Local tuners
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Racer
Joined: Dec 2005
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From: Lebanon CT
Local tuners
I know there are quite a few good tuners in our area. I am curious about their pricing. Do they do hourly rates flat rates? Roughly what is everybody paying for places like Vette Doc, ECS, COW, and any other place I may have missed? I am just trying to get a feel of the average price on the cost of a good tuner.
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From: Central Jersey
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Hey Patrick. Most all of what we do is the price per job. We do very little by the hour. If you have any questions at all, feel free to give us a call. 
Le Mans Master
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From: hamden ct
i just had mine done tuesday at c.o.w. you pay a flat fee.. its unreal how much the vette feels after a tune.. i have seen nothing but great things from ecs and c.o.w.. i never been to vette doctors so i can't say any thing.
Le Mans Master
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From: E.C.S 402 Stroker, Who wants To Taste It! 3:73'S 520 RWH 496 TQ in Los pantolones
Originally Posted by sgreen4067
i just had mine done tuesday at c.o.w. you pay a flat fee.. its unreal how much the vette feels after a tune.. i have seen nothing but great things from ecs and c.o.w.. i never been to vette doctors so i can't say any thing.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2004
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From: South East coast Florida
I can provide an actual comparison
I've been to both. Here are only the facts.....
VD Tune/3:42's = 12.506 @ 110/111 mph with a 1.87 60' (DA = 1000) -- $299
Replaced 3:42's with 4:10's (VD) -- Should be good for a .2/.25 improvement
COW Tune/4:10's = 12.7X/12.8X @ 108/109 mph (DA = 2000)-- $600
Installed new Clutch (VD)
60's times dropped from 1.85/1.9 to 1.77/1.8
Same COW Tune/4:10's/Clutch = 12.62 @ 109 mph with a 1.77 60' (DA=2000)
VD Tune/3:42's = 12.506 @ 110/111 mph with a 1.87 60' (DA = 1000) -- $299
Replaced 3:42's with 4:10's (VD) -- Should be good for a .2/.25 improvement
COW Tune/4:10's = 12.7X/12.8X @ 108/109 mph (DA = 2000)-- $600
Installed new Clutch (VD)
60's times dropped from 1.85/1.9 to 1.77/1.8
Same COW Tune/4:10's/Clutch = 12.62 @ 109 mph with a 1.77 60' (DA=2000)
Last edited by mowton; Aug 24, 2006 at 06:36 AM. Reason: Updated with latest data (8/19/06 CC) and a bit more details
Le Mans Master
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From: E.C.S 402 Stroker, Who wants To Taste It! 3:73'S 520 RWH 496 TQ in Los pantolones
Originally Posted by mowton
I've been to both. Here are only the facts.....
VD = 12.5 @ 110/111 mph
Installed 4:10's (from 3:42)
COW = 12.8 @ 108/109 mph
VD = 12.5 @ 110/111 mph
Installed 4:10's (from 3:42)
COW = 12.8 @ 108/109 mph
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2005
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From: hamden ct
Originally Posted by mowton
I've been to both. Here are only the facts.....
VD = 12.5 @ 110/111 mph -- $299
Installed 4:10's (from 3:42)
COW = 12.8 @ 108/109 mph -- $600
VD = 12.5 @ 110/111 mph -- $299
Installed 4:10's (from 3:42)
COW = 12.8 @ 108/109 mph -- $600
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Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 2,100
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From: Massapequa Park, NY [This is Not an EXIT]
Originally Posted by Foo King Zo6
Dude get off it already..If you like vette DR. just say i like vette DR.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 389
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From: Lebanon CT
Thank you for all the posts. I was a little worried about posting this cause of the potential for shop loyalties. I just wanted a few factual numbers thrown around. I have a local guy who I am giving a try and just was putting feelers out there for a back up plan incase I do not get the numbers and drvabilities I am expecting. Disreguard the post I dont want a war going on here. There is way to much of a family feeling here in the NE section and nobody wants to fight with their brother.
Le Mans Master
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From: E.C.S 402 Stroker, Who wants To Taste It! 3:73'S 520 RWH 496 TQ in Los pantolones
Originally Posted by Villain C5
The original Poster specifically asked for prices. Thats exactly what Mowton gave
Le Mans Master
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From: Hillsborough NJ
Originally Posted by patrickC5
Thank you for all the posts. I was a little worried about posting this cause of the potential for shop loyalties. I just wanted a few factual numbers thrown around. I have a local guy who I am giving a try and just was putting feelers out there for a back up plan incase I do not get the numbers and drvabilities I am expecting. Disreguard the post I dont want a war going on here. There is way to much of a family feeling here in the NE section and nobody wants to fight with their brother.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 96,496
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St. Jude Donor '03 through '17
Originally Posted by Geneus
I will only charge you $10,000. I don't know a wrench from a screw driver...but my good looks and humor will make it money well spent.
Don is going to contract me to tune your car as I'm an ex-tuner and will get it right. The price he quoted you is wrong, it's $4K for him and $6K for me.
Race Director
Joined: May 2003
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From: ECS : WTF did you break now and HTF did you break it this time
Originally Posted by jersey jay
Don is going to contract me to tune your car as I'm an ex-tuner and will get it right. The price he quoted you is wrong, it's $4K for him and $6K for me.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2004
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From: Rude, Loud and Aggressive! ECS Twisted Racing, "How fast do ya wanna go?"
Originally Posted by jersey jay
Don is going to contract me to tune your car as I'm an ex-tuner and will get it right. The price he quoted you is wrong, it's $4K for him and $6K for me.
you must be old if you remember tuning a TV set 
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 5,562
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From: South East coast Florida
Originally Posted by Foo King Zo6
Dude get off it already..If you like vette DR. just say i like vette DR.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 24,652
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From: NJ
St. Jude Donor '05-'08
Originally Posted by mowton
Don't see a preference, merely see performance data. One should arrive at their own conclusion and make their own choses. And yes, I added the price (again facts) after your response.
I've been to both. Here are only the facts.....
VD = 12.5 @ 110/111 mph
Installed 4:10's (from 3:42)
COW = 12.8 @ 108/109 mph
I've been to both. Here are only the facts.....
VD = 12.5 @ 110/111 mph
Installed 4:10's (from 3:42)
COW = 12.8 @ 108/109 mph
Many of us have discussed Dyno tuning in the Roadracing and 1/4 mile sections. The conclusion is that every car is different thus those mail in tunes will not work. Also just because a car shows higher HP numbers or feels faster does not mean the car is really faster.
The best way to prove that a certain tune works for your car is by comparing it to some set of data that you already have. In Ed's case he has 2 tunes and although I am sure the CoW tune feels fast the end result in the 1/4 mile is that it is slower. Why (excluding factors that would affect 1/4 mile racing like temps and humidity) because IMHO for every tuner it is somewhat of a guessing game on what will work because each car is different. Tuners like VD and ECS have an advantage when it comes to 1/4 mile racing because they have more regular customers doing that sort of racing thus have more R&D time creating tunes that net high 1/4 mile results.
This is not saying the CoW tune is good or bad, but the fact is that Ed's car is running slower in the 1/4 mile which is real data and how Ed compares Mod results. It is not a SOTP posting as most here have posted with no real data proving that their car is actually faster.
Of course I am not a tuner nor do I play one on TV so my opinion is not even worth a cup of coffee