gvincent Posted August 14, 2007 Share Posted August 14, 2007 Should I send my LT1 PCM out for a basic tune? What specifically should I ask for? I need a basic re-program just to get it started correct? I know the VATS has to be deleted. I won't be running the EGR or Air Pump, I have no AC in the Z right now. My Z is a 76 280Z, My LT1/T56 combo is a 95 Firebird TA I have bookmarked and printed out everything I can find on this site that is wiring related. All searches I have done indicate I should get TunerCat and a laptop and do my own programming. But I see some members got a Basic tune first. Is there a consensus on what should be addressed for a basic tune? I plan on keeping all my stock gauges for now and will have to add a SES light and a low oil level light to my dash You guys that have done this what did you ask to have done when you sent it in to be reprogrammed? Thanks, Greg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wheelman Posted August 14, 2007 Share Posted August 14, 2007 If you get TunerCat or LT1Edit and a cable you really don't need to send out for a basic tune. Once you get the software it will be easy to disable the VATS and the AC related stuff. You will need an SES light or a resistor to simulate it otherwise the PCM will throw a code and go into limp mode. You don't need an oil level light but can put one in if you like. I didn't connect the oil level sensor in mine and have had no problems with the PCM throwing a code. I sent out for a custom tune but it was really a waste of money. Once I got the tune I found the timing and fueling cells were the same as the stock Camaro tune I started with. So for me it was waste of money as I had already figured out how to disable the VATS and change other settings so everything was working. Wheelman Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
piston Posted August 14, 2007 Share Posted August 14, 2007 dont send it out to get it basic tuned, its a waist of money. you will find that its not going to be worth it because your going to want to tune it more and fix your errors and who knows what the tunner is programming in. i sent mine out and it runs but it throws check lights and is not running full potential due to the pcm tunner not know everything im using or deleting. even though you think its your final decision you will end up doing something else like deleting things or adding things to make it run perfect, and the only thing i can think of is just get tuner cat and save that extra dollor...i waisted 200bucks and the only thing i benifited was the car running for more than 30 seconds for removing vats...every engine is somewhat different and has different tunnings, the basic tune is ok, but not worth the money after seeing what tunercat has to offer... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gvincent Posted August 14, 2007 Author Share Posted August 14, 2007 Wow two of the guys whose threads I have read most. I really respect that advice coming from you guys. I have been planning and working on this project for a year now and am about ready to drop the motor and tranny in. I hope you guys don't mind but this old geezer is going to ask a bunch of questions when I dive into the wiring and programming. I have the "Paper" from 73LT1Z and the entire LT1 wiring delete thread printed out. I hope the other LT1 guys like Bartman, Dano747, Deja, 80LT1, Love my V8-280Z, Mike and Tim don't mind me pestering them as well. I guess I should start searching now on what I need to buy for TunerCat and from where. Thanks Guys, Greg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wheelman Posted August 14, 2007 Share Posted August 14, 2007 Get the cable from AKM Electronics Inc. (http://www.akmcables.com). The cables are bit spendy but after you've flashed your PCM a couple times you'll see it's well worth the price. Ask all the questions you want, maybe if you ask enough and post your solutions this thread can be made a sticky. As for the wiring, it's not difficult, just time consuming and tedious. I did it on the floor in my basement, went through all the PCM pins, determined what they did, removed the ones that weren't relevant to my install and tested continuity of all the others. I found I had to cobble together a vehicle speed sensor (VSS) but if you're running a T56 or 4L60E you should already have one. If you're running a T5 like me post that and I'll see if I can track down where I bought the pulse generator and which one it was. The one I got is in line with the speedo cable. Think twice if you were planning to run without one, I tried, the PCM uses it's output to control the IAC and you'll have stalling problems without it. Wheelman Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gvincent Posted August 14, 2007 Author Share Posted August 14, 2007 Thanks Wheelman, I have kept the complete wiring harness from the Firebird donor car, I am hoping to use the engine compartment fuse and relay box, I haven't dug into it deep enough to determine if I need the inside fuse box as well. I know most of you guys used the Caprice wiring harness. I have to search more to find out who used the fbody harness. Yeah I read about the VSS on Shoebox.com, I am using the T56 so I should have no problem with the PCM and VSS. Now a speedometer solution for the T56 is not so easy, it seems my choices are expensive, expensive plus work and more expensive plus work. Choices are the Cable-X from Abbot to run the stock speedo (http://www.atrol.com/cablex.htm) Using an electric Autometer Speedo and Tach and doing something custom with the turnsignals, high beam and brake light like Bartman and 1 tuff Z did or going with the JTR T56 tail piece mod. and removing and re-installing the tailpiece. I don't think I'm likely to find a used Cable-X on EBay though. Thanks, Greg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
piston Posted August 14, 2007 Share Posted August 14, 2007 i think wheelman is the main man on the wiring besides that, im just repeating everything i learned from him and other lt1 guys...and my own experiences...im using an autometer speedometer and i lost my signal lights, but who needs to signal? lol...i gotta get it fix because im so use to using it, i signal everytime to get nothing... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jbc3 Posted August 14, 2007 Share Posted August 14, 2007 I would agree that getting Tunercat/LT1-edit is the way to go. If you have issues and don't understand how to disable or reconfigure something, there are plenty of people on the list that you could e-mail your PCM file to and get help. As far as an autometer speedometer and turn signals... look at post #16 http://forums.hybridz.org/showthread.php?t=101620 Jody Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
80LS1T Posted August 14, 2007 Share Posted August 14, 2007 If you have a stock engine and tranny I would just buy the cable and use tuner cat to turn off all the stuff your not going to use. I am also using the AKM cable. I sent out for a tune for my car from pcmforless.com for $75.00 which they just email you and you load up yourself. I don't know how much they changed as far as timing or fuel but I will find out soon when I start fine tuning it myself. I don't think they changed that much and I probably would never send out for a tune again, I just wanted my car on the road with a base tune so that I could atleast drive it. If your not sure how to edit your PCM for deleting stuff you could always have one of us do if for you and you could just load it up with tuner cat. Turning stuff on and off is very easy though so I'm sure you could figure it out. Don't be affraid to ask questions about this stuff, I have been doing a lot of reading about editing the pcm for max power and as soon as I start tuning mine I will be sure to post the info on how I did. The info I have found is very basic and it seems like the guys who do know what they are doing don't know how to "dumb it down" for us newbies at tuning. I want to dumb it down as much as possible so that new tuners can understand it without having to ask too many questions. Guy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gvincent Posted August 15, 2007 Author Share Posted August 15, 2007 Thanks again guys, JBC3 I really like the turn signal in the gauges but yeah you really have to have a big brass set to open a brand new gauge up and start drilling away. Turned out awesome! 80LT1. I love the "dumbed down" version for us newbies, I will definately need to be talked to in the "dumbed dowm" version while I am enrolled in the first semester of LT1 wiring delete and mod class 101 and TunerCat for newbies dumbed down version. I am usually a quick learner so I hope to graduate real soon into the second semester classes. In the mean time I am finishing up Advanced Donor car part selling. and basic engine and engine bay prep courses. I need to sort and gather all my notes together sort them and cross check them for the start of the LT1 wiring delete and mod class 101. I think the "Bible Paper" from 73LT1Z is a must study guide. Once I have my review report done I will submit some questions for clarification and probably yell out for some help! Thanks guys, Greg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danno74Z Posted August 15, 2007 Share Posted August 15, 2007 gvincent, I'm still working on my LT1 project too. I know you mentioned the "Bible Paper" from 73LT1Z back last December. (I have a hard copy of it too) Do you know if 73LT1Z is still around? Just wondering if he has an updated/final paper on the LT1 wiring? Danno74Z Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gvincent Posted August 17, 2007 Author Share Posted August 17, 2007 He should be still around, I see he posted or visited 3 days ago. PM him and see if he ever did another update, Mine is the last one he did in Dec of last year. I was going to contact him anyway once I started on the wiring. I know his last post to that thread he was working on an RX7 project and was going to get back on the Z soon. Thanks, Greg gvincent, I'm still working on my LT1 project too. I know you mentioned the "Bible Paper" from 73LT1Z back last December. (I have a hard copy of it too) Do you know if 73LT1Z is still around? Just wondering if he has an updated/final paper on the LT1 wiring? Danno74Z Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danno74Z Posted August 21, 2007 Share Posted August 21, 2007 All, Has anyone used TTS Datamaster to log there LT1 engine? Thanks, Danno74Z Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
80LS1T Posted August 21, 2007 Share Posted August 21, 2007 Yeah that's what I use. I haven't done much tuning yet though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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