So I have a dilemma of how to complete the upgrades with my car. (1998 Z28) As I’m bleeding money, and the cost of parts has been much higher than anticipated. I have run into a few snags along the way of unexpected costs, like having to replace brakes due previous owner and cheap parts.

I searched this site and the how to guides. I'm finding so many posts and feeds which are 10+ years old and nothing current, so I'm posting this in hopes to find new threads or people whom are still active on these forums for some feedback.

Engine:
The engine gets the LS6 intake, EGR & AIR delete. Fresh plugs, wires, and long tubes with cat-less Y-pipe connected to my Magnaflow cat back system. Intake has been purchased, the headers - $675.00 (Speed engineering)
Otherwise the rest of the engine stays the same. I’m only going with the intake and exhaust. I do not want to open the engine up and cam/heads/etc. She’s only got 84K on the clock and I’m not building a race car, only a really strong cruiser.
I also need to fix the AC – and I have no clue yet what that will set me back either. Probably $200+ with parts.

Then Tuning – and this is where I don’t know where to go with this.

I have probably one of the best LS1 tuners about 1 hour from my house. Mike Frumusa. When I called around and talked to other LS peeps, they all said this is the dude to talk to and he is the best.

https://frumusaperformance.com/

I spoke with Mike, and he said he can get me big gains at the tire with my setup – Dyno tuned in and update to the transmission to improve shift and keep it from blowing out on me. He will also delete the EGR & AIR system from the ECM so it doesn’t throw codes and will pass NY State inspections.
This will cost me $700-$800


So to attempt to save a couple of hundred $$$, I was looking at the HP Tuners. I know from reading posts here and LS1tec.com that there is an abundant amount of data files which I could probably find my perfect flash for.
I’m no strangers to the OBD connections and working with the ECMS from days of wrenching professionally.

Where I’m concerned is the transmission flash. All I want to do is clean up the shift points that are known issues with the 4L60E transmission.
My transmission is perfect. Perfect color of the fluid. No shifting issues. Nice and firm up & down shifts. I don’t want to mess that up. But I know there is a flash which will allow for better shifting and engagement, which will prolong the life of the transmission.




Can the HP Tuner does this? Is there any files, which are the best for this?
Can the HP Tuner remove the EGR & AIR system from the flash and keep the CEL off for my state inspection?
I’m looking for anyone who has the experience, negative or positive with HP tunes and similar setup to mine. Can I find the transmission flash improvements which will benefit the car, and not trash it?
Or am I just being stupid tight *** and need to shell out the extra $$ and have Mike do the dyno tune & trans flash.

I have also heard about pulling out the ECM, sending it off to be tuned. I'm not sure I'm 100% feeling warm & fuzzy about that.
However a conversations with, RPM-WS6 and he said -

Quote:

LSX Power Tuning used to be a sponsor on this site, he's still active as a user here and provides lots of info in the PCM section. Very knowledgeable guy. He'd probably be a good choice for a mail order type tune.

So I hope you can see my dilemma, and can give a guy good advice. I greatly appreciate it.

 

First, I also worked professionally as a tech - If you don't know tuning specifically, you'll be over your head with HP Tuners very quickly. The time to learn to tune is not when you have a project you're trying to complete. A dyno tune is better than a mail order tune, and I have done both. However, mail order tuners have done a LOT of combinations and know what works, especially on a car with just bolt ons. I had a mail order tune on my SS with everything in my sig except for the ported rod mod intake. I gained about 30 RWHP when I had a dyno tune completed after the intake install. I'd say half of that was optimizing what had been done with the mail order tune. Point being, if all you have are bolt ons, just get a mail order tune. A dyno tune with your mods isn't needed.

 

Simply from the terminology the OP uses, it is obvious that he would be in way over his head trying to tune for himself at this point. If this is truly going to be a one time deal with no additional mods, it is a no-brainer to get it professionally dyno tuned. The steep price will not be much more than the cost of HPtuners plus having someone cheaper trying to tune it.

 

Thank you for an honest answer. I greatly appreciate it.
Yes, I'm a little over my head when it comes down to the tune, I'm willing to take it on, but I was also looking for some experience from someone who has a similar setup as mine.

Yes--- I'm keeping it simple, my goal is to achieve some HP/TQ gains, not break the bank and my car.

 

I also think you would gain 90% of possible benefit with a good mail-order tune, especially since you didn't change camshafts, heads or other major parts. The good mailorder tuners know what you change for the mods you have made.
I cannot think of any Transmission tune changes that would extend the life of the trans as the stock parameters are super conservative with power reduction during shifts and gentle shifts. Since you obviously aren't always going to be driving Miss Daisy, I would recommend at least the Sonnax Boost valve for the trans and possibly even the Sonnax Shift kit; these will give firmer shifts which actually reduce the slippage/wear of the frictions during WOT shifts, without going so firm that it damages the trans. The boost valve only requires dropping the pan, the shift kit also requires removing the valve body; the entire trans does NOT need to be removed.

 

I think if you are wanting to learn how to tune, a basic bolt on LS1 is a good place to start.

I've seen some guys start out with the biggest donkey dick cam there is, stock 2.73 and a B&M convertor and can't understand why they can't get to run right.

That's a pretty basic transmission to tune, there's not much there compared to the newer 6, 8, 10 speed stuff.

Don't take all the tourqe management out and use some sense and you will be fine.

 

If you get engine basics and you can fumble your way around a computer you can tune it with HPtuners.

YouTube is your friend, I like copperdoc’s stuff but goatrope and lowbuck LS are good too.

i would not be afraid of a combo here as well. Go thru the YouTube vids and then get a mail order tune from LSX or ??. You’ll then be able to understand what the tuner is doing a bit more and you can learn to make changes on your own.

 

Oh and check out hptuners forum, few folks from here are there and it’s a good group trying to help.

 

I want to thank everyone for the input and feedback. My gut says take it to Mike and have it done right. I have spent way more than I wanted to, and at this point, I do not want to have spent it all in vain to save $200. $200 will not make or break me, and I need to just do it the right way.

 

No idea who he is but he is only an hour from your house and it sounds like he has a good reputation, it also sounds like you haven't tuned anything before... pay the professional to do it because in the long run it's more than likely going to save you money. I can't even begin to guess how many people come into the shop and get to pay me to tune their car after they tried themselves. They have weeks if not months of time invested into tuning their own car and 99% of them all have one thing in common, I'm starting over with a stock file because its garbage. Sure there are people out there who can learn and actually do it properly, but thats like 1% of the people who try. Only you can decide how much is your time worth?

 

You make a very valid point, and exactly why I can justify the money spent.

Thank you for a honest reply.