Tune or not?
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 6,344
Likes: 22
From: Alexandria VA
Tune or not?
After talking to someone about getting a tune after adding longtube headers, high flow cats, exhaust and intake this is the response i got.
Is this true that i shouldnt worry about tunning till I do something more major like a cam?
For the LS2 tuning C6 owners rave about Jeremy Formato and the tuning tricks he has even for unmodded C6 cars. He does go on the road to tune groups.
With even my ancient 94 LT1 engine adding headers, cam, and ported heads didn't take the car out of the range of the stock tune in the PCM. It's not too unbelievable that a competent tuner would say just what you got, that's not enough to require a tune. Many might be anxious to take your money though.
With even my ancient 94 LT1 engine adding headers, cam, and ported heads didn't take the car out of the range of the stock tune in the PCM. It's not too unbelievable that a competent tuner would say just what you got, that's not enough to require a tune. Many might be anxious to take your money though.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 9,585
Likes: 1
From: Prepare yourself, for a pride obliterating bich smack. Fairfax, VA
St. Jude Donor '06-'07-'08
SEC > BCS 4 St. Judes '09
formato owns. honestly, i dont think you're missing much w/o the tune dood. i just wanted that extra few ponies while i had it in the shop anyway.
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 1,651
Likes: 125
From: laguna niguel ca
When you mod you should get a tune
What you need to know is what your Air/fuel ratio is. A tune will also prevent you from getting a lean code at idle Rt&Lt banks. This happens with some aftermarket intakes. It will improve performance, but most of all give you piece of mind with knowing your air/fuel ratios. You don't want to be lean when you're hard on the pedal. Other benefits are no TM, no Boost knock retard. No CAGS, and if you change to a 160 stat fans can cycle on earlier. There are a % cycling no just on or off. Anyway these are some of the reasons you might want ot get a tune with your mods.
Instructor
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 105
Likes: 1
From: Atlanta GA
A "tune" now days is modifying the electronic control points to closer approximate optimal combustion. It is also bypassing around some of the controls Chevy put on the car to minimize drive train forces, e.g. the Torque Managment you may have heard debated.
You might get a few HP because Chevy was more conservative and designed the car to handle even 87 octane (you no longer would be able to run that). And, you might get a more responsive car - mine is MUCH more an immediate "on" when you punch it then it was before the tune.
Don't know if it would be worth the bucks, and you'd have to redo it if you started modding - even an intake because that might make the car start running lean given the extra air flow possible.
You might get a few HP because Chevy was more conservative and designed the car to handle even 87 octane (you no longer would be able to run that). And, you might get a more responsive car - mine is MUCH more an immediate "on" when you punch it then it was before the tune.
Don't know if it would be worth the bucks, and you'd have to redo it if you started modding - even an intake because that might make the car start running lean given the extra air flow possible.
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 238
Likes: 0
From: Edmonds Wash.
Originally Posted by LeeWB3
A "tune" now days is modifying the electronic control points to closer approximate optimal combustion. It is also bypassing around some of the controls Chevy put on the car to minimize drive train forces, e.g. the Torque Managment you may have heard debated.
You might get a few HP because Chevy was more conservative and designed the car to handle even 87 octane (you no longer would be able to run that). And, you might get a more responsive car - mine is MUCH more an immediate "on" when you punch it then it was before the tune.
Don't know if it would be worth the bucks, and you'd have to redo it if you started modding - even an intake because that might make the car start running lean given the extra air flow possible.
You might get a few HP because Chevy was more conservative and designed the car to handle even 87 octane (you no longer would be able to run that). And, you might get a more responsive car - mine is MUCH more an immediate "on" when you punch it then it was before the tune.
Don't know if it would be worth the bucks, and you'd have to redo it if you started modding - even an intake because that might make the car start running lean given the extra air flow possible.
thanks, was more curious than anything else, appreciate the input.
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Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2004
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From: stafford country, va. Avatar: Me on turn 3 @ Bristol (The World's Fastest Half-Mile)
IMO, you don't NEED a tune but may WANT a tune.
I'd hold out for about 300 - 500 miles before I went and had it tuned though, give the stock programming a chance to 're-tune' itself for the new equipment.
you have basically changed the breathing characteristics of the engine and it will need to be adjusted. you can either wait and let the stock programming try to 'catch-up' to you and your mods. or you can get it tuned and kinda 'skip ahead' in the 'resetting of the computer'. the tune will make the changes immediate while letting the computer find and attempt to make the changes itself will take multiple run cycles as well as numerous miles and various driving conditions.
let others have said, there are 'other' items your can 'tune' if you elect to have someone tweak your computer. just remember to find out if the 'tune' locks your pcm to their software. meaning only they can read or change it. find out how they handle gm updates, etc.
I'd hold out for about 300 - 500 miles before I went and had it tuned though, give the stock programming a chance to 're-tune' itself for the new equipment.
you have basically changed the breathing characteristics of the engine and it will need to be adjusted. you can either wait and let the stock programming try to 'catch-up' to you and your mods. or you can get it tuned and kinda 'skip ahead' in the 'resetting of the computer'. the tune will make the changes immediate while letting the computer find and attempt to make the changes itself will take multiple run cycles as well as numerous miles and various driving conditions.
let others have said, there are 'other' items your can 'tune' if you elect to have someone tweak your computer. just remember to find out if the 'tune' locks your pcm to their software. meaning only they can read or change it. find out how they handle gm updates, etc.
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 201
Likes: 0
From: Fort Lee NJ
Originally Posted by fredgpowell
Get teh tune now to stop codes from headers and intake. I would suggest HPTUNER software because I just to almost 390 with header and intake on my car.