mail tune or try to do myself?

I have some basic mods

I plan on installing cam/ported 243 heads/headers/injectors in the near future


Never tuning a vehicle before, is this something I can SAFELY do myself?


How close would a mail order tune be?




My main dilemna is the closest "local" tuner is about 90 minutes away. I doubt the truck will RUN with the above mods installed, I don't want to buy a nelson tune to drive to tuner, then have him tune my stock computer.

If a nelson mail tune will be good enough, I will def go that route.

My other option is to buy hptuners and give it a shot myself...but that seems like A LOT of changes to tune for at once.

You can buy hpt and allen can tune it via email and you can learn at the same time

do you happen to know what a 'email' tune costs if I already have the software? I think that'd be my best option, he can get me close, I can fine tune it

E-mail tuning is as close to a live tune as you can get being in another state. What you do is log the truck while doing some WOT pulls, send the logs to Allen, then he will send you a tune and you upload it to your PCM. Its the same as a live tune, but not a live tune. He does the same thing when live tuning, just he doesn't have to e-mail the file.

still gotta pay for software and tune lol

Yeah but its worth it if you dont know wtf your doing...

i'm an electrical engineer...i'm sure I could eventually figure it out...just can't have the truck not running for weeks on end

Well rather than trying to take weeks to figure it out, get the tools to get it running along with a tune then play from there. :) Dont forget a wideband either.

so cheapest alternative is going to be towing it to a tuner...damn

most tuners can provide you with a mail order "safe" tune that will allow you to drive it to their shop.

Mailorder will be just fine, imo. thats what im runnin on..

Why not do it yourself, much funnier, start with giving it more timing for the cam, adjust fuel trims, and work with the trans shift points for starters

BB

I downloaded efi live....and read what to change for injectors/cam/heads....looks like a pain (probably seem easier when I actually had it hooked up to vehicle)

If tuning was simple anyone could do it. :lol:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by RedHeartbeat

If tuning was simple anyone could do it. :lol:

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+1 which is y only one person is touching the tune on my truck.... Nelson

What kind of software do you use to send data back to nelson?


I am kinda leaning towards just buying a data logging software, having him do a tune, sending him a data file, and waiting the week for him to get it back to me.


REALLY can't justifty the 500 for hptuners just to load his email tune...I'll never use it after that. After this lil spurt, the truck is done for a LONG TIME

HP Tuners VCM Scanner Standard OBDII Scan + Diagnostic : eBay Motors (item 120557208545 end time May-15-10 03:49:48 PDT)
Theres the basic version but you need to have a laptop to data log otherwise the $500 Pro version is worth the investment man. It looks like your spending alot but in all seriousness having HPT at your disposal for data logging, code clearing, and tune updating is worth every penny. Best bang for buck mod you will ever get.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by oleshifty

REALLY can't justifty the 500 for hptuners just to load his email tune...I'll never use it after that. After this lil spurt, the truck is done for a LONG TIME

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You could always try jets DST tuner, you can download the software first and play around with it until you feel confident with it to tune with.
It cost $375.99 from jegs
JET 14005 JET Performance Dynamic Spectrum Tuner
download page
Software Updates - JET Performance Products, Import & Domestic Performance, Performance Kits, Fuel Systems, Transmissions

Purchase the software and do it yourself. This is the solution for any motivated person who has a little time and wants the best results. Mail order simply is hit or miss in my experience. And especially with the mods you have planned, the AFR and timing needs to be good throughout the powerband so that you have a vehicle that drives like stock, with no stalling. I use EFI live myself and it is really user friendly, and there is a lot of support online for beginners.

I forgot to add, a wideband sensor (AFR gauge) is also pretty critical if you're tuning a cam. If you're using a common cam though, a mail order tuner may likely have a tune on file already that would be pretty good.

Local place wants 550 for dyno tune. Might go this route...only 100 more then efi live and no guesswork.

i have a nelson tune myself and would also like to have fine tuned . if i were to buy hp tuners would he send me a new tune and leave it unlocked so i could also fine tune and learn at the same time?maybe he chime in

Quote:

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Originally Posted by 1 bad blazer

i have a nelson tune myself and would also like to have fine tuned . if i were to buy hp tuners would he send me a new tune and leave it unlocked so i could also fine tune and learn at the same time?maybe he chime in

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If you have HPT and he sends you a tune unless you lock it it is unlocked.
He may have locked the original PCM, but if you flash it yourself it is up to you to lock it or not.


Sent using a Droid.

Allen locks his tunes for your own good...would be best for you to log some data and send it to him to make changes.And its a whole lot safer for you and your truck

Quote:

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Originally Posted by oleshifty

Local place wants 550 for dyno tune. Might go this route...only 100 more then efi live and no guesswork.

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Was going to say if you got EFILive I would send you a base tune for free.


Sent using a Droid.

I bought hptuners a few years ago without knowing a thing about tuning...skip ahead a few years and ive done cams, heads, blowers, torque converters, injectors, speed density, blah blah blah. Its really not hard. Having a background in EE, I am certain you can pick it up very fast.

tuning is a real trial and error learning process to me. no one tunes well without making the mistakes on thier own truck in the begining. that could get costly. just have nelson send you a tune or do the dyno tune.

Don't buy HPTuners unless you know for sure they have your tune handled. My 2007 NNBS GMT900 is unsupported unless you just want a basic tune. I have a turbo on my truck and cannot tune it. :grr: HPT got too big too fast and started getting greedy trying to cover every brand out there, now the GM people that made their company a success is put on the back burner and we can't get crap out of them for support. :thumbdown: