looking for references for local tuners. i used to go to mark romans but, he is not doing this any longer.
i have a '09 C6, LS3 w/a TSP stage 2 cam ( upgraded lifters and rocker arms ) recently installed ( nov / 2019 ).
after sorting some over heating issues ( turned to be the radiator ). or i thought anyways.
previous to the cam upgrade, on the freeway it'd run around 198°F, maybe up to 210°F around town.
with the radiator upgrade ( used Z06 ), it now runs around 167°-172° on the freeway. around town 210°-220°.
the main issue is that when you do really get on it, the temp starts to spike almost immediately.
yesterday, i was following a ZL1 on the highway, in 3rd gear doing about 60-65mph ( 4k rpm ). temp was holding at 203°.
after about 1/2 mile, i past the camaro. i did get it up well into the triple digits for a few seconds. it then jumped to 225° and after coasting down to 70mph, the temp went up to 255°. it did drop down to about 220° but it takes several miles.
once the temp gets elevated, it takes a while for it get down even below 200°. if you hold a steady speed, the temp will hold as well. but once you get on it and the temp rises, it spikes. prior to the cam, it would rarely get over 200° on the freeway.
if i can't talk mark into a follow up session, i'd like to get someone to check the tune.

 

Matt @ GPTuning.
Not always the best bedside manner LOL.
But knows his craft as well as anyone in Nor CA.
Good Luck

 

+1 for Matt@GPTuning.

 

GP for sure he knows his ****

 

I used Rick at Synergy. Super mild cam, headers, AHP street ported heads, etc..
Car runs great, and it's probably making the appropriate amount of power. But form the small amount of time spent on it, I question how much effort was expended anywhere besides tuning idle and full throttle.

 

thanks for all of the contact info. i was going to first get my AC recharged ( it was disconnected with the new radiator install ).
my local shop informed me that the AC lines, appear to have been damaged and they could be connected.
i contacted the tuner i've used in the past, asking for a local shop to go to on. since i was finally able to get my home from the first shop, i've cut the cord with him.
he gave me info on a shop that is a 5 minute walk from my house. upon arrival, i see that he had about 4 - 5 corvettes on site already ( good sign i hope ).
currently, i thought that the radiator was the cure but, after driving it for a few hundred miles, the over heating issue is still present.
it seems now that it over heats with a load applied. and i say over heat i mean, it could be at 200°f on the freeway, if i try passing in 6th gear, it will rise about 15°-25° in about 10 seconds. if i really get on it ( hard in 3rd or 4th upon to 6k rpm's ), it will rise up to 240°-250° in about the same time. this never happened before.
the other odd thing is that i got two 'low coolant level' warnings. i dropped in 1 gallon of coolant. about 20 miles later, got the same warning. their is no sign of coolant on the ground. i also do not see any signs of it coming through the exhaust ( at least while driving ). my local shop did a pressure check on the coolant system, and said that it was holding pressure. i'll see what the current shop finds out.

 

A good tuner doesn't need hours to dial in a car. We can have 1500 hp c6z setups dialed in drivability, wot, etc in an hour easily if its mechanically right. Rick is good and im sure it's done right.

 

Thanks for the vote of confidence.

 

WHY? would you have to disconnect the AC to put a new radiator in? Had mine out 4 times too put cams in never once did I disconnect the AC.

 

My Tuner Vengeance Racing Cummings Ga. when starts a tune, he checks my oil , he sits in the car hooks up his lap top as he's sitting there I see him typing , so I guess he's making changes? He starts the car looks at more data. then he takes it for a short drive, 15 mins? Comes back looks at the data again, pecks a little more then it's on to the dyno, where he takes his time strapping it down, then at least 3 pulls with time in-between for cooling and then cooling time and a final pull. most of the time it takes about 2 hours and at no time do I feel he's rushing or being careless with my car. And after the first tune I get retunes at a reduced price. as I do more work.

 

Stock RADS suck, get a DeWitt's baby! If you added a gallon it sounds like it was not burped! rear steam lines help! the more you type the less I like your shop. IMHO

 

when i first asked my tuner for a reference, he must have thought that i lived close to where he lived.
when i asked for second reference and he mentioned one in the same area, i told him i needed one closer to me. he replied with one that is a 5 minute walk from home
( versus the 80 mile drive ). stupid me. anyways, the first shop got a few $$$ for not much success. hopefully, the new shop is the ticket, especially as it seem to be predominately corvettes ( 'Just Joe's ' concord, ca. ). at least i'll be saving on rental car fees.

 

well, round one of examination update: mechanic did a dye test and found coolant in the oil.
his initial thoughts are it being a head gasket. but after explaining to him, the history of it overheating ( 2x to 260°, several times in the 230°-250° range ), along with the heads being removed several times ( 3 - 4 times ), he is also thinking that the block may also have been effected. currently, he is hesitant to just replace the head gasket ( first mechanic said the he'd already replaced the head gasket twice ). current mechanic is worried that if the block is effected, replacing the head gasket is just tossing more money down the drain. he quoted me about $11k for a rebuild ( he has yet been unable to locate any new LS3 motors ). even if he could, i'm not really in a financial position to proceed any farther.
as it sits, you really can't drive it ( maybe just around town ). this all started with just a small 'tick-tick' noise.
coincidently, it also started around the same time as the 'virus'(?).
anyone have a spare LS3 laying around?

 

Beginning to sound like you need some real help. The shop foreman here is a Corvette expert. If he can't do it he knows where to go.

https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...th-2020-a.html

 

i feel better with the current shop i'm using. unfortunately, the farther i get into this, the more i feel the first shop jacked this up. i don't have a smoking gun though.
i could just chance it and change the head gasket but, that's already been done twice before ( so i've been told ). i really don't need to spend any more $$$ only to find
the block is the issue. as it currently sits, it does run ok temp-wise ( until a load is applied ). i'll probably just park it for a while. it does have 162k miles on it.
worse case would either be sell it as ( not likely ), that would be a further add to money lost on it. i was quoted a price for a rebuild ( $11k ) but, at the price i would prefer to buy a new motor. jeg's showing stock LS3's starting around $7.8k up to some $9.5k for some higher HP versions ( their was a 525hp version from blueprint for $68k ).
f i went that route, i would also change the clutch too ( still on the original one ).

 

@RichieRichZ06 will be able to help you out.

 

where is he located?

 

280 N Front Street Rio VistaCA94571

 

able chevorlet. i have heard good things about them over the years.
the previous issues i've had, hadn't really warranted a dealership visit. able is about a 1/2 hr drive for me so, that works out well.
i'm still deciding on to proceed. for now, i'll get my ride home and make my next move. i currently don't have any where the near funds.

 

Call Abel Chevrolet and speak to Rich, he will advise you. I drive an hour and twenty minutes each way to have them do work on my car. They are fair and straight up!