C6 Tech/Performance LS2, LS3, LS7, LS9 Corvette Technical Info, Internal Engine, External Engine, Tech Topics, Basic Tech, Maintenance, How to Remove & Replace
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

LS2 with minor mods. Worth a tune?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Sep 27, 2018 | 08:12 PM
  #1  
Jeff T.'s Avatar
Jeff T.
Thread Starter
Race Director
15 Year Member
St. Jude 10 Year Donor
Liked
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 17,693
Likes: 1,210
From: Aiken, SC
St. Jude Donor '13 thru '26
Default LS2 with minor mods. Worth a tune?

I posted this question in the General Discussion section and it was basically ignored. I guess I should have mentioned chrome or black wheels!!

Anyway, I have an 06, 6 spd with a Vararam and a Corsa. I don't plan on any other engine mods. Is it worth investing in a tune??

Thanks.
Reply
Old Sep 27, 2018 | 08:49 PM
  #2  
damascus1986's Avatar
damascus1986
Instructor
 
Joined: May 2016
Posts: 235
Likes: 21
Default

imo a tune will bring out the mods you already have because the car is fighting any changes in AFR they are doing. tuning is one of the most worthwhile mods and id say you would gain more (especially if auto) from just a tune over intake and exhaust. so heck yea i think its worth it not sure if you noticed a difference in the car after those mods but you will notice a tune for sure.
Reply
Old Sep 27, 2018 | 09:21 PM
  #3  
Jeff T.'s Avatar
Jeff T.
Thread Starter
Race Director
15 Year Member
St. Jude 10 Year Donor
Liked
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 17,693
Likes: 1,210
From: Aiken, SC
St. Jude Donor '13 thru '26
Default

I bought the car this way so I can't give you any info on the difference they made.
Reply
Old Sep 27, 2018 | 09:34 PM
  #4  
damascus1986's Avatar
damascus1986
Instructor
 
Joined: May 2016
Posts: 235
Likes: 21
Default

Originally Posted by Jeff T.
I bought the car this way so I can't give you any info on the difference they made.
i think its worth it. a good tune can go a long way
Reply
Old Sep 27, 2018 | 09:42 PM
  #5  
myredhead1's Avatar
myredhead1
Melting Slicks
 
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 2,257
Likes: 433
From: Bossier City Louisiana
Default

With the car already having a vararam, could it also possibly already have a tune?
Reply
Old Sep 27, 2018 | 10:00 PM
  #6  
Jeff T.'s Avatar
Jeff T.
Thread Starter
Race Director
15 Year Member
St. Jude 10 Year Donor
Liked
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 17,693
Likes: 1,210
From: Aiken, SC
St. Jude Donor '13 thru '26
Default

Originally Posted by myredhead1
With the car already having a vararam, could it also possibly already have a tune?
Unfortunately if it was, that info wasn't passed along at the time of the sale. I'm thinking not based on damascus comment about the Vararam and the car fighting the change.

I think it should be getting a little better highway mileage than it is, 20-22. Sounds like a no brainer for spring.
Reply
Old Sep 28, 2018 | 08:10 AM
  #7  
Canuck204's Avatar
Canuck204
Advanced
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Top Answer: 1
 
Joined: Jun 2018
Posts: 68
Likes: 22
Default

Originally Posted by Jeff T.
Unfortunately if it was, that info wasn't passed along at the time of the sale. I'm thinking not based on damascus comment about the Vararam and the car fighting the change.

I think it should be getting a little better highway mileage than it is, 20-22. Sounds like a no brainer for spring.

20-22 yikes. My LS2 has full bolt-ons and a canned diablo and still gets 28+ easy hwy. Still gonna get a proper dyno tune in spring though.

Last edited by Canuck204; Sep 28, 2018 at 08:11 AM.
Reply
Old Sep 28, 2018 | 09:06 AM
  #8  
Kenny94945's Avatar
Kenny94945
Le Mans Master
25 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 6,473
Likes: 707
From: Sausalito CA
Default

Yes.
Reply
Corvette Stories

The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts

story-0

Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)

 Joe Kucinski
story-1

Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!

 Verdad Gallardo
story-2

Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!

 Brett Foote
story-3

Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-4

10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know

 Joe Kucinski
story-5

5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2

 Michael S. Palmer
story-6

2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor

 Joe Kucinski
story-7

10 Most Common Corvette Problems of the Last 20 Years!

 Joe Kucinski
story-8

5 MOST and 5 LEAST Popular Corvette Model Years in History!

 Joe Kucinski
story-9

2027 Corvette Buyer's Guide: Everything You Need to Know!

 Joe Kucinski
Old Sep 28, 2018 | 11:55 AM
  #9  
mellojoe's Avatar
mellojoe
Racer
 
Joined: Feb 2018
Posts: 303
Likes: 72
From: Arizona
Default

air intake + axle back is probably not worth spending $500 or so on a tune. However, there's nothing WRONG with getting a tune, but don't think that you are going to see massive changes just with tuning. You won't see much changes over stock. Some? Perhaps. Headers would probably give you more of a change and more of a reason for a tune. Spending the time to hook it to a dyno and spend the money for a tuner's time is always fun. But, most reputable tuners will say "we'll take your money if you want to give it to us, but you don't have to get a tune with just a CAI + Axle Back".
Reply
Old Sep 28, 2018 | 03:50 PM
  #10  
corvettezman's Avatar
corvettezman
Race Director
Supporting Lifetime
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 13,565
Likes: 1,351
From: Home of the VOLS ! Knoxville, TN. Tennessee
St. Jude Donor '11-'12-'13, '15, '16-'17-'18-'19
Default

I did a basic tune with minimal mods on my 07 auto.
It made a huge difference the way the car feels and drives.
I already had the SCT tuner that I had purchased from RDP store for my former Camaro SS, so all I had to do was pay Steve at RDP for a new tune for this car.
The funny thing is that he told me that the car had a tune in it already when I sent him the file but I am not sure by who. He cleaned it up and put a tune of his own in it. Well worth the money IMHO.
Reply
Old Sep 28, 2018 | 06:08 PM
  #11  
damascus1986's Avatar
damascus1986
Instructor
 
Joined: May 2016
Posts: 235
Likes: 21
Default

Originally Posted by Jeff T.
Unfortunately if it was, that info wasn't passed along at the time of the sale. I'm thinking not based on damascus comment about the Vararam and the car fighting the change.

I think it should be getting a little better highway mileage than it is, 20-22. Sounds like a no brainer for spring.
red head does make a point not sure if the car will act up without a tune but then again we are talking ls2 which has a MAF thats alot less sensitive then the one on the ls3
Reply
Old Sep 29, 2018 | 06:32 AM
  #12  
Cockroach's Avatar
Cockroach
Burning Brakes
Photogenic
Liked
Top Answer: 1
Top Answer: 3
 
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 942
Likes: 171
Default

For a few hundred bucks the Diablo Sport tune is pretty good, woke up my 08 auto with minor mods.
Reply
Old Sep 29, 2018 | 06:51 AM
  #13  
Dman302's Avatar
Dman302
Racer
 
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 439
Likes: 68
Default

Diablo here with hurricane intake and corsa catback... it’s a good little bump and if you contact Lew at Diablo he can dial it in as close as you would need for your setup. On canned tune 93 octane it’s noticeable in second gear on a pull from 1200-redline that you’ve gained some hp in the late middle/upper end of the dial.
Reply
Old Sep 29, 2018 | 12:19 PM
  #14  
HOXXOH's Avatar
HOXXOH
Race Director
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 16,557
Likes: 2,104
From: Peoria/Phoenix AZ
C6 of Year Finalist (performance mods) 2019
Default

Originally Posted by myredhead1
With the car already having a vararam, could it also possibly already have a tune?
Originally Posted by Jeff T.
Unfortunately if it was, that info wasn't passed along at the time of the sale. I'm thinking not based on damascus comment about the Vararam and the car fighting the change.

I think it should be getting a little better highway mileage than it is, 20-22. Sounds like a no brainer for spring.
IIRC, you don't have to buy/use credits to simply look at a tune, so the cost for that would be minimal, especially if you have a friend with HP Tuners. If upon looking, it was found that the afr was fairly rich, due to a tune, a re-tune could correct that and your MPG increase (est 25%) would pay for the tune in about 10K miles. You should be checking the Vararam and filter for any blockage/restrictions before doing anything else. Plugged up cats can kill mileage too.
Reply
Old Sep 29, 2018 | 10:27 PM
  #15  
K-Spaz's Avatar
K-Spaz
Team Owner
 
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 34,479
Likes: 532
From: Central PA. - - My AR15 identifies as a muzzleloader
I believe in the Beer Fairy
Default

with your terrible highway mileage I would say you are in the market for a tune.
Reply
Old Sep 30, 2018 | 09:35 AM
  #16  
Jeff T.'s Avatar
Jeff T.
Thread Starter
Race Director
15 Year Member
St. Jude 10 Year Donor
Liked
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 17,693
Likes: 1,210
From: Aiken, SC
St. Jude Donor '13 thru '26
Default

I opened up the Vararam and it was relatively clean. No red flags there, but I took the time to clean the filter. Time to look elsewhere.

Looks like a spring tune will definitely be in the cards.
Reply
Old Oct 2, 2018 | 04:52 PM
  #17  
Orion2011's Avatar
Orion2011
Burning Brakes
10 Year Member
Conversation Starter
All Eyes On Me
Liked
 
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 1,183
Likes: 305
From: Shelbyville Kentucky
Default

In short yes. I would go with Diablosport or something like that. No point paying someone to dyno tune it unless you mod the **** out of it.
Reply

Get notified of new replies

To LS2 with minor mods. Worth a tune?





All times are GMT -4. The time now is 02:43 PM.

story-0
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)

Slideshow: Ranking the top 10 Corvette engines by torque output.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-05 11:58:09


VIEW MORE
story-1
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!

Slideshow: A Corvette pace car nearly matching IndyCar speeds sounds exaggerated, until you look at the numbers.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-04 20:03:36


VIEW MORE
story-2
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!

Among a rather large group of them.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-04 13:56:44


VIEW MORE
story-3
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!

Slideshow: the top 10 things Corvette owners want in the C9 Corvette

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-30 12:41:15


VIEW MORE
story-4
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know

Slideshow: 10 Important Corvette 'firsts' that every fan should know.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-29 17:02:16


VIEW MORE
story-5
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2

Slideshow: Should you buy a 2020-2026 Corvette or wait for 2027?

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-22 10:08:58


VIEW MORE
story-6
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor

Slideshow: 2027 Corvette lineup vs the world.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-24 16:12:42


VIEW MORE
story-7
10 Most Common Corvette Problems of the Last 20 Years!

Slideshow: 10 major Corvette problems from the last 20 years.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-14 16:37:05


VIEW MORE
story-8
5 MOST and 5 LEAST Popular Corvette Model Years in History!

Slideshow: 5 most and least popular Corvette model years.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-08 13:25:01


VIEW MORE
story-9
2027 Corvette Buyer's Guide: Everything You Need to Know!

Slideshow: 2027 Corvette buyer's guide

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-17 16:41:08


VIEW MORE