what is the biggest cam I could use without having a custom tune?

 

IMO a cam small enough to not require a tune would not be worth installing. Even a mild 218/224 (CC 502) and the 220/230 (CC 305) have a 112 lsa which will mess up your idle. Closed TPS timing and idle speed (650 stock on an M6) will need changing. Maybe if you stayed with something like the 305 with a 114 lsa and with a M6 you could get away with living with a stock idle. (the 550 in drive A4 RPM does not work at all). However any cam will raise your RPM power curve and to get the max performance out of the investment you need to get your timing tables altered to match the new power curve. To me I when spending $500 DIY or double that in a shop on a cam swap I would also plan $100-200.00 more for a tune to take full advantage of the new hardware.

 

Stock is the biggest without a tune and even that would show a benefit getting tuned.

 

Just an FYI, I am still on stock tune with Heads/Cam...ran out of funds with kids/house/etc. I've seen tunercats for a pretty cheap amount recently so I might pick that up with my upcoming bonus (hopeful).

The car runs decently but its only driven about 15 miles/day so I can commute into work on BART. Gas mileage is not pretty but I've gotten used to driving it the way it runs. Check engine light comes on depending on where I fill gas for some odd reason. Costco gas tends to turn the light off but Valero switches it right back on. Not sure whats up with that.

Oh cam is a CCXE 230/236 112LSA with LE fully ported heads.

 

hey thanks, I figured the tune would have to be done... Im a DIY guy so I was looking for info before I roll ahead of my self.

Ok so tunercat.... thats the new jet performance one right?

All I wanna do is cam swap rockers heads exhaust... all NA would this be the best way to tune?

 

TunerCat is ODB1 only..they sold the OBD2 software to Jet a few years back. You will need DST or something similar, do some searches on OBD2 tuning. you will also need a data logging or scanner capability to see if the tuning changes are working as planned. Unfortunately OBD2 software cost more than the old OBD1 stuff. You will have to weigh DIY tuning Vs buying a tune, depends on what you goals are.. Other option is to buy OBD1 PM and convert it over.. however it won't pass emission inspection if that's required where you live.

 

A bolt-on tune was my first mod. You have everything to gain.

 

I ran the hot cam kit with bolt-ons without a tune for a while, it even passed MA emissions inspection. It definitely ran better after a tune though.

 

sweet, I think I will need a tune... I have to sort out a bunch of parts I picked up a donor car that looks to have every bolt on including aftermarket heads so I now am in budget for a rebuild on that motor, thinking 383 ect... How hard is it to tune? Im pretty computer savy and I would of coarse be doing all the motor ect work my self. I do not have emissions here so the cats can get deleted ect....

 

Mine couldn't even run the HOT cam. Check engine light was always on. Ran EXTREMELY lean that it would buck. Even when on the dyno, you could see the whole car jump because it was so lean. I hated driving the car until it was tuned.

Back then, nobody did OBDII, so I still have a 95 PCM in the car. Tuned of course.