Do you warranty the engine the same way Porsche does after leaning out the tune for that 5% increase? Usually manufacturers keep them rich to keep cats alive and have a safety blanket for out on the racetrack at WOT for 20 mins+.

I know there are trade-offs any time you modify, I’m just saying in stock form there isn’t room for improvement without giving up something else - environment due to emissions, leaner hotter combustion temps for more power, etc. Is it possible to get a few hp? For sure! But remember what you are giving up for it is all. It wasn’t because GM was lazy.

Oh and people should thank GM if they are registering for new insurance - most companies do not insure cars 500hp+. Strict new policies that end up costing more. Mine was dropped because it was 505 stock. Food for thought - probably a good reason they didn’t make the base model uninsurable by any insurance plan.

 

A tune doesn't simply lean the A/F out to make power - that would be irresponsible. (The old adage "Lean is Mean" is a bit outdated.) There's a lot more that goes into it. Ignition timing can be altered, variable cam timing, and other parameters (boost offers a whole different set of tables). GM has to be conservative, because they have no idea what kind of fuel quality the average end-user will see. They want to prevent excessive knock and a limp mode scenario if that end-user gets a tank of some stale, low grade tiger urine. Some customers even think "gas is gas" and will save $3.50 per tank by not selecting the highest grade. When we provide a tune, hard part upgrades and fuel grade have to be listed on the Tuning Form the customer submits to us so that we take this into account - (for instance 93 isn't even available in California). The enthusiasts who approach Fabspeed are a bit more dedicated to performance than the average vehicle owner, and as a result, are willing to commit to premium fuel from a Top Tier supplier. Lastly, longevity and reliability are considerations when crafting our tunes, as opposed to absolute bragging rights to the largest possible gains - with great risk.

We have a ton of customers involved in track events and spec series, across multiple manufacturers like Ferrari, Lamborghini, McLaren, Audi R8, in addition to Porsche referenced in the last post. I'm not aware of any catastrophic failure related to a tune - from older air-cooled 911s (where heat and detonation are even more of a possibility) right up to an extremely technologically advanced 720s putting down 782hp to the tires.

As a manufacturer of intakes, headers, sport catalysts and exhausts, we have a unique understanding of how modifications play into the equation. This is very helpful information when we go to craft a tune. We've already had a C8 on the dyno bone stock, then with our Sport Cats, with our Valvetronic, with our Supersport X-Pipe, with Cat Bypass pipes, with Kooks headers, and all manner of combinations of these parts. We are intimately aware of what those individual components (and packages) do to change the performance behavior of the car - and can tune to safely make the most of those changes. Not many competitors can offer that comprehensive, one-stop approach.

Just like all the early detractors who said, "The aftermarket won't be able to manage the heat produced by the new C8 exhaust." We were happy to provide our detailed R&D notes showing that this was an incredibly important factor in our engineering HERE. Once the ECU is cracked, we'll be happy to clear up misinformation on the software as well - the largest concern currently would be the inherent issues in the drivetrain like the failed valvesprings, and then how much power the transmission can handle. Some of the early twin turbo packages out there are already commenting on evidence of slipping. It will be exciting to see what these cars will be capable of with FBO and a tune.