Learn me some tuning.

[zach44102]

My questions are is is worth it to get a Tweecer or a Moates quarterhorse tuner at this point with my car.

3.2 swap
BBB, PnP
y pipe
UDP
(in case you didnt know)

I have a set of heads that I pulled off my 3.0 that are getting ported, polished, valve work, new valve stem seals, and possibly SHOshop stage 2 cams.

Now I do realize that I kind of need tuning for the cams for the raised idle and such but is it 100% needed?

If I dont get cams can I pull any power out with tuning?

Do you know any internet articals that I can read about tuning. Stuff I need to know. I want to know not only the basics but say for instance adding timing or adjusting the MAF for a bigger MAF.

Also are the 3.0 heads and the 3.2 heads have the same sized combustion chambers?

 

[91PDXmocha]

I think Sam is running stage 1's with no tuning just the idle bumped up .

I dont think you would get to much out of the tuner yet . You would need to buy all the hardware and software (500$) then pay someone for a tune ( another $350-500 ) to be able to correctly extract more power n/a . I dont see it being worth it yet in my opinion. But if your going to spray it or boost in the future go for it .

 

[93rev2sev]

I think the general consensus in the SHO world is that the stock computer can do all the tuning you'll need until you run out of maf or start changing components like injectors or boost it.

 

[rubydist]

no offense Zach, but a tuner provides you with 1000 new ways to destroy your engine and you don't need any more.

unless one is an expert on tuning, one will do nothing good by getting a tuner for your current setup.

 

[SHOspazz92]

I think Sam is running stage 1's with no tuning just the idle bumped up .

I dont think you would get to much out of the tuner yet . You would need to buy all the hardware and software (500$) then pay someone for a tune ( another $350-500 ) to be able to correctly extract more power n/a . I dont see it being worth it yet in my opinion. But if your going to spray it or boost in the future go for it .

Correct, I am running +20's. The only thing on my TwEECer is the Idle, Fan settings and some other random thing that I forgot. The car runs fine but I am sure more power can be attained if I were to seriously get in to tuning it.

As far as Idle speed, I have mine set to only 900. If I revert back to the stock tune the car still idle's perfectly fine, but if I come to a stop to quick the car will stall at a light, this is really the only reason I have the idle bumped to 900.

Just to get started, I would send a used LPM off to SHOsource, have them raise the idle and whatever else you feel necessary and call it a day. That is what I will be doing soon as the TwEECer is going on the 95.

-Sam

 

[kevinspann]

If you really want to get deep into it, Megasquirt the thing. Might have a steep learning curve though.

 

[93rev2sev]

I'm sure you're capable of learning how to tune an EEC computer, but the learning curve is steep - and the Ford engineers did a decent job, themselves with what they had to work with. Having said that, I think anyone can improve upon the stock tune...even on a stock engine because it'll be a "one-off" tune, for that specific engine. It won't be a tune meant for mass production.

Somewhere on teh interwebz is a plethora of information on EEC tuning, put your google on and go get it.

 

[zach44102]

I would like to read up on a study on how to properly tune a car. But I guess the best solution is to purchase a LPM and get a tune that way. I guess even with some N2O a LPM can do what I need done.

 

[yamahaSHO]

I did an E-tune for Sieger (forum member from several years ago) and raced a guy in a car he used to always lose to. He came out on top after the tune. IIRC, he probably had a Y-pipe and mufflers as his mods.

 

[zach44102]

I did an E-tune for Sieger (forum member from several years ago) and raced a guy in a car he used to always lose to. He came out on top after the tune. IIRC, he probably had a Y-pipe and mufflers as his mods.

**** that could be a world of possibilities for the reason he came out on top but what did you do? advance timing at all?

 

[yamahaSHO]

The world of possibilities was making the engine MOAR better with t00ning, I promise you. The stock tune as just as generic as any stock tune car; it needs work. Take a look at the WOT timing table and scratch your head.

IIRC, it was consistently pulling him over several runs. I say E-tune as I wrote a map and e-mailed it to him, but he was local.

 

[zach44102]

The world of possibilities was making the engine MOAR better with t00ning, I promise you. The stock tune as just as generic as any stock tune car; it needs work. Take a look at the WOT timing table and scratch your head.

IIRC, it was consistently pulling him over several runs.

something you cant fix with a LPM

 

[yamahaSHO]

Sure you can, but you're at the mercy of whoever supports it.

 

[zach44102]

I guess I should read up on the LPM. I will contact SHOsource or maybe one of them can TUNE in here and inform us.

 

[yamahaSHO]

Unless you have other means of data logging or the tuner has a FULL grasp on what's going on, you'll likely find yourself moving to a TwEECer or QH after you realize mailing a chip off only to receive a minor change to a tune is not worth it. I couldn't even tell you how many times I've flashed my car. ****, the last Subaru (300awhp/320awtq WRX) I tuned probably took more than 50 flashes to get it spot on, and that's with data logging. Imagine shipping it back and forth for EVERY write and no real data to go off of.

 

[Toolman]

There are some great books in the automotive section at barnes and noble. I have two by Greg Banish, a very accomplished and knowledgeable tuner. You should check them out Zach.

 

[zach44102]

There are some great books in the automotive section at barnes and noble. I have two by Greg Banish, a very accomplished and knowledgeable tuner. You should check them out Zach.

Thankyou very much. I might go to the local library to see if they have anyhting as well.:thankyou:

 

[Michelle]

I'm a big fan of Carroll Smith books as well.

 

[NotSoSlowSHO]

A TwEECer RT, a wide-band, and a handful of datalog sessions is a great way to get very close to a good tune.

Jason helped me with mine years ago. Still running that one on my daily driver. Great power, great mileage.

 

[Sho Amo]

FWIW Brian made 257whp on stage 2 or +40 (dont remember) with long tube headers and no tuning. Could he get more with tuning? YES. Is it needed? NO. Are cams NEEDED? NO.

Its a matter of what you want, not what you need. If you figure 500 for cams or 500 for tuning, which will get you more power? its the cams.

There isnt any tuning necessary for the zex kit, it bumps fuel pressure on its own.