C4 Tech/Performance L98 Corvette and LT1 Corvette Technical Info, Internal Engine, External Engine

LT-1 computer settings for performance

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Sep 19, 2019 | 11:33 PM
  #1  
TheGreek!'s Avatar
TheGreek!
Thread Starter
Pro
 
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 512
Likes: 62
Default LT-1 computer settings for performance

Who here has reprogrammed their computer for more power? What parameters did you change and what did you change them to? How much extra power/performance did you gain from it? I'm sure that the parameters for a modified engine (high performance cam, heads, headers, etc.) would be different than for a stock engine so I'm curious what the parameters should be for my engine, a stock LT-1 with no modifications. I want to get a reprogramming device for my computer but I don't know what settings should be changed and what they should be changed to. I'd like to know what to set everything to for a stock engine and also for one that has had a few mods (cam, exhaust, fuel system) done to it so that I'll have some idea what to change the settings to so that it will at least get me close to where it should be right now while it's still stock and in the future if I do some mods to the engine. Any help is appreciated.

Last edited by TheGreek!; Sep 19, 2019 at 11:35 PM.
Reply
Old Sep 20, 2019 | 08:53 AM
  #2  
don hall's Avatar
don hall
Safety Car
20 Year Member
 
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 3,842
Likes: 230
From: SANTA CRUZ CA
Default

Please excuse the nit-picking, but the LT1 and the LT-1 are different engines.
I'm sure you are aware of the difference.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chevrolet_LT-1
Reply
Old Sep 20, 2019 | 09:23 AM
  #3  
drcook's Avatar
drcook
Safety Car
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Liked
Top Answer: 1
 
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 4,648
Likes: 1,059
From: N.E. Ohio OH
Finalist 2020 C4 of the Year - Modified
Default

picking the fly crap out of the pepper. everyone knew which motor was being referenced when the question being asked regards computer settings. was the whole point of your answer simply to poke a finger in his eye ?

as far as answering the question, OP, you need to do some reading on tuning. there is no simply saying change this table, that parameter. the programming can absorb and cope with a bit of modification before it needs changed

but there is a process behind changing the computer programming and you need to understand what you are doing before attempting it.

Last edited by drcook; Sep 20, 2019 at 09:30 AM.
Reply
Old Sep 20, 2019 | 10:28 AM
  #4  
bjankuski's Avatar
bjankuski
Safety Car
20 Year Member
Photogenic
Liked
Top Answer: 1
 
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 4,157
Likes: 554
From: Glenbeulah Wi
Default

This question is not easy to answer, expecially if someone has very little tuning experience.

Read this guide, it will help alot.

http://www.lt1pcmtuning.com/tips/
Reply
Old Sep 20, 2019 | 01:06 PM
  #5  
TheGreek!'s Avatar
TheGreek!
Thread Starter
Pro
 
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 512
Likes: 62
Default

Originally Posted by drcook
picking the fly crap out of the pepper. everyone knew which motor was being referenced when the question being asked regards computer settings. was the whole point of your answer simply to poke a finger in his eye ?

as far as answering the question, OP, you need to do some reading on tuning. there is no simply saying change this table, that parameter. the programming can absorb and cope with a bit of modification before it needs changed

but there is a process behind changing the computer programming and you need to understand what you are doing before attempting it.
Yeah the fact that my question is about playing with the computer settings and the fact that it was posted in the C4 section instead of the C3 section is pretty much a no brainier to figure out what LT1 engine I'm talking about. But there's always somebody that wants to play grammar **** and can't resist shitting up a thread. Anyway, I figured that since all of the 92-96 LT-1 engines (hyphen added on purpose to irritate the grammar ****) are pretty much the same I figured that there would be a fairly standard set of new parameters for a stock unmodified engine that would give a performance gain. I was just curious what they were. Instead of taking wild guesses at what should be changed and what they should be changed to I was hoping that someone would come in and say "I changed this, this, and this setting to that, that, and that setting and gained 20hp on the chassis dyno" so that I would at least have a place to start.
Reply
Old Sep 20, 2019 | 01:25 PM
  #6  
Tom400CFI's Avatar
Tom400CFI
Team Owner
Pro Mechanic
20 Year Member
 
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 21,543
Likes: 3,216
From: Park City Utah
Default

Originally Posted by TheGreek!
I was hoping that someone would come in and say "I changed this, this, and this setting to that, that, and that setting and gained 20hp on the chassis dyno" so that I would at least have a place to start.
Hard to do b/c every engine is different. The "this, this and that" are: you need to "Feed it what it wants". The food is ignition timing and A/F ratios. They're likely not optimized from the factory, so you need to put a WB O2 on it, put it on a dyno -or some way of measuring power, and then make changes until you've optimized the fueling and timing. Just like tuning a carb and centrifugal advance on an..."LT-1"...it's that simple. But it's not quick or easy. It's an arduous, time consuming project.

I once went to a "dyno tune" with my C6. The tuner was able to "find" ~5hp on my LS2. Not much. Earlier, he had done a '90's Firebird with an LT1 and picked up 41 RWHP. A fantastic gain, which only means that the stock tune in that car was pretty poor.
Reply
Old Sep 20, 2019 | 01:48 PM
  #7  
vader86's Avatar
vader86
Team Owner
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 62,160
Likes: 1,733
From: Athens AL
C7 of the Year - Unmodified Finalist 2021
C4 of Year Finalist (performance mods) 2019
Default

Question is too general, need more information.

If you cannot get more air into or out of the engine, really all you can do is play with the timing with a target A/F ratio. This means you need a wideband O2 sensor and a dyno, or testing on a drag strip. In general the factory tune is conservative and safe for longevity and all conditions.

Most of the off-the-shelf stuff from Hypertech is really just advancing timing in conjunction with lowering typical running temperatures (fan settings and thermostat) to allow them to do that and not have a heavy detonation penalty to pay.
Reply
Old Sep 20, 2019 | 01:58 PM
  #8  
TheGreek!'s Avatar
TheGreek!
Thread Starter
Pro
 
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 512
Likes: 62
Default

Originally Posted by Tom400CFI
Hard to do b/c every engine is different. The "this, this and that" are: you need to "Feed it what it wants". The food is ignition timing and A/F ratios. They're likely not optimized from the factory, so you need to put a WB O2 on it, put it on a dyno -or some way of measuring power, and then make changes until you've optimized the fueling and timing. Just like tuning a carb and centrifugal advance on an..."LT-1"...it's that simple. But it's not quick or easy. It's an arduous, time consuming project.

I once went to a "dyno tune" with my C6. The tuner was able to "find" ~5hp on my LS2. Not much. Earlier, he had done a '90's Firebird with an LT1 and picked up 41 RWHP. A fantastic gain, which only means that the stock tune in that car was pretty poor.
I know that every engine is different but I'm talking about working with totally stock LT1's from 92-96, those engines should pretty much be the same. I doubt that two identical engines will need vastly different timing and A/F settings unless one is on top of Mt. Everest and the other one is "down under" in Australia. Engines that have had mods done to them will need different computer settings than a stock engine of course but my engine is still totally stock and what worked in someone else's totally stock LT-1 should more than likely work for mine too or at the very least get me close to where I should be with it.

Last edited by TheGreek!; Sep 20, 2019 at 02:25 PM.
Reply
Corvette Stories

The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts

story-0

10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love

 Joe Kucinski
story-1

Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer

 Brett Foote
story-2

10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)

 Michael S. Palmer
story-3

8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-4

10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years

 Joe Kucinski
story-5

How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972

 Joe Kucinski
story-6

Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-7

Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!

 Joe Kucinski
story-8

150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

 Joe Kucinski
story-9

8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Sep 22, 2019 | 05:15 PM
  #9  
Karl Ellwein's Avatar
Karl Ellwein
Heel & Toe
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 16
Likes: 2
From: Maryland USA
Default

A stock LT1 (1992 to 1996) factory tune is just a bit lazy on the spark advance and the shift points could be a bit higher rpm and the power enrich target at WOT is a tad rich.
That's it in a nut shell. That keeps the engine living a long life.

If you get some data logging software that will show how your engine is running right now and with the factory settings.

Most methods for performance tuning of a stock engine are data logging with wide band O2 and verifying the target air fuel is where you want it by the mass air flow meter, (MAF).
Make small changes to MAF in the PCM tune.....check trap speed. repeat. Make sure no knock retard. Push up the spark advance a tiny bit... repeat...test...repeat.

Last edited by Karl Ellwein; Sep 22, 2019 at 05:17 PM. Reason: better wording
Reply

Get notified of new replies

To LT-1 computer settings for performance





All times are GMT -4. The time now is 10:21 PM.

story-0
10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love

Slideshow: 10 ugly Corvettes that we still kinda love.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-03 10:34:17


VIEW MORE
story-1
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer

A lot of money has changed hands at the online auction house over the years.

By Brett Foote | 2026-06-03 10:21:50


VIEW MORE
story-2
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)

Slideshow: 10 great gifts Corvette enthusiasts actually want for Father's Day!

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-06-03 15:43:40


VIEW MORE
story-3
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems

Slideshow: These are the quirks, annoyances, and oddly lovable problems that every Corvette owner eventually learns to live with.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-28 09:31:39


VIEW MORE
story-4
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years

Slideshow: 10 reasons why the C6 Z06 is still a performance benchmark after 20 years.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 17:20:09


VIEW MORE
story-5
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972

Slideshow: How much horsepower every Corvette engine lost in 1972.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 16:54:53


VIEW MORE
story-6
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!

Slideshow: How to Protect A Convertible Top: 10 DOs & DON'Ts

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-03 00:00:00


VIEW MORE
story-7
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!

Slideshow: The 10 most explosive Corvettes ever built based on power-to-weight ratio.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-20 07:23:03


VIEW MORE
story-8
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

Slideshow: From C1 to C8 we compare every Corvette generation by the numbers.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-12 16:54:12


VIEW MORE
story-9
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

Slideshow: Some Corvette pace cars became collectible legends, while others perfectly captured the look and attitude of their era.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-11 09:50:51


VIEW MORE