Mail Order VS. Dyno Tune - Results inside!

[LS1Formulation]

I installed a BTR Stage 4 cam, long tubes, an underdrive balancer and 3.91 gears about a year ago, and sent my ECM out to have a mail order tune done. The car felt great, drove pretty well, and aside from kind of crappy mileage, I was happy with it. I recently installed a GPI ported rod mod intake and took my car to the track, but was really disappointed. My car slowed down by a lot. The air wasn't great, so that's part of it, but I just felt that the tune was no longer optimized. I decided to bite the bullet and take it in for a full dyno tune and WOW! I'm glad I did. Found out a couple of things: 1) The original tuner ( whom I won't name because I can't say I was unhappy with their work ) had tuned the car with a speed density tune, which didn't make sense. They also had the AFR really rich, like forced induction rich, which accounts for my terrible gas mileage, but also accounts for why my car would pick up a TON when the DA was really low. Either way, I picked up 19 RWHP and 18 RWT peak to peak, with gains all the way through the curve. Part of that is the GPI intake, obviously, but I'm pretty happy making 450 at the wheels on a Mustang Dyno. I should add, the drivability is much better as well, with far less loading up and bucking in higher gears at low engine speeds. If you're running on a mail order tune and are on the fence with getting a dyno tune, go for it. It's well worth the money!

[bsn]

You not really comparing apples to apples, a tune where you send your ECM is going to be a generic tune. One where you log data and email back and forth can be just as good as a dyno tune-really depends on the skill of the tuner at that point which is better.

[LS1Formulation]

Yeah, it can be, but by the time I bought HP tuners and a wideband O2, it would have paid for my dyno tune. I'm not knocking mail order tunes at all, I'm simply showing there are gains to be had.

[1JEWLDSSRS]

Originally Posted by LS1Formulation

I installed a BTR Stage 4 cam, long tubes, an underdrive balancer and 3.91 gears about a year ago, and sent my ECM out to have a mail order tune done. The car felt great, drove pretty well, and aside from kind of crappy mileage, I was happy with it. I recently installed a GPI ported rod mod intake and took my car to the track, but was really disappointed. My car slowed down by a lot. The air wasn't great, so that's part of it, but I just felt that the tune was no longer optimized. I decided to bite the bullet and take it in for a full dyno tune and WOW! I'm glad I did. Found out a couple of things: 1) The original tuner ( whom I won't name because I can't say I was unhappy with their work ) had tuned the car with a speed density tune, which didn't make sense. They also had the AFR really rich, like forced induction rich, which accounts for my terrible gas mileage, but also accounts for why my car would pick up a TON when the DA was really low. Either way, I picked up 19 RWHP and 18 RWT peak to peak, with gains all the way through the curve. Part of that is the GPI intake, obviously, but I'm pretty happy making 450 at the wheels on a Mustang Dyno. I should add, the drivability is much better as well, with far less loading up and bucking in higher gears at low engine speeds. If you're running on a mail order tune and are on the fence with getting a dyno tune, go for it. It's well worth the money!

That's awesome sir!! I have always believed a REAL dyno tune is the way to go. I know some of the guys who do mail order tunes are really good, but there is nothing like getting all you can on a dyno, especially a Mustang dyno!!

[NiteProwlerSS]

Just curious, how much power does a ported intake typically add?

[LS1Formulation]

It's said it gains 8-12 peak horsepower, but my car actually traps SLOWER now. Here's the weird thing - I just ran my PB with it the other night, a 12.22@110.81 and a 1.84 60' time. Previous best was 12.41@112.73 with a 1.86 60' time. It just PULLS like a freight train through the middle of the track. If I can get that 60' time down, I should tickle the 11 second zone. Well worth the money.

[1JEWLDSSRS]

Originally Posted by LS1Formulation

It's said it gains 8-12 peak horsepower, but my car actually traps SLOWER now. Here's the weird thing - I just ran my PB with it the other night, a 12.22@110.81 and a 1.84 60' time. Previous best was 12.41@112.73 with a 1.86 60' time. It just PULLS like a freight train through the middle of the track. If I can get that 60' time down, I should tickle the 11 second zone. Well worth the money.

Very cool sir!!

[Ck1984]

Originally Posted by LS1Formulation

I installed a BTR Stage 4 cam, long tubes, an underdrive balancer and 3.91 gears about a year ago, and sent my ECM out to have a mail order tune done. The car felt great, drove pretty well, and aside from kind of crappy mileage, I was happy with it. I recently installed a GPI ported rod mod intake and took my car to the track, but was really disappointed. My car slowed down by a lot. The air wasn't great, so that's part of it, but I just felt that the tune was no longer optimized. I decided to bite the bullet and take it in for a full dyno tune and WOW! I'm glad I did. Found out a couple of things: 1) The original tuner ( whom I won't name because I can't say I was unhappy with their work ) had tuned the car with a speed density tune, which didn't make sense. They also had the AFR really rich, like forced induction rich, which accounts for my terrible gas mileage, but also accounts for why my car would pick up a TON when the DA was really low. Either way, I picked up 19 RWHP and 18 RWT peak to peak, with gains all the way through the curve. Part of that is the GPI intake, obviously, but I'm pretty happy making 450 at the wheels on a Mustang Dyno. I should add, the drivability is much better as well, with far less loading up and bucking in higher gears at low engine speeds. If you're running on a mail order tune and are on the fence with getting a dyno tune, go for it. It's well worth the money!

Did either the canned tune or dyno tune require you to upgrade to premium fuel?

Do either tuners include tranny tuning of things like shift points/firmness, torque managemment etc