dyno tune after headers?
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2004
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From: Utah
dyno tune after headers?
I know many recommend getting a dynotune after long tube headers have been installed. Is getting an ls1 edit the same thing? (I don't know if that's a dumb question or not). If it is worthwhile, does anybody know who does this in Utah?
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I'm thinking it is the same, as long as they put it on a dyno when doing the computer fine tuning. Maybe someone will give a more definitive answer.
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2004
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From: Austin, Texas
LS1edit is the software that tuners use to modify the engine/transmission-(A4) parameters. Modifying these parameters while running on a dyno will allow them to optimize your set up for power vrs. reliability.
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From: Houston, Tx Got traction?
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Ls1 edit, or Hp tuners, will be used to program your car while on the dyno, and Yes i highly recommend a dyno tune after headers, you can get away without one, but you won't realize your true HP gains without one
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From: Queens, New York Life begins at 183 mph....
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I would definitely have it done at the same time. Let me tell you my experience. Before having my headers put in, I only had a blackwing and CF Airbridge installed. I had noticed that my vette was pinging a bit but it wasn't anything severe. When I took my vette to have a set of kooks LT headers installed, I asked my tuners to also do the LS1-edit dynotune as well. After installing the headers, they put my vette on the dyno to get a base reading. I heard her pinging like crazy, she was running terribly. That dyno came in at 174 rwhp with the Air fuel ratio hitting as high as 15.0!!! They immediately hooked up the PCM to the LS1-edit software and plugged away. After a few hours, and a few more dyno runs, she came in at 322 rwhp and 328 rwtq!!! When I drove her for the first time, it was as if they had given me a whole new vette!!! She was purring perfectly had a ton of more pull off the line. Even with the active handling, she could get loose, even on a rolling start. I was so happy with the work done on my baby. I think a tune is essential when doing header mods, if you want to really get your money's worth.
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 108
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From: Utah
In Utah??
I have yet to find a shop in the area that specializes in tuning the
LS1. Modern garage in Murray Ut. has the dyno. But no one there seems to know what software they have or what they reflash the computer with. Now in your end of the Wasatch(Orem) there is a shop called 'the torque shop' (or something close to that). The guy has a dyno that will give you a h/p and torque curve but no way to monitor, or analyize the car while it is running on the machine. He said I should bring the predator down there and use it for reflashing the computer then check the results with his dyno, it sounds interesting but with no real time info on the air to fuel ratio I don't know if it would do me any good. So if there is a shop in Utah I'd like to hear about it.
LS1. Modern garage in Murray Ut. has the dyno. But no one there seems to know what software they have or what they reflash the computer with. Now in your end of the Wasatch(Orem) there is a shop called 'the torque shop' (or something close to that). The guy has a dyno that will give you a h/p and torque curve but no way to monitor, or analyize the car while it is running on the machine. He said I should bring the predator down there and use it for reflashing the computer then check the results with his dyno, it sounds interesting but with no real time info on the air to fuel ratio I don't know if it would do me any good. So if there is a shop in Utah I'd like to hear about it.
Last edited by Apollo's Chariot; Nov 30, 2004 at 05:59 PM. Reason: spelling
Le Mans Master
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From: Madison (Huntsville) Alabama
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I would be very leery about having a shop do the LS1 edit unless I was very sure they knew exactly what they were doing. As far as I know, there's not one in my town, with the closest being a forum sponsor in Marietta (Atlanta suburb), Georgia. Competent tuners must be few and far between.
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2004
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From: Utah
Originally Posted by RocketDawg
I would be very leery about having a shop do the LS1 edit unless I was very sure they knew exactly what they were doing. As far as I know, there's not one in my town, with the closest being a forum sponsor in Marietta (Atlanta suburb), Georgia. Competent tuners must be few and far between.
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2004
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From: Madison (Huntsville) Alabama
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St. Jude Donor '09
Doesn't a dynotune cost something like $500? You'd want things to be perfect for that, and you sure wouldn't want them to make things worse. Nothing in Salt Lake City? Of course, Utah is pretty big in area ... might be a long drive. 
Racer
Joined: May 2001
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From: Bryn Mawr PA
If you a lap top and a copy of Autotap (or similar) program, do a couple of scans to baseline your ride.
This should give you a pretty good idea of what state of tune you are in, fuel trims etc.
After you scan and if your trims are not where they should be, you could buy a MAF-T which allows you to sent the fuel trims yourself.
Re-scan and see where you are at. This forum will give you a ton of advice in this area. When you get your ride close to accepted norms, go to a local dyno and vary the WOT pot to get your final trims perfect.
This is what I did and my final tune gave me 326 rwhp and 330 torque on a 73K 99FRC. I could not not be more pleased!
This should give you a pretty good idea of what state of tune you are in, fuel trims etc.
After you scan and if your trims are not where they should be, you could buy a MAF-T which allows you to sent the fuel trims yourself.
Re-scan and see where you are at. This forum will give you a ton of advice in this area. When you get your ride close to accepted norms, go to a local dyno and vary the WOT pot to get your final trims perfect.
This is what I did and my final tune gave me 326 rwhp and 330 torque on a 73K 99FRC. I could not not be more pleased!
