After headers...How long before tune?
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 807
Likes: 1
From: Miami Lakes FL
After headers...How long before tune?
I'm going to be installing LG Street Series Headers, MSD wires, NGK TR55 plgs, and a 160 degree thermostat on my 2010 GS possibly this weekend. My question is, How long can I drive the car before I get it tuned? Should I drive it as little as possible? Will I cause any damage if I drive it after I install these parts but before I get a tune? Recommendations?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 6,149
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From: Greater Detroit Metro MI, when I'm not travelling.
A lot of people run headers without a retune; you just won't make as much power. I had my headers on for about 1000 miles (3 weeks) before I got my car tuned, and saw the biggest gains with the tune.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 3,063
Likes: 82
From: Tumwater, WA
But with the 160 stat should he wait?
Instructor
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 107
Likes: 0
From: los banos Ca
I'm going to be installing LG Street Series Headers, MSD wires, NGK TR55 plgs, and a 160 degree thermostat on my 2010 GS possibly this weekend. My question is, How long can I drive the car before I get it tuned? Should I drive it as little as possible? Will I cause any damage if I drive it after I install these parts but before I get a tune? Recommendations?
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 1,492
Likes: 7
From: WA
I'm going to be installing LG Street Series Headers, MSD wires, NGK TR55 plgs, and a 160 degree thermostat on my 2010 GS possibly this weekend. My question is, How long can I drive the car before I get it tuned? Should I drive it as little as possible? Will I cause any damage if I drive it after I install these parts but before I get a tune? Recommendations?
As others already said..... you will be fine. I put on a set of long tubes (ARH) this last friday night, and I will have to wait until late March, that is the earliest date I could get on my Tuner's schedule. I drove the Z all weekend, enjoying the "new personality" exhibited by my car and new headers...... no problems what so ever!
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 32,910
Likes: 2,402
From: Anthony TX
CI 6,7,8,9,11 Vet
St. Jude Donor '08
You will see a big drop in MPG (fuel efficiency) and will leave some HP/TQ on the table. Other than running rich,,, you will see no issues.
I ran my 06 MN6 Coupe a year before my tune after installing VARARAM, headers and a poted TB. My Fuel mileage went from 26MPG down to 23-24. Other than that,, all was well
I had Chuck at Corvettes of Westchester tune the car. All I can say is HOLY MOSES!!!!!!!!!!!!
The car ran SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO much better in POWER AND FUEL EFFICIENCY!
I saw 28-29 MPG after Chucks Tune on my trip to and from Bowling Green for last years Cruise In with MUCH MUCH MORE Power.
BC
I ran my 06 MN6 Coupe a year before my tune after installing VARARAM, headers and a poted TB. My Fuel mileage went from 26MPG down to 23-24. Other than that,, all was well
I had Chuck at Corvettes of Westchester tune the car. All I can say is HOLY MOSES!!!!!!!!!!!!
The car ran SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO much better in POWER AND FUEL EFFICIENCY!I saw 28-29 MPG after Chucks Tune on my trip to and from Bowling Green for last years Cruise In with MUCH MUCH MORE Power.
BC
Last edited by Bill Curlee; Feb 23, 2011 at 03:03 AM.
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Instructor
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 239
Likes: 0
From: Laguna Niguel Ca
You will see a big drop in MPG (fuel efficiency) and will leave some HP/TQ on the table. Other than running rich,,, you will see no issues.
I ran my 06 MN6 Coupe a year before my tune after installing VARARAM, headers and a poted TB. My Fuel mileage went from 26MPG down to 23-24. Other than that,, all was well
I had Chuck at Corvettes of Westchester tune the car. All I can say is HOLY MOSES!!!!!!!!!!!! The car ran SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO much better in POWER AND FUEL EFFICIENCY!
I saw 28-29 MPG after Chucks Tune on my trip to and from Bowling Green for last years Cruise In with MUCH MUCH MORE Power.
BC
I ran my 06 MN6 Coupe a year before my tune after installing VARARAM, headers and a poted TB. My Fuel mileage went from 26MPG down to 23-24. Other than that,, all was well
I had Chuck at Corvettes of Westchester tune the car. All I can say is HOLY MOSES!!!!!!!!!!!!
The car ran SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO much better in POWER AND FUEL EFFICIENCY!I saw 28-29 MPG after Chucks Tune on my trip to and from Bowling Green for last years Cruise In with MUCH MUCH MORE Power.
BC
I only bought my LS3 last July and haven't really dealt with performance cars since I traded in my 71 Nova, 350 small block, Muncie Manual Transmission, Hurst V-gate shifter, long ago. Not trying to hijack the thread but can someone elaborate on the concept of tunes? Today's cars obviously have a lot more electronics, back in the day we would just add headers, cam, high compression pistons, gears, etc..
Thanks
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 32,910
Likes: 2,402
From: Anthony TX
CI 6,7,8,9,11 Vet
St. Jude Donor '08
In the past,, you changed the carb jets, recurved the distributor, changed Fuel Pressure, and retimed the engine to get MAX performance.
In the C5 and C6,,, you do ALL that plus some ELECTRONICALLY with tuning software. Most people use EFI Live or HP Tuners ( There are around $800. ) to manipulate those parameters in the Electronics Control Unit (ECU).. If you don't have the tuning soft ware o the tuning skills,, you pay $400-$500 for someone to do it fo you.
BC
In the C5 and C6,,, you do ALL that plus some ELECTRONICALLY with tuning software. Most people use EFI Live or HP Tuners ( There are around $800. ) to manipulate those parameters in the Electronics Control Unit (ECU).. If you don't have the tuning soft ware o the tuning skills,, you pay $400-$500 for someone to do it fo you.
BC
Racer
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 286
Likes: 1
From: Midland Texas
I've been driving mine with street series headers for over a year without a tune. Next time I have the car in Dallas or Houston it will probably get a tune. Or maybe I'll just drop it off for a cam to go with the tune lol.
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 239
Likes: 0
From: Laguna Niguel Ca
In the past,, you changed the carb jets, recurved the distributor, changed Fuel Pressure, and retimed the engine to get MAX performance.
In the C5 and C6,,, you do ALL that plus some ELECTRONICALLY with tuning software. Most people use EFI Live or HP Tuners ( There are around $800. ) to manipulate those parameters in the Electronics Control Unit (ECU).. If you don't have the tuning soft ware o the tuning skills,, you pay $400-$500 for someone to do it fo you.
BC
In the C5 and C6,,, you do ALL that plus some ELECTRONICALLY with tuning software. Most people use EFI Live or HP Tuners ( There are around $800. ) to manipulate those parameters in the Electronics Control Unit (ECU).. If you don't have the tuning soft ware o the tuning skills,, you pay $400-$500 for someone to do it fo you.
BC
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 32,910
Likes: 2,402
From: Anthony TX
CI 6,7,8,9,11 Vet
St. Jude Donor '08
YES.. If you have an auto, Thee are numerous changes that can be made to make it do what it does best. Takes a very good tune to get it correct. I have MN6 and MN12 tyranny's so I often forget to mention tranny calibration changes.
BC
BC
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 239
Likes: 0
From: Laguna Niguel Ca
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 6,483
Likes: 713
From: Sausalito CA
Maybe the question is asking....does the computer, fuel trims and all re-learn your driving style after a change?
Some other brand cars want you to idle them for 10 minutes after you change a battery as an example.
So how long....100 miles of mixed driving would be my guess if the above is true. You could re-check the header bolt torque at that time too.
Some other brand cars want you to idle them for 10 minutes after you change a battery as an example.
So how long....100 miles of mixed driving would be my guess if the above is true. You could re-check the header bolt torque at that time too.
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 179
Likes: 2
From: Lincoln California
I got a CEL with the 160 thermostat, and that was when it was 60 or so degrees out. I would hold off on that until you're ready to tune, you might not get the same result, but my DIC would complain and disable the AC; had to put the stocker back in.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 3,063
Likes: 82
From: Tumwater, WA
I hate when dics do that.
