Ok, so I've been trying to find someone to dyno tune my new setup. I have a good base-tune from PCMFORLESS, but I need to pull some timing, and change a few simple things to my preference (like idle). The problem is every single shop I've called between seattle and portland (except 1) will not reflash my stock ECU. They all say they will tune if I bring a tuner like a predator or have a laptop setup with a cable.

The one shop that will give me a dyno tune, is charging a base price of $450.00. before tax, and not including the fact that its 220 miles away.

So, I have a new laptop, and I think I might as well spend this money on some tuning software, a cable, and maybe even a wideband. AKMCABLES is the place everyone recommends, so I'll be checking that out (website won't load so far), but as far as software I havn't decided what would be best for me. I havn't tuned before, but am willing to learn. Right now, for starters I'd be happy with just pulling some timing so I can go WOT and log some runs. Any recommendations as far as starting software? What about wideband's, is this a cost-effective idea?

Thanks,

 

Tuning yourself can be very time consuming, but is very rewarding as well. Gives you a much better understanding of how the car responds to different changes. It's not all that hard, just a ton of reading ont he net to understadn all the different parms. I use Tunercat, but I understand they were bought out and now the software is much more expensive...
Andrews website must be down right now as I can't pull it up either www.akmcables.com

You'll also need a scan tool on your laptop, like Datamaster which can also be bought from akm, about $100.

a WBO2 is optional, but you'll find that for WOT tuning, your shooting in the dark without one since the stock O2s aren't that good for measuring WOT rich/lean. I have both an Innovate and a FAST wbo2. You can find single or dual FAST wbo2 on ebay brand new in the box. I like the FAST setup because it records and plays back without having to hook it to the laptop like the Innovate one...and also FAST makes a dual wbo2 so you can hook it up to both exhaust sides at the same time and record both and playback both and it has its own display.
I paid about $410 for the dual FAST like this one, you can get a single setup for about $100 less.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/FAST-...QQcmdZViewItem

Most of the tuning PCM editors are fairly straightforward...tables for fueling, MAF, WOT/PE fueling, timing/spark, etc...just go in and edit the tables and put in the values you want, then reflash and go...just make changes in very small increments.
There's tons of info on the web about how to tune and adjust all the various tables.

 

Did you check with Tom's Performance in Vancouver, WA. That's where I had mind dynoed in 97--don't know if he tunes or not though, but it would be worth giving him a call--maybe he knows someone.

As far as tuning it yourself....depends on your abilities and tools--quite sure you don't have a dyno. I would rather have someone tune it and allow me to watch, just so I would have a better understanding, in case I entertained the idea of future tuning. Bear in mind, that with all that it would require in terms of training and equipment, that you probably wouldn't do it that often to realize any significant benefit in terms of savings.

Check with Tom's. Good Luck.

 

Since the tuners near you want you to buy the cable and software anyway, I think if you are interested in learning to tune you should do it yourself.

Since you already have a good baseline mail order tune it should not be that much work to get it fine-tuned, and in the end you'll have a better overall tune than a simple dyno session can provide.

You can get a WBO2 setup for about $200.

 

Yep Tom's Performance was the shop I was referring to; the only one who could tune me, and was charging a base of $450.00. It sounds like a quality shop; however, it's pretty far away and spendy enough I think I should finally buy my own stuff.

Thanks for all the help guys! Looks like I just need to do some more detailed reading on what's available....and get some stuff ordered.

 

If you're as detailed as a lot of people on the board then I would get the software and do it yourself. There is always a time when you want to tweak stuff or make a small change here or there and you can't because of time or money constraints where you don't have time to or afford the price of an updated tune. I wish I bought tuning software for my Camaro, I would have saved a lot of money.