PCM Diagnostics & Tuning HP Tuners | Holley | Diablo

Good tuning tool for a first time user?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Nov 28, 2010 | 05:24 PM
  #1  
Bandit2000's Avatar
Thread Starter
On The Tree
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 162
Likes: 0
From: DFW
Default Good tuning tool for a first time user?

Which tuning software/tool is the best for a noob to get adjusted to? This question is kind of based on preference i guess, but I need to tune my LS1 and I want to do it myself. Which tuner did you use, and did you have trouble learning how to do it?
Reply
Old Nov 28, 2010 | 08:43 PM
  #2  
Mike@Diablosport's Avatar
LS1Tech Sponsor
15 Year Member
Photogenic
Liked
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 2,295
Likes: 11
From: Central Florida
Default

What's done to the car currently?
Reply
Old Nov 29, 2010 | 11:17 AM
  #3  
Bandit2000's Avatar
Thread Starter
On The Tree
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 162
Likes: 0
From: DFW
Default

An LS6 cam, headers and exhaust, head work, new timing chain, minor bolt ons, etc.

Just some basic **** I guess.
Reply
Old Nov 29, 2010 | 11:35 AM
  #4  
bayer-z28's Avatar
TECH Veteran
20 Year Member
iTrader: (14)
 
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 4,085
Likes: 1
From: N. Falmouth MA
Default

*lurk*

I've been wanting to get into tuning as well.

I've found a "Learn at home" set from HP Tuners. I gotta find the link. But I'd also like to hear what would be recommended here as well. This is going to be an uphill battle trying to get into this.........It has been so far. "Don't bother with it and just bring it to me to tune for you."

Can't find it right now, but this is as close as I could get.
http://www.hptuners.com/forum/showthread.php?t=16606
Reply
Old Nov 29, 2010 | 12:37 PM
  #5  
foff667's Avatar
LS1TECH Sponsor
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 7,986
Likes: 3
From: Clermont, FL
Default

Our software is geared at having the most user friendly GUI for the first time tuner. The tuning school is a reseller of ours and do have packages that will get you started in the right direction so are a good choice.

-Bill
Reply
Old Nov 29, 2010 | 01:32 PM
  #6  
robbyredneck's Avatar
TECH Regular
15 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 403
Likes: 1
From: canandaigua,n.y.
Default

not wanting to contribute to another which is better thread. i am solely going on my own experience. i chose hp tuners mpvi because of the support of the other users. but after using for a while and hanging out in forums like this. i realized you almost can't make a wrong decision other than not familiarizing yourself with the tool you chose. each software or hardware device has it's subtle differences but in the long haul it's up to you the user. main diffs i see with hp vs efi is the axes are swapped. maybe one appeals to the "row" mindset and the other to the "column" . just my 2
Reply
Old Nov 29, 2010 | 04:40 PM
  #7  
joecar's Avatar
TECH Senior Member
20 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Shutterbug
 
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 6,080
Likes: 17
From: So.Cal.
Default

They're all good... which is best depends on personality...

See the sticky for more info: read-me-best-ls1-tuning-software

Visit each software's respective home page/forum.

See if you can try out the software, this will show you which interface you like better.
Reply
Old Nov 29, 2010 | 11:36 PM
  #8  
odd boy's Avatar
Staging Lane
 
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 55
Likes: 0
Default

I have Efilive and tuned 1000s cars with it, easy to navigate and friendly user.
Reply
LS1 Tech Stories

The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time

story-0

10 Reasons Daily Driving a Swap Project SUCKS! (& 1 Reason to Do It Anyway)

 Michael S. Palmer
story-1

6 Gifts Neither Your Dad Nor Grad Will Shove Into the 'Trinket Drawer'

 Brett Foote
story-2

Topdon ONE vs. Artidiag 800 BT2: Which is the Diagnostic Tablet For You?

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-3

Gas Monkey Built a 6-Wheel Ferrari Testarossa With a Corvette LT4 Engine

 Verdad Gallardo
story-4

7 Most Reliable High-Performance Engines GM Has Ever Built

 Verdad Gallardo
story-5

Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-7

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

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-9

Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

 
Old Nov 30, 2010 | 05:43 AM
  #9  
ringram's Avatar
TECH Fanatic
20 Year Member
Liked
 
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 1,691
Likes: 1
From: Sunny London, UK
Default

New users seem to like the dumbed down HPT interface more.
But it depends on what you want to do. EFI has a much superior logging tool with the ability to manipulate data in maps and tables with any kind of formula you like.
Plus you can add your own .cax definitions to expand table support in tunes for example to add lean cruise into LS1 ECU's
Reply
Old Nov 30, 2010 | 06:13 AM
  #10  
CLRD4TO's Avatar
On The Tree
iTrader: (4)
 
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 141
Likes: 0
From: Rosemount, MN
Default

Went in on HPT with a friend. I spent damn near all summer learning it. Navigating the software isnt that hard, learning cause and effect for the first time is. The problem I found with the forums are tons of incomplete help. Most people took a lot of time to figure out what they know and arent willing to just freely give it away to a complete stranger.
Reply
Old Nov 30, 2010 | 06:52 AM
  #11  
macca_779's Avatar
TECH Enthusiast
 
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 620
Likes: 0
From: Katherine N.T Australia
Default

Originally Posted by CLRD4TO
Went in on HPT with a friend. I spent damn near all summer learning it. Navigating the software isnt that hard, learning cause and effect for the first time is. The problem I found with the forums are tons of incomplete help. Most people took a lot of time to figure out what they know and arent willing to just freely give it away to a complete stranger.
That's a big difference I've found between HPT and EFI forums. Having owned both the HPT Forum may have many more members and posts but of those members and posts most are less experienced users with very basic questions and solutions. The EFI forum has far less members but the info is often more advanced but the basic stuff is there in spades too.. Its just its not repeated a thousand times.

As far as the hardware and software go. EFI LIVE is more expensive initially than the other but you do get more for what you pay. The upside with HPT is that you can tune Fords with it.. Even if it does suck compared to SCT buying one cable over two is an attractive prospect if you plan on tuning multiple brands.
Reply
Old Nov 30, 2010 | 09:25 AM
  #12  
jimmyblue's Avatar
Moderator
iTrader: (11)
 
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 12,604
Likes: 7
From: East Central Florida
Default

Don't worry about easy. Worry about outgrowing it or not
having access to what you need. Because you won't be
a newb for that long if you care to learn, and the tool is
not the task - it just has to be up to it.
Reply
Old Nov 30, 2010 | 03:21 PM
  #13  
PowerShift408's Avatar
TECH Fanatic
iTrader: (44)
 
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,741
Likes: 1
From: Bowling Green, KY
Default

I'm just getting started in tuning and I just ordered HPTuners and the beginner's learn at home course from The Tuning School. From what I've read, it's the way to go. It'll be here for me next week so I'll be sure and post up how the experience goes.
Reply
Old Nov 30, 2010 | 03:44 PM
  #14  
bene's Avatar
Trunion King
iTrader: (16)
 
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 4,394
Likes: 3
From: Texan in Colorado
Default

I have HPTuners also, and learning quite slowly. I don't have the enough time/open space/wideband to tune my car. With that said, I'm wanting to learn everything I can through internet and plan to invest some guide/tutorial such as Tuning School down the road.

With little info that I grasped here and HPTuners messageboard, I've gathered that the English bloke that "tuned" my car sucks. My car surge and bucks almost every time on a stop and go traffic. Funny thing is he bragged about his EFILive is way better than my HPTuners yet his tune sucks *****.
Reply
Old Nov 30, 2010 | 05:01 PM
  #15  
foff667's Avatar
LS1TECH Sponsor
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 7,986
Likes: 3
From: Clermont, FL
Default

Originally Posted by bene
I have HPTuners also, and learning quite slowly. I don't have the enough time/open space/wideband to tune my car. With that said, I'm wanting to learn everything I can through internet and plan to invest some guide/tutorial such as Tuning School down the road.

With little info that I grasped here and HPTuners messageboard, I've gathered that the English bloke that "tuned" my car sucks. My car surge and bucks almost every time on a stop and go traffic. Funny thing is he bragged about his EFILive is way better than my HPTuners yet his tune sucks *****.
There is no magic wand that gets waved that can tune a car, in the end as you now know its up to the tuner doing the tuning

Knowing how to use the software you have and how to make it work for you is a good start, this is why I always preach learning the scanner before worrying about how to tune. Any monkey(obviously not directed at you) can read a guide & copy & paste in a few numbers, it takes time to learn how to make custom histograms that work for you to even make that possible.

Believe it or not there are alot of tunershops that don't know what a histogram is or how to set up one for their life but I see it every day and is the main reason I created as many demo's as I did.

Having a demo mode in the software is great(we now offer this BTW so all the EFI fan boy's can no longer beat that dead horse) but it doesn't teach you how to do anything...in this case our demo's are the next best thing

-Bill
Attached Thumbnails Good tuning tool for a first time user?-demomode.jpg  
Reply
Old Nov 30, 2010 | 07:10 PM
  #16  
CLRD4TO's Avatar
On The Tree
iTrader: (4)
 
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 141
Likes: 0
From: Rosemount, MN
Default

Took me a while to figure out how to use the histrograms. Although it did take a long *** time to have a tune im satisfied with, I did enjoy learning it. I also have tremendous respect for those that have mastered this for multiple applications.

Next spring I plan to upgrade the OS to '02 and dyno tune my dry shot. Hopefully I wont forget everything over the winter heh
Reply
Old Dec 1, 2010 | 03:10 PM
  #17  
Kevin01Z28's Avatar
TECH Regular
iTrader: (8)
 
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 445
Likes: 0
From: Plain Dealing, LA
Default

The only thing I regret is not getting the HPT pro version initially.
Reply
Old Dec 2, 2010 | 05:11 AM
  #18  
macca_779's Avatar
TECH Enthusiast
 
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 620
Likes: 0
From: Katherine N.T Australia
Default

Originally Posted by foff667

Having a demo mode in the software is great(we now offer this BTW so all the EFI fan boy's can no longer beat that dead horse) but it doesn't teach you how to do anything...in this case our demo's are the next best thing

-Bill
About time. Got a link for it Bill as I can't find it on the website. Still has the 2 year old 2.22 version on the website and requiring a log in to access it.
Reply
Old Dec 2, 2010 | 05:29 AM
  #19  
davidws6's Avatar
TECH Enthusiast
iTrader: (36)
 
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 747
Likes: 5
From: Kansas
Default

A good write up for us Newbies is from "69lt1bird" can be downloaded from ls1tech.

I had one tune done and the dude had to tweak it at least 4 times. Then a dyno tune done on a larger engine. 2 tunes @ $500 each !

Bought a HP Tuners Pro with an AFX wideband and do it myself now. If it's not right, only myself to blame. Yet does not cost me anymore for my trail and error.

If you understand how efi functions, learning how to tune is not that hard.
Reply




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 08:03 PM.

story-0
10 Reasons Daily Driving a Swap Project SUCKS! (& 1 Reason to Do It Anyway)

Slideshow: 10 reasons daily-driving a swap project might not be for you. Or is it?

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-06-17 09:39:05


VIEW MORE
story-1
6 Gifts Neither Your Dad Nor Grad Will Shove Into the 'Trinket Drawer'

Don't get dad new socks or a grill brush this year.

By Brett Foote | 2026-06-09 14:55:56


VIEW MORE
story-2
Topdon ONE vs. Artidiag 800 BT2: Which is the Diagnostic Tablet For You?

Slideshow: We take a close look at the ONE and Artidiag 800BT2 diagnostic tools from Topdon and the reasons to buy one over the other.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-06-18 10:26:23


VIEW MORE
story-3
Gas Monkey Built a 6-Wheel Ferrari Testarossa With a Corvette LT4 Engine

Slideshow: The controversial Ferrari F6 swaps its original flat-12 for a Corvette Z06-derived LT4 V8 and sends power to four rear wheels through a custom-built drivetrain.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-26 18:23:54


VIEW MORE
story-4
7 Most Reliable High-Performance Engines GM Has Ever Built

Slideshow:These GM engines didn't just make huge power, they survived abuse, boost, track days, and six-digit mileage with a reputation for refusing to quit.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-21 16:45:27


VIEW MORE
story-5
Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin

Slideshow: This heavily modified 1971 Camaro mixes classic muscle car styling with a fifth-generation Camaro interior and modern LS3 power.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-12 18:06:42


VIEW MORE
story-6
6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them

Slideshow: From wobbling harmonic balancers to failed EBCMs, these are the issues that define long-term C5 ownership and what repairs typically involve.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-07 18:44:57


VIEW MORE
story-7
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-8
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-9
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