Tune required?

**GottaHaveLS1** · 12-06-2005, 09:32 AM

Is a tuned required to have full exhaust with lt's and no cats?

**Zboner** · 12-06-2005, 09:39 AM

hell yes it is.

**baseballss** · 12-06-2005, 09:50 AM

i know the check engine light will come on, but if you have a full dyno tune can they block that out and have no engine lights on? cuz that really bugs me

**Zboner** · 12-06-2005, 09:56 AM

and if the check engine light is on it wont pass emmissions either man, just get the cats tuned out

**rotwiler** · 12-06-2005, 12:04 PM

Originally Posted by GottaHaveLS1

Is a tuned required to have full exhaust with lt's and no cats?

When I did the LT's I needed a tune, so I'd say yes. My gas mileage suffered by 5 mpg, A/F was 10.9:1, had random backfires and gained very little once the pcm learned the setup. After the tune, gained mpg back, no backfires and much more power.
All I used was a handheld Predator tuner and adjusted the Air/fuel on a wideband dyno. Then later on I used RWTD custom tune over the net to get my fuel trims in range etc...

**GottaHaveLS1** · 12-06-2005, 02:14 PM

So roughly, how much can i expect to pay for a tune? and also, if i'm thinking of installing other bolt ons within the next couple years such as the ls6 manifold and other such things, would i have to tune it again? Whats the most cost effective way to get this done if i plan to install more bolt ons later on?

**Zboner** · 12-06-2005, 02:38 PM

Originally Posted by GottaHaveLS1

So roughly, how much can i expect to pay for a tune? and also, if i'm thinking of installing other bolt ons within the next couple years such as the ls6 manifold and other such things, would i have to tune it again? Whats the most cost effective way to get this done if i plan to install more bolt ons later on?

about 400 for a dyno tune, but ask around

**rotwiler** · 12-06-2005, 07:00 PM

The only reason I bought a Predator tuner was I planned many mods to come and I am not good with the PC type tuners. With a custom tune, I would have to get a tune after each change. It has served my purpose well and I run 12.6 in the 1/4 with just LT's(with cats), magnaflow catback, K&N fipk, nittos and a 3400 stall. Would be better, but my car is abnormally heavy(prob close to 3900lbs) with me 295 lbs, full sub frame connectors(really big ones and full diamond that connect in tunnel brace area), boxed LCA's, SFC's, amp for subs, capacitor, full ground effects etc. Take out all the stuff and stick a 150 lb guy in my car and it should easily be a 12.2-12.3 car. But I am at the point now a custom tune would help after adding the 3400 stall, so may be next thing I do.

**Zboner** · 12-06-2005, 07:03 PM

so why not go ahead and get HP tuners then???

**rotwiler** · 12-06-2005, 07:09 PM

HP tuners would be a good tuner, if you know how to tune a car and what to look for. Most guys I race with in the ET drags have buddies that they hang out with who know how to tune with the PC type tuners. I don't feel comfortable changing parameters and the risk if I don't know what I am doing. I know people who do tuning and will have them do my car and know it is right the first time once I am done with all the mods. My car is my daily driver and I don't have the time to play with settings for hours on end getting them correct.

**Zboner** · 12-06-2005, 07:17 PM

yea i got to mess around with HP tuners today with a guy that tunes the cars. and that shit is truly amazing, but you really have to know what youd doing with that shit and be careful

**rotwiler** · 12-06-2005, 07:26 PM

I have really been thinking about getting it though. But I see the guys on my car club spending every bit of freetime at the track to tune with the PC and after seeing this 8 straight weeks it turns me off from wanting to get it, cause I don't have the patience.