Hey guys, I know I need a tune after modding a stock LS1.. can I drive it for a couple weeks without the tune? Which tune should I get? Can I get a plug and play one or do I need to take it to a tuner shop? Thanks for your wisdom, I pass mine in whenever I can. Here's my mods, car was bone stock b4 thisStage 1 cam swap from summit racingLong tube headers/cat deleteLsx 40k volt coils, low resistance wires, plugs..
high flow oil pump, double roller timing setOverhauled suspension..
Just got the car 6 months ago I'm working on it lol
Thanks again

 

You could run it without a tune and it would probably run with those mods.

Having said that:
1. It won’t run particularly well.
2. You will get only a fraction of the potential benefits made possible by your mods.
3. Your fuel economy will suffer more than necessary.
4. The Service Engine Soon light will come on and stay on.

You can get what’s called a “mail order” tune. It will get you 95% of the way to perfect. This works two ways: if you have the equipment necessary to load a tune file yourself, the tuner can just email you a file and you can install it. If you don’t have that ability, you can send in your PCM and they’ll send one back loaded with your tune. If you have the ability to collect data logs, you can send them back to the tuner after you’ve spent some time running the first revision and they will make adjustments to dial you in more precisely. This generally takes place over the course of days, weeks, or months, and typically costs about $200. If you want to do the tune loading yourself, you can do it with a laptop and the HPTuners software, or with a handheld tuner like the DiabloSport Predator 2.

Or you can pay for a dyno tune. First you have to find a competent tuner that you’re willing to bring the car to, and then you pay $500+ for them to spend 2+ hours getting you dialed in. The whole thing is done much more quickly, and when you’re done you also get a printout showing the power you made.

EDIT: if you have a ‘98, the DiabloSport tuner can’t do it.

 

95% is really good, the waiting is not lol. Thanks. I think I'll buy the handheld tuner and upload a file. You said the predator 3 is a decent way to go? Do u have any recommendations for a mail order tune?

 

I typo’d, but edited. It’s the Predator 2, not 3. DiabloSport has some newer, fancier stuff too. Some more research indicates that their products all require a specific type of tune file — check their website for a list of dealers who offer compatible tunes.

Note that, if you already have a Windows laptop, it’ll probably be cheaper to buy a single-VIN license for HPTuners and an appropriate cable. That’s the software most LS tuners use, so it’s probably your best bet.

I don’t have firsthand experience with mail order tunes, so I can’t recommend someone. LS expertise is pretty scarce on this forum these days — I’d search on LS1tech.com and see what you can find there.