Who does theyre own tuning? Where did you learn? What are you using? Any valuable information/suggestions for the meek and lowly?

I am an AVID DIY fan, everything from an oil change to a complete engine build has to be done by me and me ALONE. So, when I heard about tuning and how much it costs to take your car to a dyno and have only WOT tuned, I said to myself "Screw that!" I'd rather Do It Myself. So I was wondering who is doing theyre own tuning and your ideas on the subject. And I'm talking either/and/or N/A, Nitrous, and Boost!

 

It's more expensive to tune it your self. Because if you don't pay for the right equipment and go cheap, you'll probably end up replacing a motor or two in the end. and any tuner I've been to in my area doesn't do WOT tuning only. I guess that must be something they do in your area to rip you off.

That being said I learned how to street tune from reading the tech links on PGMFI.org, Xenocron.com, Hondata, Phearable.net and then it's hands on. Lots of people say to get books or go to EFI101. I figure thsi stuff is just like anything else, theories are great in practice but things change once you get on the floor. "Time in" is really the only way to learn to tune well.

Here is my DIY tuning setup

2x Innovate Motorsports - LC-1's (Wideband O2 only 1 is neccessary)
4x EGT Probes (thermocouple)
Innovate MS - TC-4 (4x thermocouple adapter)
Innovate MS - XD-16 (Gauge)
Innovate MS - LM3 AuxBox (Not necessary for basic DIY)
Moates Ostrich (chip emulator)
Moates Burn 1 Chip burner
Moates Hulog
IBM T22 laptop
eCtune, Crome Pro, TurboEdit & Uberdata

Here is a good starter kit....

http://www.xenocron.com/dyno-tuning-...age-p-237.html

the add ons are a must if you don't already have them...............

 

Wow, good stuff. I'll definitely check out those websites and see whats up. I recently started reading up on Hondata's website and found a lot of great information, so im definitely gonna have to check out the other websites as well, thanks.

 

the things ghostaccord listed are nice but not all necessary for steet tuning yourself. i nice ems and a wideband gauge is all i use.

 

You are correct the TC-4, LM3, extra LC-1, and EGT probes are not necessary. Just parts I bought for fine tuning my setup. Your list on the other hand seems incomplete. Care to share with the op exactly what you use. that's what he's looking for.

What is a nice ems and a wideband gauge? (I know what they are but he OP might not) and are you using a WB O2 sensor or jsut the gauge?

 

I use Hondata S300 in a p28 and PLX-m300 wideband.

Just barely starting to get into the tuning aspect...been building and racing for a while though..

 

i use an s300 and a aem uego wideband/gauge setup. i also have the wideband wired into my s300 to datalog air fuel ratios on th s300. it helps alot when your trying to do things yourself.

if your ems is able to tune realtime it helps out alot as well. one of the features on the hondata s300 i like alot.

 

PLX M300, IBM T30 (768 ram, 1.8 ghz processor) was using crome pro but made the switch to eCtune this year since I already had ostrich and hulog.

Neptune RTP and Hondata are also other viable options to look into.

I am no pro by anymeans and don't touch other cars but my own.

Wideband is a good tool, but being able to read plugs is also key. Hearing knock is hard if you are gonna go aggressive so be careful.

Making sure all sensors are calibrated and reading correctly is a very important tool, Making sure your motor is decently healthy is also important.

Those don't seem like "tuning" but are important before real tuning can start.

There are some good reads you can get cheaply off amazon for a starter and to kill time and being productive to future education/knowledge.

 

find a shop that has a loaded dyno and no street tune is needed..

 

i don't know if the OP has an OBDII car, but i recently purchased the Honda-enhanced scantool from Autoenginuity. I've been VERY pleased with the datalogging capabilities. One of the most important features I've found from a tuning perspective is that the honda-enhanced scan tool (at least on my vehicle, 07 civic si) can report whether the system is running open or closed loop. It records it in datalogs as well as a "state" like, 1, 2, or 3. So you can see in graph form how your ECU is responding to O2 sensor outputs.

From what I know of tuning, an EGT gauge is likely to be very helpful in catching a problem before it gets out of hand.

As far as learning about tuning, I suppose if you understand how your particular motor operates, then tuning should come naturally. I've wanted to add a turbo for a long time now, but I'm making myself be patient and observe all of the stock engine's characteristics over variables like altitude and temperature, before I start trying to change the parameters.

I agree with GhostAccord though: time in is the only way you can really expect to gain valuable knowledge and make it stick.

 

i use a innovate lm-1wb02 moates ostrich and chip burner the tuner harness from xenocron and crome and a xenocron datalogging cable and i made my own DET can a det can detect detnotion befor it happens and its very useful to have i spent countless days and nights on pgmfi