ok guys... i've had a few experiences in tuning more than a few jbodies, and I'd like to offer my expertise to the north east

I'm based in bordentown NJ, which is close to philly and a few other busy towns... my area code is 08505

i have an enhanced i/o version of HPT

I specialize in AFR and ignition street tuning. I've worked with both naturally aspirated and boosted Jbodies.

my real specialty is ecotec engines, but i've messed with OHV and have yet to see a 2.4 ecu

basically, drop me a PM and we can discuss details of tuning your car. you MUST have a wideband installed, hooked up and working. I'd like to keep it as streamlined as possible, and focus on tuning your car and not doing mechanical work to it. If your the first 2.4 or OHV I tune, i'll offer you a discounted price since you'll be the guinea pig and it'll be a learning experience for me in the process.

before altering your car's ecu consider the following:
during modification, some car's ecus get confused and throw CELs. HPT has the ability to disable most of these but not erase them. Therefore a "nullified" ecu will not pass inspection due to "readiness state". please bear this in mind with heavier modified cars that an HPT tune may or may not make them emissions passable. If you don't currently have CELs, HPT will not cause them in anyway. But if you have them already, HPT may not be able to help get rid of them on a completely emissions legal manner.

there's lots of information out there on how to use HPT and set it up and everything, but there still seems to be a lot of confusion. So I offer the following:

"BLIND TUNE"
current requirements:
-wideband and program disc
-96 or newer Jbody
price: $20 per hour


I bring my HPT and laptop, set you up, tune the car and be on my way. you never have to think about it again since the tune will be permanently flashed on your ecu. this may take multiple sessions in order to get just right. tuning is not a concrete setup... some cars are just more difficult than others.

details of a Blind Tune are debatable with owner, but at the least will include the following:

-AFR tune for optimal and consistent fuel curve for zero knock (less than 0.01*kR)
-Spark tuning to maximize power but minimize knock
-fan recalibration
-*reasonable* speed limiter adjustment (based on suspension, tires, condition of car, and engine modifications)
-rpm limiter adjustment (given the state of your valvetrain)


the only downside to a blind tune is if you make any extra physical modification (a new part) the tune cannot compensate.. such is the behavior of an alpha-n ecu.

"J-body HPT 101"
current requirements:
-wideband and program disc
-HPTuners enhanced I/O
-96 or newer Jbody
price: $30 per hour

if you have your own HPTuners, and would like help setting it up and learning to tune I can do that as well for a slightly higher fee.. as well as offering assistance whenever you would need it in the future. think of it as a one-on-one lesson in HPTuners complete with custom histograms and an in-depth how to. This would be a bit more of a lesson on HPT as well as a tune. expect this to last a bit longer than a blind tune.

details of a J-body HPT 101 session are debatable with owner, but at the least will include the following:

-Familiarization with HPT program
-setup of owner's laptop complete with how to make custom histograms
-one-on-one lesson with tuning, and a "cheat sheet" with common changes on j-body ecu and how to make them
-packet on EFI tuning for the J-body written by yours-truly
-AFR tune for optimal and consistent fuel curve for zero knock (less than 0.01*kR)
-Spark tuning to maximize power but minimize knock
-fan recalibration
-*reasonable* speed limiter adjustment (based on suspension, tires, condition of car, and engine modifications)
-rpm limiter adjustment (given the state of your valvetrain)

IN THE EVENT OF A MECHANICAL ABORT

a mech. abort refers to a tuning session cut short due to insufficient mechanical parts, failure, or incompatability.
in this event, I will reduce charges to $10 per hour. Seeing as most of these will be apparent within the first hour of the tuning process, if there are any problems, pay me $10 and I'm on my way (since i'll most likely be doing some traveling and I do have to pay for gas.

detals will be hashed out in PMs between myself and the customer.

in the event of damage to vehicle
if a catastrophic failure occurs to the vehicle being tuned during the tuning process, or afterwards I cannot be held accountable. Most problems that were already apparent arise and worsen during the tuning process. please make sure your car is in proper working order before deciding to hire me to tune it for you.

mods, if this is in violation of the rules please delete.

if anyone is interested please feel free to PM me

I would like to tune Jbodies only.. but first timers will get a slight discount in order to compensate for my lack of experience.
ecotec 5 speed owners pay full price seeing as i've tuned mine quite extensively

pm sent

Id be interested but no wideband here

in the event of damage to vehicle
if a catastrophic failure occurs to the vehicle being tuned during the tuning process, or afterwards I cannot be held accountable. Most problems that were already apparent arise and worsen during the tuning process. please make sure your car is in proper working order before deciding to hire me to tune it for you.



That word will get you sued if you do happen to break someones car

no... it wont. If he clearly states (and has them sign something for proof, or posts a sign visible in his garrage if he had his own garrage to use), something like "In the event that your car experiences a catastrophic failure durring the tune, I cannot be held responsible." or "i am not responsible for any mechanical failure to your vehicle durring tuning." anything along those lines, the customer must first agree to it, so he realy wouldn't be at fault if something fails.


On the other hand....you have other fingers.

KevinP (Stabby McShankyou) wrote:not funny... i just can't find that funny... not with 2 copies of the Candyland board game on your shelf.

Ive been doing this for quite some time and I prob get about 5-6 PMs a month about it and the ppl never have thier own wideband or they dont want to dish out the one time 150 Flat fee that I charge. Im really not sure how your going to charge by the hour being that the license for the vin is 100 alone, you might be undercutting yourself alot

In reality Ive only had 2 ppl take me up on it, a 2.4 Turbo Z which I havent had the chance to finish and a Ion REdline which also needs finished as well, problem is that unless your local its hard to get it right, sometimes more than one day, especially turbo cars they are a real pain with an alpha N setup. MAF based cars like the Cobalt/REdline are no picnic either.



1989 Turbo Trans Am #82, 2007 Cobalt SS G85

PJ, so you are including travel in the price? It doesn't seem "quite" fair to you to be traveling all over the NE region, I drive from you to me would be at least an hour.

That said, I hope you will continue to offer this service for at least the next year or so. I plan on purchasing HPT w/ enhanced I/O. My plans are as follows: 2.5" exhaust from iperformance or custom, i have not yet decided, but must be 2.5" from down pipe back. I will then install larger injectors (~600cc/min), and get the car running smoothly, which Im hoping I can do myself.

Following that, I'm hoping to to a patriot P&P head and comp blower cams w/ARP studs and MLS HG. This should require a re-tune, and this is where I would be willing to pay for help. Once that is running smoothly and the added power gets old, I will be going GMPP s/c, obviously another re-tune... but that one I would like to have dyno tuned. Not to insult anyone, but hopefully that set up will be 225-250whp, and I want it spot on, which really means street tuning is out.

Good luck with you endeavors and I will def. keep you in mind when all my plans come to fruition

PJ, i am waiting for my AFPR to come in this week and then swapping in the 4.3 blazer pump and then after that i will be contacting you for a full tune hopefully later this year. I am about 45 mins from Philly in MD and would like to know the charge for tuning my 2000 LD9 since i'll be one of the first ones you have tuned. I have a aem uego wideband and everything. Talk to you soon if everything goes according to plan.


Edited 1 time(s). Last edited Monday, September 17, 2007 7:57 PM

If you have any ?s about 2.4 stuff let me know. we can exchange notes as i have an ecotec to tune

PJ, do you have any experience tuning for boost?