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LT1 Tuning no longer avaliable

16K views 41 replies 22 participants last post by  ProTools4 
#1 ·
FYI to the Public

my biz will no longer be supporting OBD1/2 LT1s with the OEM computer
 
#18 ·
Some folks forget what carried their business to where it is today … SMH
The vast majority of the well-versed good listeners who came into Impalas SS 1sthand or 9C1s 2ndhand or even Roadmasters & Fleetwoods 3rdhand, earned their understanding & comprehension of what a pcm tune could and could not accomplish by varying degrees of actual hotrodmod experience coupled with responsible mechanical maintenance.
Contrast them against the vast majority of people who snatch not-so-well-maintained B-car from retirement, restoration, or a timely demise. Most if not all ALSO suffer from thoroughly unrealistic expectations of what a pcm tune can achieve, up to and including either mitigating or outright fixing mechanical issues that were the reason why they were able to buy the car in the 1st place.
If the ISSF has been largely unable to get through to them regarding what is and isn't realistically possible with a car that needs significant mechanical & electrical diagnosis & repair, why should a tuner waste their time trying to satisfy unrealistic if not impossible expectations that resist our experienced counsel and correction?

Luckily, the vast majority of those with well-informed and realistic expectations of what a pcm tune can release from Iron LT1 cars have already gotten tuned to their satisfaction.

For the rest of you, here's some advice:
TunerPro & EEhack are free.
A decent OBD1 cable costs less than a full tank of 91 Octane.
A single mistake could conceivably cost you more than you paid to buy your Iron LT1 car, forcing you to find the good sense to avoid burying yourself in the sunk costs fallacy, while others will avoid even stepping in it once.
The ISSF, collectively, has literally forgotten [as of August '09] more than most of you will ever want to know about Iron LT1s and Iron LT1 cars.
Either way, 3.73 kicks ass, protects your 4L60E, but you might need a new driveshaft. Good luck.
 
#7 ·
Damn it! I've got an engine in the machine shop now that will need tuning in the next few months.
I can't imagine you're doing too many of them but why stop completely?

Jim
 
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#12 · (Edited)
Jan 2017
Took all platforms with a spinning ignition rotor and OEM computer off the menu
All my tunes post 2011 are 100% warrantied
this does not mix well with 21 year old hardware
not to mention the details of building a good Gen2 seems to elude the masses

2006 only special order laptop computers were available with a true com port
2010 discovery and confirmation of the lack of longevity of the LT1 wiring harness *rant omitted
2015 Microsoft quit supporting Windows XP
2016 TTS quit supporting Datamaster
2017 multiple bricked ECUS with high end Dell laptop with Legacy Com port adapter running tuner Cats in Windows 7
2017 every pro tuner in the biz is squirling away 10+ year old Panasonic tough books for legacy EFI systems

The future of the Gen2 LT1 tuning is the LS1 ECU / PCM 0411 conversion!
**this is super exciting stuff in my world**
thru companies like EFI connection or TorqHed the 24x LS1 computer is the answer
this ECU providing engine and trans control at the same time is stellar
getting HPTuners allows for seamless scanning and tuning changes
7K+ RPM capability
2 & 3 bar boosted OS
4l60 and 4L80 E control
real time tuning and more

Of course LS3 is the cats PJs!
an can be run on the newish E67 / E38 / or older 0411 ECUS
light weight, easy performer, NO LEAKS!
 
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#16 ·
Jan 2017
2010 discovery and confirmation of the lack of longevity of the LT1 wiring harness *rant omitted
!
This is a fact! I have repaired a couple of these by stripping them down, running a multi meter between the wires and pcm connectors and repairing the open circuits.
Not to mention the firewall connector is vehicle/option specific. A 95 roadmaster won't fit a 95 SS etc;
 
#15 ·
Been down the LS-swap realm already. Nickel & dime doesn't say enough. Certainly wasn't cheap. I stopped counting, once the cost broke past $6500...

Considering the 24x.
 
#17 ·
Yeah Nab nailed it on the head. I'm currently doing an ls swap on my 62 suburban. The low mileage engine and trans combo was the only simple part at $2000 even. I have spent more so far in the supporting stuff like fuel tank, BP Harness, good fans, radiator, odds and ends etc to do it right.

I know Tad and he likes to do things the best he can.
 
#19 ·
Tad has moved on to newer technology and aftermarket systems for tuning. The Gen 2 LT1 platform is 20+ years old now and I suspect that customer base is thin now. Also the software most used is not compliant with the latest PC/Mac operating systems so old operating systems/laptops are needed and those older platforms are essentially bricks now but can be found

IDK who else still does LT1 tuning. Maybe pcm4less, moehorsepower and others. Unless you are where those guys are it would be mail order.

EEhack is one free downloadable tune software I hear works. I think just OBD1 though. Self tuning is not in my wheelhouse of experience

My car is done in mod world for any further PCM adjustments and I have a spare pcm if this one should shiat itself somehow

I agree with Marky's note that some gen 2,3 or 4 owners of these cars think a "pcm tune" will fix what may be mechanical problems. NOT. Any tune assumes the car is mechanically sound...and these 20+ year old PCM's have there limits on what can be done.

For me with a 383 H/C T56 car mail order has been good. I do have data log capabilities but never needed any "adjustments" even when I thought I did. The concerns were ALWAYS mechanical on my end causing whatever "tune" issue I thought I may have had. YMMV
 
#20 ·
unfortunately and end of one era.

I have a TorqHead in stock ready to go on Johhny5.

A new era is upon ...some of us...
 
#24 ·
pcm tuning

PCMPerformance in Queens still does them.He just did mine a few months ago after it was tuned by Pcm for less and he completely straightened a horribly running car.His name is Alex.
Paul.
 
#25 ·
PCMPerformance in Queens still does them.He just did mine a few months ago after it was tuned by Pcm for less and he completely straightened a horribly running car.His name is Alex.

Paul.

Emailed Keith at PCMForLess. Will give him this week to evaluate what I am certain is in the tune. After that, I'm game for whatever.

No tune is exactly the same for every engine setup. Giving the benefit of the doubt to tune based on logs that I finally had the means of acquiring.
 
#27 ·
Tad, will you take a brand new (less than a week old) LTCC setup as partial trade for a TorqueHead setup?

Nab, why did you say to get an LTCC if you knew about TorqueHead?

My original 21 year old Opti with 98K miles just died. I figured that the LTCC would let it live on until the HC motor is ready in a month or so. I guess timing (pun intended) truly is everything!
 
#31 ·
It is but it's repinned for the Lt1 harness or something. So you can't just go buy one and plug it in to your car.

I don't see it as an issue...in 20+ years of owning cars I've never had a computer go bad on me, but, that's the sticking point with some people as far as I can tell.
 
#34 ·
So I have been out of the B-Body loop for a while.. My '94 runs great the last time I ran it (~3 years ago) but has a blown transmission..

Planning on doing a frame off restore on it and beef it up considerably.

With that in mind is it smart to keep my original LT1 and have it rebuilt or go with a 6.0?

ATI advertises a 6.0 that makes 450+hp/torque. Considering grabbing one and installing a magnuson blower. The combo would cost me in the neighborhood of $12k but should make it a "fun" car to drive... From talking to the ATI guy I am looking at 700-800+ hp for such a setup.

Is anything like that possible with the LT1? I am assuming there is a magnuson setup available for the LT1.

Not sure if ATI is stroking the 6.0 but researching my options. I likely will go that road for my truck because it is a direct bolt in even if I have to update other systems... And likely add some bracing.

I would assume I would go with a full on LSx PCM for such a build as well. If I stay with the LT1 is there an option to replace the optispark all together instead of replacing it with basically a sensor to drive the coil packs?

If I decide to stay with the LT1 I MAY just try and get the car up and running as is before looking at building the motor further. And should be able to add a magnuson SC to the stock engine while keeping the pressure low? Guessing I would still need to look at this type of upgrade and possibly some new heads.

The engine has under 80k miles on it.
 
#35 ·
WOW! Been out of the LT1 world for about 5 yrs now and damn what a kick in the pants. Been saving up on performance parts and the programming was the last item. What to do.
 
#37 ·
Or.....you can add the TorqHead 24x kit to your mods list and get it tuned by any of the 1000 LS tuners selling their services....AND....never have to worry about an opti ever again!!

Just sayin'......

BUY 24XLINK PRODUCTS - TORQHEAD LTD

KW
 
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#36 ·
Hi JZ,

Don't worry, East Coast tuners still do LT1s!
PCMforLess and PCMperformance among others
as well as any of your impala buddies that have OBD1 TunerCat ;)

Nab
 
#41 ·
Thanks for the info Nab.

I have 2 Caprices now and considering keeping one LT1 power and eventually taking the engine/trans out of my 2002 Silverado to power my 9C1.
 
#42 ·
TH ECUed LT1s have been trickling in with out standing results!
**Mr Corona

I have a TH in a box awaiting my personal 96 Impala
**J5 Standing bye

recently I have even seen ECU failures.
pre 2015 I would have said the LT1 ecu is bullet proof it works or it dont.
recently half broken half working ECUs have been showing up
**Freddie you out there?

meanwhile the 9c1 suspension system is alive and well in my had build race car.
 
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