Before installing this STS turbo kit on my 96 Trans Am, I need to figure out what I'm doing as far as tuning goes. A shop local to me wants $525 for dyno tuning. I'm also very interested in self-tuning with Tunercat. Would I get results remotely comparable to the dyno tune with just using Tunercat and logged data? I don't want to sink $525 into a dyno tune and then end up spending $400 on Tunercat afterwards because the geek in me likes playing with stuff like that.

If it makes a difference, the car right now has mild bolt-ons - BBK throttle body & headers, comp pro-magnum 1.6:1 roller rockers.

 

If you get your tuned by that shop why would you need to do self tuning?

Another thing to look is if you have never tuned do you trust yourself with the health of your motor. If you have done any searching on this board you will see that the stock LT1 motor is no lover of the boost it has to much of a glass jaw rotating assembly. It only takes one oops in the tune and its rebuild time. this is not a motor to learn basic tuning on with a turbo. if it was a heads cam tune i would by the tunnercat and learn to tune it but, not with boost.

just my opinion

Steve

Call Byran at www.pcmforless.com he can give you all the info you need and let you know about your local shop if the are competent or not.

 

Well I probably wouldn't NEED to, but I'd like to be ABLE to. Say down the road I make some changes and need a retune, it'd be cool to be able to do it myself. Plus like I said, the geek in me makes me think it'd be fun.

Would a pcmforless tune be a good idea vs dyno tuning? What other kind of info are you suggesting Bryan has to offer?

 

If your even remotely interested in tuning it yourself, do it. I paid for a mailaway tune, then a dyno tune...finally went out and bought HP Tuners and a freakin laptop. Now I do it all myself. This is the first car I've ever tuned, and I'm learning as I go, and I'm doing a 2 bar speed density tune. Now, granted, I do have someone helping me out a lot. But if you read before you change things, and make little changes at a time, you can do it. Just keep in mind, even if your self tuning, you will need to rent a dyno eventually do fine tune to get the most power possible. Good luck.

 

tuning a LS1 and tuning a LT1 is a big difference. The programs such as hp tuner are easier to learn. the Tuner Cat program was a nightmare for me to learn. LT1 edit isn't to bad BUT, I learned to tune using LS1 edit before I ever used it.

bottom line its your money and motor at stake. The best thing to do is get educated on the software try a few things out on your car while it is stock and go from there. OR get familiar with a good tuner who will take care of you for the rest of the time you own the car.



But when it comes down to it I went with an even better route a FAST lol

 

I hear ya about the differences on the motor, but I had no idea the software would be that different. HPT is very user friendly, so that's how I've been able to make it as far as I have. That, and the guy helping me out really knoes his stuff.

 

you should look at the software its a bitch if you dont kno what you are doing lol especially if you have never seen it before. For the place I work for I had to learn hp tuner, tuner cat, ls1 edit, lt1 edit, F.A.S.T. and now i am learning ls2 edit. hopefully by the end of the year I will get a chance to work on an Accel DFI system.

 

I tinkered with a trial version of LT1edit, it seemed pretty straight-forward. How would I go about looking at the Tunercat software? I don't think there is a demo available...

What are the advantages of F.A.S.T.?

 

As someone who is involved in tuning, I must say that I don't understand quoting a fixed price. Sometimes it takes a couple of pulls, sometimes it takes all day. Not sure how they can do this unless they are basically saying that they will put xxx hours into it and then quit???

Rich

 

$525 cost is usually will allow 2-4hrs of tuning time on the dyno. But maximun is 4 hrs time I think. Long time a go when I went to Marryland MD to meet someone to help tunning my car. Well he charges $300 and I pay for the dyno time. He says is usually take 2-4hrs at most . But mine was done in 1 1/2hrs. So I paid 1 1/2 for dyno time @ $75 an hrs.

 

I know when i do cars it is $300 plus dyno time @ 100 per hour with a wideband. I do all of the drivabilty first and then I go to the dyno. I have a good enough library that it only takes about 3-6 pulls and Im done.

 

I guess partly it depends on what is meant by "tuning" and on the circumstances. Was it a perfectly running car that has a couple of minor mods? More often than not, cars that need "tuning" also need additional work that is more repair or upgrade to perform to full potential.

Rich

 

It seems to run fine right now, could probably benefit from a few routine maintenance items like new O2 sensors (judging by slight variation in O2 readings between banks). Current mods are fairly minor - Ram-air intake, 58mm TB, 1.6:1 rockers, headers & exhaust... but once the turbo is on there I won't consider it a minor mod.

 

So is it even possible to get a decent tune without a wideband O2 sensor? Or would I end up buying one of those along with the tuning software/hardware? I've looked into the zeitronix and innovate units a little bit, is either preferable over the other or is there a better alternative?

 

The Innovate works well, I haven't used the other one. IMHO you need a WB to tune a blower car.

Rich