Adding LG headers and CAI
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 847
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From: Wylie Texas
Adding LG headers and CAI
I'm planning to add LG headers and CAI next month and from what I understand a tune will be required. From what I have read on the forums the Tune can void the warranty. I understand Chevy has to prove that it caused the problem before they can reject the warranty claim. I'm assuming different mods cause different levels of warranty coverage to be in question. That being said will a computer tune just about wipe out the entire warranty? If so should I just go ahead and get a cam, heads, etc....
Thanks
Thanks
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 2005
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From: YOU SEE ... I'M NOT CRAZY ...I'M JUST AHEAD OF THE CURVE
St. Jude Donor '09-'10
You don't "have to have" a tune with headers and CAI. It certainly maximizes their effectiveness, though.
Concerning warranty issues: the modification has to be the cause of failure or problem. If you fry a piston because the a/f was too lean ... and you had it tuned ... and the tables were off .... then they have a case.
But if you have the car tuned, and the radio stops working ... obviously they are not related and there should be no issue.
Thing with tune is to just ensure you get it done by someone who is experienced and knows wtf they are doing.
But for headers, CAI, and tune I have never heard of anyone having any issues ... perhaps others have, but I have not. They are probably the three most uninvasive mods .. again, as long as the tuner isn't a bonehead.
Concerning warranty issues: the modification has to be the cause of failure or problem. If you fry a piston because the a/f was too lean ... and you had it tuned ... and the tables were off .... then they have a case.
But if you have the car tuned, and the radio stops working ... obviously they are not related and there should be no issue.
Thing with tune is to just ensure you get it done by someone who is experienced and knows wtf they are doing.
But for headers, CAI, and tune I have never heard of anyone having any issues ... perhaps others have, but I have not. They are probably the three most uninvasive mods .. again, as long as the tuner isn't a bonehead.
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 27,596
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From: YOU SEE ... I'M NOT CRAZY ...I'M JUST AHEAD OF THE CURVE
St. Jude Donor '09-'10
You are in good hands. I had LG long tubes put on and gained 25/30 hp/tq with no tune .. and the sound is great. I had them coated and never through a code ....
You will love em!!!
You will love em!!!
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 53,282
Likes: 3
From: God Bless America
CAI and Headers
You will love the change in the car, hopefully they will do a before and after Dyno so you can see what the improvements are. A while back they had a special that if you did the headers and tune together, the install was basically free. Not sure if this is still in place or not, but it wouldn't hurt to ask. 
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 847
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From: Wylie Texas
You will love the change in the car, hopefully they will do a before and after Dyno so you can see what the improvements are. A while back they had a special that if you did the headers and tune together, the install was basically free. Not sure if this is still in place or not, but it wouldn't hurt to ask.
The trick is I want to find a Z06 exhaust that has the cutout flaps but I dont think I want someones factory exhaust.
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Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 4,430
Likes: 81
From: Whidbey Island WA
A couple thoughts here. Go HPT, any tuner worth dirt will have it. Accept no substitute, run away if they try and convince you to use ls2edit. Insist on cloning your factory tune before changing any parameters. You may need this later if you run into problems. A good tuner will do this on his own hook but you want to make sure its happening. Don't forget to inquire about the cost to have him restore your tune if the dealership flashes your car without asking you. Many will do this gratis, some will charge. The factory Z06 exhaust knuckles down to 2.5 going into the cans so its not a true 3" exhaust.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 1,062
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From: Wylie Texas
St. Jude Donor '08
Trey,
I've had my car in the shop 2 times for service engine lights and once to replace the ecm, on one occasion a new ecm was replaced being that I had a tune and told the service manager, there was never a wararanty issue. When they replaced my ECM I took it back to LG's and they had my tune on file and simply re-tuned it. Now that I have the H/C done I have talked to my service manager over at Reliable and every thing is still covered besides the engine itself. A quick note, Sean over at LG told me that if my car ever needed to go to the shop just to stop by and they will return the ecm to the tune that came from the factory.
I've had my car in the shop 2 times for service engine lights and once to replace the ecm, on one occasion a new ecm was replaced being that I had a tune and told the service manager, there was never a wararanty issue. When they replaced my ECM I took it back to LG's and they had my tune on file and simply re-tuned it. Now that I have the H/C done I have talked to my service manager over at Reliable and every thing is still covered besides the engine itself. A quick note, Sean over at LG told me that if my car ever needed to go to the shop just to stop by and they will return the ecm to the tune that came from the factory.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 12,094
Likes: 197
From: Colorado Springs, CO
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11
The reason for the tune side from obvious power increases is to make the engine run at the proper A/F ratio. The car comes from the factory running very rich at WOT. Adding headers and air cleaner mods (or just about any mod that increases the air flow efficiency of the engine) will make the car run leaner at idle and richer than stock at WOT. When I tuned my car it was at 11.6:1 at WOT which is bad as far as carbon in the cylinders and dirty tailpipes. Just because you dont get a check engine light doesn mean its good to run it that way.
A tune is required after headers for the same reasons you change your oil.
Racer
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 430
Likes: 1
From: Howell New Jersey
A couple thoughts here. Go HPT, any tuner worth dirt will have it. Accept no substitute, run away if they try and convince you to use ls2edit. Insist on cloning your factory tune before changing any parameters. You may need this later if you run into problems. A good tuner will do this on his own hook but you want to make sure its happening. Don't forget to inquire about the cost to have him restore your tune if the dealership flashes your car without asking you. Many will do this gratis, some will charge. The factory Z06 exhaust knuckles down to 2.5 going into the cans so its not a true 3" exhaust.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 38,314
Likes: 35
I disagree.
The reason for the tune side from obvious power increases is to make the engine run at the proper A/F ratio. The car comes from the factory running very rich at WOT. Adding headers and air cleaner mods (or just about any mod that increases the air flow efficiency of the engine) will make the car run leaner at idle and richer than stock at WOT. When I tuned my car it was at 11.6:1 at WOT which is bad as far as carbon in the cylinders and dirty tailpipes. Just because you dont get a check engine light doesn mean its good to run it that way.
A tune is required after headers for the same reasons you change your oil.
The reason for the tune side from obvious power increases is to make the engine run at the proper A/F ratio. The car comes from the factory running very rich at WOT. Adding headers and air cleaner mods (or just about any mod that increases the air flow efficiency of the engine) will make the car run leaner at idle and richer than stock at WOT. When I tuned my car it was at 11.6:1 at WOT which is bad as far as carbon in the cylinders and dirty tailpipes. Just because you dont get a check engine light doesn mean its good to run it that way.
A tune is required after headers for the same reasons you change your oil.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 10,516
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From: Virginia Bch VA
Cruise-In VI Veteran
Cruise-In VII Veteran
St. Jude Donor '06
While I was at a Tuners last week, a guy came in with a otherwise stock 05, Z51, MN6. He had added LG long Tubes, Borla Cat Back, & a Calloway CAI when he arrived for his first ever tune.
His before Dyno was 373 RHWP. His final Dyno after 5 pulls and a tune was 377. His O2 was at 13 across the board from the start. The tuner, a very credible guy in the Mid Atlantic States, said from the beginning that he could do little for him.
Bottom Line: Headers, CAI, & Cat Back will run OK on the factory tune.
His before Dyno was 373 RHWP. His final Dyno after 5 pulls and a tune was 377. His O2 was at 13 across the board from the start. The tuner, a very credible guy in the Mid Atlantic States, said from the beginning that he could do little for him.
Bottom Line: Headers, CAI, & Cat Back will run OK on the factory tune.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 847
Likes: 0
From: Wylie Texas
While I was at a Tuners last week, a guy came in with a otherwise stock 05, Z51, MN6. He had added LG long Tubes, Borla Cat Back, & a Calloway CAI when he arrived for his first ever tune.
His before Dyno was 373 RHWP. His final Dyno after 5 pulls and a tune was 377. His O2 was at 13 across the board from the start. The tuner, a very credible guy in the Mid Atlantic States, said from the beginning that he could do little for him.
Bottom Line: Headers, CAI, & Cat Back will run OK on the factory tune.
His before Dyno was 373 RHWP. His final Dyno after 5 pulls and a tune was 377. His O2 was at 13 across the board from the start. The tuner, a very credible guy in the Mid Atlantic States, said from the beginning that he could do little for him.
Bottom Line: Headers, CAI, & Cat Back will run OK on the factory tune.
Thanks for the info. I have an A6 tranny and I've read where a tune on a stock A6 can help a lot, especially with the tranny.
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 200
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From: Hawthorn Woods Illinois
Vetter, Im having my Kooks LT'S coated by Jet Hot. Have had work done on another of my cars and worked great. Question though, do you have any input on the exact type. I want to do the higher quality Sterling. There are 2 versions of the Sterling finish. Reason i think it would be better is that tis better Sterling is for a higher temp. Any thoughts?
