Headers - Tune Needed?
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 35
Likes: 0
From: West Chicago Illinois
Headers - Tune Needed?
I have the Mod bug but like most of us nowadays are short on funds. I have a 98 C5 with Corsa Pace Car & Blackwing CAI, but everything else is stock. I feel my next step is headers. I am considering the usual choices(Kooks, Melrose, LG, etc) but havent fully decided on which set I will choose. Reading the forum seems any is a great choice, especially when comparing to stock.
I have a question on tune although. Some say absolutely and other say the extra 5-10 HP you may get out of a approx $500 dyno tune isn't worth the expense when just adding headers. They advised to save my money till I get the Head/Cam/Intake work done.
I would like to get your opinions and experience with adding a set of headers( choice ) and do I need the Dyno tune or not?
I have a question on tune although. Some say absolutely and other say the extra 5-10 HP you may get out of a approx $500 dyno tune isn't worth the expense when just adding headers. They advised to save my money till I get the Head/Cam/Intake work done.
I would like to get your opinions and experience with adding a set of headers( choice ) and do I need the Dyno tune or not?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 3,266
Likes: 8
From: Indian Rocks Beach FL
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10
I have similar mods to what you are planning on my '98. I got a tune when I had a CAI, B&B Bullets and installed headers. I only picked up 7 hp (tune alone) but my tailpipes ran noticeably cleaner and my mileage went up about 2 mpg. During the tune it was pointed out my injectors were running at 90%. The next month I installed a LS6 ported intake and ported throttle body and SVO 30 injectors. I had it retuned (as part of the install) and picked up another 20 hp (tune + mods). My tune was more in the $400 range and I would say it was worth it, but certainly not necessary at the header stage. So, if you're on a tight budget I'd skip the tune till later, I don't think you'd be hurting anything.
Last edited by Mark C5; Feb 19, 2009 at 04:53 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 23,480
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From: East Meadow NY
St. Jude Donor '12
Racer
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 369
Likes: 1
From: Calgary AB
I had the same situation. I was fully planning on a dyno tune after the headers, but opted for the less expensive route of mail order tune. I had LG do it and I'm glad I did. I did run the car before the tune and the throttle felt sluggish and the exhaust stunk pretty bad. After the tune, the exhaust isn't nearly as bad and the throttle seems much better. You can catch specials on computer tunes if you watch the forum.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 3,184
Likes: 10
From: New Smyrna Beach Florida
A Dyno tune might be overkill for headers alone but a street tune is definitely in order for the headers. They will take it out on the street and adjust the tune for different driving conditions. You will also need to tune out some of the O2 codes associated with long tube headers. If you don't get it tuned you will be losing some of the performance to be gained from the headers not to mention some of the potential problems that could result from driving a poorly tuned car.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 2,156
Likes: 0
From: S.W. Ohio
Since you have the Mod bug, which is hard to shake I suggest waiting on a tune. Likely A cam or heads will be next, or both. At this time I would then tune. Myself I had LT's with high flow cats (Melrose), LS6 Intake, Ported Throttle body, Descreened MAF and a Vararam all on the stock computer with out any issues... You may be giving up a few ponies but not enough to notice.
Intermediate
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 44
Likes: 4
From: Virginia
I have headers, LS6 intake, BBK TB, Bassani X-pipe, B&B PRTs,Vortec Rammer cold air, 373 gears, and have never had it tuned. I put the headers on about 7 years ago, no issues ever. I was stationed in Germany and did not trust anyone with my car. I am in Afganistan now and when I get back I will get it tuned. I know I am missing out on 25hp or so.
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2000 C5 Coupe 6-speed
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Pro
Joined: Oct 2005
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From: Pittsburgh PA
Take out your PCM and send it to Doug or Chris at ECS.
http://www.eastcoastsupercharging.co...ynotuning.html
My Kooks headers are going on next week with a CAI and as soon as the car comes off of the lift, ECS is getting the computer. Around $150.00 and you can have it back in a day. (Pretty sure they lowered their price for the mail order tunes, but you might want to check with them). Then (as mentioned in an earlier post) you can have a full dyno tune done somewhere locally if you go with the heads and cam.
ECS can eliminate the codes from your O2 sensors, change your fan settings and generally make the car run better...
http://www.eastcoastsupercharging.co...ynotuning.html
My Kooks headers are going on next week with a CAI and as soon as the car comes off of the lift, ECS is getting the computer. Around $150.00 and you can have it back in a day. (Pretty sure they lowered their price for the mail order tunes, but you might want to check with them). Then (as mentioned in an earlier post) you can have a full dyno tune done somewhere locally if you go with the heads and cam.
ECS can eliminate the codes from your O2 sensors, change your fan settings and generally make the car run better...
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 18,308
Likes: 21
From: Marlton. Increasing performance one speeding ticket at a time! NJ
Take out your PCM and send it to Doug or Chris at ECS.
http://www.eastcoastsupercharging.co...ynotuning.html
My Kooks headers are going on next week with a CAI and as soon as the car comes off of the lift, ECS is getting the computer. Around $150.00 and you can have it back in a day. (Pretty sure they lowered their price for the mail order tunes, but you might want to check with them). Then (as mentioned in an earlier post) you can have a full dyno tune done somewhere locally if you go with the heads and cam.
ECS can eliminate the codes from your O2 sensors, change your fan settings and generally make the car run better...
http://www.eastcoastsupercharging.co...ynotuning.html
My Kooks headers are going on next week with a CAI and as soon as the car comes off of the lift, ECS is getting the computer. Around $150.00 and you can have it back in a day. (Pretty sure they lowered their price for the mail order tunes, but you might want to check with them). Then (as mentioned in an earlier post) you can have a full dyno tune done somewhere locally if you go with the heads and cam.
ECS can eliminate the codes from your O2 sensors, change your fan settings and generally make the car run better...
Doug will take care of you. Mail order for simple mods is the way to go.
I ended up buying HP Tuners, because I wanted to know how to tune, plus enjoy tweaking both my cars, including doing a full cammed tune from scratch. In the end, that's a lot cheaper than going to a tuner every time you make a change. But, it's also not for everyone, since to learn things, you literally need to invest hundreds of hours training.