What changes would help the performance of a stock, non modded LT1? Timing changes? PE changes? What would you change?

 

you did not provide your year..so I'll stay generic. IMO with bone stock I would lower fan turn/off to from 225/235 to 195/205, ideally put in a 160 t-stat and set fans to 185/195 ,tweak the timing up a couple of degrees at a time (assuming you do NOT have any knock retard ), if its an A4 tune the shift points to what you like. I have a '94 Z28 so I added the Firebird TA transmission Performance switch to give me an extra set of shifting patterns to have fun with. Make sure the MAF is tuned ('94 and up) or VE tables (93 and down, or SD mode) so you have consistent 128 +/- 2-3% BLM readings. Playing with PE can blow a hole in a piston if you get it to lean. I would leave that till last when you 100% understand all the other changes. Here's a place to start reading http://www.lt1pcmtuning.com/tips/ . I used it a lot when I started out and go back periodically to refresh my mind.

 

Thanks Bob, Mine is a 95 Z28. I did the fan change, the 160 tstat, and toyed with the WOT shift tables. Still won't shift where I want it to. ( I know about setting the mph low and controlling the shift with rpm) My stock shift tables have the same values as the performance values, so no switch for me. I have a wide band and have been dialing in the AFR in PE mode with that. I was kinda wondering just how much if any, timing a stock LT1 can take in the 3000-6500 rpm range.

 

Theres really not much you can do to a stock motor as far as power tuning... other than clicking the hidden "Add 75 HP" checkbox

 

It's pretty well known that there's measurable power to be had from tuning a bone stock LT1.

 

 

I'm disreguarding 5 or maybe 10hp, you won't even feel that. And I'm speaking from personal experience, not from what I've read online or heard.

 

I wrote the page that bobdec posted (glad to hear it's helped you, Bob!).

Yes, you can gain a good amount on a stock LT1 engine with tuning. One of my stock 4L60E customers gained 26rwhp with just my tuning. There's also a lot of improvement to be had in throttle response and MPG, as another customer of mine went from 14-15mpg to 19mpg with my tuning (very aggressive driving by his own admission).