Tuning Your Corvette Properly
08-10-2016, 12:26 AM
#1
Intermediate
Thread Starter
Tuning Your Corvette Properly
I have to share with my fellow Corvette Forum members a great resource and help for all of us.
His name is Josh Benson, and he owns and works at Spartan LSX Performance.
Josh Benson
Spartan LSX Performance
678-524-4548
www.SpartanLSXPerformance.com
Email: spartanlsx1@gmail.com
I found him after spending quite a bit of time and research on the web to find someone to help me.
I have a 2012 Corvette Grand Sport with a K&N CAI, a Borla cat back exhaust, and a tune. The car is a six speed manual with 13k miles on the engine.
I wanted to get an aftermarket camshaft, valve springs, and push rods to get more power, but, I would also like to be able to pass my bi annual California smog test too.
I put this question out there to quite a number of different performance specialists (Big Names) and tuners, to get their opinion on what specifications and products to choose, some responded, and some did not.
Josh was the only person to respond to me that gave me detailed information to my inquires and questions, and he did not try to sell me on his products and services. From the few responses that I did get back from the others, their details were vague and generic, (they would not tell me the specs of the camshaft that they would recommend for my situation) and they wanted me to buy their packages, products and services that they provided.
After looking at all of my options, I decided to go with Josh's recommendations, a Cam Motion camshaft 218/228 .600/.600 118+6, best quality cam cores in the industry, and their cam lobes are very smooth and forgiving to other components of the valve train. PSI 1511's, a light weight quality beehive spring, and Trick Flow hardened pushrods. Josh does not sale any of these parts, he suggested to me how I could find the best prices out there.
Josh also gave me questions to ask perspective performance shops that I was looking at to do the installation work on my car. For example, "Ask them if they check things like spring install height, piston/valve clearance, camshaft centerlines. Those fine details are very important."
I have to tell you that it was very refreshing to have this knowledge, quick response, detailed information, and great customer service that Josh provided.
After getting my camshaft package installed and going to get my new tune on the car so it would run just right. I ended up getting HP Tuners for this part as was suggested by the tune shop that I went to. I found a place near me in Mira Loma, Ca. that was highly recommended by some local shops and on Yelp. After the car was dyno'd and the tune was put in the car, I drove away, and when I tested the car, I was not really impressed with the difference in power from stock. After I got home, I proceeded to download the tune that was installed into HP Tuners and emailed it to Josh. When Josh looked at the tune, he said that the air/fuel ratio was too rich. It was in the 10's. I have a naturally aspirated car, so this was way too rich. Also, he said that there was a lot left to be desired with this tune that was put into my car. Josh compared a stock Grand Sport compare file, he saw that both the MAF & VE fueling tables are still stock, the power enrichment table (the wide open throttle fueling) could use a lot of work, the rev limiter could be raised, and he also saw some areas in the spark tables that could use some massaging too.
Josh said that there is much more left in a better tune.
Josh explained to me that since I have HP Tuners, if I had a wideband air/fuel gauge installed in the car before the catalytic converter by a local shop, that he would help me to tune the car properly through email.
This is exactly what I did. What a difference a proper complete tune makes and what a blessing Josh Benson is for us amateur motor heads.
I highly recommend Josh for all of the reasons above.
Craig
His name is Josh Benson, and he owns and works at Spartan LSX Performance.
Josh Benson
Spartan LSX Performance
678-524-4548
www.SpartanLSXPerformance.com
Email: spartanlsx1@gmail.com
I found him after spending quite a bit of time and research on the web to find someone to help me.
I have a 2012 Corvette Grand Sport with a K&N CAI, a Borla cat back exhaust, and a tune. The car is a six speed manual with 13k miles on the engine.
I wanted to get an aftermarket camshaft, valve springs, and push rods to get more power, but, I would also like to be able to pass my bi annual California smog test too.
I put this question out there to quite a number of different performance specialists (Big Names) and tuners, to get their opinion on what specifications and products to choose, some responded, and some did not.
Josh was the only person to respond to me that gave me detailed information to my inquires and questions, and he did not try to sell me on his products and services. From the few responses that I did get back from the others, their details were vague and generic, (they would not tell me the specs of the camshaft that they would recommend for my situation) and they wanted me to buy their packages, products and services that they provided.
After looking at all of my options, I decided to go with Josh's recommendations, a Cam Motion camshaft 218/228 .600/.600 118+6, best quality cam cores in the industry, and their cam lobes are very smooth and forgiving to other components of the valve train. PSI 1511's, a light weight quality beehive spring, and Trick Flow hardened pushrods. Josh does not sale any of these parts, he suggested to me how I could find the best prices out there.
Josh also gave me questions to ask perspective performance shops that I was looking at to do the installation work on my car. For example, "Ask them if they check things like spring install height, piston/valve clearance, camshaft centerlines. Those fine details are very important."
I have to tell you that it was very refreshing to have this knowledge, quick response, detailed information, and great customer service that Josh provided.
After getting my camshaft package installed and going to get my new tune on the car so it would run just right. I ended up getting HP Tuners for this part as was suggested by the tune shop that I went to. I found a place near me in Mira Loma, Ca. that was highly recommended by some local shops and on Yelp. After the car was dyno'd and the tune was put in the car, I drove away, and when I tested the car, I was not really impressed with the difference in power from stock. After I got home, I proceeded to download the tune that was installed into HP Tuners and emailed it to Josh. When Josh looked at the tune, he said that the air/fuel ratio was too rich. It was in the 10's. I have a naturally aspirated car, so this was way too rich. Also, he said that there was a lot left to be desired with this tune that was put into my car. Josh compared a stock Grand Sport compare file, he saw that both the MAF & VE fueling tables are still stock, the power enrichment table (the wide open throttle fueling) could use a lot of work, the rev limiter could be raised, and he also saw some areas in the spark tables that could use some massaging too.
Josh said that there is much more left in a better tune.
Josh explained to me that since I have HP Tuners, if I had a wideband air/fuel gauge installed in the car before the catalytic converter by a local shop, that he would help me to tune the car properly through email.
This is exactly what I did. What a difference a proper complete tune makes and what a blessing Josh Benson is for us amateur motor heads.
I highly recommend Josh for all of the reasons above.
Craig
08-10-2016, 09:46 AM
#2
Former Vendor
Member Since: Oct 2006
Location: Auburn/Dacula/Lawrenceville Georgia
Posts: 278
Likes: 0
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Thank you for the kind words Craig. It was my pleasure getting you squared away. I'm glad you're able to enjoy the car now with the new found power and pass smog no problem!
Now move out of that commie state so you can put some headers on that thing.
Now move out of that commie state so you can put some headers on that thing.