Tuning ?'s

[red2005ss]

Ok i want to buy the gm stage 2 kit, But really don't want to spend $700+ dollars.
Can i buy the pulley, injectors, and belt?
I know i need the tune, Do i have to buy hptuners and just use a standard bin file or would it be better to have someone tune it for me?
If you suggest someone do it for me, is there any one in the las vegas or phoenix area that can tune?

[RL_Clark]

Now you're looking at over $700.

[bc3tech]

Now you're looking at over $700.
+1 - the whole reason ppl do the pulley, injectors, and belt + hptuners is so they aren't locked out of the vehicle's calibration. the stage 2 tune that gm flashes to your car's computer can't be touched by HPT. so they are both a means to the same end, one just allows you more flexibility (hptuners) in the long run. and if you think it's money-saving... then it's likely you haven't priced out the HPT suite. unless you plan to have all your tuning done by friends.

[RL_Clark]

Wait...what?? You can't use HPT with a GMPP Stage II tune?? I thought that's what a lot of people were basing their tunes off of was the GMPP Stage II platform. Oh God!! Please tell me it isn't so!

[bc3tech]

Wait...what?? You can't use HPT with a GMPP Stage II tune?? I thought that's what a lot of people were basing their tunes off of was the GMPP Stage II platform. Oh God!! Please tell me it isn't so!
yeah i'm fairly sure the stg2 from GM locks out HPT. ppl are basing their tunes off injector sizing and boost pressure :)

[red2005ss]

I dont mind spending the money, Just not on the stage 2 kit.
I have seen pricing from like $400 and up.
If i have to buy hptuners theres not a problem just need to find someone close to tune.

[bc3tech]

I dont mind spending the money, Just not on the stage 2 kit.
I have seen pricing from like $400 and up.
If i have to buy hptuners theres not a problem just need to find someone close to tune.
u could also go to a dyno tuner near you and just have them do it... may come out cheaper than buying the suite yourself

[Doc]

Ok i want to buy the gm stage 2 kit, But really don't want to spend $700+ dollars.
Can i buy the pulley, injectors, and belt?
I know i need the tune, Do i have to buy hptuners and just use a standard bin file or would it be better to have someone tune it for me?
If you suggest someone do it for me, is there any one in the las vegas or phoenix area that can tune?

duh, this answered my question.
I think area47 is near there...

[TheWastedYears]

yeah i'm fairly sure the stg2 from GM locks out HPT. ppl are basing their tunes off injector sizing and boost pressure :)
Nope. You're thinking of Stage 3.

Lots of people have the HPT file for a Stage 2 tune.

If you know someone w/ HPT and a pulley puller, then you can do it much cheaper than paying GM.

HPT will give you far more control over the car, but there are inherent risks w/ that. So if you're not an accomplished tuner, or know someone who is, I'd recommend going the GM Stage 2 route.

I would not recommend letting a stranger w/ HPT tune your car. You don't know thier skill level, or their tuning ideas.

[Ahriman is BRUTAL]

you may or may not loose your warranty if you do have sombody HPTune your car for the injectors and pully. apparantly now GM is voiding warrantys when they find re-flashes in the event history that werent done by dealers.

of course if your like me and dont have nor care about a warranty then it doesnt make any sense to use GM's kit.

[RL_Clark]

Yeah...about that whole warranty deal. I'm really considering asking the dealer if we can just elminate that extra part of my payments each month. Like a real dummy, I bought the extended warranty, and now I'm thinking I'll be modding soon enough to where it's pointless to keep it. After all, if I don't, it still came with a 100k mile powertrain warranty.

[bc3tech]

Nope. You're thinking of Stage 3.

Lots of people have the HPT file for a Stage 2 tune...yes... but do they tune the stg2 pcm directly ;) it's one thing to flash the stg2 cal on the stock pcm, it's another to let gm flash your stocker to stg2... i knew stg3 locked you out, but was pretty sure stg2 did the same :shrug:

[FunkyStickman]

it's one thing to flash the stg2 cal on the stock pcm, it's another to let gm flash your stocker to stg2...

So what exactly is the difference? They don't replace the PCM like on a stage 3 kit... how can you tell it's not a GM flash if you use the standard stage2 tune with HPT?

I'm asking this because I'm thinking of going the same route. I can't see spending that much cash when I can get all the parts for myself. Of course, an option would be to get the stage 1 package, and buy your own pulleys... the stage 1 and 2 tunes are identical, from what I understand. You'd also have the factory-spec 42# injectors.

Thoughts?

[red2005ss]

I have 57,000 miles on my car and only got the 3/36,000 mile so warranty don't matter know more.
In 2004 they didn't offer the longer warranties.
As for a tuner in this area have not heard anything good about any of them.
If it is going to get screwed up it is going to be by me.

[bc3tech]

I have 57,000 miles on my car and only got the 3/36,000 mile so warranty don't matter know more.
In 2004 they didn't offer the longer warranties.
As for a tuner in this area have not heard anything good about any of them.
If it is going to get screwed up it is going to be by me.
where are u located?

[Doc]

So what exactly is the difference? They don't replace the PCM like on a stage 3 kit... how can you tell it's not a GM flash if you use the standard stage2 tune with HPT?

I'm asking this because I'm thinking of going the same route. I can't see spending that much cash when I can get all the parts for myself. Of course, an option would be to get the stage 1 package, and buy your own pulleys... the stage 1 and 2 tunes are identical, from what I understand. You'd also have the factory-spec 42# injectors.

Thoughts?

The whole flashing thing is odd. GM can tell what OS the car is currently operating under. Sometimes they can reflash the car and only affect one part of the OS (there are multiple ones operating to do various things) and not affect the custom tune. Other times, it can rewrite the whole custom tune and leave you SOL (shit outta luck). I think there are 8 different OS's operating at once, each controls something different (lights, instrument panel, radio, etc.). I've done a bunch of home brewed stage 2 tunes for people and they love the fact that they are saving money but understand the risk that if the dealer reflashes the car the custom tune might disappear. If they are local, I don't mind going out and reflashing it again.

If you get hptuners, I'll send you a file to compare and build yours....All you have to do is ask. Anything more than a basic tune and I'd suggest getting a wideband. Actually, it pays to have one anyway.

[Doc]

Hopefully that didn't confuse anyone.

[red2005ss]

Kingman arizona

[FunkyStickman]

Hopefully that didn't confuse anyone.

No, that didn't confuse me. And as much as I like to tinker, I'd probably wind up getting HPT, even though rlinbatonrouge is nearby and has offered to put a stage 2 tune on my car. I understand the tuning process, and I'd like to learn for myself what I can do with it. Plus, how can you not like being all "Fast and Furious" with a laptop plugged in? But seriously, I plan on keeping the car for a while, and HPT would be a good investment for me, especially if I decide to build a 300HP engine later on, or do some serious racing.

In all honesty, I'd probably leave the stage1/2 tune on it as-is and just drive it for a while. It's not only my daily driver, but also my business vehicle, and my source of income at the moment. With the factory tune, it might not make the most power, but it'd be safe to drive. And I never bring my car to the dealer.... oh hell no! The only way they'd be re-flashing it is if I were selling it, in which case I wouldn't care what they did with it.

[bc3tech]

all u tuners should go check out the for sale section - i'll take "thanks!" payments whenever :no: