Mail order tune for 96 LT4
Advanced
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 85
Likes: 4
From: Fort Worth Texas
I have used both mail order tuners mentioned on a 96 Trans am LT1.
First i sent it off to LT1pcmtuning and the car ran like crap and the idle was at around 1500 and would gradually come down under 1000 after about 10 seconds of letting off the gas. Sent it off to PCM's for less and the tune was corrected with good idle and performance.
First i sent it off to LT1pcmtuning and the car ran like crap and the idle was at around 1500 and would gradually come down under 1000 after about 10 seconds of letting off the gas. Sent it off to PCM's for less and the tune was corrected with good idle and performance.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 1,060
Likes: 80
From: Fort Mill, SC
To the OP: If you dig around deep, and I do mean deep.. like as in lt1 forums (not corvette) you may find an lt4 tune. I didnt read this whole thread so if someone else said it, Im sorry but the only "tune" to be made on a stock setup is to remove some of the rich (or lean, I forget now) out of the high rpm area.
I own a DST tuner.. all i can say is be careful and read a lot before you do so.. like keep an adequate battery charger on at all times for one or you will wind up with a brick. I ended up socketting mine as I got tired of bricking my ECMs.
FWIW, I have a stock grand sport tune if anyone needs it.
Bottom line, you have very little to gain if you are stock and isnt worth the hassle.. Youd never feel seat of your pants except from wishful thinking.
Just keep what you have an enjoy it, GM did its best to gain every single HP out of these motors with all the tree hugger stuff required at the time. They desperately needed high HP to sell these cars.
My opinion based on quite a bit of research.. knowing this forum someone will say something nasty.. So I wont even subscribe.
I own a DST tuner.. all i can say is be careful and read a lot before you do so.. like keep an adequate battery charger on at all times for one or you will wind up with a brick. I ended up socketting mine as I got tired of bricking my ECMs.
FWIW, I have a stock grand sport tune if anyone needs it.
Bottom line, you have very little to gain if you are stock and isnt worth the hassle.. Youd never feel seat of your pants except from wishful thinking.
Just keep what you have an enjoy it, GM did its best to gain every single HP out of these motors with all the tree hugger stuff required at the time. They desperately needed high HP to sell these cars.
My opinion based on quite a bit of research.. knowing this forum someone will say something nasty.. So I wont even subscribe.
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 156
Likes: 36
From: Cleveland Ohio
You can change the thermostat and the fans but you won't get any power gains from that. Remember, the factory designed these cars to run in that temp range. GM isn't going to let a car run at a temp that does long term damage to the engine. You won't do any damage changing the thermostat or the fans but unless you are doing it for something like a racing application it isn't necessary.
Are you seeing spikes in temp? Or just don't like seeing the gauge that high in general? You should see 190-200* driving around and 215-230* idling. Fans come on around 225-230*. Coolant doesn't start to boil and become dangerous until 260*.
BTW, the gauge is only a guestimate-the more accurate temp is found when you cycle through the digital gauge. When is the last time the coolant was flushed? That can help temp control as well, besides being a good idea for durability.
Are you seeing spikes in temp? Or just don't like seeing the gauge that high in general? You should see 190-200* driving around and 215-230* idling. Fans come on around 225-230*. Coolant doesn't start to boil and become dangerous until 260*.
BTW, the gauge is only a guestimate-the more accurate temp is found when you cycle through the digital gauge. When is the last time the coolant was flushed? That can help temp control as well, besides being a good idea for durability.
Last edited by djpink889; Jan 5, 2022 at 08:24 AM.
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 22
Likes: 2
I didn’t know because I was curious if under hood temps were cooler if it led to less heat soak and slightly cooler air going into motor. BTW what about TB Bypass, is it worth doing or would you just leave it alone?
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 4,648
Likes: 1,059
From: N.E. Ohio OH
Finalist 2020 C4 of the Year - Modified
Here is the "Oh By The Way" statement. Jet DST runs best and most reliably on a dedicated Windows XP computer. You CAN get it running under "Compatibility" modes. See this PDF from Jet
https://jetchip.com/wp-content/uploa...structions.pdf
I have had it crash just messing around with the software on a Win 7 box. You have to be very careful with it.
https://jetchip.com/wp-content/uploa...structions.pdf
I have had it crash just messing around with the software on a Win 7 box. You have to be very careful with it.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 6,119
Likes: 1,997
From: St. Charles MO
Here is the "Oh By The Way" statement. Jet DST runs best and most reliably on a dedicated Windows XP computer. You CAN get it running under "Compatibility" modes. See this PDF from Jet
https://jetchip.com/wp-content/uploa...structions.pdf
I have had it crash just messing around with the software on a Win 7 box. You have to be very careful with it.
https://jetchip.com/wp-content/uploa...structions.pdf
I have had it crash just messing around with the software on a Win 7 box. You have to be very careful with it.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 156
Likes: 36
From: Cleveland Ohio
If you want any real power gains you have to do cam/head work. Which then requires tuning and all the other parts that then become weak points. It becomes a money pit really quickly. Not saying it's a waste but you really need to be commited to the time and money it takes to make any noticeable power. The LT4 is a really solid engine that has a great, fun rev range.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 21,543
Likes: 3,216
From: Park City Utah
that if you're looking for "real" gains, you'll need heads/cam/tune, or forced induction, etc.You can change the thermostat and the fans but you won't get any power gains from that. Remember, the factory designed these cars to run in that temp range. GM isn't going to let a car run at a temp that does long term damage to the engine. You won't do any damage changing the thermostat or the fans but unless you are doing it for something like a racing application it isn't necessary.
When is the last time the coolant was flushed? That can help temp control as well, besides being a good idea for durability.
When is the last time the coolant was flushed? That can help temp control as well, besides being a good idea for durability.
As for any claims that there is no power in temps, well, that ain't true. Not that there are huge gains, but there ARE gains in running lower temps....Even with out exploiting the greatest benefits, which is the possibility of running more timing! HERE IS A THREAD, on that subject, with multiple dyno tests shown.
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 4,648
Likes: 1,059
From: N.E. Ohio OH
Finalist 2020 C4 of the Year - Modified
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 4,648
Likes: 1,059
From: N.E. Ohio OH
Finalist 2020 C4 of the Year - Modified