want to start tuning my self (obdII). where do i start?

alright, my car is in my sig. ive got a tune from ion, but i finally got a laptop and i want to get into tuning for myself. i will eventually build my motor for the blower and do the fuel system the right way with a big in tank pump and larger injectors and toss the vortech fmu and t-rex pump....

has tunercat got the obd2 program out yet???? or do i have to get lt1edit?

or should i convert to obd1 and use tunercat for ease of tuning? i still have to pass california smog so id still have to run the obd2 pcm for smogging.

i have no experience with tuning so any info you guys could give me would be great.

Thanks
Jeremy

Tunercat got their OBD-II product out long ago and then sold the rights to JET. That would be who you have to buy it from.
There is also a version of LT1_edit for OBD-II.

Search and read all you can about tuning is my advice.

i think ill go with tunercat since its cheaper and they arent vin locked. will tunercat still give me tech support, or will i have to go through jet? i heard that the guys at tunercat are great with tech support.....

is tuning for the obdI easier than obdII?

i think i may get a obdI pcm so that i will have the stock pcm incase i screw something up.

Thanks shoe,
Jeremy

Search "where to Start". I had a thread about 8 wks back got good feedback and got some info on scanmasters.

ss#1230, ODB1 and ODB2 software tuning products are not compatible. You will need a set of each to play with separate PCM's. TunerCat ODB1 requires the 'Tuner' program ($70.00) plus a definition file ($20.00) and a cable ($60.00). As far as ODB2, TunerCat sold their ODB2 tuning software to Jet in 2006, it is now called ' JET Dynamic Spectrum Tuner ' its available from Jet or from resellers ($390-475.00 w/cable). TunerCat only supports the their old ODB2 Tuner software which is no longer available, jet supports Dynamic Tuner. Monodax ' http://www.monodax.com/forums/forums.php ' has both a TunerCat and Jet forum that you can look at. IMO putting an OBD1 PCM into an OBD2 car takes some prior tuning knowledge to get things working, it's not just a straight PCM swap. If you are new to tuning converting a car from OBD2 to OBD1 could be an overwhelming first project. I can not speak for LT1 Edit as I have never used it..Also If you plan to keep this car street legal in CA. you will have to go back to OBD2 for a '96 to pass emissions.

yeah i was thinking of putting in a obdI pcm and only tuning it. that way i could put the stock pcm back for smog checks

i didnt know that switching to obdI was difficult. maybe i should have madz28 help me in switching over to obdI and then i could take it frome there.....

im looking at the benefits of going to obdI
-extra pcm
-cheaper tuning program
-easier tuning

I have a 97ss 383 - D1 - M6 application. OBD2 pcm, and, I use LT1_edit version 2.2. I tried OBD1 convertion from PCM for less, but, it is difficult to do this by mail order with FI applications. So, I went back to the OBD2 pcm. I have it working good now, but, I used a DynoJet WB O2 sensor to tune it. It helped alot with the new 2.2 version. I still have the OBD1 pcm, but the knock sensor always triggers a timing roll-back that hurts the performance. I would have to buy software and a cable to interface to the obd1 pcm. (AKM cable and lt1_edit for OBD1... about $300 total).

is this the setup youve got?
http://www.lightningforceperformance.com/dynojet-wideband-commander-o2-sensor-power-p-478.html

the wideband commander is only a reading system and cannot be used for tuning right? the lt1edit or tunercat would be used for this....correct?

thanks
Jeremy

Yes, I purchased my Dynojet from Acceleronics.com. Really helped alot. You have to program your PCM for WOT and Closed loop control to get your afr ratios correct. I tuned my MAF cal curve to achieve 14.7:1 Stoic ratio @ closed loop part throttle low speed cruzing, and, 12.8:1 for full on boost WOT with approx 15# boost. I was guessing before the WB sensor. Really, it is the only way to go with programming the LT1 obd2 PCM.