What is a tune

**Durango** · 12-15-2008, 04:17 PM

Ok I read a lot of threads and all the time you talk about "tune"

What does it consist of? What do they do? Would I benifit from a tune I only have a lid KN and cat back. WoulD a hand held programmer help me I was told that they weren't good before so I would appreciate some insight.

Thanks again people

**lvbroham1** · 12-15-2008, 04:23 PM

alright, basically a tune is someone going into the computer program in the car and configuring it to get the best performance for your mods. When it comes to the age old question, should I or shouldn't I... You should, even if your mods are a lid and catback, you'll see some gains. Our cars come from the factory conformed to certain specifications and limit the performance. Handhelds don't help as much, and personally I think are a waist of time. Hope this helps a little

**Durango** · 12-15-2008, 04:32 PM

Originally Posted by lvbroham1

alright, basically a tune is someone going into the computer program in the car and configuring it to get the best performance for your mods. When it comes to the age old question, should I or shouldn't I... You should, even if your mods are a lid and catback, you'll see some gains. Our cars come from the factory conformed to certain specifications and limit the performance. Handhelds don't help as much, and personally I think are a waist of time. Hope this helps a little

How is this done. I'm sure nobody does that around here.

**lvbroham1** · 12-15-2008, 05:14 PM

It's usually done with a tuning program run through a laptop or desktop. A dyno tune consists of a shop putting your car on a dyno and using a tuning program while monitoring the progression via the dyno results.

**Durango** · 12-16-2008, 02:39 PM

Ok it is very clear now. I'm going to check into it. If this is going to increase my performance it is well worth it.

**mark21742** · 12-18-2008, 12:57 AM

you can checkout hptuners.com and look around.
Frost on here (Steve) from lsxtune.com does mail order tuning.....you unplug and boxup your car's computer, mail it to him, then he tunes it for your mods and mails it back to you.

what part of NB are you in? my mother's side is fron Edmonston NB and we have a house up on green river

**side2000** · 12-18-2008, 07:08 AM

i know frost has a good rep, and i'm sure he's a good tuner, but i've had nothin but bad experiences with any tune that wasn't done in front of me on a dyno.

**karpetcm** · 12-18-2008, 08:50 AM

Well when i get my tune back ill keep you guys posted on how the car has responded to the tune. I sent it out the Steve at LSx either way ill post back.

**0rion** · 12-18-2008, 08:58 AM

for what it's worth I saw frost pretty much nail a cars heads/cam idle tune before the install was finished. There was a video of it on here. He wrote the tune and flashed it, they did the install and started it, and the car idled great. That's pretty good.

**side2000** · 12-18-2008, 09:06 AM

Originally Posted by 0rion

for what it's worth I saw frost pretty much nail a cars heads/cam idle tune before the install was finished. There was a video of it on here. He wrote the tune and flashed it, they did the install and started it, and the car idled great. That's pretty good.

definately is good.

**SteelmanLS1** · 12-18-2008, 01:21 PM

Originally Posted by 0rion

for what it's worth I saw frost pretty much nail a cars heads/cam idle tune before the install was finished. There was a video of it on here. He wrote the tune and flashed it, they did the install and started it, and the car idled great. That's pretty good.

Perfect if you are going from a pretty stock 346 to a 408 or something, without Frost you couldn't even start your car for the break-in

**karpetcm** · 12-18-2008, 03:14 PM

honestly even if you gain 8-10rwhp from a mail order tune for 125.00 i think its worth it. We spend soo much money on parts that hardly matter for our cars as far as power is concerned, getting rid of your Cags,fans turn on sooner and much more that make your car run better its not just all about power. Like Smooth bellow, Spacer, Underdrive Pulley and so on, getting a tune is really worth it to me and ive had all my cars tuned. I think and hope with the mods i have getting the tune on top of it i can push about 310rwhp and ill be happy with that for a while till i get my nitrous set up.

**Durango** · 12-18-2008, 03:19 PM

Originally Posted by karpetcm

honestly even if you gain 8-10rwhp from a mail order tune for 125.00 i think its worth it. We spend soo much money on parts that hardly matter for our cars as far as power is concerned, getting rid of your Cags,fans turn on sooner and much more that make your car run better its not just all about power. Like Smooth bellow, Spacer, Underdrive Pulley and so on, getting a tune is really worth it to me and ive had all my cars tuned. I think and hope with the mods i have getting the tune on top of it i can push about 310rwhp and ill be happy with that for a while till i get my nitrous set up.

Where would I get a mail order tune?

**karpetcm** · 12-18-2008, 03:43 PM

I went with a LSx tune you can just go to his web http://www.lsxtune.com/

**06MonteSS** · 12-18-2008, 06:14 PM

if that's all you have for mods, you can get a handheld such as the Diablosport Predator and dial in your car with that...

you'll gain increased throttle reponse, quicker accleration, stronger/harder pull, and better mileage...

I can even do custom tunes for ya that will gain you even more...

**lvbroham1** · 12-18-2008, 06:57 PM

Originally Posted by 06MonteSS

if that's all you have for mods, you can get a handheld such as the Diablosport Predator and dial in your car with that...

you'll gain increased throttle reponse, quicker accleration, stronger/harder pull, and better mileage...

I can even do custom tunes for ya that will gain you even more...

don't wanna flame you or anything like that, but hand helds really aren't worth it in my opinion.

**mark21742** · 12-18-2008, 07:23 PM

Originally Posted by lvbroham1

don't wanna flame you or anything like that, but hand helds really aren't worth it in my opinion.

I agree. I have one laying on the shelf in the garage. about the only thing I use it for is checking and clearing codes.
my opinion is get it tuned by a pro, or buy a good program for your laptop like hptuners

**karpetcm** · 12-18-2008, 08:22 PM

i used a hand held on my 95 A4 Z28 and it was disaster after using the option tuning my shift points and trying to drive the car for some reason in D the car would go reverse momentarily, not to mention i felt Zero difference in performance. Just let Frost tune it for you for 125.00 cheaper then hand helds and call it a day. Whatever it is he will tune it right and youll get the best power out of your car especially compared to hand held tuners. Ive had nothing but good experiences with mail order tuning and ive had 5 camaro's.

**06MonteSS** · 12-18-2008, 08:59 PM

Originally Posted by lvbroham1

don't wanna flame you or anything like that, but hand helds really aren't worth it in my opinion.

yup, np man... as you said, that's your opinion... and a custom dyno tune will ALWAYS beat a handheld/mail-order canned tune, no question...

but again, if that's all he has for mods to the car, that'll be the best bang for the buck...

he can adjust/tweak everything he needs to with a handheld Predator...

and if/when the time comes where he adds on more upgrades, he can be given a custom tune for 'em.... will still be runnin' top-notch...