Your first expirence with tuning
Your first expirence with tuning Trying to get a better feel for what I'm getting into. How well are the learning 101 techniqes conveyed in the sticky. I don't have software yet so I'm wondering if most of the software markets can relate to each other (for example I might buy EFI Live and have a buddy with HP tuners with experience. Would he have a pretty good understanding of how EFI Live would work given that he knows HP tuners or vise versa? Just wondering how similar most of the software packages are. Give me an idea of how long it will take for a newbie like myself to tune a 402 with a Comp XER 238/240 112 & pretty good heads to get within 70% 80% and 95% of the (power/efficiency streetability) that a professional shop could do.
The learning curve is steap and can be overwhelming at times. The stickies contian a lot of helpful information.
The concepts around tuning are the same no matter what suite you use. However, the tuning suites are unique to the respective companies.
Chad at www.greenlightmotorsports.com can get you set up with EFILive and a WB when you're ready.
The concepts around tuning are the same no matter what suite you use. However, the tuning suites are unique to the respective companies.
Chad at www.greenlightmotorsports.com can get you set up with EFILive and a WB when you're ready.
TECH Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 6,080
Likes: 17
From: So.Cal.
What TA said, plus each tuning package has it's own forum where you can ask questions or bounce ideas around.
Some things like dialing in the VE and MAF tables are easier to do when you use feedback from a wideband O2 sensor.
And there are a few tune repositories, one of them may have a tune that matches your mods, which you can use as your starting base tune.
Some things like dialing in the VE and MAF tables are easier to do when you use feedback from a wideband O2 sensor.
And there are a few tune repositories, one of them may have a tune that matches your mods, which you can use as your starting base tune.
TECH Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 7,036
Likes: 1
From: Lake Zurich, IL
learning curve is big.. but if you're willing to devote the time it's not bad.... (time time time eeewhat? ewwhat.. oookay! yeeaaaaah! ... sorry.. just saw dave chappelle's show in shitown 
)
but... no matter what learning is involved
but...... w/HPT Real time tuning for only 1 credit ..... get a buddy to watch your laptop and you're set
next release .... REAL AUTOTUNE .... makes me wonder why people choose other options....
now that they're are affordable (sub 200 ) widebands out there... tuning is much easier
https://ls1tech.com/forums/pcm-diagnostics-tuning/287094-read-me-first-tuning-docs-ve-maf-ses-lights-faqs-more-01-31-07-a.html
lots of walk throughs for EFI and HPT
regarding tune repositories.... NEVER use someone elses tune..... every car is different.... I run a tune/bin repository .... and I would NEVER tell anyone to use someone elses tune.....
tune for car xy w/mods abc ..... your car with mods abc will likely not perform the same (if all cars behaved the same then speed shops could advertise "guarantee 2 million horsepower w/our cam and heads)
)but... no matter what learning is involved
but...... w/HPT Real time tuning for only 1 credit ..... get a buddy to watch your laptop and you're set
next release .... REAL AUTOTUNE .... makes me wonder why people choose other options....now that they're are affordable (sub 200 ) widebands out there... tuning is much easier
https://ls1tech.com/forums/pcm-diagnostics-tuning/287094-read-me-first-tuning-docs-ve-maf-ses-lights-faqs-more-01-31-07-a.html
lots of walk throughs for EFI and HPT
regarding tune repositories.... NEVER use someone elses tune..... every car is different.... I run a tune/bin repository .... and I would NEVER tell anyone to use someone elses tune.....
tune for car xy w/mods abc ..... your car with mods abc will likely not perform the same (if all cars behaved the same then speed shops could advertise "guarantee 2 million horsepower w/our cam and heads)
TECH Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 6,080
Likes: 17
From: So.Cal.
Mike's correct, don't just use someone else's tune...
but you can borrow their VE and spark tables to use as a starting base, meaning you will further modify those;
for example what starting VE table should someone start with in their 408/head-X/cam-Y...?
if they don't borrow a similar VE table, what VE table should they start with...?
but you can borrow their VE and spark tables to use as a starting base, meaning you will further modify those;
for example what starting VE table should someone start with in their 408/head-X/cam-Y...?
if they don't borrow a similar VE table, what VE table should they start with...?
Originally Posted by horist
but...... w/HPT Real time tuning for only 1 credit ..... get a buddy to watch your laptop and you're set next release .... REAL AUTOTUNE .... makes me wonder why people choose other options....
next release .... REAL AUTOTUNE .... makes me wonder why people choose other options....
Originally Posted by horist
now that they're are affordable (sub 200 ) widebands out there... tuning is much easier
https://ls1tech.com/forums/showthread.php?t=287094
https://ls1tech.com/forums/showthread.php?t=287094
I agree, there is a big learning curve but it's not impossible. You're doing the right thing reading as much as possible. I read everything for about 4-5 months, bought the software and it took me about a month to get comfortable with HPtuners and at that point I had my bolt on car tuned.
Trending Topics
LS1 Tech Stories
The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time
6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them
Pouria Savadkouei
Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked
Pouria Savadkouei
Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!
Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP
Verdad Gallardo
Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes
Verdad Gallardo
Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power
Verdad Gallardo
10 Camaros You Should Never Buy
10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die
Verdad Gallardo
TECH Enthusiast
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 618
Likes: 3
Rambling here... While the recommendation to not use someone elses tune makes sense, would that not be a viable option for at least getting the engine running?
I am trying to decide whether to purchase the programming up front, or purchase a tuning program. I am in the process of an LS1 conversion into my '56, and have zero experience with programming the computer. I've done some reading around here, and haven't found any basic threads or anything that indicates "To get it going do this". So, I'm concered I might not even get it started in the first place.
It sounds like the tuning should be expected to be a trial and error thing, based on the little bit of reading I have done. One thread in the stickies has a fairly detailed listing of things to do, but it doesn't go into much detail about why you are doing a specific thing, nor what teh goal of that specific setting is. And for example, it doesn't say if it is tuning for racing, or for fuel economy. And I'm thinking that if it doesn't make sense to use someone else's tune, then verbatum making settings to something posted isn't much different than that.
I am trying to decide whether to purchase the programming up front, or purchase a tuning program. I am in the process of an LS1 conversion into my '56, and have zero experience with programming the computer. I've done some reading around here, and haven't found any basic threads or anything that indicates "To get it going do this". So, I'm concered I might not even get it started in the first place.
It sounds like the tuning should be expected to be a trial and error thing, based on the little bit of reading I have done. One thread in the stickies has a fairly detailed listing of things to do, but it doesn't go into much detail about why you are doing a specific thing, nor what teh goal of that specific setting is. And for example, it doesn't say if it is tuning for racing, or for fuel economy. And I'm thinking that if it doesn't make sense to use someone else's tune, then verbatum making settings to something posted isn't much different than that.
Originally Posted by jmm98LS1
but if you have a red-headed bastard step-child '98 ls1 like me then it doesn't matter......
+1
If you have a buddy with Hptuners, get Hptuners as you have someone that atleast has a basic understanding at your disposal. This puts you one step ahead of most of us. At first, you will learn how to setup the basic tables ie VE (fuel/air), Spark, RAF (Idle air flow), PE (WOT fueling), and idle RPM. Once you do a ton of reading and understand the functions of those tables, you can start diving in to some of the more advanced stuff. The "search" button is your friend and if you have a question, odds are that someone has already asked it and gotten 10 answers from knowledgeable people. You will learn to recognize the guys that know vs the guys talking out there ***. Good luck.
12 Second Club
iTrader: (5)
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 1,231
Likes: 0
From: Chesapeake,va and Charlotte,NC
Yeah im 16, and thinking of asking for hpt for my birthday. Im pretty good with computers, and hopefully theirs enough guides out their so i wont screw anything up.
Yeah I'm brand new and kind of jumped into it. Now I have a 98 LS1 computer that I can't get back online (still need to research and try to write it over) and my second computer is sitting stock for now til I can learn the values and how to adjust them. RESEARCH RESEARCH RESEARCH!
TECH Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 6,080
Likes: 17
From: So.Cal.
Ringram is right, you have to log alot before you actually make a change to your tune; you have to become very familiar with how you car is running, and why the logged values behave the way they do; the logs will also show you if some thing is wrong (e.g. air leak, ping, or DTC...) which you should fix before attempting any tuning.
"the logs will also show you if some thing is wrong (e.g. air leak, ping, or DTC...) which you should fix before attempting any tuning."
This can't be said enough. Use the logs to figure out errors. Nothing worse than trying to tune around a problem, then fixing a problem and having to retune. I've even went to dyno sessions and discovered problems and wasted my time and theirs, because I didn't make sure everything was in 100% working order before going. The only good side of that story is realizng without a doubt that the dyno is strictly a tool.
And read a lot and prepare to spend many waking hours thinking about your tuning. It's very very addicting. And a heck of a lot of fun.
This can't be said enough. Use the logs to figure out errors. Nothing worse than trying to tune around a problem, then fixing a problem and having to retune. I've even went to dyno sessions and discovered problems and wasted my time and theirs, because I didn't make sure everything was in 100% working order before going. The only good side of that story is realizng without a doubt that the dyno is strictly a tool.
And read a lot and prepare to spend many waking hours thinking about your tuning. It's very very addicting. And a heck of a lot of fun.
I got EFI Scan from GLMS and figured that was a good starting point. I did not spend the cash for the tune software because I wanted to see if I can handle the logging (no sense buying the whole package if you get stumped at logging). I think that was a good call, and I intend to upgrade to Tune in Oct.
I have started logging (I was particulary interested in why my dry shot was lean at a 75 shot). Found the reason in my first log. Out of injector, that simple (of course I had already wasted money on trying about $100 in different dry N2O nozzles).
By just dealing with the scan software, I learned about PID's how to select, move them, and set their priority, I then went on and learned how to make custom dash boards using the PIDs I selected, and how to filter the info scanned and make tables.
The Scan software has a demo feature so you can open Corvette tune (other cars are in the demo too), and look through the menu's using the tutorials included in the documentation.
Although I have not actually Tuned, I am confident I know what to do when I upgrade my injectors in the tables, from help at the forum, and from reading threads here that apply to injectors. I also feel confident in the VE steps and MAF tuning steps. I am really looking forward to actually make the changes and seeing the results.
Beer
I have started logging (I was particulary interested in why my dry shot was lean at a 75 shot). Found the reason in my first log. Out of injector, that simple (of course I had already wasted money on trying about $100 in different dry N2O nozzles).
By just dealing with the scan software, I learned about PID's how to select, move them, and set their priority, I then went on and learned how to make custom dash boards using the PIDs I selected, and how to filter the info scanned and make tables.
The Scan software has a demo feature so you can open Corvette tune (other cars are in the demo too), and look through the menu's using the tutorials included in the documentation.
Although I have not actually Tuned, I am confident I know what to do when I upgrade my injectors in the tables, from help at the forum, and from reading threads here that apply to injectors. I also feel confident in the VE steps and MAF tuning steps. I am really looking forward to actually make the changes and seeing the results.
Beer