I, along with all the rest of the TPI'ers, am becoming more and more interested in this newly discussed LT1 intake swap. I noticed Scoggy Dicken Chevy sells a new LT4 intake (fhttp://www.sdpc2000.com/cart.asp?action=prod_detail&catid=738&pid=2589) for under $200, Seems pretty reasonable. I realize that this intake is designed for the LT4 heads, which is fine by me, but other than that are there any differences that might complicate this swap? I figure that intake and those heads with a hot cam would make quite a respectable mill, hmmmm horse power
steve...can you hear me??
thanks

 

Well other than the location of the intake ports, the two intakes are basically identical. I used the LT4 intake on a set of Fast Burn heads. LT1/4 heads will not work on a standard small block chevy. Something about the steam holes and water passages not lining up correctly. Check out my earlier thread concerning my swap.

https://www.thirdgen.org/techbb2/sho...threadid=78977

As for the real power gains, I still need a custom prom for the car to run optimal. The car definitely pulls all the way up to 6000+ rpms but the computer really doesn't know what is going on at the moment with my current setup. There are some drivability issues like part throttle response and idle that need some work. I need to hook it up to a scan tool so I can see just how far off it really is. Once I get the money, I'll be getting an Ed Wright custom prom.

 

Steve steve steve steve steve......

C'mon man!!! You just swapped an intake that ISN'T SUPPOSED TO WORK!!! Why would you then PAY for someone to burn you a prom that costs twice what the equipment does?

I just started using craig moates and winaldl and wonder why this wasn't the first thing I did when I bought the car (other than subframe connectors)

Its cheap, its easy, and YOU'LL do the best job.

Just think, you're giving ed the right to say he burned the prom for the first LT4 on gen 1 engine. Isn't that some clout that YOU'D rather have? I know I would

 

I really wish I had the time to learn to burn my own proms. Maybe you can try to convince me otherwise. I'm a college student here at Clemson University so as you can see, I have to get my priorities straight. Let's say I bought all the equipment to burn my own. What would that cost me? I could probably get access to a laptop most of the time so I guess I have that covered. Let me know here or email me about how easy it would be for me to learn to burn my own and what the costs would be. It's up to you to convince me!!! It would be really easy for me to tell Ed to do it an be done with it. (once I get the $350 of course)

 

Its $150 for one of the more expensive burners (and better ones) and then you buy proms and thats it, proms are like $2, you dont need an eraser because you can buy EEPROMS which are electronically erasable through your burner. We're talking pennies compaired to a wright chip. And as far as what it takes to burn? Check boxes and numbers, its so easy an AOL user could figure it out

www.tunercat.com You can download a demo and play with it, you dont need the burner to see how it works, once you see for yourself what little it takes you'll pull a homer


DOH!!!!!!

 

Ok so I buy the programmer for $150. I'm assuming you mean the Pocket Programmer or something like that. Then I buy a eeprom for a few bucks and then the software. The tunercat software looks like it costs $60 right? I was hesitant on doing this before but now that I see it's a windows based program, that makes it much more appealing. Would I be able to hook up my old prom to get a baseline on what it will look like? Also, I hear all this talk about BINs and everything. Isn't that just the basic layout of the programming that is being burned onto the new eeprom? I need to start frequenting the prom burning boards some more. Thanks for the info tpi_roc. You've really gotten me interested again in burning my own proms.

 

Yea its all win based, you dont NEED tuner cat, that was just an example, use WINBIN, its free! The whole thing. You can easily pull your prom image with either Craig Moates software for scanning, or with your Pocket programmer. Its so simple that I'd hate to see you spend double the money on one prom when you can spend half on unlimited amounts. Plus if you modified your intake THAT much, why not do the same to the rest of your car? Make it work!

 

I also agree, I wish the knowledge base regarding burning your own eproms was known 10 years ago when I started making my first mod. My equipment paid for itself just on the money I saved on gas by invoking Highway Mode (I get around US 30 MPGs on the highway in mountainous terrain - I've never had a chance to try it on flatland).

Though Ed is one of the better "custom eprom" writers out there, he still will never be able to burn a better chip that you can burn yourself. The reason is, to get MAX performance requires a lot of "tweaking" with the spark tables to find the spark advance that yields the BEST performance without causing knock retard. People think that this means their car isn't running, which isn't true. It is something that you "play with", and slowly tweak - and it just develops in time.

The biggest "hurdle" with eprom burning is the initial learning curve. Yes, there is a bit of reading that needs to be done, but it doesn't take YEARS to start getting results. If a person sat down with you, they probably could explain it all and give you a demo in less than an hour. Unfortunately, most people don't have that luxury, so a phone call is generally what's needed (if you want to speed up the learning curve).

BTW, I use the Pocket Programmer, Diacom+, and TunerCat. The Diacom+ I had bought years ago (and is what got me to think about burning my own eprom when I noticed how "off" my calibration was), but as tpi_roc said, Craig Moates has some freeware available that you just have to make a cable for off the serial port. Plus there are other freeware scan tools for SD cars that are available.

And, if you don't want to spend the money on TunerCat, there is WINBIN. I looked at initially but I thought TunerCat was SO MUCH easier to use, and I went that route instead. Also, TunerCat is ALWAYS updating the TDFs (calibration needed to read a particular type of BIN), so you are always getting "new things" to play with.

Best of all, there is a lot of guys on the DIY Prom Board that can help you. It's funny how just two years ago there were only a couple of guys trying it really only one knowledgable person (Grumpy). Now, there are a dozen guys that are VERY KNOWLEDGABLE on different ECMs and we are even looking at getting into developing "Source Code", so you can make the eprom perform based on how YOU want it to work instead of how GM wanted it to work. For example, I changed how my EGR works from being based on the VSS instead of the MAT. Solved a number of drivability issues.

Yes, eprom burning initially sounds "overwhelming" but it's not. I am sure this belief that eprom burning is "very difficult" is partily created by the people that burn eproms for a living...because we are cutting into their business. But, the best part of all, no matter WHAT you do to your engine in the future, you will NEVER have to buy another eprom again...and as you play with it, it just gets easier and easier.

 

^^^^
Thats the man to talk to

 

I concur with Glenn. I have a Fastchips chip myself and I think it is a great base for my 406, compared to a stock bin, but I wish I had just started this whole research process a year ago instead of just 2 months ago...

My recommendation is to buy Tunercat. I have always had problems with Winbin and the Pocket Programmer seems to be a good deal for the money.

Once you see what Tunercat will show you and all the things you can tweak yourself, you will be very happy. It takes a leap of faith and some research time/questions on the DIY Prom board.

Don't wait...start now.

 

Steve, how long you been at Clemson? I went there for the spring semester in 2000. Stayed in the STONE!!!

Tim

 

Haha. I'm a second semester sophomore right now. You missed me by a year. Yep I stayed at the Stone too. Johnstone F4 to be exact. What a dump that place is. We had a good time though no doubt about it. Did you know that no one is living there anymore? They finally decided to tear the old thing down.

Stephen

 

Glenn and tpi_roc, thanks for all the advice. I've decided to learn to burn my own proms in stead of going with Ed Wright. Once I get the money together and buy everything I need I'll definitely be asking more questions. I'm starting to check out the DIY prom board so hopefully by the time I'm ready to do it, I won't have so many questions. Glenn, I've always seen you post on almost any thread pertaining to custom proms and your input is very much appreciated. I may take you up on that phone call in the future. It would definitely be a huge benefit for me to talk to you and ask you questions and get your advice one on one. I'll let you know when I'm ready to start.

 

Yeah steve, I knew it was about to be demolished. I actully was down there in November to visit old friends and go to the football game against FSU. Saw the new dorms--they look pretty nice.

Tim

 

Steve, since you live in Georgia, why not have a chat with Bernard Tripp (aka GMTech) or John Millican? They also have a little "club" at www.sethirdgen.org catering to all thirdgen owners in SE USA. They are in Savannah, Georgia.

I don't know how close that is to where you live, but they probably could even give you a little "demo". Just got to www.sethirdgen.org and mention that you had chatted with me and want to see a "demo" of eprom burning. I'm sure they would enjoy showing how it all works, and meeting another 3rd Gen owner in the SE.