[Z06] Z06 Tune
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 1,302
Likes: 4
From: Palo Alto CA
Z06 Tune
I met up with some guys with Corvettes in a local club over the weekend and we got to talking about dyno tuning as we were at a Dyno Day. With my current Charger, the way to do it is to buy a Diablo Predator handheld tuner. You can then use a canned tune (they offer 4 out of the box canned tunes). And if you want more, you head to a dyno tuner and they do a custom tune and load it into your Predator. Then if you want to go back to stock for SMOG or warranty you just pop the stock tune back using your handheld unit.
The guys at the meet said that with a Vette you don't get a handheld tuner, but go straight to the Dyno Tuner and have them load it directly. SO nobody out there is using anything like a Diablo Predator or Trinity in their Vettes?
The guys at the meet said that with a Vette you don't get a handheld tuner, but go straight to the Dyno Tuner and have them load it directly. SO nobody out there is using anything like a Diablo Predator or Trinity in their Vettes?
Racer
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 443
Likes: 0
From: Bay Area/Central Valley CA California
I have a Predator for my 02Z. It works alright. Most useful for tuning out CAGS and changing your fan temps. Will read codes easier then thru the DIC, and has some limited datalogging and self tuning built in.
I uninstalled it recently for a few reasons, none of which had to do with me not liking it. IMHO, this motor needs a wideband to tune properly. I don't have one, so it wasn't worth it for me to do any serious tweaking with the tables. Also, I plan to have LT's, an x-pipe and electric cutouts installed over the winter, along with a cam after that. Not something the Predator is the ideal tuner to handle. I will have a reputable shop install, dyno, AND road tune that combo.
I uninstalled it recently for a few reasons, none of which had to do with me not liking it. IMHO, this motor needs a wideband to tune properly. I don't have one, so it wasn't worth it for me to do any serious tweaking with the tables. Also, I plan to have LT's, an x-pipe and electric cutouts installed over the winter, along with a cam after that. Not something the Predator is the ideal tuner to handle. I will have a reputable shop install, dyno, AND road tune that combo.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 1,302
Likes: 4
From: Palo Alto CA
I have a Predator for my 02Z. It works alright. Most useful for tuning out CAGS and changing your fan temps. Will read codes easier then thru the DIC, and has some limited datalogging and self tuning built in.
I uninstalled it recently for a few reasons, none of which had to do with me not liking it. IMHO, this motor needs a wideband to tune properly. I don't have one, so it wasn't worth it for me to do any serious tweaking with the tables. Also, I plan to have LT's, an x-pipe and electric cutouts installed over the winter, along with a cam after that. Not something the Predator is the ideal tuner to handle. I will have a reputable shop install, dyno, AND road tune that combo.
I uninstalled it recently for a few reasons, none of which had to do with me not liking it. IMHO, this motor needs a wideband to tune properly. I don't have one, so it wasn't worth it for me to do any serious tweaking with the tables. Also, I plan to have LT's, an x-pipe and electric cutouts installed over the winter, along with a cam after that. Not something the Predator is the ideal tuner to handle. I will have a reputable shop install, dyno, AND road tune that combo.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 20,030
Likes: 289
From: Wylie TX --> Less is More, except under the hood !
My tuner has my tune on file, and has tweaked it for me here and there for over 5 years. (Intake/Heads/Cam/Headers etc...)
I need to get that tune file to save it on my home computer (in case his file gets lost).
There is no reason to go back to a stock tune for emissions. I would damage my motor very quickly if I went back to a stock tune...
Its a bit of a waste spending money on a tune on a stock car. I would wait till you add headers, and an intake. Then you NEED a tune because you will likely be running too lean.
Toque
I need to get that tune file to save it on my home computer (in case his file gets lost).
There is no reason to go back to a stock tune for emissions. I would damage my motor very quickly if I went back to a stock tune...
Its a bit of a waste spending money on a tune on a stock car. I would wait till you add headers, and an intake. Then you NEED a tune because you will likely be running too lean.
Toque
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 1,302
Likes: 4
From: Palo Alto CA
My tuner has my tune on file, and has tweaked it for me here and there for over 5 years. (Intake/Heads/Cam/Headers etc...)
I need to get that tune file to save it on my home computer (in case his file gets lost).
There is no reason to go back to a stock tune for emissions. I would damage my motor very quickly if I went back to a stock tune...
Its a bit of a waste spending money on a tune on a stock car. I would wait till you add headers, and an intake. Then you NEED a tune because you will likely be running too lean.
Toque
I need to get that tune file to save it on my home computer (in case his file gets lost).
There is no reason to go back to a stock tune for emissions. I would damage my motor very quickly if I went back to a stock tune...
Its a bit of a waste spending money on a tune on a stock car. I would wait till you add headers, and an intake. Then you NEED a tune because you will likely be running too lean.
Toque
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 248
Likes: 1
From: TX
SCT & Diabolo are tuning device that hold multiple tunes and can tweak a few perameters with in the tune.
Its more common with vettes to take the car to a dyno tuner, most use a software called HP tuners they hook there computer to your car and adjustments from there and have your tune save in there computer.
Trust me I wondered the same, I had a nitrous mustang and had 3 tunes saved on my SCT that I could switch pretty quick: Street tune, Nitrous tune, 1/4 mile tune. On the Nitrous tune the car ran sluggish cause of timing tooken out...so I would only upload it when needed. I would hate to go to the shop to switch tunes each time I needed to.
Its more common with vettes to take the car to a dyno tuner, most use a software called HP tuners they hook there computer to your car and adjustments from there and have your tune save in there computer.
Trust me I wondered the same, I had a nitrous mustang and had 3 tunes saved on my SCT that I could switch pretty quick: Street tune, Nitrous tune, 1/4 mile tune. On the Nitrous tune the car ran sluggish cause of timing tooken out...so I would only upload it when needed. I would hate to go to the shop to switch tunes each time I needed to.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 2,155
Likes: 56
From: Escondido CA
had my 04 tuned last yr..was well worth it...no headers since i live in kaliforneia..with the CAI(blackwing), air bridge, and granatelli MAS, and cat back
did almost 380 to the rear wheels..well worth the tune..i figure almost 28-30 rwhp bump...and it passes smog..
bud
did almost 380 to the rear wheels..well worth the tune..i figure almost 28-30 rwhp bump...and it passes smog..
bud
Last edited by bud miller; Aug 4, 2011 at 07:54 PM.
Racer
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 443
Likes: 0
From: Bay Area/Central Valley CA California
I think it was maybe 10hp, but I had no before dyno to compare it to. My AFR was pretty rich, but I was just doing the dyno to make sure the tune was safe enough. I de-married the Predator shortly after. A real tune with a wideband is the only way I'll go now, especially as it seems the LS6 gets fickle with bad AFR's
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Intermediate
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 31
Likes: 0
I think it was maybe 10hp, but I had no before dyno to compare it to. My AFR was pretty rich, but I was just doing the dyno to make sure the tune was safe enough. I de-married the Predator shortly after. A real tune with a wideband is the only way I'll go now, especially as it seems the LS6 gets fickle with bad AFR's
Racer
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 443
Likes: 0
From: Bay Area/Central Valley CA California
The Predator, while useful, is very limited in it's tuning ability. I believe that there are professional tuners that can dyno tune you with a wideband, and then load a more comprehensive tune into the Predator, but you yourself have very basic tuning with just the handheld.
Racer
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 443
Likes: 0
From: Bay Area/Central Valley CA California
The OEM O2 sensors in the exhaust are there mainly for emissions control, to give catalytic efficiency to the computer. When tuning, you need a wideband O2 sensor which will give you much finer resolution and sensitivity to dial in your AFR's.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 1,302
Likes: 4
From: Palo Alto CA
I guess the Dodge world is just different. If you want to modify your Charger at all, a Predator is pretty much required. If you look at any supercharger kit out there for a Modern Charger, every one comes with a Predator. When you get a custom tune, they use the Predator hooked up to a laptop and dyno.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 1,137
Likes: 4
From: Indianapolis Indiana
St. Jude Donor '13, '15, ‘18, '21
I would not plan on getting much out of a can tune, and would not run a can tune on anything more then a CAI and catback. If you want a tune go to a tuner that has a dyno.
