Scholioso

Hey guys, looking to get a handheld tuner. Just wanting to get the best bang for my buck. I saw that there's a SCT package with unlimited free tunes emailed to you. Which sounds like a pretty good value. Any advice or experience with a handheld tuner you were happy with? Thanks.

tblu92

Diablo seems to be the best of the handhelds-----It has access to many more tuning tables than any other one-----both engine and trans---

Scholioso

Does Diablo work for a 97? Finding a tuner that works on the 97 to 98 is pretty hard from what I'm discovering.

Caveboy

Chuck at COW

Scholioso

What is COW?

0Chuck CoW

AUTO CAL is the Corvettes of Westchester FLASH TUNER.

When you ask about "Handhelds" I feel obligated to mention the AutoCal as it's NOT a professional Tuner Cable.

It's a handheld in the truest sense of the word, but again.... I call it a "HANDHELD".... and in the same Breath I say it's NOT.

For what it's worth, it looks like and behaves like a handheld, but it's actually just a smaller version the

incredible EFI LIVE V2 Professional tuner cable. To keep it simple, the device is slightly smaller and less buttons and

screen, but when connected to a laptop (only if you need to use it that way) it can do virtually EVERYTHING

the Professional V2 cable can do..... EXCEPT you can't make your own tunes directly with it. They need to be approved by me.

Here's a link to my AutoCal page. If you're looking for the "BEST HANDHELD".... This tool has no comparison.


Additionally, this tool DOES NOT come with basic "canned tunes". I update your factory software,

retrieve and preserve your original stock or previously modified tune, and custom build a new tune for you

and tune and re-tune until it's PERFECT.

Oh yeah.... CoW stands for Corvettes of Westchester.

914-332-0049
Chuck CoW

06MonteSS

nope... 1999/2000 or newer...

do yourself a favor and take it to a reputable shop if you really need a tune... don't go for the CLICK HERE, ACT NOW, BUT WAIT THERE'S MORE, late-night infomercial tune...


.

Scholioso

I just might have to it seems. There is a gentleman local here in Sacramento that I hear a lot. Mark Roman. However, sounds like he's a hard guy to get a hold of. Anyways, I'll figure it out. I appreciate ya'lls help. Thanks!

0Chuck CoW

Sorry I missed this one.....


YES, our AutoCal device works on ALL 1997 & 1998 Cars and Trucks.

1997 & 98 LS1 Pcms are considered "fragile" and they are getting more expensive and harder to find.

These reasons are why you should watch very carefully what tool you tune it with.


The AutoCal we use offers the best possible solution to safely flash the 97/98 Engine controllers.

Yes, we can TUNE the Early LS1A controllers no problem.

Chuck CoW

sirdano

I used a hand tuner on my 98. It was okay.

Went to a tuner here in Austin. He did street tune/dyno tune/ street tune. The car is totally night and day.

0Chuck CoW

That's usually the case...... I just can't understand how/why people use those "handhelds" or canned tune devices....

There's sooo much information out there... Yet people still buy those things.

CRAZY!
Chuck CoW

Hary Gahtoe

2018 was the last post. Any updates here?

aaronc7

Nothing has really changed on the tuning front. Handheld is fine for the most basic of upgrades and improvements....very 'canned' tunes that will help some, but not a great solution.

I would say.....if you want a one time set and forget it, don't plan to really change mods again any time soon.... send your ecm to ECS and he will put on a good setup for your mods

Otherwise another option is buy Hptuners dongle ($300) + 2 credits ($100). Now you have the hardware and license to have full tuning capability over the car. There's a growing number of 'e-tuners' now that can tune your car over emails. They send a file, you datalog, drive the car around and send them a log file....they make some changes, send you a new file etc. End result is something much more custom tailored to your car and/or your preferences. Probably a couple hundred bucks in tuner fees for this. Then maybe 100 or so in the future if you change mods and want a retune etc. This option is much better overall, but requires some work on your part. That may be a pro or con depending on if you want to be involved in the process or just set it and forget it.

Hary Gahtoe

There's a large tech gap between present day capability tuning and OG tuning of even say the HP ownership bank internet access configuration.The best owner tune is an "active tune". Being able to adjust component parameters live by bluetooth internet connection
I want to safely adjust my ECU/TCU.

The handheld style tunes will not match a tech file dyno backed tune. They are, capable to provide a needed update in parameters to a level much greater than OEM spec and regarding with respect to certain performance changes made as well as being able to use such a tool for reading/ clearing error codes without spending 40+ hrs doing program background study and platform procedures

I have another car which has a Link ECU which has successfully bluetooth linked with a shop 500 mi away while we monitored the download of 3 tunes now and runs just like 4 other cars using this tune run on a dyno by this program.

aaronc7

It's already sold, but this might be what you're looking for. Link has a good list of features and options: https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...5-shipped.html

Speedy007

Now....now now..


A self tuning fast ez 2.0 with all the tuning inputs hooked is a lethal dose of stupid ...I’m getting one but the nature is that there 1400 bucks money worth spent after You have perfected a mpvi2 tune ...then then module would dump whatever x on that ...


Something self tuning is the way to go...no matter what the kit ...some are more expensive then others ...Fast was my choice after research and reviews ..for total engine self tuning management up to 1200hp