C5 Tech Corvette Tech/Performance: LS1 Corvette Technical Info, Internal Engine, External Engine, Tech Topics, Basic Tech, Maintenance, How to Remove & Replace
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Is Tuning absolutely necessary after header install???

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Feb 8, 2004 | 06:43 PM
  #1  
sweetcharity's Avatar
sweetcharity
Thread Starter
Safety Car
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 3,874
Likes: 0
From: Fishing Somewhere Cold
St. Jude Donor '11-'12-'13, '15
Default Is Tuning absolutely necessary after header install???

Title says it all....Just curious as I will do the install myself if I can get away without the tuning. My LS1 edit info is not so readily accessable (tuner is 1.5 hours away) so just wondering how important that really is.
Reply
Old Feb 8, 2004 | 06:51 PM
  #2  
Mark VerMurlen's Avatar
Mark VerMurlen
Drifting
20 Year Member
 
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 1,456
Likes: 5
From: Bothell WA
Default Re: Is Tuning absolutely necessary after header install??? (sweetcharity)

I would say its not all that necessary. My car ran fine without any tuning. The Dyno numbers in my sig are with the stock tune in the car. The dyno does show that my car was running a little lean, so I have been tweaking the tuning with LS1 Edit. I don't have new dyno numbers yet.

- Mark
Reply
Old Feb 8, 2004 | 07:02 PM
  #3  
ddv005's Avatar
ddv005
Instructor
 
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 137
Likes: 0
From: miami Fl
Default Re: Is Tuning absolutely necessary after header install??? (sweetcharity)

I installed full KOOKS long tubes, no cats, and Z06 exhaust. Have not done any tuning and the car runs great. I am sure once i tune it will be even better but it is not absolutely necessay :party: :party:
Reply
Old Feb 8, 2004 | 07:08 PM
  #4  
Rob'sC5's Avatar
Rob'sC5
Melting Slicks
10 Year Member
 
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 3,494
Likes: 0
From: McKinney Tx
Cruise-In V Veteran
St. Jude's Donor '05
Default Re: Is Tuning absolutely necessary after header install??? (ddv005)

:iagree: I just had mine installed and havent done any tuning either. But beware. I had a damn plug wire jump on me. Threw a code and kinda freaked me out. The great thing is I posted here on the forum and got pointed in the right directon pretty fast. :cheers:
Reply
Old Feb 8, 2004 | 07:29 PM
  #5  
sweetcharity's Avatar
sweetcharity
Thread Starter
Safety Car
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 3,874
Likes: 0
From: Fishing Somewhere Cold
St. Jude Donor '11-'12-'13, '15
Default Re: Is Tuning absolutely necessary after header install??? (Rob'sC5)

Sounding like I will be installing them myself! Thanks for the info :cheers:
Oh BTW can I get it high enough with jackstands to do the job or better yet would my rhino ramps be high enough??
Reply
Old Feb 8, 2004 | 07:36 PM
  #6  
msuc5vette's Avatar
msuc5vette
Burning Brakes
20 Year Member
 
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 1,055
Likes: 0
From: Troy MI
Default Re: Is Tuning absolutely necessary after header install??? (sweetcharity)

I did mine on rhino ramps, on my car it ran very rich before I got it tuned. But I also installed the headers and the cam about the same time, so it probably depends on your mods ect

Before the tune my car showed almost no noticable improvement from the headers.
Reply
Old Feb 8, 2004 | 07:42 PM
  #7  
Cobra4B's Avatar
Cobra4B
Team Owner
 
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 25,889
Likes: 7
From: Virginia Beach
CI 3-5-6-7-8 Veteran
Default Re: Is Tuning absolutely necessary after header install??? (msuc5vette)

I haven't had my car tuned yet and I noticed a great improvement from my Kooks.
Reply
Old Feb 8, 2004 | 07:59 PM
  #8  
fsuforever's Avatar
fsuforever
Drifting
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 1,539
Likes: 3
From: South al
Default Re: Is Tuning absolutely necessary after header install??? (Cobra4B)

i think tuning is not necessary after u install the headers but it will help i have not had my car tuned yet & i have a set of patriot heads & lg tube headers & the car runs fine i will get a tune soon kinda waiting for my transgo shift kit to be installed first
Reply
Corvette Stories

The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts

story-0

10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love

 Joe Kucinski
story-1

Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer

 Brett Foote
story-2

10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)

 Michael S. Palmer
story-3

8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-4

10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years

 Joe Kucinski
story-5

How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972

 Joe Kucinski
story-6

Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-7

Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!

 Joe Kucinski
story-8

150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

 Joe Kucinski
story-9

8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Feb 8, 2004 | 11:53 PM
  #9  
Kaley@DragonRace's Avatar
0Kaley@DragonRace
Supporting Vendor
 
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 2,073
Likes: 0
From: Loveland CO
Default Re: Is Tuning absolutely necessary after header install??? (ddv005)

It is not necessary to have tuning done after header instal but I would recommend it. Tuning insures that you are getting every horsepower out of your mods. Kaley
Reply
Old Feb 9, 2004 | 12:22 AM
  #10  
VETTEC5's Avatar
VETTEC5
Burning Brakes
 
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 764
Likes: 0
From: South Florida
Default Re: Is Tuning absolutely necessary after header install??? (sweetcharity)

Be prepared to:
Remove Starter, Pass.Valve cover completely, Driver Coils Completely, THe manifolds are a PITA to remove, Protect your fenders all around before you start, And if I remember Driver from bottom and Pass. from Top.
All C5's are alittle different though the instructions are not detailed enough.

I used a lift (FIL is a Mech, so l use his lift) Air tools help alot, and plan on MIn.5 Hours........

Good luck!

Yes the LG OR 3"
Reply
Old Feb 9, 2004 | 11:02 AM
  #11  
H82GOSLW's Avatar
H82GOSLW
Drifting
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Top Answer: 1
 
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 1,586
Likes: 72
From: Upstate NY
Default Re: Is Tuning absolutely necessary after header install??? (VETTEC5)

:iagree:
Reply
Old Feb 9, 2004 | 12:23 PM
  #12  
arkansascorvette's Avatar
arkansascorvette
Instructor
 
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 233
Likes: 0
From: Batesville AR
Default Re: Is Tuning absolutely necessary after header install??? (sweetcharity)

Recently installed LG LT's with the 3" X and down pipes in an 02 A4...it ran so rich that it made your eyes water! Had it tuned at the winter bash in orlando and picked up 20hp 310 to 330 and 30 ft/lbs of torque 320 to 350. WHAT a difference!! :hurray:
Reply
Old Feb 9, 2004 | 08:36 PM
  #13  
02blueelectron's Avatar
02blueelectron
Instructor
 
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 147
Likes: 0
From: mission b.c.
Default Re: Is Tuning absolutely necessary after header install??? (sweetcharity)

had slp headers + 3 hiflo.cats installed on saturday.monitored 02 sensors on
my predator at about 775 to 850 mv which is slightly leaner than before 825 -900mv. the car ran a lot stronger afer install so i won't bother with dynotune.
one thing i have noticed is that after driving it over 100 miles ,fast city driving and some rural roads,is that the engine seems to be smoothing out and the ltft and 02 sensor readings seem to be more stabilized (they were jumping all over on the predator scan for the first few miles)
Reply
Old Feb 9, 2004 | 09:53 PM
  #14  
Carbotech Adam's Avatar
Carbotech Adam
Supporting Vendor
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 50,281
Likes: 518
From: Cleveland OH
St. Jude Donor '11,'13
Default Re: Is Tuning absolutely necessary after header install??? (sweetcharity)

if you tune with ls1 edit . you will probally pick up 10 to 15 rwhp plus tq . but thats $500.00
Reply
Old Feb 9, 2004 | 10:37 PM
  #15  
Redshift's Avatar
Redshift
Platinum Supporting Vendor
20 Year Member
 
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 3,777
Likes: 1
From: Raleigh NC
Default Re: Is Tuning absolutely necessary after header install??? (stunna)

Some cars run fine and set no codes, others need help with some tuning and/or simulators. Mine sets codes occasionally. I reset them by hand and they go away. I can't be sure if the headers caused this or the high flow cats. If I had to guess it would be the cats and not the headers.
Reply
Old Feb 10, 2004 | 01:36 AM
  #16  
MTV's Avatar
MTV
Drifting
20 Year Member
 
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 1,751
Likes: 3
From: Ventura, CA Fight On Forever
St. Jude Donor '03-'04-'05
Default Re: Is Tuning absolutely necessary after header install??? (Redshift)

The Air/Fuel Ratio needs to be adjusted for maximum performance and fuel economy. I did gears on an A4 along with LTs, so the LS1 edit was a must. A/F ratio was running rich after LTs before the tuning, now perfect.

mtv :thumbs:
Reply

Get notified of new replies

To Is Tuning absolutely necessary after header install???





All times are GMT -4. The time now is 12:14 PM.

story-0
10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love

Slideshow: 10 ugly Corvettes that we still kinda love.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-03 10:34:17


VIEW MORE
story-1
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer

A lot of money has changed hands at the online auction house over the years.

By Brett Foote | 2026-06-03 10:21:50


VIEW MORE
story-2
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)

Slideshow: 10 great gifts Corvette enthusiasts actually want for Father's Day!

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-06-03 15:43:40


VIEW MORE
story-3
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems

Slideshow: These are the quirks, annoyances, and oddly lovable problems that every Corvette owner eventually learns to live with.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-28 09:31:39


VIEW MORE
story-4
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years

Slideshow: 10 reasons why the C6 Z06 is still a performance benchmark after 20 years.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 17:20:09


VIEW MORE
story-5
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972

Slideshow: How much horsepower every Corvette engine lost in 1972.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 16:54:53


VIEW MORE
story-6
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!

Slideshow: How to Protect A Convertible Top: 10 DOs & DON'Ts

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-03 00:00:00


VIEW MORE
story-7
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!

Slideshow: The 10 most explosive Corvettes ever built based on power-to-weight ratio.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-20 07:23:03


VIEW MORE
story-8
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

Slideshow: From C1 to C8 we compare every Corvette generation by the numbers.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-12 16:54:12


VIEW MORE
story-9
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

Slideshow: Some Corvette pace cars became collectible legends, while others perfectly captured the look and attitude of their era.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-11 09:50:51


VIEW MORE