new exhaust or programmer?

[sasquatch]

i`m trying to decide what to get first, exhaust or a programmer,

i`m leaning towards the programmer because of the extra power and gas mileage increase. i`m thinking about the hypertech max power. i`ll just set it to the 87 tune because i don`t need to spend more on gas.


but then i really want the sound of the exhaust too. i`m going to get a price for a flowmaster 50 series stainless muffler and a dual side exit setup this week. i`ve looked for a catback kit with a stainless muffler with no luck. the regular ones just don`t last long enough and i don`t want to replace it every three years.

whichever direction i go should be about the same price so i`d like to hear what everyone else would reccomend i do first.

thanks

 

[JennaBear]

I wouldnt waste money on a programmer. If you are wanting to program your truck on your own, go the right way, and get HPTuners or EFILive.

Remember, to take advantage of an exhaust, you need to have more air flowing through it, so you would need more air to the engine....a higher flowing intake is then needed. For more air to flow out of the engine, air/fuel ratios need to be correct and the engine needs to know more air is coming in, so a tune is needed.

If you do decide to get a tuner, there are TONS of them being sold from users who are upgrading to a tuning software or are getting a custom tune. A handheld is just a cookie cutter tune and does not take data from your driving style/exact truck specs.

 

[road1will]

I would go with the hypertech max energy. I got one and can't believe how much of a difference it made in power and gas milage. I think you will see more of a benefit from the programmer than the exhaust.

 

[sasquatch]

thanks for the replies. i`m an auto mechanic so i`m very familiar how an engine works more efficiently with an intake and exhaust but i`m not sold on a cold air intake all the dyno results say that the maximum power gains are at over 5000 rpm and i`ll rarely be hitting that high. i have a k&n filter in there and i`m sticking with it.

i just need a little more power to tow my atv and have a better exhaust sound. i`m not looking to beat any mustangs or camaros in a race.

the only reason i`m aking is becuase i`ve only owned older cars and trucks that don`t have any computers so i`m unsure of how a newer truck will react to mods.

road1will, your thread on the max enery programmer is why i`m looking at getting it. thanks. i want the ability to return the truck to the stock tune if and when i need to for warranty work so the other methods of tuning are out of the question.

 

[JennaBear]

thanks for the replies. i`m an auto mechanic so i`m very familiar how an engine works more efficiently with an intake and exhaust but i`m not sold on a cold air intake all the dyno results say that the maximum power gains are at over 5000 rpm and i`ll rarely be hitting that high.

I have never heard of those results. Our dyno testing proved otherwise despite our previous misconceptions.

 

[sasquatch]

http://www.knfilters.com/news/news.aspx?ID=1323

this is just from k&n. i`m not sure about other companies claims.

i can`t find a dyno chart with the power curve. i`m just saying that they make the most power at 4900 rpm and up.

 

[JennaBear]

Here are the intakes we tested on the dyno:

As you probably know, the higher HP gains denote torque gains at high RPM, whereas peak torque are gains at around 4000RPM.

 

[road1will]

Here are the intakes we tested on the dyno:

As you probably know, the higher HP gains denote torque gains at high RPM, whereas peak torque are gains at around 4000RPM.

Can you post the actual dyno charts?

 

[JennaBear]

We didn't print out the charts, just took the specs.

These tests were done on an 06 SSS w/ longtubes, exhaust, and a tune.

 

[road1will]

We didn't print out the charts, just took the specs.

These tests were done on an 06 SSS w/ longtubes, exhaust, and a tune.

Well, without the charts, its kind of hard to tell where the power is made.

 

[tekkitan]

I wouldnt waste money on a programmer. If you are wanting to program your truck on your own, go the right way, and get HPTuners or EFILive.

Remember, to take advantage of an exhaust, you need to have more air flowing through it, so you would need more air to the engine....a higher flowing intake is then needed. For more air to flow out of the engine, air/fuel ratios need to be correct and the engine needs to know more air is coming in, so a tune is needed.

If you do decide to get a tuner, there are TONS of them being sold from users who are upgrading to a tuning software or are getting a custom tune. A handheld is just a cookie cutter tune and does not take data from your driving style/exact truck specs.

I have been looking for a good tuner software for both my 87 Camaro and my 03 Hoe. The HPTuners is pretty expensive for the suite, but it comes with scanner and software. Would you think it would be wise to get the pro version of HPTuners if I am a beginner to programming vehicles?

 

[JennaBear]

The 87 Camaro uses a removable chip that has to be burned (in a chip burner), whereas the 03 Tahoe uses a flash PCM which can be tuned through the OBDII port.

We would recommend EFILive over HPTuners, and you can download the software demo at www.efilive.com/download.aspx. If you have any questions please feel free to ask.

 

[JennaBear]

Well, without the charts, its kind of hard to tell where the power is made.

Sorry!

 

[ballsie]

What kind of mpg/horsepower increases do you normally get with a tuner? And if you have it professionally tuned, is it the kind of thing where you mail your ECU out to someone and they reflash it and ship it back?

 

[JennaBear]

What kind of mpg/horsepower increases do you normally get with a tuner? And if you have it professionally tuned, is it the kind of thing where you mail your ECU out to someone and they reflash it and ship it back?

Depends on the type of tune you get. We offer cable tunes (tune specific to your vehicle, and does the crank re-learn) or the mail-in where we send you a tune on a PCM based off of your modifications and preferences. Obviously the cable tune would be optimal.

 

[ballsie]

What kind of price ranges are we talking about?

 

[JennaBear]

Our prices are $150 for mail-in $200 for scan cable, free re-tunes.

 

[tekkitan]

The 87 Camaro uses a removable chip that has to be burned (in a chip burner), whereas the 03 Tahoe uses a flash PCM which can be tuned through the OBDII port.

We would recommend EFILive over HPTuners, and you can download the software demo at www.efilive.com/download.aspx. If you have any questions please feel free to ask.

Ahh I thought EFILive was only for OBD I. Thanks for the info!

 

[06tahoez]

I can vouch for the work of Black Bear Performance. I have their tune on my Tahoe and it was the best money I've spent yet. :thumbsup:

 

[D'Hag]

I have been looking for a good tuner software for both my 87 Camaro and my 03 Hoe. The HPTuners is pretty expensive for the suite, but it comes with scanner and software. Would you think it would be wise to get the pro version of HPTuners if I am a beginner to programming vehicles?

For your '87 Camaro, get a new ECM. Check out the EBL at http://www.dynamicefi.com. I've got one for my '88 Firebird, and it can't be beat. Better than any pre-burned chip you can get, improved programming over the stock code, and full control of everything. Includes tuning cable and software. All you need is a laptop with a serial port.
There is no tuning system that can do both your '87 Camaro and your Tahoe. The systems are totally different.