I should be receiving my XCAL2/JLT combo from Doug tomorrow. I am wondering if it will be okay to run the canned tunes without ever going to the dyno? I'm concerned about my car running lean. If it does run a little lean but not enough to throw a cel, will it really hurt?

 

Yes, running it lean will hurt over time and no, you won't have to worry with a tune from Doug. Mine actually is a little on the rich side if anything.


Paul

 

Anyone else?

 

I had mine dynoed after the Bama tune was installed and yes there is a safety factor that Doug puts in his tunes. Mine was running richer than the custome tune I had done. Even runnin rich the tunes are better than the custom tunes.

 

I'd take a custom tune over a canned any day. Every car is different. I'm not saying those tunes are bad but I prefer and recommend a custom dyno tune first.

 

well in the case of power adders such as a s/c, ive seen lots of custom tuned cars with s/c's gernade. im sticking with the kenne bell tune

 

Right now, I don't want to put any more or time into getting more power out of my car. I don't track the car or anything. I just want the extra power in case I get challenged like I did by an older model GT a couple nights ago. I won't be running the car too hard. I don't even know of a dyno in my area.

 

Is there any way to tell if my car is running lean?

 

Anyone have a phone number for Doug at BamaChips? thanks.

 

I use Doug's torque tune (93 Oct) and feel very comfortable with it. If I lived closer to Doug, I would have him dyno it.

 

Doug's Torque tune is pretty safe. Load it up and "Drive it like you stole it"! You won't regret it.

 

Doug's and most tunes are safe. Sure a custom tune will tweek it even more and probably add a few more HP/Torq. Carefully chose the shop, some have been know to blow up a car on the dyno doing a tune. I am about 600 miles from doug, but I would go to him for the custom tune when the time comes.

 

The problem with custom tunes is that you are at the mercy of the individual tuner who may or may noy actually listen to you. Many claim that they have vast flexibility with pulley vs fuel/air vs rwhp, and can do many things with all three of those elements. Some actually only have a one trick pony show, and are not listening to the concerns of their customers in my opinion.
Canned tunes don't have the flexibility, but offer actual R&D done many times over many months, and are often regulated by very strict parameters, and have real choices at the engineering end.

If a custom tuner can't offer you three or four clear options across the board with different rwhp options, and be dead clear about where they are going to land you, walk away, and go to an engineered solution that's been driven by hundreds of people. That's my opinion. Erik

 

Doug's tunes are safe. A custom dyno tune will get you a few more horsepower, but a Bamachip tune will be safe enough to run it as hard as you want, safely. Matter of fact, it will probably be safer than the custom tune, since it will probably be richer. Every 'generic' tune I have received was richer than it needed to be for max performance in order to provide a safety factor.

So, install the tune, enjoy, MUCH better than stock. Runs like a different car.

 

i love the tunes doug has sent me ...they work great....