When to tune the LS1?
When to tune the LS1? I've been reading on LS1's for awhile and am planning on getting one but i have one more newb question to ask. This may be a retarded question but my main priority here is to learn and learn more. When would a tune be needed for your engine? i see everyone talking about a "tune" after installations of H/C and i can see why, but i also heard of a "tune" after installation of L/T's and full exhaust. Can someone answer my question w/ a When? Why? and How to tune/where to take your car? Thanks any info is greatly appreciated! 
any mod that effects your air fuel ratio will require a tune.
thats why i suggest being patient and get all your mods youre planning done at one time and be done. i know its never that easy.
thats why i suggest being patient and get all your mods youre planning done at one time and be done. i know its never that easy.
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Originally Posted by LS1_K1DD
Where could i purchase any of the 4 you just listed? are they all hand helds?
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From: Schiller Park, ILL Member: #317
No "need" for a tune for any of the common bolt-ons. Will the car gain a little more power with a tune after bolt-ons? Yes, but it's not required. The car will run just fine with basic bolt-ons and the stock tune, and you'll still gain some power from the mods without tuning.
Keep in mind, even a stock car usually will gain a bit from a good dyno tune.
On the flip side, my WS6 still ran even with a cam and the stock tune. It just didn't run very well.
Tuning was MORE than worth it for those mods. If you plan big mods, plan on getting some custom tuning as well.
Keep in mind, even a stock car usually will gain a bit from a good dyno tune.
On the flip side, my WS6 still ran even with a cam and the stock tune. It just didn't run very well.
Tuning was MORE than worth it for those mods. If you plan big mods, plan on getting some custom tuning as well. 
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Originally Posted by SHINER
Whenever you change the flow characteristics of a motor, you need a tune.
) my 5.0 when I still had mass-air (before the Demon carb setup) didn't need a tune. Just jack with the FPR a little and it was fine. Ford REALLY! did a GREAT job on creating the most self-adapting ECU I have ever heard of.But yes, on an LS1, after LT's most people get a tune.
PS. the 5.0 had a .542 lift cam with 224/224. 1 point more compression, and full bolt-ons with heads.
Originally Posted by RPM WS6
No "need" for a tune for any of the common bolt-ons. Will the car gain a little more power with a tune after bolt-ons? Yes, but it's not required. The car will run just fine with basic bolt-ons and the stock tune, and you'll still gain some power from the mods without tuning.
FWIW - When I was in the bolt-on stage, I ran a LS6 cam/intake, 3200 TC, headers and all bolt-ons with no tune for 2 years without a problem. Car ran fine. I had it dyno tuned and picked up 11 rwhp.
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From: Schiller Park, ILL Member: #317
Originally Posted by DrkPhx
FWIW - When I was in the bolt-on stage, I ran a LS6 cam/intake, 3200 TC, headers and all bolt-ons with no tune for 2 years without a problem. Car ran fine. I had it dyno tuned and picked up 11 rwhp.
It's a shame that I see some people get talked into a dyno tune when they're still at bolt-on level, and they expect some kind of big power gain. I mean yeah, they'll see a gain.... but they get their hopes up for the same sort of gain that a big H/C car would get from tuning and when they only see 5-10rwhp it's a big let down.
IMO, hold off on the tuning till the mods get big....unless you don't plan to mod much and you just want to squeeze every last drop out of a stockish setup.....
Originally Posted by DrkPhx
So true. The LS1 PCM has adaptive learning and will adjust for most, if not all bolt ons. This is most obvious when headers are installed and cats are removed. Usually right after the install and on the initial drive, the car will run like crap and in fact feel slower than before. After several drive cycles that include all types of driving (idle, cruise and WOT) the car will run much stronger and have adapted within it's limits. That doesn't mean you shouldn't tune, but it's not really neccessary.
FWIW - When I was in the bolt-on stage, I ran a LS6 cam/intake, 3200 TC, headers and all bolt-ons with no tune for 2 years without a problem. Car ran fine. I had it dyno tuned and picked up 11 rwhp.
FWIW - When I was in the bolt-on stage, I ran a LS6 cam/intake, 3200 TC, headers and all bolt-ons with no tune for 2 years without a problem. Car ran fine. I had it dyno tuned and picked up 11 rwhp.
Yup, after 3 "trips" or cycles as he stated, the PCM starts getting a hint of what conditions it's going to be dealing with.
Typically you want to get a tune after a successful round of mods. For instance, after getting full boltons, it's worthwhile to get a tune. Or after getting a cam installed, it's worthwhile getting a tune. Or after getting heads/cam installed, get a tune.
Typically for basic bolt-ons you don't need to spend money on a tune, as they are expensive (most will run at or above $400).
The handhelds are pretty much worthless. But people like to use their own tuning software, like HPTuner or EFI-live. Most professional tuners will use one of these two softwares to tune your car.
Typically for basic bolt-ons you don't need to spend money on a tune, as they are expensive (most will run at or above $400).
The handhelds are pretty much worthless. But people like to use their own tuning software, like HPTuner or EFI-live. Most professional tuners will use one of these two softwares to tune your car.
OK another newb question to add to this....aftyer i install LT's and full exhaust and what not....jsut how extensive of a tune are we talking....for example...ont he speed inc website...would i be at the $500 tune or just the basic one??