Tuner C.A.T.S or LT1 Edit??? (95 LT1)

Im about to start tuning my PCM and was wondering what Tuning programs worked best? CATS or LT1 Edit

95 Firebird Formula (T56) -3" Flowmaster -Cold Air Intake -Coolant By Pass

95 Camaro Z28 (4l60e) -Cold Air Intake -Headers-Ported Intake-Coolant By Pass

Which program is more user friendly?

Can i change fuel ratios with both programs?

I also need to know which CATS program to get-Tuner or R/T Tuner?

Im going to try Tuning the car to run on E85 Ethanol which need more fuel to get the same energy as regular Gas.

Neither, go with a mail order tune from PCM4Less or MadZ28.

EDIT: What mods do you have btw? Don't want you to waste your money for hope of gains you won't see.

My cousin is considering buying TunerCat like next week. Is LT1 Edit either better or more "user friendly"?

On the Firebird i have -Cold air intake and 3" Flowmater. The reason i need to tune it my self is cuz im about to start testing with E85 Ethanol, and i need to change fuel ratios.

i prefer tunercat

Neither, go with a mail order tune from PCM4Less or MadZ28.


Many folks would rather do their own tuning - for some of us, it's
all about "doing everythiing" to our cars. I tune my Hayabusa, I
ought to be able to tune my Z too. The secret is to change just
ONE attribute at a time - that way, if something goes awry, you
simply reverse the last change.

I understand (even though you didnt say why) why it is recommended
to go with a mail-order, since you know you'll get a good tune right
off the bat, but as I said, some of us arent interested.

I agree with caldercay!

On the Firebird i have -Cold air intake and 3" Flowmater. The reason i need to tune it my self is cuz im about to start testing with E85 Ethanol, and i need to change fuel ratios.

Are you planning to alter the closed loop target A/F ratio to something other than the 14.7:1 stoichiometric ratio for air/gasoline?

I'm bout to rebuild the rear and change gears in my 95Z, and since I'm swapping from 3.73's to either 3.23 or 3.42's I'm gonna need to change that in my puter. I have kinda the same question which one is better and more user friendly (Especially since it will be my first time messing with this kinda stuff). Also where can one find tuner cat or LT1 edit to buy? :confused:

Tunercat and LT1 Edit are very similar to use. The big difference is LT1 Edit is VIN specific and can only be used on one car. Tunercat can be used on multiple cars. That and a cheaper price is why I chose TunerCat.

Tunercat and LT1 Edit are very similar to use. The big difference is LT1 Edit is VIN specific and can only be used on one car. Tunercat can be used on multiple cars. That and a cheaper price is why I chose TunerCat.

Thanks for the feedback, Stl94LT1 . . . good to know that about the
LT1 Edit restriction. I'll be looking into Tunercat . . . one of the
reasons I have to qualms about self-tuning is that I do it on my
bike, and being a software developer (have done everything from
embedded systems to systems development), I should have any
issues.

If your into light mods then LT1_Edit is the one to use due to simplicity.
LT1_Edit seperates items by Fuel, Ignition, Chassis, etc. Tunercat has all the settings in basically one drop down list.

If your into heavy mods then Tunercat is the one to use but it's a bit unorganized. There are approximately 2x the available adjustments in the latest Tunercat definition file compared to LT1_Edit... most settings wont need to be changed unless you run huge injectors and decide to switch to a 2-Bar Map.

Both software allow you to change timing and fuel/AFR to the same degree and to me were pretty much equal tuning with ~50lb/hr and smaller injectors. When I switched to 83lb injectors I needed Tunercats additional parameters to get things running right, additionally when I switched to a 2-Bar MAP (shortly after installing 83lb/hr injectors) I needed Tunercat for the same reasons.

Just a few of the important additions that Tunercat has that LT1_Edit doesnt that I modified when I installed 83lb injectors AND/or 2bar MAP:
Minimum Injector Pulse Width (needs adjusting when running large injectors)
Baro Update RPM Threshold (need to lower when using 2Bar Map + Boost)
DFCU exit spark blending (good for tuning with large injectors)
Low Pulsewidth Adder
Extended Crank AFR vs DRP
Prime Pulse Width vs Coolant Temp
Added Prime Pulse Width vs Coolant Temp
Initial Startup AFR Enrichement vs Coolant Temp
Closed Loop Timers
BLM Cell Boundry Hysteresis

Are you planning to alter the closed loop target A/F ratio to something other than the 14.7:1 stoichiometric ratio for air/gasoline?
Ya i guess i would have to.

Ok i think im going with LT1 Edit looks more user friendly.

If your into light mods then LT1_Edit is the one to use due to simplicity.
LT1_Edit seperates items by Fuel, Ignition, Chassis, etc. Tunercat has all the settings in basically one drop down list.

If your into heavy mods then Tunercat is the one to use but it's a bit unorganized. There are approximately 2x the available adjustments in the latest Tunercat definition file compared to LT1_Edit... most settings wont need to be changed unless you run huge injectors and decide to switch to a 2-Bar Map.

Both software allow you to change timing and fuel/AFR to the same degree and to me were pretty much equal tuning with ~50lb/hr and smaller injectors. When I switched to 83lb injectors I needed Tunercats additional parameters to get things running right, additionally when I switched to a 2-Bar MAP (shortly after installing 83lb/hr injectors) I needed Tunercat for the same reasons.

Just a few of the important additions that Tunercat has that LT1_Edit doesnt that I modified when I installed 83lb injectors AND/or 2bar MAP:
Minimum Injector Pulse Width (needs adjusting when running large injectors)
Baro Update RPM Threshold (need to lower when using 2Bar Map + Boost)
DFCU exit spark blending (good for tuning with large injectors)
Low Pulsewidth Adder
Extended Crank AFR vs DRP
Prime Pulse Width vs Coolant Temp
Added Prime Pulse Width vs Coolant Temp
Initial Startup AFR Enrichement vs Coolant Temp
Closed Loop Timers
BLM Cell Boundry Hysteresis

Dookie,

I tried sending you a PM but your box is full.

On the Firebird i have -Cold air intake and 3" Flowmater. The reason i need to tune it my self is cuz im about to start testing with E85 Ethanol, and i need to change fuel ratios.

You should ask the mail-order tuners if they can tune for E-85 (if its even needed).

You should ask the mail-order tuners if they can tune for E-85 (if its even needed).

it is needed to tune for the e-85. you need to add a little more timing and also bump up duty cycle by about 20%

it is needed to tune for the e-85. you need to add a little more timing and also bump up duty cycle by about 20%

I should search for this but since you guys are discussing...

So from what your saying If I fill my empty tank with E85... start it up... will I simply get a lean running motor and therefore lean Lterms? By increasing the duty cycle ~20% will this basically return the Lterms to "normal"? This also should mean the 02's will report Lean with the E85 initially until fuel corrections are made? If this is true Im thinking on production they simply switch to a second (E85) fuel trim table when the 02's report a large amount of lean upon startup/warmup and wouldnt go closed loop until it decidd which table was closer to "normal"?

Im just trying to understand how the PCM knows E85 is in use on the flex fuel carsa and how the 02's react... makes sense if all that is true.

Im just trying to understand how the PCM knows E85 is in use on the flex fuel cars

Good question.

Here is a very good read about the E-85.

http://www.ls1tech.com/forums/showthread.php?t=602091&highlight=e85+conversion

Here is a very good read about the E-85.

http://www.ls1tech.com/forums/showthread.php?t=602091&highlight=e85+conversion
That is very useful info to know. i stopped and put 2.2 Gal. of ethanol in the car yesterday and it runs fine. i thought it would throw a check engine light or something but it didn't. Thats without any tuning at all.

You should ask the mail-order tuners if they can tune for E-85 (if its even needed).
The problem with that is, if i ever needed to run on gas only i would have to send them the PCM back.

The problem with that is, if i ever needed to run on gas only i would have to send them the PCM back.

yes but generally if you make this conversion you are doing so for the performance side of E-85 b/c it is a less effecient fuel.

therefore you probably wouldn't get in that situation. its just like building a car on race gas.

Im just trying to understand how the PCM knows E85 is in use on the flex fuel carsa and how the 02's react... makes sense if all that is true.


Flex fuel vehicles have a fuel composition sensor that tells the ECU whether and how much ethanol is present.