Custom Dyno Tunes and Tuners
02-12-2010, 11:24 AM
#2
5th Gear Member
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Deep in the <3 of Tx
Posts: 3,925
Most likely yes. If you don't have one, they'll normally sell you one. I've heard of some shops loading the tune with their own device not giving you anything. It's best to have your own though.
02-12-2010, 12:40 PM
#3
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: MD
Posts: 7
Does this mean there is no open source tuning solutions?
I come from the Subaru world where there are a few tuners that would sell the device with off-the-shelf (generic) tunes. They would then license the 'tuner' version to tuner's who would charge for a custom dyno/road tune.
Over the last few years there was a group that hacked the ECU which then allowed others to put tuning/logging user interfaces on top and were distributed for free or a minimal charge. The nice thing about this type of solution is you could tune yourself...if you know what you are doing. It also allowed you to back up your stock tune before making any changes. The only thing needed was to buy a $30 OBDII cable and a laptop and you were good to go. There are now tuner's who use this software and only charge for the actual tuning and or dyno time.
I realize that I'm comparing forced induction engines that typically don't take to bolt-on mods well without tuning to naturally aspirated motors that seem to do better with bold-ons but thought I'd ask anyway.
I come from the Subaru world where there are a few tuners that would sell the device with off-the-shelf (generic) tunes. They would then license the 'tuner' version to tuner's who would charge for a custom dyno/road tune.
Over the last few years there was a group that hacked the ECU which then allowed others to put tuning/logging user interfaces on top and were distributed for free or a minimal charge. The nice thing about this type of solution is you could tune yourself...if you know what you are doing. It also allowed you to back up your stock tune before making any changes. The only thing needed was to buy a $30 OBDII cable and a laptop and you were good to go. There are now tuner's who use this software and only charge for the actual tuning and or dyno time.
I realize that I'm comparing forced induction engines that typically don't take to bolt-on mods well without tuning to naturally aspirated motors that seem to do better with bold-ons but thought I'd ask anyway.
02-12-2010, 01:41 PM
#4
1st Gear Member
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Texas
Posts: 71
sct x3 tunner
went to a authorized supersnake builder here in Dallas, asked about realtime performance of the tuner. this is what I was told. the advertised 45hp gain only applies to the 08-09 GT500s. the 2010 is already finely tuned, your gain is only about 15-20hp. that's not $400 well spent.
02-12-2010, 05:12 PM
#6
5th Gear Member
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Deep in the <3 of Tx
Posts: 3,925
went to a authorized supersnake builder here in Dallas, asked about realtime performance of the tuner. this is what I was told. the advertised 45hp gain only applies to the 08-09 GT500s. the 2010 is already finely tuned, your gain is only about 15-20hp. that's not $400 well spent.
Lethal Performance said you'll get 50hp on a 2010 GT500. They have a youtube video talking about it.
02-12-2010, 05:14 PM
#7
5th Gear Member
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Deep in the <3 of Tx
Posts: 3,925
Yeah, that's what we pay for that much HP with a tune for the GT.
I spent almost twice that for 30hp with my cams.
Not the best $/! there is, but I love the sound and the extended power band.
Last edited by SirKnightTG; 02-12-2010 at 05:19 PM.
02-12-2010, 05:17 PM
#8
5th Gear Member
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Deep in the <3 of Tx
Posts: 3,925
Funny you say that as I was thinking of that very thing a few days ago where it would be nice to have open source tuning how we have GNU in the software world. GNU/Mustang instead of GNU/Linux.
Actually there is a do-it-yourself tuning package from SCT. It's like $300 for the software and a base tune. VMP will allow you to buy tunes from them for your mods and give it to you in a format the SCT do-it-yourself software can read so you can make further adjustments if needed. I've thought about doing it myself, but I dunno. The member on this board, hammeron, has this software and has tweaked his own tune. He loves it.
02-12-2010, 05:30 PM
#9
1st Gear Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Kentucky
Posts: 132
To answer your question no you do not have to purchase a hand held tuner when getting a dyno tune. The person tuning your car will use a program like HP Tuners with their laptop. I will go on the record here and say the ONLY way to get a spot on tune is to have it done this way. They will hook up a wide band O2 senser to your exhaust and tune your car from there. These companies selling email tunes and hand held tunes can only make an educated guess when selling you a tune. No 2 motors are exactly the same. You do not have to have a dyno to get a spot on tune either. The tuner will ride with you in your car logging data as you drive under different conditions. Hope this helps.