A few questions about tuning

[robmick33]

Hi newer member first post.Im fairly new to modding, i just recently bought my first camaro (2000 3.8) and have installed an american thunder flowmaster system, and k&n cai.From what i have read about tuning it "wakes up " your computer.Well i would like to wake mine up but i have some questions.This digital horsepower program, is it easy to use? Is it idiot proof(i would hate to screw up my car). Can you go from stock setting to modded back to stock if necessary?I have many ideas for my car but i just would like a little guidance so as to not make a bad irreversable mistake.Also i was reading about a tb bypass kit on ebay that keeps it "cool" by bypassing the throttlebody with a piece of piping and its for an ls1. will this work on the 3.8? Thanks in advance!

[slow6]

Re: A few questions about tuning

hp tuners is easier to use and better
no, no tuning program is "idiot proof" its possible to screw up your car if you try hard enough
yes, you can switch back and forth on the tunes (from modded to unmodded to slightly modded, whatever)...
No, a tune will not "wake up" your computer.. it will "wake up" your engine
The more mods you have, the more power is to be gained from a tune (and the more mods you have the more you need a tune).
Dont get the bypass. If you want to keep the coolant from running through the throttle body, take off the throttle body and fill the lower coolant passage up with RTV or Epoxy. This is not recommended for cold climates cause the TB can freeze.
DHP is cheaper than HPT
Just a flowmaster muffler and a cai is not enough mods to NEED a tune
I dont really think this belongs in Advanced section but whatever

[robmick33]

Re: A few questions about tuning

Ill look into this hp tuners program. I do plan on more mods(p/p heads, pace setters,alum drive shaft , supercharger eventually etc.)I only drive this car in the summer months.and as for the advanced section, i just read the description and it said tuning so i thought this was the appropriate section if, it isnt i apologise.

[slow6]

Re: A few questions about tuning

your right this is a section for tuning, but it is more for in-depth advanced tuning questions. no problem, its fine here

Out of all those mods you listed only P&P heads and the Supercharger would really require tuning. If you had headers it would be good to get those tuned too.

a mail order tune would be alot cheaper than buying all the tuning hardware/software and doing tuning yourself. But with doing your own tuning you would get a little more power out of it.

Heres what I've spent on tuning (not counting gas):

HPT basic: $509 (after tax, not counting shipping)
HPT EIO PRO upgrade: $165 (after tax, not counting shipping)
AEM wideband & gauge: $400 (after tax, not counting shipping)
laptop: free (already owned it)
welding wideband in: free (i own a welder)
---------------------------------
total: $1075
You could get a cheaper wideband setup than I did, which would be fine.
Just trying to say that tuning is alot more expensive than mail order tuning(which is $150 or more)

[AZ3.8Camaro]

Re: A few questions about tuning

Hey welcome to the board!
Since you are new, I will leave this topic alone, but in the future, we do have a section just for tuning. Its at the very bottom of the "technical forums".
You will probably get more reponces there because people who are into tuning read that forum more often that this one.
Well, good luck!

[camnj99]

Re: A few questions about tuning

i saw u mentioned filling the coolant passage with epoxy...what exactly does that do...how will that help me?

[slow6]

Re: A few questions about tuning

i saw u mentioned filling the coolant passage with epoxy...what exactly does that do...how will that help me?

who me? its to cool off the tb so it gets cooler intake temps
not advised for cold climates