I am getting ready to get my car tuned. In preparation of that I have been trying to ensure that the car is as healthy as possible. I just did the coolant the other day, spark plugs around 4k ago, two oil changes within 5k miles, throttle body cleaning when I did the intakes and the throttle body spacers, trans fluid, front and rear diff fluid, transfer case also. If I am neglecting something before hand feedback is appreciated. The last thing I believe I am going to do before is probably a new fuel filter and probably going to install oil catch cans. I was thinking the ADD W1 kit.

For the tune I was originally going to do the admin remote tune, but I think I am going to just bring the car the RT tuning in PA. Anyone else use them and recommends them. From what I have read they are very reliable it is just I keep second guessing maybe I should wait and just go through admin tuning. I just don't feel like paying 1k and then having to wait for 4 weeks to get the initial tune. At this point with having to wait for parts because no one ever has anything in stock I'm just tired of waiting. So now that I'm ready for the tune I want it don't like yesterday. If I should just wait for admin I will but I would like to use someone that is close that I can use moving forward too.

 

Looks like as far as maintenance goes you're set. ADD cans will work as intended.
As far as the tuning goes, you really want to go with someone local who has time. Though most in the VQ tuning world will start with copied files(nothing wrong with this) and adjust accordingly, you want someone who will answer the phone and concerns.
That is the main issue, people obtain a name/following for a specific thing and suddenly they have busy schedules and just dont have anymore time to dedicate to you.
A proper tune will take time and a couple of tries since the tuner wont be able to explore every event that your engine goes through, this is why copied files help. VHRs for the most part all run similar parameters to account for blow-by, timing, fuel compensations, ect.
This is where a local tuner would pay off since you could leave the car, follow up with the person, help with diagnosis as well.
Admin made a name by squeezing the most possible of these cars which in the attention seeking area we live in, technically we're doing this to ourselves. Suddenly people go for what they see, the man can tune no arguing about that but if breaking records are not something you're after then your local tuner should do just fine.

Good luck

 

Thank you exactly what I needed to hear. I'm not worried about squeezing every possible bit of power out of the car. Not now at least, maybe in the future. Just for now little more power throughout the power band and better shifting. I'm gonna reach out to RT tomorrow see what their schedule looks like see when I could get an appointment.

 

If they can stand behind their tuning then you'll receive just that better power, better efficiency and better shifting(if they tinker with the line pressure)

 

I would recommend Martin from RS-Enthalpy. Did a E-tune and he would reply immediately and is very patient. He can also makes custom tunes to your needs unlike other tuners who only give everyone the same 4 maps. Also with the price it comes with the Ecutek bluetooth dongle which I find very useful to monitor temps. I usually did data logging at midnight, sent it to him and next morning he would already have a new file for me. If I ever had any major concerns I would reach him on Instagram and get a response immediately. Also with Admin my main concern was him reducing the knock sensor sensitivity last thing I want is my piston to be an ornament on my hood.

If you are going to be shooting flames make sure to change any paper gasket to metal gasket or you will have exhaust leaks.

Also, make sure to get gas from Shell, Exxon, Mobile 1, or Chevron. Or you will have very high negative degree of knock.

 

If you have access to a reputable tuner for an in-house dyno-tune, something within reasonable driving distance, by all means take advantage of that opportunity.

If you don't, and a remote tune is your only realistic option, then I'm going to recommend Eugene Turkov. He tuned my Sedan a couple months ago, and I'm very pleased. His overall philosophy is to analyze large data logs for efficiency changes, not to chase max power.

Documented the process here, as kind of a blog on the project: https://www.myg37.com/forums/ecu-tun...e-project.html

 

Just saw this - is John Kerr tuning you?

 

Yea RT tuning is only about an hour away from me so I think that might be who I end up using. Combing through your posts is kinda what made me originally veer away from using admintuning weeks back. Definitely concerned me using him since he is so busy the turn around time kind of made me second guess it.

Flame map isn't really my thing. I guess it is definitely cool to have but I'm not sure how good it could be for the car and the exhaust. If offered I'll decline but if it's just what I get then I just won't use it.

 

No I would be going to rt tuning in Montgomeryville in PA. I just checked it's 76 miles from my job and 107 miles from my house. I'm not sure who the point of contact is at RT though.

 

I stand by Martin - RS enthalpy. He's who I've been dealing with for the past months electronically.

The issue with Email tunes is that you need to have a the tuning cables to datalog your car on the street then proceed to exchange emails back and forth. Where with an in person tune, you'd pay for the tuning package and leave the dyno tuned.

 

Ah ok, I don't have any experience with them but their facility is NICE.

Email tuning isn't bad as long as the communication is consistent. I just recently finished email tuning my Mustang with Lund and was able to knock out everything in two days. Tuner wasn't more than 30 minutes between responses and we exchanged about 30 emails. Tune was dialed in after two revisions.

Biggest stress point with email tuning was finding an area to perform the pulls for the logs.

 

True. Very stressful. I found the perfect spot about 20 miles from home... remote, no cross traffic, long visibility for cars, split 4-lane 55 mph highway, etc.

Still freaked me out, tho.

 

Luckily, there was a stretch, maybe a little longer than 1/8th, that was wide open on both sides and arrow straight about 2 miles from me. My main concern when picking an area was not only visibility but surface conditions. Highways near me have so many divets and ruts that wouldn't be ideal hitting at WOT from 2500-7500 through 3rd and 4th.

Dyno tune was my initial desire but there wasn't any locations near me that supported the tuner I wanted to go with. Plus, it's nice to get your numbers right then and there when the session is over. Now, have to schedule a separate session to see what the car is making that won't take place until September.

 

Florida has the perfect On-ramps for data logging. A quick merge and you're already at the top of 4th which in my opinion you shouldn't need to pass.

 

Ok so I finally pulled the trigger!!! Scheduled for 3rd week of August with RT Tuning in Montgomeryville Pennsylvania. I thought hard about it and the feedback that I got from everyone which is always appreciated. In my area of North Jersey the highways by me are either littered with potholes and no matter the time have a descent amount of cars on the road. That kind of freaked me out safety wise for me and other drivers god forbid something happened. I knew it would drive me nuts too not knowing how much power the car puts down so they were the best option. Their about 90 minutes away they said it would take 4 hours which isn't that bad. It'll come with 4 maps a 93, 91, valet, and security. Not sure if day of I will buy the Bluetooth dongle to have the map switching and vehicle info on my phone. I can't wait to see the difference in the car after the tune.

Putting the catch cans on hold for a little bit unless they go on sale. The Mishimoto ones look great like they came on the car from the factory, placement and the hoses, but just 400 is a little too steep for catch cans right now.