PCM Diagnostics & Tuning HP Tuners | Holley | Diablo

Mail order tuning

Old Aug 5, 2009 | 06:35 PM
  #1  
XtremeDime's Avatar
Thread Starter
TECH Addict
iTrader: (16)
 
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 2,899
Likes: 0
From: Anchorage, ALASKA
Default Mail order tuning

Im going to be running full bolt ons, Torquer v3 and TSP stage 2.5 5.3 heads. Being Ive got an A4 Ill be in desperate needs of a tune, and being in Alaska Idont have alot available to me. Is there anyone that can provide a great mail order tun for my setup? Ive heard good things about Patrick and Frost but how do they compare to a Dyno? We have 1 dyno in town and maintain strict control over it(aka charge an assload). Thanks guys
Reply
Old Aug 5, 2009 | 08:26 PM
  #2  
AFASTYZFR1's Avatar
10 Second Club
15 Year Member
iTrader: (55)
 
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,746
Likes: 1
From: Florida
Default

Steve (Frost) is an excellent tuner. I won't let anyone else tune my car after seeing him work his magic on my car. It's like it came supercharged from the factory
Reply
Old Aug 5, 2009 | 10:31 PM
  #3  
02*C5's Avatar
TECH Fanatic
15 Year Member
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 1,704
Likes: 303
From: Az
Default

You know I will say two things, I have heard that Steve is great he never answered my email so I don't know what his skills are, the other thing is that a mail in tune can only do so much. It does not take into affect your driving style. Being that you're in Alaska it might be your only choice.

Or learn, become, and be the "man" for tuning in Alaska!
Reply
Old Aug 5, 2009 | 10:37 PM
  #4  
Red99TA's Avatar
TECH Addict
20 Year Member
iTrader: (11)
 
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 2,442
Likes: 6
From: Topeka, KS
Default

I would definitely never trust a mail-order tune on a car with major mods like H/C. I had a cam-only setup with a mail order tune from a VERY reputable place that "specializes" in the mail order tunes (not sure if they're a sponsor or not so I won't say their name). Anyways, it was reading over 14:1 AFR on the dyno. Maybe you could hook up a wideband O2 on your car and get a mail-order to verify what your running after the tune is in. You can get a wideband setup for around $200. You could then tell the tuner what your AFR is at and they could revise the tune again through the mail to get it where it needs to be. A couple hundred bucks now to see where your AFR is at beats the heck out of paying for a new motor if you're flogging it too lean.
Reply
Old Aug 5, 2009 | 10:47 PM
  #5  
02*C5's Avatar
TECH Fanatic
15 Year Member
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 1,704
Likes: 303
From: Az
Default

I think that there is also a recorder made by HP that you also add to your wide band. That you can run the car at different rpms "NOT" WOT because with out a tune your gonna mess it up. Then give that info to the tuner and that way they can work from there. Again though your still rolling the dice.
Reply
Old Aug 5, 2009 | 11:04 PM
  #6  
jkkaz's Avatar
Staging Lane
 
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 96
Likes: 1
Default

Originally Posted by 02*C5
I think that there is also a recorder made by HP that you also add to your wide band. That you can run the car at different rpms "NOT" WOT because with out a tune your gonna mess it up. Then give that info to the tuner and that way they can work from there. Again though your still rolling the dice.
That's the pro version. Awesome stuff. Not the most user friendly software I've ever used, but very powerful software. You can playback an entire session around a track see AFR (with an external wideband), mph, rpms etc. I'm still learning to play with the program. It's definitely not the cheapest stuff by the time you add the software (pro version), wideband O2 sensor and a laptop. I think I've sunk about a thousand into it, just for the ability to tune, which doesn't mean I have to skill to tune it yet!
Reply
Old Aug 5, 2009 | 11:46 PM
  #7  
Frost's Avatar
FormerVendor
iTrader: (45)
 
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 5,913
Likes: 2
From: Richmond VA
Default

Originally Posted by 02*C5
You know I will say two things, I have heard that Steve is great he never answered my email so I don't know what his skills are, the other thing is that a mail in tune can only do so much. It does not take into affect your driving style. Being that you're in Alaska it might be your only choice.

Or learn, become, and be the "man" for tuning in Alaska!


I just went through all of my email back to April 1st and I have replied to everything that I have received with the exception of wrap-up emails (the end of correspondence), though any number of things may have happened. I'm sorry you got no reply though.

I like that too, get your own software! If you buy HPTuners and end up lost, I offer tuning assistance via email (and phone if needed). If you own your own software and wideband, someone can walk you through the entire process one step at a time through email sending logs and pcm files back and forth. The forums are here as an excellent resource as well.

If you guys need anything, feel free to PM here or use the contact form on my website. Thanks.
Reply
Old Aug 6, 2009 | 03:39 AM
  #8  
XtremeDime's Avatar
Thread Starter
TECH Addict
iTrader: (16)
 
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 2,899
Likes: 0
From: Anchorage, ALASKA
Default

Frost, do you save tunes from other peoples cars that youve done? I heard you did a similar setup to what Im running and manged to pull some huge numbers out of it. I know every car is different but that would atleast get me close. I have all winter(all 6 months of it) to get it straightened out.
Reply
LS1 Tech Stories

The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time

story-0

Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-2

Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

 
story-3

Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

 Verdad Gallardo
story-4

Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes

 Verdad Gallardo
story-5

Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

10 Camaros You Should Never Buy

 
story-7

10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

Five Reasons the Camaro Was the Most Pivotal Player in the Pony Car Wars 2.0

 Brett Foote
story-9

10 Reasons the LS7 Is GM's Most Extreme Naturally Aspirated V8 Engine Ever

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Aug 6, 2009 | 04:17 AM
  #9  
wadelieck's Avatar
11 Second Club
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 136
Likes: 0
Default

Originally Posted by XtremeDime
Im going to be running full bolt ons, Torquer v3 and TSP stage 2.5 5.3 heads. Being Ive got an A4 Ill be in desperate needs of a tune, and being in Alaska Idont have alot available to me. Is there anyone that can provide a great mail order tun for my setup? Ive heard good things about Patrick and Frost but how do they compare to a Dyno? We have 1 dyno in town and maintain strict control over it(aka charge an assload). Thanks guys
They suck
Reply
Old Aug 6, 2009 | 01:54 PM
  #10  
eamador11's Avatar
TECH Resident
 
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 907
Likes: 1
From: NJ
Default

Contact Charlie@RPM Motorsports Inc. in California... best LSx mail order tuner ive seen no matter what the combo is. He gets it real close without having to see the car.
Reply
Old Aug 7, 2009 | 07:48 PM
  #11  
khaotic's Avatar
On The Tree
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 165
Likes: 1
From: Warrenton, VA.
Default Tuning

Yes Steve would do a great job for you, Ive been around racing for 20 years and have had, Steve do tuning for me outstanding guy and Tuner.
www.tunedbyfrost.com
Reply


Thread Tools
Search this Thread

All times are GMT -5. The time now is 10:06 AM.

story-0
Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

Slideshow: A modern Camaro transformed into a retro icon, this limited-run "Bandit" build blends nostalgia with brute force in a way few revivals manage.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-21 13:57:02


VIEW MORE
story-1
Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

Slideshow: Cadillac didn't just crash the high-performance luxury vehicle party, it showed up loud, supercharged, and occasionally a little unhinged...

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-16 10:05:15


VIEW MORE
story-2
Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

Slideshow: Top ten most powerful Chevy trucks ever made

By | 2026-03-25 09:22:26


VIEW MORE
story-3
Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

Slideshow: Hennessey has turned the Silverado ZR2 into a 700-hp off-road monster with supercharged V8 power and a limited production run.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-24 18:57:52


VIEW MORE
story-4
Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes

Slideshow: A one-off sports car that looks like a vintage Italian exotic-but hides a C6 Corvette underneath-just sold for the price of a new mid-engine Corvette.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-23 18:53:41


VIEW MORE
story-5
Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power

Slideshow: A heavily reworked 1972 K5 Blazer swaps its off-road roots for a low-slung street-focused build with modern V8 power.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-09 18:08:45


VIEW MORE
story-6
10 Camaros You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There are thousands of used Camaros on the market but we think you should avoid these 10

By | 2026-02-17 17:09:30


VIEW MORE
story-7
10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die

Slideshows: Which one of these myths do you believe?

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-01-28 18:10:11


VIEW MORE
story-8
Five Reasons the Camaro Was the Most Pivotal Player in the Pony Car Wars 2.0

The world was a better place when it was still around.

By Brett Foote | 2026-01-23 09:20:37


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 Reasons the LS7 Is GM's Most Extreme Naturally Aspirated V8 Engine Ever

Slideshow: The 7.0-liter LS7 was designed for absolute cutting-edge performance.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-01-07 18:36:00


VIEW MORE