A Tune on My C5
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 1,060
Likes: 85
From: Richmond VA Everyone should have a VetteGuard
A Tune on My C5
Okay do I need a tune on my '03 C5 vert? Is stock except for new corsa pace car cat backs and x-pipes. thinking about a Blackwing or K&N at some point. Is a street car like to cruise, and get on it at stop lights just to feel good!! 
What will I get from a tune?? I don't know what to ask for so am I in the group that doesn't need it? 
Thanks for whatever you can impart on this whole thing. 
Lastly how much would o ne expect to pay for a "tune"
What will I get from a tune?? I don't know what to ask for so am I in the group that doesn't need it? Thanks for whatever you can impart on this whole thing. Lastly how much would o ne expect to pay for a "tune"
Racer
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 465
Likes: 16
What you'll get from a tune is changing the Power Enrichment mode so it doesn't run pig rich at WOT. That'll wake it up a little. What you'll also get is a more aggressive spark advance at least in the higher RPM's at WOT or lower vacuum.
You don't need a tune at this point and you certainly don't need to spend the money for a dyno tune. If you are determined to get better throttle response and power as the car sits, there are some guys that have tuned a raft of stock LS1 engines and can fix you up for $150 or so.
You don't need a tune at this point and you certainly don't need to spend the money for a dyno tune. If you are determined to get better throttle response and power as the car sits, there are some guys that have tuned a raft of stock LS1 engines and can fix you up for $150 or so.
Pro
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 668
Likes: 26
From: Wadsworth Ohio
Okay do I need a tune on my '03 C5 vert? Is stock except for new corsa pace car cat backs and x-pipes. thinking about a Blackwing or K&N at some point. Is a street car like to cruise, and get on it at stop lights just to feel good!! What will I get from a tune?? I don't know what to ask for so am I in the group that doesn't need it? Thanks for whatever you can impart on this whole thing. Lastly how much would o ne expect to pay for a "tune"
What will I get from a tune?? I don't know what to ask for so am I in the group that doesn't need it? Thanks for whatever you can impart on this whole thing. Lastly how much would o ne expect to pay for a "tune"Corvette Stories
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Advanced
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 97
Likes: 0
From: Gallatin Tennessee
99 convertible. I had DTE install a 3.73 rear end and I installed a vararam with power duct. I then took my car and had it dyno tuned. Neither one of these improvements will show up as extra HP and TQ on a dyno so it's pretty much stock. After the tune it was... 305.32 RWHP and 304.97 RWTQ. That's a very good difference from approx. 276 RW HP and TQ. I could really tell the difference as soon as I pulled out of the parking lot. Since, I have added the Melrose header system (includes free flow cats), corsa touring exhaust, Katech ported TB and a ported, O/S MAF sensor. I need to get it back there and get another tune. My guess... I think about 350 RWHP and TQ. My point... a dyno tune is well worth the cost. This dyno tune cost me $500.00 (VetteSport out of Smyrna, TN.)
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 21,915
Likes: 61
From: Miami Beach FL
99 convertible. I had DTE install a 3.73 rear end and I installed a vararam with power duct. I then took my car and had it dyno tuned. Neither one of these improvements will show up as extra HP and TQ on a dyno so it's pretty much stock. After the tune it was... 305.32 RWHP and 304.97 RWTQ. That's a very good difference from approx. 276 RW HP and TQ. I could really tell the difference as soon as I pulled out of the parking lot. Since, I have added the Melrose header system (includes free flow cats), corsa touring exhaust, Katech ported TB and a ported, O/S MAF sensor. I need to get it back there and get another tune. My guess... I think about 350 RWHP and TQ. My point... a dyno tune is well worth the cost. This dyno tune cost me $500.00 (VetteSport out of Smyrna, TN.)
I have an A4 and was putting out pretty much the same rwhp as stated above (I had a K&N filer, Corsa cat back with X-pipe as the only "mods").
After the tune, which included four or five tweaks, I was at 313 rwhp.
I added the LT's a couple of months later, re-tuned and dynoed and am at 335 rwhp, 345 ft. lbs.
Note that I'm not putting down mail order tuning; I'm just one of those people that want's everything exactly right and a dyno sheet to prove the numbers.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 946
Likes: 2
A mail order tune is a generalized tune (just like the stock tune, so not bashing here) that the MO company can send out with relatively safety. They will tweak it a bit towards your particular mods, but without data from your car running in your ambient environment, its not going to be a maximal gain tune.
A dyno tune, on the other hand, is built from running your car and extracting data both from a running scan of your car, and the dyno. The tune is adjusted to make more gains and to suit the exact nature and running condition (mods, temps, etc.) of your car. This will produce maximal gains with a good tuner.
Each has its own niche. Each serves a purpose.
Do you need a tune with your mods? Probably not. Should you consider a dyno tune as a mod? If you are interested in min/maxing your performance, then yes.
A dyno tune, on the other hand, is built from running your car and extracting data both from a running scan of your car, and the dyno. The tune is adjusted to make more gains and to suit the exact nature and running condition (mods, temps, etc.) of your car. This will produce maximal gains with a good tuner.
Each has its own niche. Each serves a purpose.
Do you need a tune with your mods? Probably not. Should you consider a dyno tune as a mod? If you are interested in min/maxing your performance, then yes.