When I first started messing with it I downloaded tunes from Holden Crazy and just started comparing them with stock tunes just to get the idea what has been changed for the mods listed on the tune. I do agree with you need a wideband so you will know if thecar is running rich or lean. There is alot of tables but honestly it's not that hard to understand. I have learned that you never make big changes at one time. Little changes make alot of differance. Just remember, too much timing and not enough fuel is BAD! Just log everything to see if there is spark knock and use a wideband to see if you are lean. That is a must!
It really surprised me how much a stock car will even gain from a tune.
I say buy it and give it a shot. if ya have trouble all ya have to do is ask for help on the forums and there are many people that would be glad to look at your log and tune to give ya a hand. I have had lots of help from several members on this forum.

 

 

I have tuned a few cars from way back when the Accel DFI was out. I had some help getting the timing tables down because they had to be done from scratch back then as did the fuel table. I then tuned the WOT fuel on my bro's car using LS1 edit and a tuner friend confirmed it was right on. Now using HPtuners. It can seem overwhelming, but if you can nail your driveability down, tuning the WOT VE table isn't a big deal as long as you log a wideband. HPtuners makes it as easy as I think it could be with logging and histograms. There are also people willing to help like me and those in the HPtuners forum. Sometimes they'll just fix your tune and not take the time to explain what they did. I really enjoyed the learning experience and am still learning and enjoying it. That's the other side of the coin!

 

Forgot to mention that if you fail for any reason and decide to sell the HPtuners, people will ****** it up with a quickness, so don't think you'll be losing your entire investment or even much of it. People even pay more for used ones than I consider justifiable on LS1tech.

 

Hi,im in the same boat. I have a 1998 c5 convertible 6 spd and it feels like a dog... worse than my old T/A and the car only has 25k miles

so I would like to tune myslef, instead of dealing with the erogant air heads at speed inc.

I found a this site.

http://www.thetuningschool.com/

they'll sell you the Hp tuners and show you how to use it.
But $1600 bucks for the home course, and all the gizmo's. O2 sensor

kinda steap, but you could use it on all your cars once you learn howto use it...So im in the middle trying to decide what is the best option....

 

I chose EFI Live because I myself have came accross more people that use it than HP tuners. Hp I'm sure is just as good but when I done all the searching I didn't really find many with HP tuner.

 

Figure $650-700 for the Pro version of the software that can log with a Wideband and another $200 for the Wideband itself, and then you will probably add a guage ($150). Figure another $200-300 for the installation of the wideband if you can't install it yourself. Now...if you go this far you may be motivated enough to live on the tuning forums and read some tuning books to get the basics down. You can start logging and get an idea if your are rich or lean, experiencing any knock, etc. With some more time you will be able to start the street tune by tuning the VE and MAF tables, modify the PE tables, a little timing here and there.

If you are not motivated for all this then you may be better off just paying for the tune. You could probably get two professional tunes for the initial cost of everything.

I have my car tuned pretty good for the street but I don't really know which settings produced the most power without the use of a dyno. I may a couple degrees of timing and bump the AFR up a little but seat of the pants can't really tell me much when we are talking 10-15hp. So the dyno is a great tool for determining the results.

 

Tuning is a fascinating subject, boy are there a lot of things to consider and know. You will not save money compared to one good pro tune, or maybe two. You should buy the pro version of HP tuners and get a good wide band sensor. That is pretty much minimum to do it right, and if you don’t have a lap top then add that cost in. Its not the cheapest route.

I agree with the others, it takes a LOT of time. It will be the biggest project you will take on, it will never end It will be frustrating, very. Throw in the hassle of maintaining the wide band and it’s a full time job, no joke. I installed a wide band, it worked simulating the narrow band and I drove it around that way for a while, but winter set in before I could figure out how to attach it to the data logger. So, I moved it during the winter mods, wired it up the same way, and sure enough it does not work Still have not gotten it to work, had to throw the stock sensor on maybe next week or two I can get it working…

Learning tuning is not easy, if you can get a school that may be the best way but expensive because it’s a big subject. The tuning guides on the internet usually leave a lot to be desired in detail and the how and whys. They make sense to someone who has figured it out, but to a noob like me it’s a different language. There are forums for the software and for LSx engines, you can find info there, but it’s a slow process and you have to know if the people giving advice really know their stuff or if what they did only kind of works It’s a slow process.

But, it is interesting in the actual tuning. I’m just at the point of getting close to partial throttle drivability, its running so much better now, it is rewarding. But then I took the Vette apart again I’d like to take a class, but there are none close by and I want to spend money on mods LOL, I’m keeping my eye out for one though.

I’d recommend it if you want to learn. If you would rather spend your time turning a wrench, which is cool, then take it to a tuner.

 

or you could just talk to some of the local guys THAT HAVE 2 sets of tunning software and add a liscence to their cable (if needed) buy a $200 wideband and start to learn tuning. I would still recomend that you talk to Corry and have him put it on the dyno to verify the tune.

you should be able to find a simular modded car on the hp-tuners or EFI live forum to use as a good starting point.

I did this with my maggie and by the time I took it to Corry it was about right. tunning is not that hard it just takes a little study and pratice.

Now where can you find some local guys?

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