got no responce in the computer/diagnostic forum so will add it here.

i'm trying to decide what I want to do with my car...a 99 SS. I have a problem to fix first, cuz it was running really lean on the dyno last weekend, but i'm talking after that. i'm planning on installing a LS6 intake. already have the slp lid, gutted cats, and a flowmaster(which some don't like and I might go to stock with cutout anyway)...and maybe some day way down the road i might want to add a small stall. after installing the intake i'm obviously gonna want some tuning so trying to decide what to do with that. initialy I planned on having the shop I trust change the intake and mail order a tune from pcmforless.com. my other option is my nephew works for a NEW performance shop that said they can tune it, but no dyno jsut programming. or I guess I could jsut take it to FLP/Speed, etc.

I would like to do it as cheaply as possible as I only have so much money and would like to get a little body work done also. plus I don't really care if i'm down 5hp from a mail order vs a dyno tune as it is not a drag car it is our weekend cruiser/sunday driver/showcar/etc......but I do want it to run properly with no issues. anyone think the mail order would be plenty good for my use or is the dyno tune really worth the extra $300 with the minimal mods I have?

as far as the other shop tuning it i'm hesitant because they are a new shop and pcmforless has been around for a while, but they both cost about the same.

 

What exactly are you looking out of the tune, with only lid, gutted cats, and a flowmaster, I don't think they justify a tune if your looking for a HP difference.

 

You could try RWTD like I did. They sent me a Predator for a reasonable price with the promise of free/unlimited custom tuning. Yes, on its own the Predator is only capable of making generic changes. However, I'm going to ask James to create a custom tune for my mods in the near future that will remove my rear O2's and smooth out my LTFT's. Granted it's not exactly an LS1edit/HPtuners tune, but it will still be a better, more agressive tune than stock. I hear he does a decent job of helping you get things right, so I would suggest you do the same if you're not dead-set on the perfect tune and plan on changing the car sometime down the road.

 

I jsut want it to run right mostly. but I do want to program out the rear O2's(have simms in now), remove torque managment, and must make sure it isn't running lean anymore like it is now...I don't need every last HP out of it...if i did there would be no question i would be dyno tuning....but for a $300 difference does 3 HP really matter. when it was on the dyno at FLP they said they have seen cars with my mods run lean on a stock tune and with the LS6 it could get worse. of course mine was extramely lean even for a stock tune so i have something wrong but that is another issue. even after I fix that I was under the impression with these changes tuning would be a good idea to make it 'right'.

SspdDmon as much as i like to think i'm a relatively smart guy it's times like these that remind me there is still a lot I don't know about. I appreciate the help but must admit I have no clue what your talking about. I don't know what a RWTD is, or what LFTF's are, or what a predator is, or who James is.

this is one of the reason I decided against buying a tuning program and doing it myself. along with having a wife, 2 kids, house, working 10 hours a day with a 4 hour round trip commute, owning a buisness on top of that, and taking care of my father who lives with us who is 77 with heart/diabetes problems I don't have a lot of free time. so when I have free time i much rather be driving the car than trying to learn how to tune it.

 

Predator = hand-held tuner (like Hypertech Power Programmer, Superchips, Vinci)
RWTD = www.runningwiththedevil.com
James = works at RWTD
LTFTs = Long Term Fuel Trims (Values your PCM references to determine how much fuel is added to the motor)

Simple plug and play. The only requirements on your part are:
- flash the car's pcm with the unit
- use the live data feature to see what levels a few senors are reading
- upload the car's file to the unit to send to James
- download the new file to the unit when he sends you your tune
- flash the car's pcm with the new tune

It's really not that much to learn. If you go to www.ls1tech.com and search for "Predator Tuning 101," it will help you understand a little more.

 

now we are on the same page and i know what your talking about...thanks. I will check into that and do some reading. any idea the cost of all of that?

 

Sell me the car and go buy a Yugo!

 

flash some cash and you never know!!! maybe I should have traded you for your boat!!!