I have an 89 formula 350. Engine code L98.
I haven’t quite bought anything for it to modify it but that’s because i don’t know how the tuning works. I had a friend tell me about his tuner but he gets emailed tunes for his car but he drives something much newer. I want to start adding some parts to get some more power out of the engine but i have no idea how the tuning will work. can i be emailed tunes? can i only be dyno tuned? anything helps as i’m pretty new to the performance side of thing and just trying to get pointed in the right direction thank you

 

For diy, I’d assume your wanting to do this yourself?
Starter your car is $6e adx mask, you can read the stickies diy rom tuning guide for the 1227165 ecm . Things you will need are a datalog cable , modify chip fir a flash prom or a piggyback adapter to put a flash chip on. You can tune on the street, for wot a wideband is very useful.

 

i mean i don’t mind taking it to a tuner or doing it myself i just don’t know how much i trust myself i’m super new to performance stuff.

Let’s say i buy a new cam and install it, i could just tune it with these chips and stuff?

 

What cam are you looking at ?
and I’d assume your staying stock ecm ?

 

I am staying stock ecm unless you suggest something that might be easier. Again i’m used to working on newer cars but completely new to performance related stuff.

As for the cam i’m looking at, i don’t have one set right now but i was leaning towards a hydraulic roller kit. Maybe the edelbrock rollin thunder part #22046

 

Might look at something more like this if just doing a cam, no head or intake swap.
stock ecm is fine for a mild build just depends on what your ultimate goal is.

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/CCA-08-501-8

 

Im hoping for 400HP range.
Will I need to tune after dropping that cam in?

 

You might look into heads , cam https://tpis.com/products/6_cam155?v...28342563766344 and a weiand stealth ram. Tpi makes great torque but doesn’t breath to great at higher rpm. You could do a used high flow base , As&m runners another option. Just need to match your parts for where you’re wanting the power and torque. And think about overall cost and converter as well as greats. Any change the tune should be looked at yes. The comp cam would require springs and guide check. Or if you not wanting to dig into it that much gm has a crane 2032 style grind

94666492.

 

You're gonna need a lot more than a cam for 400hp, including a new intake with shorter runners. A tune will be required if you're staying with fuel injection. I recommend using google to search this site for info about these kinds of upgrades, there's twenty years of people mostly doing the same thing here.

 

Yeah i know that part regarding the cam i’m just going to start there.

As for the tuning i’m trying to understand but it’s all a little confusing with the chips and data logging and all these other things. not sure where to start or what to buy. if i’m going to need to buy a lot of things for the engine to be tuned i’d like to get all those things first before i get into trying to make more power. If so could you give me a little list of stuff i’ll need to buy for the tuning aspect?

 

T48 [TL866-3G] Programmer (Ebay)
chips at hamotorsports sst 27sf512

modify your memcal chip to accept the chip or eBay piggyback adapter.
datalog cable in classifieds here or eBay. Tunerpro rt to edit and datalog. All this is covered in the stickies

https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/diy-prom/286968-link-thread-suggestions-needed.html

 

One last question!
If i just swap to a carb and did any upgrades would i just have to tune the carb for the new parts or would i still need to tune the ecm?

Also thank you very much for the list!

 

wrong section to ask already off topic, think about your question

 

Hi
Hope this helps you with "pointing in the right direction"

If you get into DIY tuning you are basically on your own and you will have to rely on hundreds of hours of reading TGO threads and other sites. There is no real user manual to do this. Expertise is getting rare. Most performance shop use more modern EFI systems and software. Don't let anyone make you believe it's easy because it is not. The ones who will state that have lots of experience, you don't according to your post. You need a solid understanding of how your TPI system works along with learning how to use TunerPro. You also need to learn how to read and analyze data which requires many hours to get good at.

What I am telling you here is: it's not a walk in the park.

Don't get me wrong, the basic fan temperature adjustment, VATS delete, EGR & AIRS delete, etc. are easy. But when you start messing with cam & heads, it can get very painful.

If you could find an experienced Tuner, he/she could set you up based on your set-up and then fine tune based on your datalog. Yes it can be done remotely.

There is also the aftermarket ecm route. Lots of opinions on that on TGO.

Now I might get some hate coming my way for this post

Regards

 

No hate here, you are correct with your view on learning to tune. I have binders full of notes, many hours of tuning, and I still struggle at times. Is it worth it? Only if you have the desire to TRY and fully grasp what is going on inside that ECM and how to control it. Old technology, yes, but hey I'm old too and not ready to fade away just yet! Plus, it keeps the gray matter engaged. All the information you need is located somewhere in this online Forum. Enjoy, or not.

 

Learning to do the ACTUAL tune itself is quite difficult and you do need to have some form of skill at it. Not only learning the software but knowing what parameters need to be changed and an understanding of the values in the different tables the ECM uses.
To just data log and send the file to a Tuner who knows what they are doing is not that difficult. There is a learning curve but if this old guy with minimal computer and software experience could figure it out, you know the rest. I purchased the hardware which is listed above. Small learning curve to set up Tuner Pro, load the mask that fits your ECM, plug the cable to the car from the laptop you loaded Tuner Pro and away you go. I would send the Data log file to Tuned Performance and he would write the data for the new chip based on the DLF I sent. I would run the file Tuned e-mailed me through the chip burner and install the newly burned chip and rerun another Data Log File. Of course you do all your performance mods 1st.

 

Yep, one of the reasons I help some TGO members with their tuning. Keeps my brain active instead of scrolling endlessly on my phone looking at insignificant stuff.

 

I disagree... There's a curve, but the basics can be learned in a day or after reading a simple how to:
VE log RPM and MAP, raise or lower VE in small increments at first and see how it changes to get to desired BLM/AFR.
TIming log RPM and MAP, raise or lower Timing in small increments at first and see how it changes to get max timing with your acceptable level of KR.
After that there's other things to do but the car should run better after just that.

 

Couple things that have worked for me. You need a wide band O2 sensor installed. Also, from the very beginning, 20 years ago, I have always run open loop. Why? Because I can achieve any AFR I want at any point in the operation of the engine. My tune does not rely on any O2 sensor to operate. I do still use the wide band to monitor what is going on at all times. Many will disagree with my approach, but it works for me. Something you may come across is 'highway mode', I have been running 16 to 1 or higher AFR during this mode for years with no problems. I actually feel it helps keep carbon off the tops of the pistons, but I could be wrong. Bottom line, you are in charge of what the tune will do for your engine, good or bad. Be careful!

 

Just after I bought my T/A and started spending time here, a fellow swapped his L03 for an L30, and used EBL to tune it. It's a lengthy read that goes through all the steps of the process (deciding on a new replacement engine, collecting all the needed parts, doing the swap, and finally tuning), but it may give you an idea of what's involved. The OP RS-Chevy-SS was by his own admission not familiar with this work at all. But with support from some forum members, and RBob in particular, he was able to work the bugs out.

L03 to L30 Swap