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really need a tune after headers?

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Old Aug 25, 2006 | 01:08 AM
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Default really need a tune after headers?

id love to add headers, but not the huge amount of money for tuning after just changing exhaust
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Old Aug 25, 2006 | 01:12 AM
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Originally Posted by 02gt350
id love to add headers, but not the huge amount of money for tuning after just changing exhaust
Some say yes but I say no you don't NEED to get a tune. I have longtubes and did not get a tune and it runs great with a ton of more umph.
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Old Aug 25, 2006 | 01:15 AM
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Originally Posted by mvvette97
Some say yes but I say no you don't NEED to get a tune. I have longtubes and did not get a tune and it runs great with a ton of more umph.
any kind of power numbers?
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Old Aug 25, 2006 | 01:26 AM
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Originally Posted by 02gt350
any kind of power numbers?
Don't know because it has never been on a dyno. My Butt dyno was reading about 20hp at a min. I can say this, it was the best mod I had ever done. I could really feel the power, and the sound was kickass
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Old Aug 25, 2006 | 03:49 AM
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I spoke to John, who owns 21st Century Muscle Cars here in Dallas, about this question. He told me that you may get 5-7 hp from good Longtube Headers without a tune and up to 30hp-with a good tune. The reason being that the PCM, reads more air flow, and therefore, creates a richer fuel mixture, which in turn does not maximize HP. This is a very well respected Shop in Dallas, Specializing in the LS-1. I too would like more input on this subject.. Experts Chime in

Last edited by David426; Aug 25, 2006 at 04:01 AM.
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Old Aug 25, 2006 | 06:15 AM
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Default To Tune, or Not To Tune

I installed LG Pros (would have used a different brand in hindsight but thats another story) last year and a Callaway Honker this Spring without a tune. The results were ho hum and I didn't notice any dramatic difference from my sop dyno.

Last Monday drove up to NY for an appointment with Dr.Carmen at the 'Vette Doctors'. The car was strapped down on the dyno and the 'Doctor' began his computer surgery.

The results:

First Pull- 262 HP ,329.2 Lbs Torque (for some reason the computer was set VERY lean)

Last Pull- 346.4 HP ,354 Lbs Torque

Enough said?
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Old Aug 25, 2006 | 09:43 AM
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Originally Posted by fastdriver1
I installed LG Pros (would have used a different brand in hindsight but thats another story) last year and a Callaway Honker this Spring without a tune. The results were ho hum and I didn't notice any dramatic difference from my sop dyno.

Last Monday drove up to NY for an appointment with Dr.Carmen at the 'Vette Doctors'. The car was strapped down on the dyno and the 'Doctor' began his computer surgery.

The results:

First Pull- 262 HP ,329.2 Lbs Torque (for some reason the computer was set VERY lean)

Last Pull- 346.4 HP ,354 Lbs Torque

Enough said?
Wow that was a great improvement! However, I don't think your results are typical. It sounds like there was an issue with your stock tune to begin with. I also plan on visiting the Doctors when I install my Dynatech LT headers next month. I already have a Callaway Honker installed.
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Old Aug 25, 2006 | 11:02 AM
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Not really needed, wait for the Cam and or Heads before you get a tune IMHO.
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Old Aug 25, 2006 | 11:12 AM
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Originally Posted by fastdriver1
I installed LG Pros (would have used a different brand in hindsight but thats another story) last year and a Callaway Honker this Spring without a tune. The results were ho hum and I didn't notice any dramatic difference from my sop dyno.

Last Monday drove up to NY for an appointment with Dr.Carmen at the 'Vette Doctors'. The car was strapped down on the dyno and the 'Doctor' began his computer surgery.

The results:

First Pull- 262 HP ,329.2 Lbs Torque (for some reason the computer was set VERY lean)

Last Pull- 346.4 HP ,354 Lbs Torque


Enough said?
Wow, based on typical stock LS1 hp levels, you gained 40-45 hp with headers and a tune.. That's definitly not typical..
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Old Aug 25, 2006 | 01:25 PM
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262 hp on the first pull looks like a pretty low number
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Old Aug 25, 2006 | 02:40 PM
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Originally Posted by fastdriver1
I installed LG Pros (would have used a different brand in hindsight but thats another story) last year and a Callaway Honker this Spring without a tune. The results were ho hum and I didn't notice any dramatic difference from my sop dyno.

Last Monday drove up to NY for an appointment with Dr.Carmen at the 'Vette Doctors'. The car was strapped down on the dyno and the 'Doctor' began his computer surgery.

The results:

First Pull- 262 HP ,329.2 Lbs Torque (for some reason the computer was set VERY lean)

Last Pull- 346.4 HP ,354 Lbs Torque

Enough said?


Carmen is VERY good at what he does.......he's got a lot of pride in what comes out of that shop.........all the guys there do. I did a 900 mile round trip to partake of his magic!
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Old Aug 25, 2006 | 03:55 PM
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I would say you can wait a bit, but I would do it as soon as possible. I installed a Vararam and my car ran fine until I installed SLP Loudmouths. After a couple days the CEL/MIL light came on. Reset it and came on again, running lean. Brought it to the vette doctors for a tune and gained 10hp with the tune alone. Dyno tuned at 335hp/345tq with just those two mods.
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Old Aug 25, 2006 | 04:09 PM
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would a predator tune work? I am running TPIS LT, BB Exhaust with x pipe, Blackwing intake and Granatelli MAF. Did not know if I should get a custom tune or just the predator..
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Old Aug 25, 2006 | 04:12 PM
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Originally Posted by dsg049c
would a predator tune work? I am running TPIS LT, BB Exhaust with x pipe, Blackwing intake and Granatelli MAF. Did not know if I should get a custom tune or just the predator..
NO, Predator willl not work....

You will need to pay for a tune...
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Old Aug 25, 2006 | 07:56 PM
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I had a tune done on mine after I installed a cat back system. I added headers at a later time and was going to tune it again but it didn't need it. Everything still looked good. The tuner would have only charged me a portion of the fee since I had already done a previous tune with him.
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Old Aug 26, 2006 | 01:56 AM
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Hope this isn't "hi-jacking" a thread, but since it's on the lines I thought I'd ask.
I'm having Bassani long tube headers put on next week. They are replacing my shorty headers. I had a dyno tune with the short headers on. The installer where I'm having the LT put on doesn't do dyno tunes just street tunes..so if his street tuner goes in to tweak my tune for the new headers will he mess my dyno tune up? Or should I just take it back to where I had the dyno tune done and have them tweak the tune for long tube headers?
Thanks,
SC5
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Old Aug 26, 2006 | 02:08 AM
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I gained 12 rwhp with a tune in my Z06. The headers gave me 18 rwhp so in the end after the tune I had 30 rwhp.
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To really need a tune after headers?

Old Aug 26, 2006 | 03:02 AM
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Originally Posted by Sigforty
I gained 12 rwhp with a tune in my Z06. The headers gave me 18 rwhp so in the end after the tune I had 30 rwhp.
Sounds good Sigforty...I'll be looking for some great gains with this MOD.
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Old Aug 26, 2006 | 06:53 AM
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My car ran fine for a year after header install without tune. When I did the gears and t/c I got it tuned at the same time.
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Old Sep 12, 2006 | 11:59 PM
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Originally Posted by 02gt350
id love to add headers, but not the huge amount of money for tuning after just changing exhaust
Hi 02gt -

I would do the tune first, then save up for the headers.

I had my Z tuned by Ernie Francis at Breathless, and then when the folks at LG checked my tune after the headers, they said it was about as good as it gets and that was that -

I felt a huge difference in the car after the tune.

Just my two cents...

best regards -

mqqn
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