Notices
C5 General General C5 Corvette and C5 Z06 Discussion not covered in Tech

Bolt ons & Tune ?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Feb 3, 2007 | 10:40 AM
  #1  
81c3's Avatar
81c3
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 8,575
Likes: 961
From: Communist Colorado
Default Bolt ons & Tune ?

If I bolt on some new headers, change the air intake, etc., if I dont get the car tuned will it run like crap? Also, if you do a bolt on, say the headers, and need to wait a couple of months to do another mod, will it be ok or run chitty? Wanting to do mods, but cant afford to keep retuning after each one. Can I drive the car doing the mods and then when theyre all done, get the tune once?

Does that make sense?
Reply
Old Feb 3, 2007 | 10:57 AM
  #2  
chris308's Avatar
chris308
Melting Slicks
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 2,721
Likes: 104
From: Florida
Default

I recently put on an air intake and currently waiting for my catback to get here, and dont plan on tuning it until a couple months when i'm ready to finish the exhaust with headers and x-pipe. My car drives fine.

I think if you eliminate parts like the cats and o2 sensors, you will need the tune. Otherwise it shouldn't hurt nothing.
Reply
Old Feb 3, 2007 | 11:05 AM
  #3  
mph1972's Avatar
mph1972
Race Director
Supporting Lifetime
20 Year Member
 
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 16,135
Likes: 5
From: Newberry FL
Cruise-In VIII Veteran
St. Jude Donor '07
Default

The answer to your question is, "No, your car will NOT run like 'poop'."

As long as you install things correctly, the car is going to run fine, you will more than likely throw a code, but that depends on if you remove the air system. I have installed a few sets of headers on both my car and friends and things were fine. I drove my car around for a few months with no tune on a header install and things were okay. I will admit, that a good tune will maximize the affect headers will give you.

Hope this helps.

Micah
Reply
Old Feb 3, 2007 | 11:18 AM
  #4  
gredmer's Avatar
gredmer
Racer
 
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 307
Likes: 0
From: Perry Hall MD
Default

You don't need a tune for air intake and exhaust. You'd be wasting your money unless you do internal engine work like cam or heads.
A very reputable tuner told me as long as the exhaust tips show normal carbon the engine is fine. This came about as I was trying to schedule a $800.00 tune. He was honest and said it wasn't needed.
Reply
Old Feb 3, 2007 | 02:08 PM
  #5  
81c3's Avatar
81c3
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 8,575
Likes: 961
From: Communist Colorado
Default

So headers wont need a tune? I have an 02 Z, so I was thinking of leaving the intake alone, but the headers I'd like. A cat back isnt something I'd want either. I feel the stock Ti is fine.
Reply
Old Feb 3, 2007 | 03:11 PM
  #6  
FrankTank's Avatar
FrankTank
Race Director
20 Year Member
Community Builder
All Eyes On Me
Liked
 
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 19,459
Likes: 48
From: Schaumburg IL
CI 7-8-9-11 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '06-'10, '13
Default

The car will run fine, I drove my car for a year with headers, intake and no tune...since I knew I was going to do heads/cam package the follwoing year and tune then. The car will throw a cat code, but it won't effect the performance in the sense it will run crappy. Getting the Tune will help you get more performance out of the mods you put on. The only other thing to consider is passing emissions in your state (if you have emissions)...most states if you throw a code you will fail emmissions, but again depends on the state.
Reply
Old Feb 3, 2007 | 03:15 PM
  #7  
wamara's Avatar
wamara
Le Mans Master
25 Year Member
All Eyes On Me
Liked
Loved
 
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 6,101
Likes: 44
From: ABQ NM
Cruise-In II Veteran
Default

Originally Posted by 81c3
So headers wont need a tune? I have an 02 Z, so I was thinking of leaving the intake alone, but the headers I'd like. A cat back isnt something I'd want either. I feel the stock Ti is fine.
You will need a tune if you wish to maximize the additional hp headers will give you. You don't need it in the sense that you will otherwise hurt the car.
Reply
Old Feb 3, 2007 | 03:33 PM
  #8  
Vetteman Jack's Avatar
Vetteman Jack
Administrator
Supporting Lifetime
Veteran: Navy
St. Jude 20 Year Donor
25 Year Member
Veteran: Reserves
 
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 368,319
Likes: 24,777
From: In a parallel universe. Currently own 2014 Stingray Coupe.
C7 of the Year - Modified Finalist 2021
MO Events Coordinator
St. Jude Co-Organizer
St. Jude Donor '03 thru '25
NCM Sinkhole Donor
CI 5, 8 & 11 Veteran
Default

If you want to maximize the effects of the headers, then get the tune. But you can drive it around for a while with no adverse effects.
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 Feb 3, 2007 | 03:39 PM
  #9  
STLKillerC5's Avatar
STLKillerC5
Pro
15 Year Member
 
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 593
Likes: 12
From: Maryland Heights MO
Default

Spending the money to get a tune after only installing an intake and headers is a waste. Gains will be minimal. A tune is only needed after head/cam/injector changes.
Reply
Old Feb 3, 2007 | 03:42 PM
  #10  
DevilDog II's Avatar
DevilDog II
Race Director
20 Year Member
Veteran: Marine Corps
 
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 10,789
Likes: 894
From: Northern Illinois
Oldtimer
Default

Originally Posted by STLKillerC5
Spending the money to get a tune after only installing an intake and headers is a waste. Gains will be minimal. A tune is only needed after head/cam/injector changes.
Your car will run just fine without a tune.
Reply
Old Feb 3, 2007 | 04:41 PM
  #11  
spiral04's Avatar
spiral04
Melting Slicks
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 2,983
Likes: 6
From: Redondo Beach Ca
Default

I have headers, intake ,exhaust and the car was tuned(July '06). I took it in for warranty work this past Thursday and the dealer reflashed my computer, taking out the custom tune. The car is running fine now, but I definitely notice the difference without the tune. Monday I am having the tuner(Doug @ LAPD) put back in the tune. When you get the chance, I would tune it. Hopefully I will soon put in heads and a cam and will have Doug retune for the new mods. Tuning a car is worth it as I saw a brand new stock Z06 get about 25 extra ponies on Thursday.
Reply

Get notified of new replies

To Bolt ons & Tune ?





All times are GMT -4. The time now is 02:06 AM.

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