Would a tune help me or not
07-09-2013, 05:11 PM
#1
Instructor
Thread Starter
Would a tune help me or not
OK i have a 08 c6 22k with flow masters and a k an n cold intake. would a tune help me gain hp i called a place and they said it would cost about 450 is that price high or in range. I'm new to the whole hp thing my car sort of hesitates sometime when you jump on it. and i was told that i really don't have 430 hp even though Chevy says i do what gives 
07-09-2013, 05:38 PM
#2
This is just my opinion, but...
Yes - you will probably feel an increase in performance. Not because of the K&N or the Flow Master (Cat back?) exhaust. But because a good tune will recalibrate your air/fuel ration to a more stoichiometric-correct setting. Then, if you have an auto trans, the tune will most likely recalibrate your shift points and the speed with which your auto shifts. All these newe\ settings will likely make your car feel much more responsive than it does now.
Glen
Yes - you will probably feel an increase in performance. Not because of the K&N or the Flow Master (Cat back?) exhaust. But because a good tune will recalibrate your air/fuel ration to a more stoichiometric-correct setting. Then, if you have an auto trans, the tune will most likely recalibrate your shift points and the speed with which your auto shifts. All these newe\ settings will likely make your car feel much more responsive than it does now.
Glen
07-09-2013, 05:50 PM
#4
Race Director
This is just my opinion, but...
Yes - you will probably feel an increase in performance. Not because of the K&N or the Flow Master (Cat back?) exhaust. But because a good tune will recalibrate your air/fuel ration to a more stoichiometric-correct setting. Then, if you have an auto trans, the tune will most likely recalibrate your shift points and the speed with which your auto shifts. All these newe\ settings will likely make your car feel much more responsive than it does now.
Glen
Yes - you will probably feel an increase in performance. Not because of the K&N or the Flow Master (Cat back?) exhaust. But because a good tune will recalibrate your air/fuel ration to a more stoichiometric-correct setting. Then, if you have an auto trans, the tune will most likely recalibrate your shift points and the speed with which your auto shifts. All these newe\ settings will likely make your car feel much more responsive than it does now.
Glen
07-09-2013, 05:53 PM
#5
Life Time NCM #2196
I got a Chuck Cow Tune for motor and A6, he had him still stay slightly rich on the tune as I drive hard. Here are my results, real world at the track 12.9 before tune and 12.4 after tune
07-09-2013, 06:09 PM
#6
Race Director
OK i have a 08 c6 22k with flow masters and a k an n cold intake. would a tune help me gain hp i called a place and they said it would cost about 450 is that price high or in range. I'm new to the whole hp thing my car sort of hesitates sometime when you jump on it. and i was told that i really don't have 430 hp even though Chevy says i do what gives
The K&N is not a CAI, no HP gain from cold air.
You have 430 HP (at the flywheel),+ or - 1%, GM has to certify the advertized HP. If a manual trans you probably have 370/380 at the Rear Wheels, if it's an auto trans expect about 360/370 Rear wheel HP with a Dynojet, SAE corrected.
If your car is an automatic the "hestiation" may be the trans downshifting to accelerate.
07-09-2013, 06:18 PM
#7
You ask a very relevant question that few do.
Your engine is capable of providing just so much horsepower. Everything you do to extract more power from the engine has consequences. For example, you could gain a lot of power by putting on a supercharger. But force-feeding your engine additional air and fuel will (at least in theory) shorten the life of your engine due to extra heat and internal pressures.
A tune is not without consequences as well. GM enrichens the fuel/air ratio of your car to keep the temperature down. It isn't rich by much - perhaps 1 or 2 points. But consider that if the ideal fuel/air ratio is around 14.8 :1, then a 2 point difference is actually 2/14.8, or 13.5%. So bringing your engine back to "exactly" 14.8:2 theoretically should add roughly 13% more power (It woun't be exact due to parasitic factors) or 13% of 400 HP which would be around 52 HP. You won't see a 52 HP gain because a good tune shop won't take you to the edge (remember, if you go too far, you run lean and that has bad consequences as well). So let's say you gain an honest 20 - 25 HP in a perfect world. In the real world there are so many variables that you may actually see half of that. This is part of what you are going to feel as you drive.
Equally important, however, is the way that power is delivered to the ground. What you feel is TORQUE. Only kids talk horsepower (example - diesel "torque monsters" driving in F1). Your transmission and differential deliver your torque to the ground. Short of a gear change, your differential is static. Your trans, on the other hand, can be tuned to shift later and harder (faster). This is important because while you transmission is shifting, you lose torque being transmitted to the ground. So the quicker the shift, the less time is lost where you have no power being transmitted to the ground, and the "livlier" your car will feel.
This is by no means an exhaustive or even "scientifically correct" explanation. But it may help to resolve whether a tune is worth the money you are considering spending on one.
glen
Your engine is capable of providing just so much horsepower. Everything you do to extract more power from the engine has consequences. For example, you could gain a lot of power by putting on a supercharger. But force-feeding your engine additional air and fuel will (at least in theory) shorten the life of your engine due to extra heat and internal pressures.
A tune is not without consequences as well. GM enrichens the fuel/air ratio of your car to keep the temperature down. It isn't rich by much - perhaps 1 or 2 points. But consider that if the ideal fuel/air ratio is around 14.8 :1, then a 2 point difference is actually 2/14.8, or 13.5%. So bringing your engine back to "exactly" 14.8:2 theoretically should add roughly 13% more power (It woun't be exact due to parasitic factors) or 13% of 400 HP which would be around 52 HP. You won't see a 52 HP gain because a good tune shop won't take you to the edge (remember, if you go too far, you run lean and that has bad consequences as well). So let's say you gain an honest 20 - 25 HP in a perfect world. In the real world there are so many variables that you may actually see half of that. This is part of what you are going to feel as you drive.
Equally important, however, is the way that power is delivered to the ground. What you feel is TORQUE. Only kids talk horsepower (example - diesel "torque monsters" driving in F1). Your transmission and differential deliver your torque to the ground. Short of a gear change, your differential is static. Your trans, on the other hand, can be tuned to shift later and harder (faster). This is important because while you transmission is shifting, you lose torque being transmitted to the ground. So the quicker the shift, the less time is lost where you have no power being transmitted to the ground, and the "livlier" your car will feel.
This is by no means an exhaustive or even "scientifically correct" explanation. But it may help to resolve whether a tune is worth the money you are considering spending on one.
glen
07-09-2013, 06:23 PM
#9
Drifting
i agree with what's already been said. Manufacturers use fly wheel HP on their specs (i assume cause it looks better) but you have to decrease that number by about 15-20% for RWHP....
07-09-2013, 06:33 PM
#10
Race Director
Member Since: Mar 2011
Location: SW Florida
Posts: 13,249
Received 3,066 Likes
on
2,073 Posts
2021 C6 of the Year Finalist - Modified
Here is what's happening with the C6 / LS3 / NPP:
M6: 436 HP -12% drivetrain loss = 385 RWHP (DynoJet SAE corrected)
A6: 436 HP -15% drivetrain loss = 370 RWHP (DynoJet SAE corrected)
M6: 436 HP -12% drivetrain loss = 385 RWHP (DynoJet SAE corrected)
A6: 436 HP -15% drivetrain loss = 370 RWHP (DynoJet SAE corrected)
07-09-2013, 06:58 PM
#11
Former Vendor
Member Since: Nov 2005
Location: Ossining New York
Posts: 11,792
Received 243 Likes
on
183 Posts
St. Jude Donor '07-'08-'09-'10-'12-'13-'14
Here's the best way to make that vehicle FUN ALL OVER AGAIN!
Here's the best way to make that vehicle FUN ALL OVER AGAIN!
CLICK HERE FOR THE BEST WAY TO WAKE UP YOUR VETTE.
While we're on the subject, I don't care for the K&N intakes and I REALLY DON'T LIKE the fact that they
are oiled....Messes up the way the MAF reads the airflow. Get yourself a VARARAM
and MY TUNE/CoW BOOSTER! package and you'll be SMILIN' Like the rest!
Call any time.
914-332-0049
Chuck CoW
07-09-2013, 08:41 PM
#12
Melting Slicks
Member Since: May 2012
Location: One of the Edema Ruh
Posts: 2,476
Likes: 0
Received 45 Likes
on
39 Posts
Check out the tune section of the forum, lots of good info in there. If you're looking for a local tuner search or post something in the regional section. I believe there are some good tune shops up in the Milwaukee area.
07-09-2013, 10:17 PM
#13
Instructor
Even if you get a mail order tune from Chuck you will be super happy. The best money you will Ever spend on your vette. Chuck will even retune your car as you add more modds. His expertise on your vette is priceless.
