DIY Tuning
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 1,924
Likes: 392
From: Atlanta - - - - - Save the manuals
DIY Tuning
My Corvette is my hobby. I told myself that I would do 100% of my own work or sell the car. Stupid I know, but that whats I want to do. So far I find the 05 vette easy to work on. I've done a number of things and the clutch replacement was the most work but (IMHO) not that hard.
So my questions. Can you tune a car by yourself in a home garage? I am willing to spend a few bucks, but not on something like a dyno. HP Tuners has a course that you can take to teach you how to tune which I plan to enroll in.
So again, "can you tune a car" in your home garage? Opinions, have you done it, can't be done, how did you measure results, etc.
So my questions. Can you tune a car by yourself in a home garage? I am willing to spend a few bucks, but not on something like a dyno. HP Tuners has a course that you can take to teach you how to tune which I plan to enroll in.
So again, "can you tune a car" in your home garage? Opinions, have you done it, can't be done, how did you measure results, etc.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 3,297
Likes: 398
From: Raleigh Suburbs
R u computer literate/advanced? IF so, AND you are familiar with how an ICE operates, ls1tech has a beginner's guide (*.doc file) to computer tuning [w/HPT].
Read that document top to bottom and then re-evaluate the situation!!
Read that document top to bottom and then re-evaluate the situation!!
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2015
Posts: 167
Likes: 33
From: TN
Definitely; well ... not in the garage, but on the road or drag strip (without a dyno).
As others have answered, before you do it, i think you should learn some basic engine control theory. Personally i bought a couple of small books, did some reading on engine control theory, then very slowly and gradually started changing calibrations, started with small benign stuff that doesn't risk the engine then progressed from there. if you don't already know how the ECM measures signals and controls the engine, it will be a little bit of a learning curve. Personally i enjoyed the process and i consider it a hobby, mostly just tinkering really. If learning this doesn't sound enjoyable to you, just have a tuner do it.
Hardware wise you'll need some sort of an interface to flash the controller, i use HPTuners, but i think EFI Live is also popular. You will also need to buy a wideband O2 sensor setup, and wire it in so that HPTuners (or equivalent) records air fuel ratio alongside ECM variables.
if you want to chat a little more in depth what it takes to tune, send me a PM.
As others have answered, before you do it, i think you should learn some basic engine control theory. Personally i bought a couple of small books, did some reading on engine control theory, then very slowly and gradually started changing calibrations, started with small benign stuff that doesn't risk the engine then progressed from there. if you don't already know how the ECM measures signals and controls the engine, it will be a little bit of a learning curve. Personally i enjoyed the process and i consider it a hobby, mostly just tinkering really. If learning this doesn't sound enjoyable to you, just have a tuner do it.
Hardware wise you'll need some sort of an interface to flash the controller, i use HPTuners, but i think EFI Live is also popular. You will also need to buy a wideband O2 sensor setup, and wire it in so that HPTuners (or equivalent) records air fuel ratio alongside ECM variables.
if you want to chat a little more in depth what it takes to tune, send me a PM.
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,827
Likes: 301
From: Tucson Arizona
St. Jude Donor '08
Hardware wise you'll need some sort of an interface to flash the controller, i use HPTuners, but i think EFI Live is also popular. You will also need to buy a wideband O2 sensor setup, and wire it in so that HPTuners (or equivalent) records air fuel ratio alongside ECM variables.
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Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 1,924
Likes: 392
From: Atlanta - - - - - Save the manuals
Definitely; well ... not in the garage, but on the road or drag strip (without a dyno).
As others have answered, before you do it, i think you should learn some basic engine control theory. Personally i bought a couple of small books, did some reading on engine control theory, then very slowly and gradually started changing calibrations, started with small benign stuff that doesn't risk the engine then progressed from there. if you don't already know how the ECM measures signals and controls the engine, it will be a little bit of a learning curve. Personally i enjoyed the process and i consider it a hobby, mostly just tinkering really. If learning this doesn't sound enjoyable to you, just have a tuner do it.
Hardware wise you'll need some sort of an interface to flash the controller, i use HPTuners, but i think EFI Live is also popular. You will also need to buy a wideband O2 sensor setup, and wire it in so that HPTuners (or equivalent) records air fuel ratio alongside ECM variables.
if you want to chat a little more in depth what it takes to tune, send me a PM.
As others have answered, before you do it, i think you should learn some basic engine control theory. Personally i bought a couple of small books, did some reading on engine control theory, then very slowly and gradually started changing calibrations, started with small benign stuff that doesn't risk the engine then progressed from there. if you don't already know how the ECM measures signals and controls the engine, it will be a little bit of a learning curve. Personally i enjoyed the process and i consider it a hobby, mostly just tinkering really. If learning this doesn't sound enjoyable to you, just have a tuner do it.
Hardware wise you'll need some sort of an interface to flash the controller, i use HPTuners, but i think EFI Live is also popular. You will also need to buy a wideband O2 sensor setup, and wire it in so that HPTuners (or equivalent) records air fuel ratio alongside ECM variables.
if you want to chat a little more in depth what it takes to tune, send me a PM.
Thanks I'll keep you mind and add you as a friend.
Your response is exactly what I was looking for. I just want to tinker and maybe make some small changes down the road to match headers etc. It's my hobby and keeps me out of trouble. I enjoy playing with the car almost as much as driving, its as simple as that. I just wanted some idea of the amount of work study involved. I'm going to use HPTuners and take a few of their courses. Thanks!!!!!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 3,297
Likes: 398
From: Raleigh Suburbs
Hardware wise you'll need some sort of an interface to flash the controller, i use HPTuners, but i think EFI Live is also popular. You will also need to buy a wideband O2 sensor setup, and wire it in so that HPTuners (or equivalent) records air fuel ratio alongside ECM variables.