Email Tune?

[arcwcb]

I have a 2006 GT 5-spd with a borla axle back, JLT CAI, and an Edelbrock nitrous kit. I'm going to be adding a set of Brenspeed Detroit Rockers or FRPP Hot Rod cams and the steeda charge motion plates. I talked to American Muscle and they said that if I backed the nitrous jetting down to 100 and did the FRPP cams, they could email me a tune, I think it's $50, so $100 total, one for nitrous, one without. Brenspeed said that I could go with their cams and keep a 125 shot and they could email me a tune for $185 that includes one for nitrous, one without. One, which cam would be the better choice. They seem to have similar power gains, but I want a nice lopey cam. Second, how much power and MPG will I lose if I daily drive the car on the nitrous tune? And lastly, this is SO much cheaper than getting it dyno tuned. Will I be at risk of blowing my motor? Or are these email tunes reliable? Thanks!!! (Sorry about the long post lol lots of questions)

 

[Wraith413]

We're all waiting for someone here to install the new Brenspeed cams.
I don't know how the nitro tune would affect your gas mileage. But I'm fairly positive that any of the e-mail tunes will be conservative enough to keep your motor intact. Really can't go wrong with either company, but my nod would be to Brenspeed.

 

[arcwcb]

Awesome, I've heard a lot of good things about the Brenspeed cams but on one forum (either here or on another one) they said Brenspeed tunes make the car run really rich and can kill MPGs... Haven't been able to confirm that though. Might just be somebody who doesn't know what they are talking about lol!

 

[chgovfk]

I have mutha thumpers stage II's - after they were installed - the car ran really rich - you could smell the gas from the right bank- ordered a Tune from Brenspeed and it now runs great - stick w/Brenspeed - American muscle is a parts whore - Brenspeed has a great staff - I must of emailed them 100 x's getting all of my info to them - they were nice and responsive - I also was having 'kittens' about blowing up my car - it had been sitting for 3 months with stablizer in the fuel - while I got the money up for the cold air and tune.....and now I'm very glad I choose and ran with Brenspeed.....

 

[arcwcb]

Awesome, they seemed like a good company, but it's always nice to have some reviews from people who have dealt with them to back it up. How are you liking the mutha thumprs? I know with those you have to swap your rear gears. Can you notice any driveability issues? I know the mutha thumprs are WAY more aggressive than Brenspeeds, but still...

 

[ibn_inked]

+1 Brenspeed

Most people see the drop in MPGs because the right foot suddenly becomes more active.

 

[arcwcb]

I figured it would drop some, at least for the first little bit they are in while I "get used" to the new cams and the hit of nitrous actually being tuned I just didn't know if there was a noticeable drop in MPGs on the highway by daily driving a car with a nitrous tune. I figure if there is, it shouldn't be much, but it's always nice to know before I pay for a tune

 

[ibn_inked]

I saw a negligible difference in my MPG in my prior 06 GT with my nitrous tune, and it had built 302 stroker, heads, cams, the whole 9.

So you shouldn't see much difference.

 

[arcwcb]

Awesome, they said daily driving that tune would put me down 15-30 RWHP due to having to back off the timing, so I might just lower my shot so I don't have to back it off as much. Try to meet in the middle and get the best of both

 

[timintex]

A good dyno tune is the way to go IMO

 

[arcwcb]

What's the average price on a dyno tune? I called and the shop said they would dyno tune the car for $300-$350 where as the email tune is only $185 and you get both a N/A tune and a N2O tune. I'd do the dyno tune, but it's so expensive... apparently nobody likes to tune nitrous cars

 

[ibn_inked]

Around here 300-500 is about the going rate for dyno tunes, unless you pay by the hour, or buy into group rate dyno days.

The dyno tune in the long run will serve you better, but you will see good HP gains and not have any problems with a Brenspeed tune.

Once you have a little more cash, and maybe a few more mods, then get your ride dyno tuned.

I always tried to save for dyno tunes when I knew that I would be saving for another big upgrade or would have a good bit of time between upgrades. That way I wasn't paying for dyno tunes too frequently and wasting money.

 

[chgovfk]

I agree w/above - I have a quote 'pinned' to my wall here for a dyno tune at $135 an hr - total $472.00 - plus the cost of the tuner etc....I think a dyno tune is really only for extracting the most HP - brenspeed's gets you pretty close - my car really takes off - I have 4:10 gears sitting on my work bench - but even now it really gets up and goes - plus the sound is awesome.....

 

[arcwcb]

Sweet, I figured since I was going with Brenspeed's cams and use a JLT intake that they make their own tunes for, plus a wet nitrous kit so air/fuel stays consistent, they should be able to get me REALLY close to max output at a really reasonable price How big of a shot of N2O should I do on this combo? I really don't want the motor to go out on me... Right now it's jetted for 125, but I think that might be a BIT much on the stock motor since it's neither a dual stage or on a progressive controller, so I thought about getting the jets to put it at 75 or 100. Any thoughts? Plus, the smaller shot would limit how much I have to back off timing, so I could just keep a single tune on the car and not have it lose a lot of power by driving on the N2O tune when I'm not spraying

 

[ricksstang]

Tune?

In my opinion, a custom tune is very much worth the price. Around here a custom Dyno tune runs about $600.00 - 650.00, including the tuner. That is by one of the top tuners in the country.
Think of a custom Dyno tune this way. If you were going to buy a Suit, which would fit better, an "off the rack" suit, or a custom cut taylored suit. Because an ill fitting tune could cost you anything from bad driveabilty to an engine. Is it worth trying to save a few bucks? Just my 2 cents.

Rick

 

[arcwcb]

Not everybody wears a tailored suit. And even though they fit better, the off the rack suit will still work, it just won't be QUITE as good, i.e. as much HP. From what I've heard and seen, a lot of people get email tunes and don't have a problem with them, which is why I was considering one. The car is a daily driver, if I only planned to race it, then a dyno tune is a must since I'd run it on the ragged edge, but I think for a mild, sprayed, and soon to be cammed daily driver, an email tune will work just fine. Besides, I'm in college, $400 is a lot to me lol! Unless anybody has a horror story about Brenspeed email tunes, I think that's what I'm gonna go with, so far, all I've heard are rave reviews.

 

['08GTcaRED]

Some people have had problems with Brenspeed and Mutha Thumprs, but if you are going with the Rockers, then I don't think they will have problems tuning for them All in all a good reputable shop and for what you have now they will be good to you!