I'm going to be modding the lo3 in the next few months.Engine wise I plan on ultimate tbi,weiland stealth,lt1 cam,MSD rotor/cap/coil/helicore wires,hedman hedders,and possibly a catco free flow cat(I may gut the old one instead, no enviro-***** here!)I'm also removing the smog crap(like I said no-*****).It already has a cat-back exhaust but it's from a previous owner and I don' t know what it is. I have no idea how long it will take me to do these things..my guess is a couple of weekends.I plan on buying chip burning equipment too.In what order do you recommend the mods be made and at what point should I try and do a chip?I've never burned one before and you guys talk like its not really hard so what can I expect?

 

i think with those mods especially the cam you could start to burn. while you at it u might as well get some new rockers.

 

You can begin burning proms for a stock motor and start to have some results. If you are for sure going to get the equipment I would recommend getting it as soon as possible. This gives you the chance to get familiar with what you can do while you still have a good refference point (stock chip)

Bill

 

I was going to keep the stock chip as a "extra" and burn a completely new one in case I screw something up.

 

That's always a good idea. Although I recommend backing it up in it's own special folder and making a few copies so that you don't over write it accidently. Then start a new folder from your base eprom and modify things that don't effect fuel or spark directly. Stuff like TCC, shift light, run the patch code for the ESC and maybe add the rev limiter patch while your at it. Save that as your "start here" bin. Then with a stock eprom, first check to see that your BLMs aren't too high and arn't too low. A decent range is from 122-132, once that's in the ballpark and you've got stuff like headers and open element....put in some more spark earlier. The stock tables are very mild and the whole "one eprom works for all" is BS. GM made the calibration to run in Alaska to Florida and up in the Rocky's so it's definatly the best starting bin but far from appropriate. Don't fall victum to the "add spark at 100kpa and WOT. That's just as bad as the guys that think the car should run rich with high octane and lots of advance to go faster .
I would have liked to have started tuning with my old Lo3. I know for a fact that things would have made more sence sooner. For anybody that thinks "Apexi" for imports has a coolness factor then you don't know what you've got and how good it is to be in COMPLETE control of the whole engine for a quarter of the cost.

 

I know how to turn a computer on...barely! Can anyone recommend a "chip burning for dummies"?I've looked at the diy board here but its overwelming to me.How's your program your writing coming along Jprevost?And at what point of my modding should I (try to) burn?After exhaust mods?After the cam and intake?Wait until I'm totally done?

 

I started burning chips for my nearly stock L05...when it was still and L05

I had it running great. I got ~2 mpg and LOTS of throttle response out of it. Since then, I find that everything I drive needs more AE! My Mustang is horrible about that...it needs more AE. If you thought stock MPFI has better throttle response than a tuned-to-a-razor-edge TBI system think again.

I'm glad I started tuning back then. If I was thrown into the engine combo I have now with no tuning experience I would prolly have a carb by now...

 

i need to learn how to burn chips myself, i have an l03 in my 89rs and its going to be getting lots of goodies once tax returns come back. where do you get the blank chips and what do you use to burn them?
btw my car has a big stereo but its still lotsa fun