Do I NEED a tune?
Do I NEED a tune? So I finally got tired of my car being a slow boring POS. So i called up texas speed and ordered a full top end stage1 package. LS6 intake, SLP lid, TSP 228r cam, PRC heads.
I know nothing about tuning and i want to know if i need a tune at this point or not. Im after driveability and sound vs all out HP.
If i do need a tune... what are my options? Is a diablo tuner enough to get me where i want to be or am i stuck sending my pcm into tsp for a mailorder tune?
I know enough to be dangerous mechanically and can learn about tuning... but not sure what to do since this i s the most modding i have done on a vehicle until now.
Your assistance and guidance would be appreciated.
I know nothing about tuning and i want to know if i need a tune at this point or not. Im after driveability and sound vs all out HP.
If i do need a tune... what are my options? Is a diablo tuner enough to get me where i want to be or am i stuck sending my pcm into tsp for a mailorder tune?
I know enough to be dangerous mechanically and can learn about tuning... but not sure what to do since this i s the most modding i have done on a vehicle until now.
Your assistance and guidance would be appreciated.
TECH Fanatic
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 1,313
Likes: 10
From: Maryland
Yes, I would definitely get a mail order tune at the least with those mods (dyno would be the best), don't know how much a handheld would help. Car will be a dog and a flat out pain to drive without a solid tune.
I was also just reading about tunedbyfrost.com ... sounds like a well respected tuner in the community
I was also thinking of buying another pcm and keeping the stock for the just incase factor. Guy told me that a 2002pcm would work flawlessly with my 99. Sound right to you guys?
I was also thinking of buying another pcm and keeping the stock for the just incase factor. Guy told me that a 2002pcm would work flawlessly with my 99. Sound right to you guys?
I was also just reading about tunedbyfrost.com ... sounds like a well respected tuner in the community
I was also thinking of buying another pcm and keeping the stock for the just incase factor. Guy told me that a 2002pcm would work flawlessly with my 99. Sound right to you guys?
I was also thinking of buying another pcm and keeping the stock for the just incase factor. Guy told me that a 2002pcm would work flawlessly with my 99. Sound right to you guys?
After doing the mods why would you want a stock PCM?
Not sure about the 2002/99 PCM working flawlessly, call Frost
Good luck/have fun
Johnny
I will tell you that I went with a VERY similar setup and pretune I got 356whp on the dyno. After tuning I got 420whp. So absolutely yes you REALLY need a tune. Let alone the safety for your engine.
I also got a little help from Frost while tuning my car. He's usually really swamped but still a good guy to work with.
I also got a little help from Frost while tuning my car. He's usually really swamped but still a good guy to work with.
Well ... I did in fact go with a tune from frost and ... man was he unhappy with me. I dont know poop about tuning .... and I told him my setup and let him go to work. Thing is that he said ... "I have to be honest; the car is going to SUCK to drive on the stock stall." as I was planning on going with the stock trans converter.
Well Im not going for all out power here an just want that sound and drivability ... so I said ... well wait on the tune then and let me do some research on a tqconverter or a 6 speed swap ... boy that really pissed him off.
I call no fair ... I get that he is busy ... but Im a customer ... and Im new to tuning ... why the hostility??
So anyway ... now Im looking at a 3600 - 4k stall converter for my slush box or switching to a 6 speed (which I would rather do .. but also involves a lot more parts and work). This is just going to be a non stop thing and Im starting to wish I would have just left it alone and drove the stupid car.
Well Im not going for all out power here an just want that sound and drivability ... so I said ... well wait on the tune then and let me do some research on a tqconverter or a 6 speed swap ... boy that really pissed him off.
I call no fair ... I get that he is busy ... but Im a customer ... and Im new to tuning ... why the hostility??
So anyway ... now Im looking at a 3600 - 4k stall converter for my slush box or switching to a 6 speed (which I would rather do .. but also involves a lot more parts and work). This is just going to be a non stop thing and Im starting to wish I would have just left it alone and drove the stupid car.
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I dont know if I would like 3600 stall for the street. Some guys do, however my gray area of streetablity is quite different than most others. My 3200 is a little noticable but not bad. When you punch it believe me you know its a stall so I couldnt imagine anything between 3600-4000k for the street.
But from what I hear Frost is second to none for tuning. I have read of guys do mail order tune and then going to him to do a dyno run on only getting 10-15 hp more out it, and been more than one guy experiencing that. Now that is a DAMN good tuner in my books.
But from what I hear Frost is second to none for tuning. I have read of guys do mail order tune and then going to him to do a dyno run on only getting 10-15 hp more out it, and been more than one guy experiencing that. Now that is a DAMN good tuner in my books.
If Frost/any tuner hooked up/begain tune and you stopped them before they could finish, think of the time/equment used up to that point, and what other customers work they had bepassed to work on the OP's car.
I would be highley pissed also, just a coment from someone "been there,done that"
Just my .02' Johnny
I would be highley pissed also, just a coment from someone "been there,done that"
Just my .02' Johnny
If Frost/any tuner hooked up/begain tune and you stopped them before they could finish, think of the time/equment used up to that point, and what other customers work they had bepassed to work on the OP's car.
I would be highley pissed also, just a coment from someone "been there,done that"
Just my .02' Johnny
I would be highley pissed also, just a coment from someone "been there,done that"
Just my .02' Johnny
Have fun without a converter op...you did everything *** backwards and didnt do any research. And tsp should have told you not to run that h/c combo without a converter. You not only made the car run worse than before but also wasted time and money.
We've all made mistakes, but when it comes to spending thousands on a performance car you need to know what you're doing and what makes it run better. Just because you added a ton of hp doesn't mean that it's all good now, you need to look at every aspect of a car before you start throwing power at it.
TECH Enthusiast
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 611
Likes: 0
From: Illinois
can't see how you could go wrong with a yank. I do agree, the stall was the first thing you should have done to this car since it's an A4, however, if you would prefer the 6 speed......why not take the time and do the swap? So far, it's my biggest regret and once the 4l60e takes a dump, i'm going to do the 6 speed swap. I have a fairly cheap converter, and i'm sure the yank will give you a lot better driving experience, but driving on the street has become more of an annoyance to me with the converter I have... in the end you're car should be an animal
Well I think Im going to give what I have a try and see how I like the auto with the converter. If I decide I dont like it and still want to shift ... Im going to get rid of this car and just buy a camaross convertible with m6 that i have always wanted anyway.
From what everyone has told me... the converter really makes it a whole new car. Cant wait to experience it.
From what everyone has told me... the converter really makes it a whole new car. Cant wait to experience it.
Well I think Im going to give what I have a try and see how I like the auto with the converter. If I decide I dont like it and still want to shift ... Im going to get rid of this car and just buy a camaross convertible with m6 that i have always wanted anyway.
From what everyone has told me... the converter really makes it a whole new car. Cant wait to experience it.
From what everyone has told me... the converter really makes it a whole new car. Cant wait to experience it.
