I want to get a PCM Programmer pretty soon, but I'm not sure which one to go with. I was thinking either the Hypertech or the DiabloSport Predator, unless there is a better one that I don't know about. Thanks for the help.

 

I have heard that both the LS1-edit and Predator programs are excellent, although most will agree that some setting changes are best left up to a pro. That being said, I must also say that I have seen 10 RWHP gains (Dynojet) after an A/F adjustment.

 

If I leave it up to the pro's (which I planned on doing, don't trust myself with that sort of thing), then do I still need to buy a PCM Programmer or will they have their own?

 

Most dyno shops have both the program and someone who specializes in this sort of thing. Here in Southern Cali, there are a couple of well-known Corvette shops that will extract maximum HP by doing a "Dyno-tune" with one of those programmers.. The most well-known is Andy at A&A Corvettes. Keep in mind that dyno-tunes run from $300-$600, so you might want to ask ahead of time.

 

thanks for the info, that is the direction I think I am going to go in. I don't have the knowledge or experience to try to tune my own car right now.

 

I would not bother to buy a license for LS1 edit or another programmer. You can't possibly tune the car as well as a shop that does it every day with a dyno and the equipment to check A/F and monitor the entire engine panel . A good shop has seen it and and done it all. It will have an unlimited license for LS1edit, meaning they can apply it to your car and every other car. They will also know all the tricks, such as how to widen the check engine code bands so that your car won't throw a code (and flunk an OBD emissions test) even if it is running a bit out of stock ranges, etc.

I recommend finding a good shop and then negotiating not just the cost of your first tune, but future tunes. My first tune was done right after I added headers to the stock engine in my vette in March '02, by Carolina Auot Masters, in Durham: it cost $500 which I thought was a fair price particularly since they had the LS1edit license, not me. It gained 12 RWHP and 20 ft lbs torque over just having the headers and no tune. But we also agreed on a cost of $100 per adjustment or $150 for a full tune thereafter. I have been back a dozen times in the last three years as I added equipment and had to re-tune.