Tuning after headers?
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 575
Likes: 0
From: Ho-Ho-Kus, NJ
Tuning after headers?
How many of you guys had tuning done right after your header install?
I am trying to figure out if I should get the tuning done at the time of install or if I will be fine without it. The thing is I plan on adding a cam down the road, except I am not sure HOW soon this will be after the exhaust. I obviously don't want to pay for a tune twice if I can avoid it, so how many of you guys would recommend getting the tune done now as opposed to waiting...?
(I plan on getting wheels and tires next, so the cam could be a bit down the road...)
-Mike
I am trying to figure out if I should get the tuning done at the time of install or if I will be fine without it. The thing is I plan on adding a cam down the road, except I am not sure HOW soon this will be after the exhaust. I obviously don't want to pay for a tune twice if I can avoid it, so how many of you guys would recommend getting the tune done now as opposed to waiting...?
(I plan on getting wheels and tires next, so the cam could be a bit down the road...)
-Mike
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 575
Likes: 0
From: Ho-Ho-Kus, NJ
Chris @ ECS gave me a great price on a full street tune with the headers installed, so I am trying to decide what to do.
For me, it could be up to a year before I get a cam installed, so what advice do you guys have?
For me, it could be up to a year before I get a cam installed, so what advice do you guys have?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 2,322
Likes: 2
From: New York NY
Cruise-In VI Veteran
St. Jude Donor '05
its most cost effective to wait until you are done with all your mods. although a lot of tuners have a one time big fee of say 500 bucks for the initial tune and then you only pay for dyno time for any subsequent tunes, which will generally cost you around 100 bucks. i was running a little lean after my catback exhaust was installed and then a little rich after my headers were installed. no big deal if you wait to get a tune, however, you just wont be maximizing your horsepower in the interim.
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 575
Likes: 0
From: Ho-Ho-Kus, NJ
its most cost effective to wait until you are done with all your mods. although a lot of tuners have a one time big fee of say 500 bucks for the initial tune and then you only pay for dyno time for any subsequent tunes, which will generally cost you around 100 bucks. i was running a little lean after my catback exhaust was installed and then a little rich after my headers were installed. no big deal if you wait to get a tune, however, you just wont be maximizing your horsepower in the interim.
I am still in school, so after the cam, realistically, I won't be doing any other engine mods for quite some time...
Therefore I think for me it is better to wait for the cam, instead of paying for a tune twice.
I think it makes sense in general that if you are going to do an exhaust first then a cam it would be better to wait. Because like I said, the cam requires a tune, so why waste the money twice.
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 3,675
Likes: 58
From: Hayward (Bay Area) CA
with the answer posted here. I've heard it many times now. You won't get "full benefit" without the tune, but it won't hurt anything yet. Get a tune after the cam install... Keep us posted on your cam choice... 
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: Feb 2005
Posts: 169
Likes: 0
From: Milford Michigan
If all your installing is headers and a catback system you do not need a tune. The vette is a mass flow car and the computer is more than capable of recalibrating itself with this type of mod. I've been running for one year with no problems. Occasionally It'll throw a cat effeciency code but it is easy to reset. You can also get this type of code edited out for just a few bucks. My .02 cents worth.
Pro
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 593
Likes: 12
From: Maryland Heights MO
I agree. You do not need a tune after installing headers and exhaust. Save your money and do it after the cam install. Use the tune money you're saving towards a set of heads and do the full heads/cam job!!! You know that after you do the cam you're gonna want heads, so I recommend doing it all at the same time. If you do heads, your cam selection needs to be worked together with it. Mods are never ending!!!
I'm also curious what cam you're going with.
I'm also curious what cam you're going with.
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 575
Likes: 0
From: Ho-Ho-Kus, NJ
I agree. You do not need a tune after installing headers and exhaust. Save your money and do it after the cam install. Use the tune money you're saving towards a set of heads and do the full heads/cam job!!! You know that after you do the cam you're gonna want heads, so I recommend doing it all at the same time. If you do heads, your cam selection needs to be worked together with it. Mods are never ending!!!
I'm also curious what cam you're going with.
I'm also curious what cam you're going with.
If I did a cam alone with stock heads, it is going to be huge. Biggest I can go without flycuts. Somewhere along the lines of the G5X4.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 2,608
Likes: 7
From: the GOCC are everywhere, even back from "band camp"
I had the AR headers & exhaust system put on. (The American Racing headers are beautifully engineered and fabricated). Shortly afterwards I had it tuned. My A/F was all messed up. Could have been before headers too, but I'm glad I didn't wait. I would tune it now, and tune it again after the cam install. Like others said, maybe there would be a discount on re-tunes.
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 575
Likes: 0
From: Ho-Ho-Kus, NJ
I had the AR headers & exhaust system put on. (The American Racing headers are beautifully engineered and fabricated). Shortly afterwards I had it tuned. My A/F was all messed up. Could have been before headers too, but I'm glad I didn't wait. I would tune it now, and tune it again after the cam install. Like others said, maybe there would be a discount on re-tunes.
If I was going to wait to do an H/C package, I might as well get it tuned now, because if I went that route, after the exhaust I want to get some wheels and tires, and some dress-up, before an H/C package.
Dammit...
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 30,897
Likes: 45
From: Picking on the weakest kid in the yard.
I have the headers done but no tune yet. My check engine light stays on because I eliminated the AIR pump system. But I have not gotten the rear O2 sensor codes yet, which is suprising. Sometimes, right after the car is restarted when already hot, and under part throttle, low RPM acceleration, it will stumble a bit. And it did not do that before. So I wouldn't want to go years without a tune.
Race Director
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 19,459
Likes: 48
From: Schaumburg IL
CI 7-8-9-11 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '06-'10, '13
Err... Now I don't know what to do. I was planning on getting the exhaust and a cam, but I think I really need to figure out which direction I want to do first. This is because if I decided to just build up the 346, then I would want to do an H/C package together, not just a cam. But if I did a new engine or FI, I would be ultimately wasting money and time.
If I was going to wait to do an H/C package, I might as well get it tuned now, because if I went that route, after the exhaust I want to get some wheels and tires, and some dress-up, before an H/C package.
Dammit...
If I was going to wait to do an H/C package, I might as well get it tuned now, because if I went that route, after the exhaust I want to get some wheels and tires, and some dress-up, before an H/C package.
Dammit...
Now, if you have money , and want to waste a bit, then get the tune after the headers, you'll get some gain, but like the rest have said, you'll have to tune no matter what once you start getting into cam/heads.
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 575
Likes: 0
From: Ho-Ho-Kus, NJ
See the thing is I am pretty sure I am going to go with a new block with some more cubes and stay N/A. I have a Vert. will never really see the track, so 550 N/A horses will get the job done for me.
With that being said, after the exhaust, I definitely want to get some wheels and tires, and maybe some other little dressy stuff.
If I wanted to do the engine swap, its going to cost a bit, which will take time for me to get the money for. Therefore, after the exhaust, it will probably be a WHILE before I get anything else...
Therefore I am thinking I should probably get it tuned...?
With that being said, after the exhaust, I definitely want to get some wheels and tires, and maybe some other little dressy stuff.
If I wanted to do the engine swap, its going to cost a bit, which will take time for me to get the money for. Therefore, after the exhaust, it will probably be a WHILE before I get anything else...
Therefore I am thinking I should probably get it tuned...?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 2,586
Likes: 2
From: Bardstown Kentucky
When I went to long tubes I switched the 02 sensors to rear 2002 Z06 sensors. It requires a little work but the 02's have better heaters in them and warm up faster than the stockers. When you go to long-tubes the 02's move down and it takes a little longer to warm them up. I personally had a lot of issues after going to long-tubes with the stock tune and sensors. My opinion would be the sensors and see what happens, if you have any issues get the tune. The car is much easier to tune now that I have the new 02's in.
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 140
Likes: 0
From: Toms River NJ
wow i too was in this situation but when i went to ecs and spoke with chris and heard some with the borla stingers and the cam kit and all you get with the cam kit i originally told him just headers x pipe and stiingers an vavaram air intak went home and could'nt sleep! called the next morning and told him to do the cam you get alot with the cam kit! i had to bite the bullet and spend a little more than i intended and im soooo glad i did i LOVE the work they did!!!