Custom Tune Bull Twang

[01txr]

Ok could some tell me what are current cost to tune a carb'd, mechanical distributor non computor car?

My point being is our computor controlled cars should be a lot cheaper to tune as being less mechanical

tuning done, eg changing jets, air bleeds, advance springs and weights etc

where as with our cars its a matter of just changing value settings to acheive the same out come.

fair enough its all new tech and not everyone can do it and that it is very complex to work out

what values and settings to run but come on how do some tuners justify what they have charged.

6 hrs of tunning fair enough if the car is tuned from scratch with no genernic start off tune.

If a tuner starts with a generic tune it should take less than half that time to tune a car unless

they arn't confident in tuning.

Sure there is tuners out there that are doing the right thing, and your always going to get the ones

that will cut corners and just do a quick tune that they know you will be happy with as most of us

not in the know wouldn't know any better.

Eg I though my tune on my car when I purchased it was pretty good as it went so much harder than

and standard T.

It wasn't till I started to tune it myself I had relised the previous tuners hadn't done a very good job.

My car idled at 1000rpm with a random miss, I got it to idle a silk smooth 650rpm

It ran mid 10 liters per 100k highway, I got it to 8.8 liters highway

I also picked up power going from 13.9 et's to 13.3 et's.

All without a dyno and tuning using the dignostics and AFR Lambda gauge on the street each

day to and from work.

I would set 2 tunes each night keeping the best as a base incase I needed to change back to for

a safe trip to and from work.

All that and with no experience in tuning a computor controlled car and I would have spent

less than 6hrs in total tuning it to where it was.

I also started from a generic tune as the tune in my car was done with a Flash box and my laptop

doesn't have a serial port to connect it to, plus it probably would have been locked anyway.

that's my 2cents worth.

[The_Bogan]

any competant tuner will scan your car for its processor code and type that into the tuning program and start from scratch.

yes they might have injector values and stuff saved as a base point, but even that doesnt work on all cars.

every car has a different strategy, so the tuner cant have a tune saved as a base point for his/her next tune.

then they still have to set up boost and adjust timing. not to mention fine tuning afrs, and somtimes that can take a while.

especially if you car has an issue.

and I dont know why ppl are whinging about how much a tune will cost, you get what you pay for!!!!

you want a cheap tune... you will get a cheap tune!!!

Edited 09/05/09 07:41 AM by The_Bogan

[Adam]

If tuning is to expensive then don't get it done... Simple.

[bluprinturbo]

fair call boges and adam,but,what do you guys reckon about the price differences between some of the better known tuners?c& v are good tuners yeah?why are they offering xcal3 with three custom tunes plus dekas for $1580 as I previously stated whereas there are others in my area wanting around $1700 for just xcal3 and tunes.what is the difference with there tuning compared to c&v?

c & v's deal means sh*t to me,there 1000kms away,im just wanting justification for the massive price differences.

[The_Bogan]

people sell stuff cheap to build up a new and larger customer base.

these customers will/might come back and want more work done.

and be purchasing gear at a non discounted rate.

they are still making money on the deal, just not as much.

[GreenXR6T]

and I dont know why ppl are whinging about how much a tune will cost, you get what you pay for!!!!

you want a cheap tune... you will get a cheap tune!!!

Not necessarily so...

In most cases I'd agree, but with CV Performance their runs are on the board.

Edited 09/05/09 10:28 AM by GreenXR6T

[ZAP]

Anyone that thinks that a tuner will start every car from scratch when custom tuning is kidding themselves.

I know if I was a tuner I would have a nice library of good bases and just touch up any car that was out of spec when running up on a dyno.

Mechanics charge by the hour and the more hours in the day they can charge the better. When I was a mechanic, I was paid bonuses for doing a 2.5hr service in 1.5hrs as long as it was all done.

Once you get good at your job, you can do it much faster. Tuning is no different.

If you have the same model of car with the same specs, you can assume that they will not vary more than +/- 5%, so your base tunes will save you 60%+ of your time, that tuners will still charge you for.

I would say C&V are one of the first to start to charge an honest price for a quality tune as they are providing the injectors and most likely 70% of the customers taking up this offer will only do that mod as it gives such a good result.

I believe that custom tuning is mandatory with these cars, but tuners will use the bases they have learnt from tuning many of these cars, and so they should.

[01txr]

Spot on there Zap.

My generic tune for my catch code is used with modifications to required areas.

I have built on from there or from the tune I was supplied with my Xcal2 and racer Pro package.

Fair enough if a tuner who is turning out better and more consistant tunes well be it they should charge a little

extra, as you get what you pay for.

In what bluprinturbo says it should be the other way around, C&V have results so they should be

charging the dearer price.

If you wanted to purchase a package from C&V just ask them if they can give you a unlocked

start off tune so you can have a local tuner fine tune it to suit your car.

Weather they will let out any tune secrets would be up to them.

or see it they have a workshop in a area close to you that they trust to fine tune there package.

Other than that there is a dealer that can supply you with the same set up I have purchased

and he may also give you a start off tune to help you get started.

From what I feel, no one will spend the time or effort in tuning your car more than yourself.

It is not a easy thing to pick up how to do, but software comes with a manual and you get

support from SCT. They also have a forum.

You will need to have a AFR/Lambda gauge to keep a eye on AFR's as well learn the dignostics

function and tuning.

It isn't for everyone, and I advise people to look in to it before purchasing a package.

If you have no idear on how a engine functions and how to at least tune a carburated vehicle

then stay clear and find a good tuner you can trust to do your tuning.

[jimmy1234]

I don't know about anyone else but I don't know any mechanics with pockets full of cash, it's not exactly the highest paying industry. They do need to charge something for their services.

[The_Bogan]

exactly... well said!!!!