the moment and I really don't want to waste $500 bucks on something I'll never be able to use properly.

As always any help is much appreciated.
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Old Nov 22, 2014 | 11:45 PM
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It's not the LT1 that Hptuner has problems with, it's the older PCM, I have Hp for my LT1 95 TA, but I converted it to a 24 x 2001 PCM which is what Hp tuner is made for. My personal experience is the 98 or 99 and older PCMs take 30 minutes to flash. I guess you call it flash at that speed? The 2000 and newer PCMs take 30 seconds to flash. I tried the Cats tuner on my lt1 older set up. It was very slow and could not change lots of things.
Just my experience. Hope this helps.
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Old Nov 23, 2014 | 07:03 AM
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OP no HP tuners is not available for the 90s LT1.

Originally Posted by 95TAVERT
It's not the LT1 that Hptuner has problems with, it's the older PCM, I have Hp for my LT1 95 TA, but I converted it to a 24 x 2001 PCM which is what Hp tuner is made for. My personal experience is the 98 or 99 and older PCMs take 30 minutes to flash. I guess you call it flash at that speed? The 2000 and newer PCMs take 30 seconds to flash. I tried the Cats tuner on my lt1 older set up. It was very slow and could not change lots of things.
Just my experience. Hope this helps.
I know there is a slow write option for the LS computers, but how much slower it is then the fast write I don't know. Jet DST is Tunercats OBD2 Tuner. Look at their website link.
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Old Nov 23, 2014 | 08:05 AM
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Just so you are aware of the option, not necessarily suggesting it.
The 96-97 cars are very easy to convert to the 94-95 PCM which is cheaper to reprogram, flash takes probably 3-4 minutes. Not,really an option for emission testing though.

The JET program was developed by Tunercat and they bought it, one of very few good products they offer.
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Old Nov 23, 2014 | 09:09 AM
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So the reason there's no HP tuners for LT1s is our PCM is "slower" than LSx PCMs.

I've thought about the OBD1 swap. I could do it I don't have emissions testing. But to me it doesn't seem worth it yet.

Ok so if I go with the Jet DST what else would I need?
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Old Nov 24, 2014 | 06:28 AM
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following
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Old Nov 24, 2014 | 07:41 PM
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Originally Posted by 96capricemgr
Just so you are aware of the option, not necessarily suggesting it.
The 96-97 cars are very easy to convert to the 94-95 PCM which is cheaper to reprogram, flash takes probably 3-4 minutes. Not,really an option for emission testing though.

The JET program was developed by Tunercat and they bought it, one of very few good products they offer.
The factory set up on my 95 trans am was what they called a OBD 1.5. It had the obd 2 connecter but the obd1 PCM. I used the CATSTUNER on it. But was very disappointed with the options and the speed being slow, almost 30 minutes to download new tune. A lot can go wrong in 30 minutes. LOL I was probably expecting to much. I still have it I think if you want to buy it?
I have a friend that drag races LT1's he says www.fastchip.com/ Is the best there is with on line info sheet you fill out then mail your PCM. This guy does have quite a resume.
Hope this helps, I sure don't want to lead you astray.
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Old Nov 24, 2014 | 07:49 PM
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95 is just OBD1 with a OBD2 connector. It is under 5 minutes, probably more like 3 to flash, software is not idiot proof but isn't rocket science either.
Most of the tuners use this same software.
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Old Nov 24, 2014 | 07:56 PM
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Originally Posted by 96capricemgr
95 is just OBD1 with a OBD2 connector. It is under 5 minutes, probably more like 3 to flash, software is not idiot proof but isn't rocket science either.
Most of the tuners use this same software.
Like I said just my experience.
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Old Nov 24, 2014 | 09:04 PM
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And I have been using that software for a decade plus and am telling you flat out you are wrong.
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Old Nov 24, 2014 | 11:02 PM
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The man that is never wrong never does anything. I can live with being wrong. Once again just my experience.
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Old Nov 25, 2014 | 06:31 AM
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I agree with caprice, if it takes 30 min to flash then you are doing something wrong like using a pc that is slower than the LT1 pcm. lol it only takes 2-3 min to flash. You can slow the buffer speed if problems with writing the pcm have taken place, but most can run pretty quick. 10 min would be very long and maybe the longest if you dropped the buffer to the slowest it would go.
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Old Nov 25, 2014 | 11:16 PM
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It only takes me a couple minutes to flash my '96 lt1 with jet dst.
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Old Nov 25, 2014 | 11:47 PM
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Originally Posted by nitrous2fast
I agree with caprice, if it takes 30 min to flash then you are doing something wrong like using a pc that is slower than the LT1 pcm. lol it only takes 2-3 min to flash. You can slow the buffer speed if problems with writing the pcm have taken place, but most can run pretty quick. 10 min would be very long and maybe the longest if you dropped the buffer to the slowest it would go.
Wish I would of known that a year ago. Lol, but I wanted the 24x ignition. Thanks guys for the info. I will pass that on to my friend also.
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Old Nov 27, 2014 | 09:05 PM
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Originally Posted by nitrous2fast
I agree with caprice, if it takes 30 min to flash then you are doing something wrong like using a pc that is slower than the LT1 pcm. lol it only takes 2-3 min to flash. You can slow the buffer speed if problems with writing the pcm have taken place, but most can run pretty quick. 10 min would be very long and maybe the longest if you dropped the buffer to the slowest it would go.
2-3 minutes is fast enough for me man. I've heard people complain about it being slow. I figured they meant it took like an hour or so. lol

For data loggers I keep running across Autotap. But when I google it, it comes up as a diagnostic scanner. Are they the same thing? Is there something better to use?

One more question that may answer them all, is a data logger, when talking about tuning, the same used to read the car when diagnosing? Like reading fuel trims, and everything else? As I was typing this it might have just clicked for me. If it is sorry for the questions I was assuming JET DST would be able to read all of that.
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Old Nov 27, 2014 | 09:56 PM
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Happy Thanksgiving everyone! I forgot to add that.
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Old Nov 27, 2014 | 10:11 PM
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I think I answered my own questions. If anyone has anything to add or knows of a better software please chime in.
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