Mods and custom tune - 101

[Vrocks]

I'm not familiar with tuning my own car but I've read about others expereinces with it in this forum and the corvette forum for years. I haven't heard of any serious failures for what I'd consider a mild tune (50 - 75HP boost), so I'm planning on modding my V when I get it.

I've recieved some good advice from CadV, and I've decided to go with cutting the stock air box, getting a new PCM for the tune (keeping the original stock), and a 9" pulley upgrade for about a 3psi bump. I'm not planning on using a CAI because of the MAF sensor oil problems, or aftermarket exaust - to much $$$ for the HP returns and I don't want to be hasseled with emissions...

I have a few questions before I get everything.


1. If I cut the bottom off of the stock airbox, do I run a high risk of water ingestion while driving on wet roads?

1b. If the stock airbox mod is unsafe, I'll consider a larger volume paper filter because I'm going to do a custom tune anyway. Does anyone recommend this?

2. What is a VIN match for EFI Live? When I get a new PCM, is it immediately compatible with my car? If not, what would need to be done to make it work with the V, and then apply the new pulley tune?

3. Does the W4Me pulley upgrade come with the belt, harmonic balancer, and mounting hardware needed for the swap? The D3 pulley does, according to their website.

Thanks in advance for any anwsers.

[CadV]

1. If I cut the bottom off of the stock airbox, do I run a high risk of water ingestion while driving on wet roads?

Unless you remove the brake duct water won't get in the compartment. The airbox is much higher than the area in question as well.

1b. If the stock airbox mod is unsafe, I'll consider a larger volume paper filter because I'm going to do a custom tune anyway. Does anyone recommend this?

I have been using this mod for awhile without problems. The drawback would be a replacement box is a little pricy $200ish. I don't think the filter oil problem is very common so buying a 4" intake might not be a bad idea if you don't like the idea of cutting your stock box. I would just research the right one to buy.

2. What is a VIN match for EFI Live? When I get a new PCM, is it immediately compatible with my car? If not, what would need to be done to make it work with the V, and then apply the new pulley tune?

I use EFILive and I think it does a VIN and ECU serial # match. Our ECU is a E67 and it is in a quite a few vehicles. The latest EFILive version 7.5.5 works on our car but you have to have the flashscan v2 interface the older v1 won't work. You can read the stock tune from your stock ECU and then flash it onto the new ECU. Reading or backing up a cal does not require burning a license only flashing does.

I always get my car professionally tuned initially then I tweak it on my own from there.

3. Does the W4Me pulley upgrade come with the belt, harmonic balancer, and mounting hardware needed for the swap? The D3 pulley does, according to their website.

He supplied everything except the bolts to mount the ring to the balancer. That is how my kit came at least.

[wait4me]

Efilive software just allows you to program an ecm. Vin matching an ecm, im guessing just means that it starts out with your vin number/ calibration that you need for your car so it will run correctly. On a V, the vin has to be correct or the door module stores the swapped part in memory. And the vehicle will not run right as the other modules are not going to be happy.

As for the pulley kits, YES mine come with everything needed. Im Just alot cheaper.

[wait4me]

To add to Cadv. I started adding the bolts the first week after we started shipping them as people didnt want to go to the hardware store for some 3/8in 1inch long bolts. I was unaware that they where not included with the parts i was buying, So i just started adding them to the boxes on my own cost.. They where easy and cheap to buy. But i have included them for some time now free added in with the other parts.

[Luna.]

Originally Posted by Vrocks

I'm not familiar with tuning my own car but I've read about others expereinces with it in this forum and the corvette forum for years. I haven't heard of any serious failures for what I'd consider a mild tune (50 - 75HP boost), so I'm planning on modding my V when I get it.

Am I reading that correctly? 50-75 HP from a (mild) tune? Wow. I've never heard of anyone getting more than 50 from a tune, to say nothing about 75.

Originally Posted by Vrocks

I'm not planning on using a CAI because of the MAF sensor oil problems, or aftermarket exaust - to much $$$ for the HP returns

Why would you say this?

[Vrocks]

Originally Posted by Luna.

Am I reading that correctly? 50-75 HP from a (mild) tune? Wow. I've never heard of anyone getting more than 50 from a tune, to say nothing about 75.




Why would you say this?

I was looking at a 50HP boost as not too much - 100+ is a lot to me. I wouldn't expect more than 20 - 30 with a tune, intake, and exhaust.

People have reported problems with the MAF with oiled filters (probably from over oiling). From what I've been told, the V2's exhaust isn't very restrictive and I like the way it sounds, so I don't feel the need to change that part of the car.

[Vrocks]

CadV and wait4me,
Thanks for the help. I just want to be clear on one thing with the ECU:

- Jesse, have you plugged one of the ECU's that you sell into a V after copying a tune to it, with success? Thanks.


I really want to keep the ECU that comes with the V stock, and reprogram one I buy from wait4me. I want to have the stock ECU if I go to sell it, or if I just want to return the vehicle to stock. I also want it in case I don't feel the mods are worth the risk i.e. if what I "feel" while driving doesn't feel like a big enough improvement to be worth the risk.

[Dr. Design]

Hello,
I havent heard of any any issues with the over oiling of the aftermarket filters from the OEM. However there is always the potential to over oil the filter when someone washes and "recharges" the filter.

As for the D3 pulley. It most certainly does come with everything you would need for installation (new crank bolt, new properly sized belt, bolts for the supercharger pulley, etc..). The best part about this pulley is that it was engineered and designed for the CTSV 6.2 engine. We designed off the same blueprints GM used to make the factory pulley allowing us to match the factory all the harmonics and frequencies the engine puts out. If you are looking for a high quality unit that doesnt compromise and belongs on a Cadillac, give us a call or send an email (info@d3cadillac.com).


Thank you,

Dr. Design
D3 Cadillac

Originally Posted by Vrocks

I have a few questions before I get everything.


1. If I cut the bottom off of the stock airbox, do I run a high risk of water ingestion while driving on wet roads?

1b. If the stock airbox mod is unsafe, I'll consider a larger volume paper filter because I'm going to do a custom tune anyway. Does anyone recommend this?

2. What is a VIN match for EFI Live? When I get a new PCM, is it immediately compatible with my car? If not, what would need to be done to make it work with the V, and then apply the new pulley tune?

3. Does the W4Me pulley upgrade come with the belt, harmonic balancer, and mounting hardware needed for the swap? The D3 pulley does, according to their website.

Thanks in advance for any anwsers.

[Luna.]

Originally Posted by Vrocks

I was looking at a 50HP boost as not too much - 100+ is a lot to me. I wouldn't expect more than 20 - 30 with a tune, intake, and exhaust.

People have reported problems with the MAF with oiled filters (probably from over oiling). From what I've been told, the V2's exhaust isn't very restrictive and I like the way it sounds, so I don't feel the need to change that part of the car.

I'd be shocked if a tune alone doesn't get you 20-30rwhp, especially in the Vs. If memory serves, GM engineers were saying that 50 was possible and some on this forum have achieved 50rwhp from a tune alone.

Open up the air intake restriction and some people have gotten much more.

Originally Posted by Vrocks

People have reported problems with the MAF with oiled filters (probably from over oiling). From what I've been told, the V2's exhaust isn't very restrictive and I like the way it sounds, so I don't feel the need to change that part of the car.

I only recall a few/one person who had that issue, but, perhaps, my memory is failing me. I can say with confidence, however, that many other people have CAIs and have reported no issues whatsoever.

And I'm not sure I would agree that the V2 exhaust isn't very restrictive. Several people, including American Racing Headers themselves, got pretty good results from moving to their exhaust/header system (& I bet Kooks would yield very similar results).

And some believe that there is a synergistic effect when opening up the intake/exhaust restrictions, in conjunction with a larger crankshaft pulley, which is what you are planning.

[Vrocks]

Originally Posted by Luna.

I'd be shocked if a tune alone doesn't get you 20-30rwhp, especially in the Vs. If memory serves, GM engineers were saying that 50 was possible and some on this forum have achieved 50rwhp from a tune alone.

Open up the air intake restriction and some people have gotten much more.




I only recall a few/one person who had that issue, but, perhaps, my memory is failing me. I can say with confidence, however, that many other people have CAIs and have reported no issues whatsoever.

And I'm not sure I would agree that the V2 exhaust isn't very restrictive. Several people, including American Racing Headers themselves, got pretty good results from moving to their exhaust/header system (& I bet Kooks would yield very similar results).

And some believe that there is a synergistic effect when opening up the intake/exhaust restrictions, in conjunction with a larger crankshaft pulley, which is what you are planning.

Thanks Luna.

My target is 600HP and I wasn't sure that could be reached without a pulley swap - mid to high 590's would be ok. If I could get there with a CAI, exhaust and a tune (not too lean), I'd consider skipping the pulley.

Also, from what I can remember... the upgrade path with the pulley is cheaper. The headers, exhaust, cai, and a tune + a spare ECU is more $$$ than a pulley, tune + a spare ECU. I also don't have a good place to store the factory headers and exhaust once they're off the car.


No matter what route I chose to go, I'm 99% sure I'm going to mod the V - for a few reasons...

1. I want more of an edge over the other high performance sport sedans.
2. I want something different.
3. I don't know how long new cars like this (from GM) will be around, so I want to do it this time...

[Dr. Design]

Hello,
I assume you are talking about 600WHP, not 600BHP. If it is 600WHP that you are after then I would certainly have to recommend that you need a pulley and the exhaust to pull off such a number. Without the pulley you will certainly be short.

There are other upgrades that can be done if you choose not to go with the pulley, but I wouldn't think they would get you to your 600WHP goal.

Thank you,

Dr. Design
D3 Cadillac

Originally Posted by Vrocks

Thanks Luna.

My target is 600HP and I wasn't sure that could be reached without a pulley swap - mid to high 590's would be ok. If I could get there with a CAI, exhaust and a tune (not too lean), I'd consider skipping the pulley.

Also, from what I can remember... the upgrade path with the pulley is cheaper. The headers, exhaust, cai, and a tune + a spare ECU is more $$$ than a pulley, tune + a spare ECU. I also don't have a good place to store the factory headers and exhaust once they're off the car.


No matter what route I chose to go, I'm 99% sure I'm going to mod the V - for a few reasons...

1. I want more of an edge over the other high performance sport sedans.
2. I want something different.
3. I don't know how long new cars like this (from GM) will be around, so I want to do it this time...

[Luna.]

Originally Posted by Vrocks

Thanks Luna.

My target is 600HP and I wasn't sure that could be reached without a pulley swap - mid to high 590's would be ok. If I could get there with a CAI, exhaust and a tune (not too lean), I'd consider skipping the pulley.

Also, from what I can remember... the upgrade path with the pulley is cheaper. The headers, exhaust, cai, and a tune + a spare ECU is more $$$ than a pulley, tune + a spare ECU. I also don't have a good place to store the factory headers and exhaust once they're off the car.


No matter what route I chose to go, I'm 99% sure I'm going to mod the V - for a few reasons...

1. I want more of an edge over the other high performance sport sedans.
2. I want something different.
3. I don't know how long new cars like this (from GM) will be around, so I want to do it this time...

I think you will definitely want to increase the boost via a pulley swap if you want to get 600 rwhp.

I think Jesse got 600 from just pulley swaps (I think he did both the crankshaft, as well as the blower pulley) to get there, but I recall several others being woefully short of that goal in some threads that were posted. I don't know much about that, so I'll let them comment.

I was fortunate enough to get 600 from the 4 mods I did, but some doubt the veracity of the dyno run. Not sure why...perhaps because it was done on a Dynapack or something, but I plan on running it on a Dynojet just for comparison sake/fun. I'm much more interested in looking at the net gains achieved, rather than total rwhp numbers, but it has me a little interested at the moment, so I'll run it regardless.

[Vrocks]

Not 600rwhp, I want around 600-620bhp. I'm looking for around a 45 - 60hp increase at the wheels. Am I being too conservative, or will that make a noticable difference in how the car performs and feels? That would walk a stock M5 pretty good, right?

[wait4me]

Vrocks, for that gain at the motor should be easy. a 9.5 pulley, a partial cold air box, and light safe tune should get you past that point.

[Vrocks]

Originally Posted by wait4me

Vrocks, for that gain at the motor should be easy. a 9.5 pulley, a partial cold air box, and light safe tune should get you past that point.

Thanks Jesse. I was hoping the 9.0 pulley would do it - I don't want to over drive the other components. I know you recommend a new idler pulley for the 9.5 and up. Did you mean the 8.5 pulley and not 9.5?