I'm finishing up a high compression build on my d16y8. this is my build, for the most part:

Fully built head (pnp, crower st2 cam springs & retainers, skunk2 valves, arp studs, full overhaul)
Built block (eagle h-beam rods, srp high cr pistons, reman crank, full overhaul)
Cometic 0.027" Head Gasket (stock was 0.037")
All the bolt ons (including 70mm tb, skunk2 im, dc header, trust/rs-r cat back, aem v2, etc)
ACT Clutch and Flywheel (I think 11lbs)
Accel 260cc/min Injectors (stock is 240cc/min)
AEM fpr and Fuel Rail (fuel pressure close to stock)
AEM adjustable cam gear
etc...

I'm looking to get a tune as soon as I'm done breaking in the motor. I will need the ecu tuned, the fpr adjusted, and the cam timing set. How long should this take at a dyno shop? I live in the SF Bay Area, and most shops around here charge around $180-$200/hr!!! Is that high?

I need your feedback on this so I can plan for the tune financially. I know it has to be done, but I'll have to wait on it for awhile if it's gonna be more than $400.

 

Most dyno shops around here charge 90-150/hour.

Sometimes that includes hookup charges, sometimes they charge a certain fee for hookup, and sometimes they just add it onto the clock.

 

Yeah, I've called a few places already... I think $180/hr was the cheapest. I don't know if that includes hookup charges. Maybe it's just more expensive here in NORCAL . But how long do you think it will take. I'll continue to search for a better deal, but the places I've called have a good reputation.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by CALC!_JUST_du_IT! &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote"> I'll continue to search for a better deal, but the places I've called have a good reputation.</TD></TR></TABLE>

When having your car tuned, I'd recommend selecting the best tuner you can find, not the one that's the best deal.

DSR (DynoSpot Racing) seems to be highly recommended in your area.

http://www.dynospotracing.com

 

Of course getting a shop with a good rep is probably good idea, but yeah, its damn expensive I need to start tuning people's cars lol. There are a couple of guys down here and it looks like they are gonna charge at least $600, but it would probably end up being a little more... find a friend that can give you the hookup

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by CALC!_JUST_du_IT! &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Yeah, I've called a few places already... I think $180/hr was the cheapest. I don't know if that includes hookup charges. Maybe it's just more expensive here in NORCAL . But how long do you think it will take. I'll continue to search for a better deal, but the places I've called have a good reputation.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Ouch, probably take them less than 2 hours...excluding hook-up charges.

It all depends on how fast they work, I've seen some shops tune it up in an hour or so, I've seen others that only work weekends take 2 or 3 weekends to do it (there was a post on here awhile back about that crap).

Whatever it is - it's worth not throwing a rod...as cheap as I am, I'd go for a shop that might be more expensive, but has a good rep, over just the cheapest shop..

EDIT:
You don't really have a hardcore build there (it's good, don't get me wrong, but it's not exactly time consuming on the dyno - it shouldn't take them much time.

 

Yeah, I wish I knew someone in the business... So, how many hours should I expect to be charged for? That's my real question. And yeah, DSR is my top choice. They said $200/hour.

 

well ur just going to have to pay it for your car to perform its best.

 

I'll pay whatever it takes to get it done right. I just need to know about how much it's gonna cost me before I take my car in. If it'll be a lot, I'll just have to wait longer and save up.

 

The shops are telling me it'll take 1-2hrs... I don't buy it. I think they're just telling me that to get me in there and committed. Can somebody who's gotten a decent tune just tell me how long it took, and how much it cost?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by CALC!_JUST_du_IT! &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
I'm looking to get a tune as soon as I'm done breaking in the motor. I will need the ecu tuned, the fpr adjusted, and the cam timing set. How long should this take at a dyno shop? I live in the SF Bay Area, and most shops around here charge around $180-$200/hr!!! Is that high?

I need your feedback on this so I can plan for the tune financially. I know it has to be done, but I'll have to wait on it for awhile if it's gonna be more than $400.
</TD></TR></TABLE>

Might i reccomend having it broken in on the dyno...much safer that way as for how many hours it takes, a good tuner can take anywhere from 2-4 hours.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by B16b-EJ8 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

Might i reccomend having it broken in on the dyno...much safer that way </TD></TR></TABLE>

That's what I thought, but the tuners tell me to do the typical cam break in, ring seating, then bring it in with no more than 100 miles on it.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by B16b-EJ8 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

a good tuner can take anywhere from 2-4 hours. </TD></TR></TABLE>

That means I can be looking at up to $800 just for a high compression tune!

 

Well they can probably tune you to be safe, but not max power in less time, but why go back a second time just get it done at once...

 

Because I'm about 6 months away from boosting it... In the mean time, I just want it to be safe, and somewhat quick. My high compression turbo setup is gonna take days to tune. I'm definitely willing to shell out a bit more money for a good job on that.

 

tuners in my area charge about 4-500 bucks flat rate...

 

And what is your area? Not norcal, I presume...

 

if you are building a high compression motor how do you plan on boosting it? you could with like 3lbs of boost maybe if that . just my $0.02..

 

High compression + Boost = Kaboom!

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by CALC!_JUST_du_IT! &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">And what is your area? Not norcal, I presume...</TD></TR></TABLE>

midwest...

 

200 hook up, 150 hour

 

Yeah I completely feel your problem. I myself do my own tuning, but only on the streets as the dyno shops around here in Nor Cal that are affordable only run DynoJets which are junk for tuning. The ones that have Mustang Dynos, Dynopacks, etc, that could hold load properly charge an arm and a leg. What one shop owner told me was that he had to be there to run the dyno and his time is valuable so, hes charging me the same price it would be for him to tune my car as it is to just rent the dyno time and I'll tune it. It has caused a problem for me and some of my friends and customers that want to get on the dyno to squeeze out maxiumum power.

Honestly I don't trust any shops with my car, my motor is vaulable to me and I don't think a lot of tuners out there really know what they are doing, but rather doing guess and check (ie: guys that tune on dynojets). I'm not saying they cant tune, but they can't tune for maximum effciency.

 

also take into account if the tuner runs into any problems with the car, that's added time and money.