Okay, I have been searching around the forum and haven't exactly found what I need. What the deal is...

I have a 2003 ZO6 with a VARARAM on it.

Installing LT headers/X-pipe, no cats.

Will not be able to get it tuned right away, due limited tuning options on Hawaii. I know I will not be maximizing the performance gains until they are tuned, but what about driving it? I am certain I will loose some mpg, but I really don't think (not that I can find), that it will have ill effects. I will expect codes until a tune is performed and I can live with that.

Believe Vengence Racing maybe coming out to tune soon, but until I get it tuned, what are your opinions.

I don't need BS like, "You can't or shouldn't drive your car." I know folks that have put some serious miles on similar setups without blowing anything up.

Thanks in advance,

Micah

 

I have a 2000 C5 and did all the bolt ons from vararam to the GHLs at once and didnt have it tuned for a year. At the year mark, I had ECS install a cam, then tune the car.

My car ran fine without a tune with all the bolt ons. I never threw a code. I didnt notice any great performance, but the car sounded better.

Granted the car would run better with a tune (with or without the bolt ons ), but you'll be fine. Try and grab a mail order tune.

On the other side of the coin, Ive read on here where guys thrown a couple codes after the bolt ons with out a tune, but I did not.

 

I would be happy to mail order tune for that for with our $149 special if you do not have a tuner local.



.

 

Would it be something I can use the HPTuners program with and upload it? If so, I maybe giving you a call.

 

Yes you can, I recently got all my HP tuners equipment back up and running since many have single user additions. You can e-mail me the file and I'll tweak and send back. I should make a post on that to notify others.

thanks, Doug

 

Thanks. I maybe adding 42 lbs injectors, so I will definitely need a baseline tune to begin with. I have a buddy here that seems to know a thing or two, but I figure I will end up calling you. Until I figure out what I am doing. Thanks for the help/suggestion/recommendation/etc.

Micah

 

Yes you should!

 

Micah,

I saw your post over on the HP Tuners website... you shouldn't have a problem with the long tubes and the stock tune. (I know I didn't... and I have a Vararam, too.) Your car might initially run lean, but your O2 sensors will pick that up and start making corrections via the short and long term fuel trims. Figure 30 minutes to an hour of mixed driving and you should be good to go.

If you get yourself a wideband, you can get into HP Tuners and tune your car yourself. I know it's a steep learning curve, but there are people willing to help you if you are willing to do some reading and ask questions. People have written up guides that help you understand what each process does and why... and there are books out there that really help explain what's going on.

I'm curious as to why you are upgrading your injectors? Do you plan to switch to E85 or do a head/cam swap? Are your current injectors anywhere near their maximum?

 

Thanks for the post. I am getting alot of feedback similar to yours. My buddy ran LG LTs on his C5 vert for 2 plus years and no tune and then his C6 vert with LG LTs for 60K prior to getting it tuned.

I am not going to be putting the injectors on immediately, was considering it, but right now it is going to be overkill. I do plan on a CAM setup, but that is going to be down the road.

I have the HPTuners software and tuning equipment coming. A buddy is letting me use his and he is giving me credits. I have printed out some useful guides to get me started. I am just going to take my time at first and take baby steps knowing that my car isn't going to blow up driving this setup without a tune (without the injectors on installed).

Again, thanks for the post!

 

I installed ARH set including high flow cat X-pipe and have thrown codes 420 and 430....right and left bank, low efficiency. I'm told this is because the 02s are further back than original. This still after 220 miles.

Good luck!

 

Hi---I agree that using 42 lb injectors is an overkill--even if they are 4 bar-- if they are a 3 bar injectors that would make them about 45 lbs in a C5 !!!
Too large of an injector will really make it difficult to tune for idle and around town driving-- My car is arond 390-400 RWHP with stock 28 lb injectors--they work fine My duty cylces sometimes go up to 92-95% at the end of a drag racing pass but only briefly--As long as I don't go road racing under contant WOT throttle and let them cool off between drag runs they are fine---idles and runs great around town-
AND your car will run OK without a tune--LT's always make it run RICH at P/T or closed loop so no risk of a lean down--BUT just remember that the further back 02 bung locations on the LT headers from the stock manifolds make the 02's give false readings---Even though your 02's are correcting the AFR via the fuel trims--they are correcting with false information---typically they are correcting to an AFR richer -around the 14.2 range instead of the stoich. of 14.68
I would guess your biggest problem will be at idle or around town--surging -dying etc---But if you can get it to run there then drive it--be careful--you don't want it to crap out or die when passing a semi-truck !!!

 

i dont know if i generally agree with your statement.... i wouldnt say they read differently but more they take longer to heat up and may trim incorrectly when not fully warmed up

 

those codes are for the rear o2's (cat monitors)... these codes have no affect of performance of the car, and generally the codes always pop when you either remove the OE cats and go to HF cats such as the ARH's