What's up fellas. Just needed some insight on what to use to get my V tuned. I came from the import scene and I've only know to use stand alone ECU's and had a pro dyno tune my vehicles. To my understanding, there are hand held units available that plug in to the vehicle and re-flashes the stock V's ECU. I found Diablo Sport programmers which would be perfect as it allows a tuner to adjust maps as needed while allowing me to conveniently return to the stock tune when I decide to sell the vehicle in stock form. I currently have the stock headers, K&N Intake and Corsa Exhaust. I will be installing Kooks 1 3/4 headers and Kooks catted connectors (may consider the cattless set) to the Corsa exhaust and then have a dyno tune done via the Diablo Sport. Just wanted to see if there are other programmers out there beside the Diablo units that someone can recommend. There's a lot of info in this forum so I'm still searching around.
My next mods. Headers, LS7 Clutch Kit, Retune
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the two most used methods around here are:
dyno tune
wait4me tune
seems to be the most used recent..
I went with trifecta i gave me lots of future upgrade options and ability to run factory tune (warranty)
obviously the goal of a dyno tune would be wait until you get the major mods on like the kooks then dyno tune it
Definitely not tuning on my own. I just need a device that will let a tuner change maps and tune for max power. I thought the Diablo could do that? Which versions of the HP and EFIlive units should I consider? I really just need a tunable device although a range of available data logs will be better for the tuner. I'm reading some info on "wait4me tune." Looks like I have to send him the PCM for a reflash? How will a local tuner change the maps on the dyno if needed? Just checked out Trifecta's site. They have a nice program available. No need to send the PCM. These are all great suggestions, now I have options to check out. Thanks guys.
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I am using EFILIVE, but a lot of people in the states are using HP tuner...That would be your best option...Dont forget to install a Wide Band O2 sensor, or all this will be a waste...YOu need to know how your engine is operatin...
Innovate make great sensors, and can be intergrated into the Stock PCM...I did it for both my vehicles and i am LOVIN it...
Innovate make great sensors, and can be intergrated into the Stock PCM...I did it for both my vehicles and i am LOVIN it...
For now go with W4M. He'll send you another PCM, and you keep your stocker.
When/if you get some big mods, then you might want to get the dyno tune.
This way, you'll also have more time to look for a good tuner. Not all tuners are the same. Jesse (W4M) will give you a great start. Close to a good tuner, probably much better than a bad tuner.
I like the HP tuners idea, but I'm afraid of really messing something up.
W4M is $160 for an LS6. For what your getting, there's no need to waste all that extra money right now.
Again, start looking for that good LS tuner, even if you don't use them right away. And its deff worth it to drive a couple hours to get your car done right.
Good luck
Tony
When/if you get some big mods, then you might want to get the dyno tune.
This way, you'll also have more time to look for a good tuner. Not all tuners are the same. Jesse (W4M) will give you a great start. Close to a good tuner, probably much better than a bad tuner.
I like the HP tuners idea, but I'm afraid of really messing something up.
W4M is $160 for an LS6. For what your getting, there's no need to waste all that extra money right now.
Again, start looking for that good LS tuner, even if you don't use them right away. And its deff worth it to drive a couple hours to get your car done right.
Good luck
Tony
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2,096 Posts
Ya be careful of ametures...Trim is to take care of small changes in VE...You shouldnt depend on this trim to have your engine runnin at MAX performance...
I have my cadi at almost zero trim.. +/- 2 points, WOT should be 0 trim and 13.0:1 on the AFR...
My Tahoe is a frankenstin when it comes to mods...LS6 heads, ls6 cam, with LS2 ssr intake manifold and 80mm ported TB all on a stock lower end. i am still lookin for a good tuner...800$ later and i am still doing all the work...
I have my cadi at almost zero trim.. +/- 2 points, WOT should be 0 trim and 13.0:1 on the AFR...
My Tahoe is a frankenstin when it comes to mods...LS6 heads, ls6 cam, with LS2 ssr intake manifold and 80mm ported TB all on a stock lower end. i am still lookin for a good tuner...800$ later and i am still doing all the work...
Waitforme is the best tuner for the price, $170.00. Jesse at waitforme also offers free ecu reprograming. if you get future mods, all you do is send your tuned unit in and all you pay is shipping. I would trust whatever tune this guy comes up with because he has tuned hundreds of vettes and owns two CTS-V's, that are insane V's!
No doubt wait4me definitely has the best bang for buck option. I thought at first that I had to send my PCM. No down time and having my stock PCM on hand is even a better deal. Now I'm curious to find out how much power I can gain with just the tuned PCM swap. Get a baseline dyno done for compariosn. And then get a re-tune after I install the headers. At our high altitude, about 5500 ft I'm hoping to produce decent gains.
Waitforme claims around 30hp to the wheels, with intake and exhaust. Jesse will even send you the dyno sheet. Obviously though the most accurate would be to do a baseline then one after the pcm swap. I have the waitforme tune and I definately noticed a big bump in throttle response, and I tried the $500 superchips programmer and the waitforme tune blew it out of the water.
I'm going to order the PCM tomorrow. One more question. Other than resending the PCM to Wait4Me, how can a local tuner be able to change the settings/maps on the pre-tuned PCM? Can I assume that they would have a specific programmer that communicates with the GM PCM's that will allow further tuning of the V when it's on the dyno? I would like to know this before I start calling around local tuning shops so I don't get up sold on some other tuning device.
:hmm: if you were going to take it to a local tunner why not just have them do the whole tune and not order the wait4me?
unless I read wrong wait4me does updates for free you just pay shipping
The original plan was to get it tuned locally. I am now finding out there are other cost effective ways of doing it. Initially, I wasn't sure how the tuning part was actually done. Is there a GM specific programmer available that shop tuners can use for tuning or am I suppose to have a programming device already for the tuner to use? My background from building turbo Hondas required a tuning device either by stand alone ECU or a piggyback device and then tuned by a professional tuner. From what I'm finding out, GM PCM's can be re-flashed simply by plugging in a device that communicates to the PCM. Given that wait4me PCM's are so affordable I would like to give it a try. With plans for more mods and to avoid downtime, I may have a local tuner re-tune as needed. It's going to take me some time to find a reputable tuner locally. I'm a total transplant from the import crowd. I have no idea where to go until I start making calls this week.
got it, efilive and hp tuner programs are used to tune the mighty V...along with hand helds...but yes... plugs into the OBD II port and away she goes...the only problem I see is that most tunner don't like tunning off of a tune that someone else did, if something failed who would be at fault etc...so call some locals and ask before you spend the money on the wait4me
Well done sir. Now I understand. I will be making calls this week and hopefully I find a reputable shop that has a very good tuner. For now, wait4me's product has so much knowledge and service behind it that I feel that it would be a good starting point for a PCM tune. I do plan to do a comparison dyno graph baseline vs wait4me tune. The dyno's I've used have wide band, Air/Fuel ratio data logging available so I'm curios to see where my ratios will be once I get the tuned PCM.
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