Local 8.1 PCM tuning

[Jesser04]

Sold my 6.4 and I'm picking up a 2007 8.1 chevy tonight. Does anyone do tuning locally? I'd rather not send the PCM off if I can avoid it.

 

[skippy]

Try UFAB he is the local LS Wizard

 

[Tacoma]

Try UFAB he is the local LS Wizard

That's not an LS motor. It's a ginormous big-block.

 

[skippy]

I am aware of that but if you have the ability to tune LS motors you should have the software capable of tuning these as well

 

[B2-Bomber]

try heath at premier, on redwood.

He has done a couple re-tunes on my friends' OBDII

 

[Jesser04]

I will look into both thanks!

 

[Tacoma]

I am aware of that but if you have the ability to tune LS motors you should have the software capable of tuning these as well

LOL oh, your meaning had escaped me this morning

 

[lhracing]

I have owned an 8.1 for about 13 years. What are you looking to get out of a new tune? Have you changed the cam or heads?

 

[Jesser04]

I'd like to remove the torque management and try and gain a little hp. The cam and heads are stock.

 

[lhracing]

I have used a programmer with mine trying several different tunes and any change is almost undetectable. Without a cam and or head change there is not much HP gain from just a tune on a gas engine. The GM engineers have the system optimized fairly well with good protection from knock damage. Biggest gains can be had from a blower but that will run about $5K or more.

Torque management changes could help some but from what I understand that is controlled in the transmission ecu and hard to get to. Let me know if you are able to make some changes there.

 

[Jesser04]

Just picked it up I thought it was stock come to find out it has cold air intake and exhaust. I will let you know what I find out on a tune.

 

[TurboMinivan]

I'd like to remove the torque management and try and gain a little hp.

What makes you want to squeeze more out of it? Yes, I realize the 496 scores poorly on the 'output per displacement' scale... but it just works so well. I love how mine tows, and I'd hate to compromise its durability in any way.

 

[Jesser04]

What makes you want to squeeze more out of it? Yes, I realize the 496 scores poorly on the 'output per displacement' scale... but it just works so well. I love how mine tows, and I'd hate to compromise its durability in any way.

The want comes from pulling with diesels the last ten years. We will see when it warms up how it pulls the boat and go from there. I don't want to compromise durability either but I can't help but think that chevy left a little on the table.

 

[lhracing]

The 8.1 will never compare to the diesels in pulling power or fuel mileage. The 8.1's maintenance cost is less than a diesel and fuel cost's less. If you want to pull like a diesel a blower is you only choice. As for GM leaving a little on the table it is probably crumbs. Cold air intakes and exhaust work may give you small gains in wide open throttle / high RPM conditions but will do very little for towing conditions.

 

[lhracing]

"The want comes from pulling with diesels the last ten years. We will see when it warms up how it pulls the boat and go from there."

Pulling a boat should be not problem. I pull 2 different trailers, a 24ft enclosed trailer with my race car in it and a 16ft car hauler and my Jeep. The enclosed trailer is like pulling a 8000lb brick and it will work the truck but the car hauler with the jeep is barely noticeable.

 

[TurboMinivan]

The 8.1 will never compare to the diesels in pulling power or fuel mileage.

When I towed my Jeep to the Rubicon with my 8.1L Suburban, I observed better mileage than Brett did with his diesel Excursion. Sure, his trailer was twice as long and had two Jeeps on it... but, still.

I pull 2 different trailers, a 24ft enclosed trailer with my race car in it and a 16ft car hauler and my Jeep. The enclosed trailer is like pulling a 8000lb brick and it will work the truck but the car hauler with the jeep is barely noticeable.

In gentle day-to-day driving, I only see about 11.0-11.5 mpg out of my Burb. When towing my Jeep on my car hauler, I see 10.5 mpg @ 65 MPH and 10.0 mpg @ 70-75 MPH... and I barely notice the weight behind me. Seriously.