Hello guys,
I finally got my scanner to hook up with the car. Wooohooo! I am using Craige's software and plan on doing some runs tonight to see were I stand. I realize that research is the number one thing in this game and that I have a lot of learning to do. When I make my runs tonight what should I be looking for? I am looking for some direction or help in what steps I should take to get the chip just right. I'm well aware that the process takes time and I am not willing to take short cuts to get it done right away. Hence the reason for not just spending 200 on a store chip. I plan on acomplishing two things through this prom programming. 1. Learn a whole heck of a lot 2. get a litlle more performance out of the car.
From my reading here at the corvette forum and Thidgen I should be looking for knock counts and spark retard. Please advise me on this.
Last night I was in my garage, when I got the scanner working. I noticed a lot of knock counts when car was warming up. Upwards of 200 after some mild reving up....This seemed very high to me and I'm sure that you will agree. I will take it for a couple of hard runs at noon if weather is Ok. I will see what I get then. Thanks for your help guys and I would like to extend a big that to everyone who has helped me in the past and also to Craige for the great software. I appreciate it all.

 

knock counts is a good thing to watch.... another is the BLM values at part throttle. The 'normal' spot is 128. Above or below that number means fuel is being taken out or added. You'll get an idea of how well things are running by where this number is at. Below 128 fuel is being taken out, and above it's being added. Look at the O2 numbers and make sure they are going crazy at part throttle. They should be swinging above and below 450mv. Down around 100 or so and up to 800 or so. At wot they should be around 850 or higher and stay there.

You'll learn alot doing your own tuning.... hopefully you can gain a little power and not lose any!!!! :D

 

At the strip you can look at O2 values, with low 900s as good, at closed/open loop status, at BLM cell number (should be 15).

At part throttle verify it goes into closed loop in a few minutes and check the BLM cell values (128 is ideal).

Knock counts could be due to a knock sensor installed with too little or too much torque. If you replace it just use a little non-hardening Permatex on the threads and torque to specs. For my car there is an upgrade to the ECS to stop false knock readings: GM P/N 16038331 ('85-'89 uses the same knock sensor but not sure about the ECS module).