As I stated in a previous post, I am going to buy BBK long tube headers with an off road x-pipe combo. Which obviously requires a tune. My question is, should I buy the custom tune and use the handheld tuner or take it to a shop. The shop quoted me at $525. I can buy the tune for $99 and I may be able to borrow a tuner. Which would be better because it would cost me nearly as much. Pros and cons?

 

I would personally say the hand held. Pick one up from AM(free tunes!) and you'll be just fine. Yes, a custom tune will net you more power, but in the long run the SCT will be better unless you fully intend to stop modding after your long tubes. Save the custom tuning for when you're highly modded.

 

OK. By AM you mean American Muscle correct? I usually shop with stage3motorsports. And what's this free tunes you speak of?

 

You are correct, AM is AmericanMuscle. Sorry, I just automatically assume everyone knows, which is wrong of me. lol

Anyway, you buy an SCT tuner and you'll get 3 free tunes from them. I'm not sure if they're still doing the free tunes "for life", but I know the initial 3 are free. I run their tune and have no complaints.

 

They're still doing free tunes for life, just had mine updated 2 days ago.

http://www.americanmuscle.com/sct.html

 

Lol. Yeah, I figured that's what you ment but just wanted to make sure. Thanks for the info.

 

So, do you just let them know when you make mods to the car? And they send you a tune?

 

Yup. Just call them up and they email you a form you'll fill out with the mod details. Real simple and fast. I called @ 10am Friday and had my updated tune by 3pm.

 

Wow, that's quick. That's probably what I will do then. Can't wait.

 

You can't beat it. Most places will only update if your new mod is from them, but AM doesn't care. Well for now they don't. Plus they'll update all 3 tunes.

 

"borrow a tuner"? Are you sure? These tuners can't be used across multiple cars unless you return the car to stock. In other words they are "locked" to one car at a time.

AM tunes are awesome though.

 

I personally would "invest" in a street tune from a shop... Def going on my car when I get my xr1 LTs... I have a steed tune right now that runs great... But I know this car has more

 

Yeah, I am just going to buy an SCT tuner from AM. Should be ordering my parts next week. Can't wait.

 

You can't go wrong with AM and Bama tunes. I called in for a new set of tunes at 1 PM Thursday and had them by 4 PM same day. Free for life. Great deal.

 

With a handheld tuner you get almost same result,expect only 5hp less,but you get new tunes for free if anything is changed...

Borrowing a handheld tuner ? Your only able to use the tuner on only 1 car at a time so if yu get to borrow one would be by someone that doesent use it.

But by doing the tune at a shop you get to cee what numbers you made with that setup

Go for handheld because your able to customize it more later on,because to start with you get three types of tunes,one for street, for more performance and for race only,and even thou they send you the custom tune your able to change stuff with the programer.

Go for SCT ,and buy it at americanmuscle.com and you get bama tunes free for life.