cai/headers and exhaust
Thread Starter
6th Gear
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
From: International falls Mn
cai/headers and exhaust
Im not much of a mechanic. More of a bolt on guy can do most things but my question is with tuning. I wanna put a cai and exhaust system on my 2002 c5 auto. If I go headers back will I need to have computer tuned? Or if I go cat back? I want it reliable and not have to mess with different tunes. Is there any good programmers that have programs already istalled. As I said before im more of a plug and play guy. Do not know what brand exhaust/headers/and or cai I am going with yet. Thanks for any advice or input
Pro
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 590
Likes: 134
From: Hanover Maryland
Im not much of a mechanic. More of a bolt on guy can do most things but my question is with tuning. I wanna put a cai and exhaust system on my 2002 c5 auto. If I go headers back will I need to have computer tuned? Or if I go cat back? I want it reliable and not have to mess with different tunes. Is there any good programmers that have programs already istalled. As I said before im more of a plug and play guy. Do not know what brand exhaust/headers/and or cai I am going with yet. Thanks for any advice or input
Tuning is a good idea after any mod. That being said, CAI and a catback don't really require any fine tuning. You'd be leaving power on the table, but that power isn't really related to those mods, it's just power that's available with a fine tuning of a factory map. Headers on the other hand, will require tuning for maximum gains. You'll get something by just bolting them on, but a tune will be required to take advantage of them entirely. Ontop of tuning out your rear 02's that you won't use.
If you have an Auto, you'll see a big difference in transmission tuning, so that's a definite plus for getting a tune, even on a stock car. But if you're planning to throw mods on anyways, I'd wait for everything to be installed, then do one tune accounting for all of the add-ons. A tune can also do neat stuff like lowering fan temps and other helpful PCM stuff.
ECS in NJ does mail-tunes where you pull your PCM and send it in with a list of your mods, they'll flash your PCM and send it back. That's about as plug and play as it gets. Could also look locally for a dyno tuner or street tuner, but headers, intake and catback are simple enough mods where a mail tune is a good option. $150 from ECS for that service.
