which is better and gives most power?
03-08-2006 | 03:59 PM
#1
Thread Starter
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From: Rock Hill, South Carolina
which is better and gives most power? *programmers
*chips
*custom tuning at performance shops
*ETC.
we've all heard of them but what's best normally the custom tuning ive heard more people having.
have an 02 SS and dont know what to do help me out.
*chips
*custom tuning at performance shops
*ETC.
we've all heard of them but what's best normally the custom tuning ive heard more people having.
have an 02 SS and dont know what to do help me out.
03-08-2006 | 04:05 PM
#3
I don't know what ETC is (electronic throttle control?),
but I'd have to say in most cases NOT a performance shop.
The reason being: time = money
so you'll get a quickie tune most cases.
If it was me, I'd find a very competent tuner and pay them on the side to spend the amount of time neccessary to get the job completed.
Hand-held junk is too limited, and mail order is only good for small generic calibration changes, and not for serious power tuning.
I love these opinionated type questions!
but I'd have to say in most cases NOT a performance shop.
The reason being: time = money
so you'll get a quickie tune most cases.
If it was me, I'd find a very competent tuner and pay them on the side to spend the amount of time neccessary to get the job completed.
Hand-held junk is too limited, and mail order is only good for small generic calibration changes, and not for serious power tuning.
I love these opinionated type questions!
03-08-2006 | 04:12 PM
#4
TECH Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 7,036
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From: Lake Zurich, IL
Chips... our cars don't use chips so that wont help (unless your car's a 93) 
Mail order tunes are fine for minor mods if there's no one that can dyno tune it... however they're not ideal for max power
Having a speedshop (if reputable) tune the PCM on the dyno with Wideband is a good choice if you don't want to buy your own tuning suite and wideband controller and don't want to learn how to tune it yourself.
Handhelds really aren't very good... they're pretty limited in what they can do... and for the money you're close to being at the price for a basic tuning suite (like HP Tuners standard)
Best option is a full tuning suite (such as hptuners) provided you're willing to spend the time to learn how to use it properly, ask questions, etc.... You would also need a wideband O2 sensor/controller for max effort power.
No clue what an ETC is (other than Electronic Throttle Control as mentioned above)
But the Best option is to either learn how to tune yourself, or hire a competent person/shop that will stand behind their work, and provide updates if you need small changes. A street tune w/wideband is ideal since it's real world driving situations and part throttle can be tuned... a mustang dyno that can load the car and hold it is second best (or a dynojet w/the new dynopac load item)
For more info on Tuning suites, handhelds, etc... see the Sticky which addresses "which is best"
Mail order tunes are fine for minor mods if there's no one that can dyno tune it... however they're not ideal for max power
Having a speedshop (if reputable) tune the PCM on the dyno with Wideband is a good choice if you don't want to buy your own tuning suite and wideband controller and don't want to learn how to tune it yourself.
Handhelds really aren't very good... they're pretty limited in what they can do... and for the money you're close to being at the price for a basic tuning suite (like HP Tuners standard)
Best option is a full tuning suite (such as hptuners) provided you're willing to spend the time to learn how to use it properly, ask questions, etc.... You would also need a wideband O2 sensor/controller for max effort power.
No clue what an ETC is (other than Electronic Throttle Control as mentioned above)
But the Best option is to either learn how to tune yourself, or hire a competent person/shop that will stand behind their work, and provide updates if you need small changes. A street tune w/wideband is ideal since it's real world driving situations and part throttle can be tuned... a mustang dyno that can load the car and hold it is second best (or a dynojet w/the new dynopac load item)
For more info on Tuning suites, handhelds, etc... see the Sticky which addresses "which is best"
03-08-2006 | 04:32 PM
#6
Thread Starter
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From: Rock Hill, South Carolina
which is better and gives most power?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*programmers
*chips
*custom tuning at performance shops
*ETC.
we've all heard of them but what's best normally the custom tuning ive heard more people having.
have an 02 SS and dont know what to do help me out.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*programmers
*chips
*custom tuning at performance shops
*ETC.
we've all heard of them but what's best normally the custom tuning ive heard more people having.
have an 02 SS and dont know what to do help me out.
03-08-2006 | 04:34 PM
#7
TECH Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 7,036
Likes: 1
From: Lake Zurich, IL
See previous posts...
As already stated programmers (handhelds) aren't very good
Our cars don't use chips
Customer mail orders are only decent for basic changes... no guarantees on power, I wouldn't waste my money with them if you're looking for more power
Custom tuning at a reliable speed shop that will take the time to do part and full throttle tuning is the easiest method for max power. (assuming a dyno and wideband are used... a dyno that can provide fixed loads is preferred)
The best route is a full tuning suite and doing it yourself with a wideband (and dyno time if you have one near) so that you can dial the car in for real world conditions
As already stated programmers (handhelds) aren't very good
Our cars don't use chips
Customer mail orders are only decent for basic changes... no guarantees on power, I wouldn't waste my money with them if you're looking for more power
Custom tuning at a reliable speed shop that will take the time to do part and full throttle tuning is the easiest method for max power. (assuming a dyno and wideband are used... a dyno that can provide fixed loads is preferred)
The best route is a full tuning suite and doing it yourself with a wideband (and dyno time if you have one near) so that you can dial the car in for real world conditions
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03-08-2006 | 04:43 PM
#8
Originally Posted by CaMaRo67RS355
which is better and gives most power?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*programmers
*chips
*custom tuning at performance shops
*ETC.
we've all heard of them but what's best normally the custom tuning ive heard more people having.
have an 02 SS and dont know what to do help me out.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*programmers
*chips
*custom tuning at performance shops
*ETC.
we've all heard of them but what's best normally the custom tuning ive heard more people having.
have an 02 SS and dont know what to do help me out.