Tough tuneing decision?
04-22-2005, 01:15 AM
#1
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Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: sterling hts Michigan
Posts: 500
Tough tuneing decision?
Ok heres my story...
I got my car tuned at APE when i had just bolt ons hearers,lid,cutout, ect.
I now have the mods in my sig which include MTI x1 cam and a LS6 intake. When i got mytune from APE i paid $535 and dident seam to have any problems with them besides the tuner showing up about an hour late which dident realy matter too much, but as of late I have not heard any thing good about APE. For a retune at APE it is $300 or so. So my question is should I go back to APE and get my car tuned because it will be cheeper than going somewhere eles or not take a chance and spend more cash and go somewhere else.
I got my car tuned at APE when i had just bolt ons hearers,lid,cutout, ect.
I now have the mods in my sig which include MTI x1 cam and a LS6 intake. When i got mytune from APE i paid $535 and dident seam to have any problems with them besides the tuner showing up about an hour late which dident realy matter too much, but as of late I have not heard any thing good about APE. For a retune at APE it is $300 or so. So my question is should I go back to APE and get my car tuned because it will be cheeper than going somewhere eles or not take a chance and spend more cash and go somewhere else.
04-22-2005, 01:47 AM
#2
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Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: MI
Posts: 3,978
Re: Tough tuneing decision?
honestly i have yet to find any shop that hasn't had their flaws and it seems many are on a who you know basis which is alot of b.s. for those like yourself who might not hangout there everyday. i personally would take it out of state to one of the premier tuners, but that is a huge option to weigh. you would think for $535 they would allow a few reburn/flashes whathave you before asking for more money but everyone is different. if it's been along time i'd say that a little more is reasonable but if this was last year and you only changed a few things you would think they would do it for less. Programming/tunning is a major pita in michigan, if they will guarantee that it's right before you pay the $300 i'd do it and be done.
04-22-2005, 04:48 AM
#3
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Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Clinton TWP, MI
Posts: 650
Re: Tough tuneing decision?
Originally Posted by mavricki18
Ok heres my story...
I got my car tuned at APE when i had just bolt ons hearers,lid,cutout, ect.
I now have the mods in my sig which include MTI x1 cam and a LS6 intake. When i got mytune from APE i paid $535 and dident seam to have any problems with them besides the tuner showing up about an hour late which dident realy matter too much, but as of late I have not heard any thing good about APE. For a retune at APE it is $300 or so. So my question is should I go back to APE and get my car tuned because it will be cheeper than going somewhere eles or not take a chance and spend more cash and go somewhere else.
I got my car tuned at APE when i had just bolt ons hearers,lid,cutout, ect.
I now have the mods in my sig which include MTI x1 cam and a LS6 intake. When i got mytune from APE i paid $535 and dident seam to have any problems with them besides the tuner showing up about an hour late which dident realy matter too much, but as of late I have not heard any thing good about APE. For a retune at APE it is $300 or so. So my question is should I go back to APE and get my car tuned because it will be cheeper than going somewhere eles or not take a chance and spend more cash and go somewhere else.
I would recommend Wheel 2 Wheel. IMO they are the best shop in Michigan.
04-22-2005, 07:37 AM
#4
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Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Sterling Heights, Michigan
Posts: 273
Re: Tough tuneing decision?
Dane,
If I had liscensing for your year I'd try and help you out. But unfortunately its for other years. I think Tom only has his year also. $300 is kind of steep for a re-tune, when imo I bet much isn't needed in your situation.
What exactly did you have on the car when you had it tuned, and what does it have now? Include cam specs if you can. Is anything wrong with it like idle quality, part throttle ect?
If I had liscensing for your year I'd try and help you out. But unfortunately its for other years. I think Tom only has his year also. $300 is kind of steep for a re-tune, when imo I bet much isn't needed in your situation.
What exactly did you have on the car when you had it tuned, and what does it have now? Include cam specs if you can. Is anything wrong with it like idle quality, part throttle ect?
04-22-2005, 08:39 AM
#5
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Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Macomb Michigan
Posts: 485
Re: Tough tuneing decision?
I'd go back to APE. That way you can see exactly (on the same dyno) how much you gained from your new mods. Thats why I am going back there. Just drop your car off and don't wait around. I had an appointment at 8 am and he showed up at 11:30. Plus took the day off of work. I won't wait around again!!!
04-22-2005, 12:49 PM
#6
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Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Sterling Heights, MI
Posts: 1,541
Re: Tough tuneing decision?
Originally Posted by WHIPLASH
I'd go back to APE. That way you can see exactly (on the same dyno) how much you gained from your new mods. Thats why I am going back there. Just drop your car off and don't wait around. I had an appointment at 8 am and he showed up at 11:30. Plus took the day off of work. I won't wait around again!!!
04-22-2005, 03:02 PM
#7
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Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: Bay City MI
Posts: 264
Re: Tough tuneing decision?
Im an ex-sponsored car, and that was my worst automotive decision to ever go there. Plus they are notorious for sick rich tunes up top in the RPM range, that never maximize your HP possibilities. Kirk has a head the size of Texas, and could care less about the customer, thats the reason he is never on time, and IMHO doesnt take the time on each individual vehicle he needs to. Head to Livernois, call Rick tell him Andy sent you AND Stay away from APE, read about them across the web currently.
Good Luck
Andy
Good Luck
Andy
04-22-2005, 03:28 PM
#8
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Join Date: Nov 1999
Location: Westland, Mi
Posts: 186
Re: Tough tuneing decision?
Originally Posted by doc212121
Im an ex-sponsored car, and that was my worst automotive decision to ever go there. Plus they are notorious for sick rich tunes up top in the RPM range, that never maximize your HP possibilities. Kirk has a head the size of Texas, and could care less about the customer, thats the reason he is never on time, and IMHO doesnt take the time on each individual vehicle he needs to. Head to Livernois, call Rick tell him Andy sent you AND Stay away from APE, read about them across the web currently.
Good Luck
Andy
Good Luck
Andy
04-22-2005, 04:31 PM
#9
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Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Sterling Heights, Michigan
Posts: 273
Re: Tough tuneing decision?
Originally Posted by CMYZ28
I"m gonna 2nd Andy on this one. I was in the exact same situation he was..I dunno about the head the size of texas part because that stuff is after I was there.... I think your car and mine shared some garage space there for a longgggg time.
04-22-2005, 05:59 PM
#10
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Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: sterling hts Michigan
Posts: 500
Re: Tough tuneing decision?
Originally Posted by QUASAR BLU
Dane,
If I had liscensing for your year I'd try and help you out. But unfortunately its for other years. I think Tom only has his year also. $300 is kind of steep for a re-tune, when imo I bet much isn't needed in your situation.
What exactly did you have on the car when you had it tuned, and what does it have now? Include cam specs if you can. Is anything wrong with it like idle quality, part throttle ect?
If I had liscensing for your year I'd try and help you out. But unfortunately its for other years. I think Tom only has his year also. $300 is kind of steep for a re-tune, when imo I bet much isn't needed in your situation.
What exactly did you have on the car when you had it tuned, and what does it have now? Include cam specs if you can. Is anything wrong with it like idle quality, part throttle ect?
The car now has those same mods plus a MTI X1 cam 230/227 .591/.571 114LSA, LS6 intake and i will prob get a ASP pully and ported TB befor the tune.
The Car idles fine but some time stalls randomly at stop lights and in the driveway every once in a while. Its starts surging real low like down to 300-400 rpms and than dies.
04-22-2005, 08:56 PM
#11
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Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: sebewaing, mi
Posts: 1,309
Re: Tough tuneing decision?
where did that guy that tuned at dsw go? i know he was at livernois but left there, anyone know where he is now? he was supposed to be an excellent tuner!
otherwise i would just check out livernois.
mike
otherwise i would just check out livernois.
mike
04-22-2005, 09:12 PM
#12
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Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Livonia, Mi
Posts: 1,665
Re: Tough tuneing decision?
My car runs really really rich and im not happy about it. I'm going to livernois after a few more mods, and hopefully they will get it taken care of. On the bright side, I know I'm not going to burn anything up running so rich!
04-23-2005, 01:05 AM
#14
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Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Sterling Heights, Michigan
Posts: 273
Re: Tough tuneing decision?
I find it hard to believe that your stock tune was really lean. I guess it depends on how unrestricted the maf was. Stock tunes are PIG rich because they need to be so you dont burn up the cats. With the bigger cam you have now, you might be on the lean side, and yes you do need a re-tune. I thought you had a cam in it when you got it tuned the first time. There are some adjustments that need to be made to make it idle also.
There are also some deceleration fuel cutoff functions that can be played with (DFCO). It will help with the way the car coasts when you let off the gas. I'm not sure Kirk messes with that though
There are also some deceleration fuel cutoff functions that can be played with (DFCO). It will help with the way the car coasts when you let off the gas. I'm not sure Kirk messes with that though
04-23-2005, 09:49 AM
#15
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Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Clinton TWP, MI
Posts: 650
Re: Tough tuneing decision?
Originally Posted by QUASAR BLU
Dane,
If I had liscensing for your year I'd try and help you out. But unfortunately its for other years. I think Tom only has his year also. $300 is kind of steep for a re-tune, when imo I bet much isn't needed in your situation.
If I had liscensing for your year I'd try and help you out. But unfortunately its for other years. I think Tom only has his year also. $300 is kind of steep for a re-tune, when imo I bet much isn't needed in your situation.