Tuneup, what to expect?

[CharlesBrown]

Here in St. Louis we've a "go-to-guy" (it's said) for your vetts tune up. Costs about $400. Results are a before-and-after dyno graph of torque, HP, air/fuel etc. Needles to say there are no gurantees, except the assureance that, "There are a lot of unrealised horses in the stock L98 engine." So my question, how many ponies should one expect from engine tweaking excluding the addition of any hardware?

 

[TedC]

CharlesBrown, I don't think it is worth $400. When I owned a stock auto 1988, I tried many of the so called low cost items like air foil, K&N air filter, MAF screen removal, tune-up, increased fuel pressure, relocate MAT sensor, and different mufflers. I really like the L98 torque, so this time around, I purchased a stock auto 1989 with performance axle. My top 3 recommnedations. 1. Basic tune-up with new plugs, wires, cap/rotor, and check of the timing, tps voltage, and fuel pressure. I noticed a smoother idle with the rapid fire plugs over the stock plugs. 2. Stock air filter with open air filter cover is enought flow for stock shift points. 3. Mufflers with four open tips. 1988 auto with 2.59 had only two working tips. 1989 with performance axle (3.07) came stock with all four open (5 extra HP). I saw no increased performance with rear y-pipe with balance tube. I would spend the $100 on a tune-up parts and bandaids (plug replacement) and treat yourself with $300 in new tools.

 

[WhalePirot]

I tried many of the so called low cost items.....

COOL.. Another voice of reason!

 

[vee93]

Here in St. Louis we've a "go-to-guy" (it's said) for your vetts tune up. Costs about $400. Results are a before-and-after dyno graph of torque, HP, air/fuel etc. Needles to say there are no gurantees, except the assureance that, "There are a lot of unrealised horses in the stock L98 engine." So my question, how many ponies should one expect from engine tweaking excluding the addition of any hardware?

What exactly is this "go-to-guy" gonna do for just $400? You said he's a 'tune-up' guy--but to "unleash horses" you're gonna need more than $400. So is he just replacing plugs or are you gonna get new headers, better flow exhaust, bigger throttle body, etc?

Make sure you find out.

 

[CharlesBrown]

What exactly is this "go-to-guy" gonna do for just $400? You said he's a 'tune-up' guy--but to "unleash horses" you're gonna need more than $400. So is he just replacing plugs or are you gonna get new headers, better flow exhaust, bigger throttle body, etc?

Make sure you find out.

No. None of the above. From what I gather this would be more of an "adjustment" scheme with his dyno to verify that the tweeks made the promised improvements. As the story goes, the 1980's L98 was detuned for a number of reasons i.e., increased fuel prices, insurance company pressure...that sort of thing. Could be something to it. I remember my Austin Healy 100-6 was either on the peak of its tune or barely running. Bottom line, I don't know, that's why the post.

 

[WhalePirot]

So my question, how many ponies should one expect from engine tweaking excluding the addition of any hardware?

He's the "go to" guy. Ask HIM that question and if he guarantees the work he is so adept at doing.

 

[Hib Halverson]

Here in St. Louis we've a "go-to-guy" (it's said) for your vetts tune up. Costs about $400. Results are a before-and-after dyno graph of torque, HP, air/fuel etc. Needles to say there are no gurantees, except the assureance that, "There are a lot of unrealised horses in the stock L98 engine."

Find another tuner. That one is either lying or lacks adequate knowlege of the subject. Either way, he's doing you a disservice.

There might be a slight performance increase in doing a different calibration to a stock L98 but there sure will not be "a lot".

 

[nelson84]

This tuneup might be for neglected cars like mine was when I bought it. My 85 was blowing blue smoke and limped through the 1/4 in 15.7 seconds. My 84 would blow the doors off my new 85. So I changed the plugs 2 were missing the ends, wires, cap, rotor, K&N, new TPS senor because of a check engine light, relocated IAT sensor and improved the 1/4 mile to 14.3 seconds. That would be worth $400. But it is easily done by yourself. I then changed the chip, thermostat to 160, replaced the cat to a straight pipe, cut the air lid, removed the screens in the MAF, air foilotfl, and now run the 1/4 in 13.8 seconds. This can all be done yourself with a cheep set of tools. If I missed any free mods somebody chime in.

Good luck and when you have done these mods, start changing the intake and runners, cam, headers, heads and it should go into the high 12s.