Tuning education.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 897
Likes: 0
From: My Own Private Idaho
Tuning education.
I know it is too much to expect a book on OBDII specific PCM file editing, but what are your recommendations for learning to tune a car, e.g. the parms that can be edited and what function they perform.
How does one learn this stuff? Trial and error?
[Modified by tailgunner, 5:51 PM 1/16/2004]
How does one learn this stuff? Trial and error?
[Modified by tailgunner, 5:51 PM 1/16/2004]
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 15,344
Likes: 4,009
From: Texas
Re: Tuning education. (tailgunner)
Bascially read everything you can get your hands on. Search the web. Join the main LT1 Edit mailing list and also search the archives. The LT1 Edit website has a "tutorial" that tells what the software changes. Although it's for the OBD I version, the OBD II version is very close. Focus on understanding idle and part throttle fuel trims and then progress into timing and WOT. The more mods you make to your car, the more complicated the tuning can become.
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 1,997
Likes: 1
From: Lake Ozark MO
Re: Tuning education. (tailgunner)
Remember this mantra, "It's incredibly difficult to outsmart a gaggle of engineers". GM paid a crap-load to a large team of engineers to make sure their engine would perform the way they claimed.
This statement may look stupid but what it means is to take tuning modifications in "small digestible bites".
Only do what is necessary to make your engine run well. You can't outsmart the original designers. They've done a good job.
You can only match the PCM to the mods you've done. Since the PCM is well adjusted, you'll have to make pretty major engine changes to confuse it. Anything less than a cam change means that there is no use in modifying the PCM.
As far as learning goes, read "How to Understand, Service, and Modify Corvette Fuel Injection & Electronic Engine Management" by Charles O. Probst. It's a solid primer. The rest you can search on this forum.
Good luck :)
[Modified by Dan Parker '96, 12:06 AM 1/17/2004]
This statement may look stupid but what it means is to take tuning modifications in "small digestible bites".
Only do what is necessary to make your engine run well. You can't outsmart the original designers. They've done a good job.
You can only match the PCM to the mods you've done. Since the PCM is well adjusted, you'll have to make pretty major engine changes to confuse it. Anything less than a cam change means that there is no use in modifying the PCM.
As far as learning goes, read "How to Understand, Service, and Modify Corvette Fuel Injection & Electronic Engine Management" by Charles O. Probst. It's a solid primer. The rest you can search on this forum.
Good luck :)
[Modified by Dan Parker '96, 12:06 AM 1/17/2004]
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 897
Likes: 0
From: My Own Private Idaho
Re: Tuning education.
For anyone else interested......I found this website that links to the forums that 96GS007 referred to, and has good info for the beginner. http://lt1edit.schube.com/
I recently added the hotcam so I am interested in code 'scannage'
and fuel trim.
Thanks. :cheers:
I recently added the hotcam so I am interested in code 'scannage'
and fuel trim.
Thanks. :cheers:
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 8,596
Likes: 19
From: Portland Oregon
Re: Tuning education. (tailgunner)
Also check out the thirdgen.org website under the DIY Prom forums. There is a bunch of knowledge there and information on the older ECM stuff with removable proms. Also check out the DIY EFI website theres lots to learn there as well.
http://www.thirdgen.org/techbb2/foru...?s=&forumid=16
http://www.diy-efi.org/gmecm/
Yes, lots of its is older prom style ECMs vs the newer flash programmed PCMs but the basic operations and theory is all the same between the early and late model controllers.
http://www.thirdgen.org/techbb2/foru...?s=&forumid=16
http://www.diy-efi.org/gmecm/
Yes, lots of its is older prom style ECMs vs the newer flash programmed PCMs but the basic operations and theory is all the same between the early and late model controllers.
