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Is a tune worth it

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Old Oct 21, 2015 | 12:40 PM
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From: montgomery, al
Car: 1991 Camaro Z28
Engine: 305ci
Transmission: 700r
Is a tune worth it

How much would a tune help my lb9 in the quarter mile. Mods are long tube headers, exhaust with no cats, intake porting, refurb ford 19lb injectors from southbayfuelinjectors, and 4.10 gears.

How much would it help on nitrous. Definitely want it to pick up a few tenths when I spray in grudge race.

Does it help a lot at WOT.

Also would a mail order tune be worth it.
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Old Oct 21, 2015 | 03:08 PM
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Car: 89 Iroc-z
Engine: 555 BBC Turbo
Transmission: TH400
Axle/Gears: MWC 9” 3.00
Re: Is a tune worth it

Hard to say. Depends on the current state of the motor and how its running and also what factory prom was issued. Gm used several different prom codes throughout the model years and most are similar but there are sometimes small differences here and there

Biggest thing to look for is if knock sensor is picking up anything false. My car was and i ended up disabling the sensor.
Then you gotta look at fuel curve as it sits. Motors tend to run rich from factory and improved air flow can sometimes make it run richer. It may hit a higher maf g/s value and command more fuel. Map car may see closer to true 100 kpa instead of say 90-94 if theres restriction. 100 kpa cell may have more fuel in it

Different injectors have different spray patterns and can require tune tweaks

Alot of variables.

I think customizing fuel and timing curve is always good for some hp in these cars. May not be substantial but def can help and could give you some et reduction

On spray you want to run an external ign box with timing retard to get the most out if it. Tune fuel by jet at first to get it close, then you can make a tune for nitrous only if need be but usually jet alone will get air fuel right
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Old Oct 21, 2015 | 05:26 PM
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From: montgomery, al
Car: 1991 Camaro Z28
Engine: 305ci
Transmission: 700r
Re: Is a tune worth it

Car is a 91 so doesn't have maf. Don't know a lot about tuning but from what I understand if that I do get a tune, getting someone to data log(I believe is what you're talking about) and make a tune would be a lot better than a mail order tune, right? I would look into doing it myself but plan on ls swapping in a few years and car is only a 305.
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Old Oct 21, 2015 | 08:59 PM
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Car: 89 Iroc-z
Engine: 555 BBC Turbo
Transmission: TH400
Axle/Gears: MWC 9” 3.00
Re: Is a tune worth it

Yeah that would help to datalog first to see where you are at. I would avoid mail orders
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Old Mar 29, 2016 | 06:19 PM
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From: montgomery, al
Car: 1991 Camaro Z28
Engine: 305ci
Transmission: 700r
Re: Is a tune worth it

Well I ordered a tune from custom chips Inc. and I made 1 pass with the tune and one with the stock tune and they were almost exactly the same

Pass 1 with aftermarket tune
1/8:9.06
1/4:14.150
Pass 2 30 min. later with stock tune
1/8:9.05
1/4:14.159

Usually the first pass is the fastest from my experience mainly because of the engine temp. I think. So if I would have done the passes with the stock tune first I believe it would have been maybe a tenth faster.

Overall I'd say it was worth it, $65 for tune and $40 for adapter, much better drivability, and it seemed like it wanted to stall out coming to a stop before.
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Old Mar 31, 2016 | 08:44 AM
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From: North Central Indiana
Car: 86 IROC
Engine: 383
Transmission: TKO 600
Axle/Gears: 3.54 Dana 44 IRS
Re: Is a tune worth it

I do mail order tunes and I tell my customers not to expect huge gains. Most of the tuning I do for guys is simple stuff like disabling VATS, EGR, fan temps etc. which is fine for mail order stuff.
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Old Mar 31, 2016 | 08:55 AM
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Car: 89 Firebird
Engine: 355 TBI
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 10 Bolt.Posi-3.73s
Re: Is a tune worth it

Originally Posted by 1MeanZ
I do mail order tunes and I tell my customers not to expect huge gains. Most of the tuning I do for guys is simple stuff like disabling VATS, EGR, fan temps etc. which is fine for mail order stuff.
Do you do tunes for TBI cars as well? Tuners are getting hard to find. I would love to drop a crate L31 in mine and retain my TBI system if feasible.
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Old Mar 31, 2016 | 09:42 PM
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From: North Central Indiana
Car: 86 IROC
Engine: 383
Transmission: TKO 600
Axle/Gears: 3.54 Dana 44 IRS
Re: Is a tune worth it

Originally Posted by dmccain
Do you do tunes for TBI cars as well? Tuners are getting hard to find. I would love to drop a crate L31 in mine and retain my TBI system if feasible.
Didn't mean this to be an advertisement. Yes I can do TBI tuning but the ECM needs a modified socket to be able to accept a normal burnble chip. Also check out Rbob's EBL. You can keep your TBI but it's a much faster and better system than the stock TBI stuff.
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Old Apr 3, 2016 | 01:38 PM
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From: montgomery, al
Car: 1991 Camaro Z28
Engine: 305ci
Transmission: 700r
Re: Is a tune worth it

Originally Posted by jacksons89
what was the mph?
Both were 76
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Old Apr 6, 2016 | 11:50 PM
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Re: Is a tune worth it

Hello


If you have an automatik transmission then the cam ist the weakest part in the chain ! The cam makes only 0.350 and 0.384 lift.
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Old Apr 7, 2016 | 02:39 AM
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Re: Is a tune worth it

Sorry i meant CAM !
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Old Apr 7, 2016 | 06:53 AM
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From: North Central Indiana
Car: 86 IROC
Engine: 383
Transmission: TKO 600
Axle/Gears: 3.54 Dana 44 IRS
Re: Is a tune worth it

as far as anyone on these forums knows, the 90-92 TPI cars all got the L98 cam, regardless of transmission. So in this case, the stock cam isn't hurting him that badly...

I realize the car has 4.10 gears, but it's a full second and a half quicker than most stock 305 TPI auto cars, and all he's done is gears and exhaust. I'd say it's got the good cam....
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Old Apr 9, 2016 | 12:13 AM
  #13  
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From: ARIZONA
Car: 92 Trans Am Conv
Engine: LB9
Transmission: T5
Axle/Gears: 3.08
Re: Is a tune worth it

14.1@76 is a hell of a launch.
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Old Apr 14, 2016 | 02:52 PM
  #14  
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From: San Antonio TX
Car: 1990 G92 IROC Z Miniram
Engine: 388cu 6.4 Liters
Transmission: G-Force T5
Axle/Gears: 3.73 Gears
Re: Is a tune worth it

Originally Posted by Vanilla Ice
14.1@76 is a hell of a launch.
4.10 is way too much gear for a stock 305 or 350. Look at the mph. A stock 90-92 L98 can run those numbers at 97-98 mph. A Stock 90-92 LB9 can run 14.6@95mph.
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Old Apr 14, 2016 | 02:57 PM
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From: South Ms
Car: 89 Firebird
Engine: 355 TBI
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 10 Bolt.Posi-3.73s
Re: Is a tune worth it

Its damn fast for a 305 is what it is! 76 mph sounds odd though.. Must get to it REAL fast. My old LB9 turned a best 14.76@96 if I remember correctly on the mph. Like 273 gears though. Thing was only in 3rd gear.
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Old Apr 14, 2016 | 03:04 PM
  #16  
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From: San Antonio TX
Car: 1990 G92 IROC Z Miniram
Engine: 388cu 6.4 Liters
Transmission: G-Force T5
Axle/Gears: 3.73 Gears
Re: Is a tune worth it

Originally Posted by dmccain
Its damn fast for a 305 is what it is! 76 mph sounds odd though.. Must get to it REAL fast. My old LB9 turned a best 14.76@96 if I remember correctly on the mph. Like 273 gears though. Thing was only in 3rd gear.
Sounds about right. He has way too much gear for a stock TPI.
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Old Apr 14, 2016 | 03:37 PM
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From: ARIZONA
Car: 92 Trans Am Conv
Engine: LB9
Transmission: T5
Axle/Gears: 3.08
Re: Is a tune worth it

14.1@76 shouldn't be possible.
Maybe 9.0@76 is his 1/8th mile.
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Old May 9, 2016 | 02:38 PM
  #18  
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From: montgomery, al
Car: 1991 Camaro Z28
Engine: 305ci
Transmission: 700r
Re: Is a tune worth it

Originally Posted by Vanilla Ice
14.1@76 shouldn't be possible.
Maybe 9.0@76 is his 1/8th mile.
Last year with cool air ran a 13.88 but sadly I blew poor 305 up. About to drop it back in now rebuilt with flat tops and ported the intake some more
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Old May 21, 2016 | 02:58 PM
  #19  
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From: Sanctuary state
Car: 67 ******mobile
Engine: 385 Solid roller
Transmission: T-56
Axle/Gears: 4.11
Re: Is a tune worth it

It can be possible if he runs out of motor due to gear

Didn't mean this to be an advertisement. Yes I can do TBI tuning but the ECM needs a modified socket to be able to accept a normal burnble chip
Thnking about picking up a TBI 454 Duallie in ca you can get doug thorley CARB legal headers. Something you can touch up or is it even needed? Dont know if it would want to go a little lean or not
No its not a camaro but same EFI
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Old May 21, 2016 | 03:34 PM
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From: Mass
Engine: 350 TPI
Transmission: A4
Axle/Gears: 3.23
Re: Is a tune worth it

I had 1MeanZ set me up with a custom tune for my 91 350tpi car and it put down 224rwhp on a Mustang Dyno. Only mods done to it besides the tune was a Magnaflow catback exhaust. I never dynoed it with the stock PROM. I am VERY happy with the way the car runs after he set me up with a modified tune.

I will be a returning customer for sure.
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Old May 21, 2016 | 03:36 PM
  #21  
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From: Mass
Engine: 350 TPI
Transmission: A4
Axle/Gears: 3.23
Re: Is a tune worth it

Oh , and 76 mph in the 1/4 for the e.t. he ran is odd. I've had a few 91-92 cars and they all ran between 14.5 and 14.2 in the 1/4 bone stock. That goes for both the 305 and 350 cars. (305 car had a T5)
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Old May 23, 2016 | 07:31 AM
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From: North Central Indiana
Car: 86 IROC
Engine: 383
Transmission: TKO 600
Axle/Gears: 3.54 Dana 44 IRS
Re: Is a tune worth it

Originally Posted by cuisinartvette
Thnking about picking up a TBI 454 Duallie in ca you can get doug thorley CARB legal headers. Something you can touch up or is it even needed? Dont know if it would want to go a little lean or not
No its not a camaro but same EFI
Thanks for the inquiry. I don't advertise my service, and I certainly don't intend to exploit this forum for business, so shoot me a PM if you have questions about what I can do.

That said, here is my answer. If I had the truck in my possession I'd tune it, but that's not something I'd want to try to mail order tune. I've not worked with a big block truck yet and don't have a tune worked out that I'm comfortable sending anyone.

Originally Posted by BOTTLEDZ28
I had 1MeanZ set me up with a custom tune for my 91 350tpi car and it put down 224rwhp on a Mustang Dyno. Only mods done to it besides the tune was a Magnaflow catback exhaust. I never dynoed it with the stock PROM. I am VERY happy with the way the car runs after he set me up with a modified tune.

I will be a returning customer for sure.
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Old Aug 7, 2016 | 04:34 PM
  #23  
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From: montgomery, al
Car: 1991 Camaro Z28
Engine: 305ci
Transmission: 700r
Re: Is a tune worth it

Originally Posted by VincentZ28
4.10 is way too much gear for a stock 305 or 350. Look at the mph. A stock 90-92 L98 can run those numbers at 97-98 mph. A Stock 90-92 LB9 can run 14.6@95mph.
76 was the mph in the 1/8
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