To tune something that's stock? For example my 96 LT4, I'm not having any trouble but wonder if there's there's some gains to made from the stock settings. From what I can gather aren't they a bit on the conserative side?

I suppose a good data log would be in order to see what could be tweaked? I think even if nothing needs changed the experience would be beneficial if I ever do some mods.

 

There are some gains to be had. Maybe 5 to 10hp.

 

I haven't really played much with the newer LT1s, but even if there are no major engine mods
the later-model PCMs allow you to work on optimizing spark - plus shift points, traction control,
stability control, sequential fuel, abrupt air transients, and/or a bunch of other variables. These
can be tweaked to your personal driving taste with a program editor.


Not much gets posted here on the later PCMs. You will probably find more info on the boards
that deal with 'LT1 Edit', the LT4 boards, or the LS1 boards (even more advanced CPU but
similar calibration strategy) like this: http://www.hptuners.com/


If you understand spark and fuel, doing your own PROM tuning is not terribly difficult. In fact I
find program editors make it easy to understand what's going on with the engine - via graphics
of the calibration maps. Maybe it's because I wrote it, but I can look at two sets of tables like
this, and have a pretty good idea of what is changing with a modified cam & intake:
http://www.corvetteforum.net/c4/doctorj/cartest.htm

That's a 'speed density' control scheme, used on vettes from 90-93. The 'tuning' concepts
apply equally to cars, trucks, or boats; that's just one example of how it's done.


You need to wrestle with a new vocabulary, but spark and fuel are much the same (in the end)
whether it's a carb or FI. You may find that changing numbers in a computer is MUCH easier
than changing jets on a Holley 4-barrel - and doesn't smell as bad. Have fun.