Tuning after cam install.

[ChillPhatCat]

So a couple months ago I swapped my stock cam for the "VS" cam from ZZperformance... it's a compcams grind at .512/.507 lift, .206/.212 durration and 115 Lobe Separation.

So right now my engine light is on and a code scan found incorrect camshaft postition among other codes. First off, I know there is a little performance to be gained from tuning and secondly would tuning clear this code? The camshaft is supposed to drop right in and not throw a code.

Another question would be how should I best tune the engine? I am rather unknowledgeable in the art of tuning an FI car... carburetors are no problem, but tuning w/ the ECU... I have no idea.

I know that we installed the cam correctly because it's hard to mess up if you measure correctly and the car is getting decent gas mileage still.. and not pinging.

The IAT sensor is reading high too if that matters.

[ February 06, 2005, 06:43 PM: Message edited by: ChillPhatCat ]

[oil pan 4]

A high IAT can cause lean condision, I burned valves with an IAT reading 338'f on a normal day.
You all ways have to do a tune up or at least a check up when you do any kind of mod.
Unless it's a cheap free mod you shouldn't have to do any thing. If you do a few of them you might want to do a little check up.
The best part about a MAF engine you can change the intake and exhaust around some and the car can addapt most times.
A cam is pushing it.
If it says you can just drop in a cam, don't belive it. Unless it is a stock replacement.
Even if you were just puting on higher raito rocker you should take it for a run and maybe play with the inital timing, see if it likes it.

[Seppo Kaitainen]

What was the exact code?

The only code my car threw after the cam was P0300 - Random Misfire. Which is nothing, really.

[ChillPhatCat]

My question is how can I tune the engine? Since there is no distributer, I would assume there is some tool or whatnot to do this. All the searches I've done come up without support for the '96-'97 3.8.

[foff667]

hptuners or dhp

[Rob 94Hawk 319]

Westers, and Intense do tuning also.

[grayman]

you have to tune the computer. nothing manual to twist or turn. you need to manage the learning curve after you buy tuning software or find a recomended and compitant PCM tuner such as described in the above post.

money.

[ChillPhatCat]

So if I went with one of these tuner programs I would be able to adjust all the tolerances to my liking and eliminate the error codes...