Anyone here use HP Tuners?

[OKGMC4]

I'm looking for someone who has actually learned it. Is it difficult? Looks like a big learning curve and a ton of cash. I keep hearing you have to use a wideband O2 sensor to get it truly right (though people do mail order tunes all the time.) So that means 650 for the program (for wideband support) and at least 450 for the wideband. I found some "how to" literature at The Tuning School online that starts at 450 if one were inclined, though I'm not sure what hptuners support is like but the forums seem OK. Not everyone will want to give up their tricks of the trade. So at that point you could be at least 1000 into it, or way more potentially. It's a lot of cash for something you have no clue how to use that could melt your engine. But, in the long run it could mean some side cash or even something I can do later with my son that's not video game related on top of using it to tune my old truck. So do you think its worth it or should I just pay someone to tune the truck for me and save all the cash for other things? Thanks for any insight.

[Jon01]

I use HPT pretty much every weekend doing something to either one of my cars or a friends.
Best advice I can give is to read, read, read. Then read some more.
The HPT forums are very helpful.

I run an AEM wideband with my setup. It's $160 on Amazon and will hook right up to the HPT unit.

I would NOT plan on side cash unless you like everybody running your name into the ground.
I tune for a couple local shops in exchange for cost+dyno time. I used to hook up folks in the local LSx crowd for credits + $50. That ended when I found out they were running around crying about their cars not making what they should for HP despite me telling them the dyno I used reads VERY low(like 15%). Now they can take their cars 100's of miles and pay real $ for a tune.

[Wasted Income]

Originally Posted by Jon01

I would NOT plan on side cash unless you like everybody running your name into the ground.

LOL. That's no crap. I used to tune on the side, but it's WAY more of a pain in the ass than it's worth...

[BR3W CITY]

My tuner LOVES when people tune their own trucks.....
gives him more business a few weeks later.

[Jon01]

Not if they know what they're doing.

[OKGMC4]

I've seen this attitude from a couple tuners here in OK. The problem with that crap attitude is - were they pushed from the womb knowing how to do this stuff? Doesn't everyone have to learn? You'll never get it if you don't try. 4 years ago I couldn't weld, paint, or sew, and look...I built my whole truck! I'd like to learn this because it is the only thing I haven't done myself, but there is a chance for big time failure. Figured there would be people here that had to start from scratch and could offer some hindsight on it.

[Jon01]

If you don't monkey around with things that you don't know what they do you won't hurt anything.

Knock on wood, I've yet to pop a motor and there were a few that should have let go before I even got a hold of them based on what they did on the dyno(14.8:1 WOT a/f on a TVS'd LS2).
Just be careful, make small changes and you'll be a-ok.

[79bonanza]

I just ordered HPT yesterday and I've had minimum time tuning except for some FAST systems but I've done a lot of reading on ls1tech and the HPT forums and I feel some what confident that I'll be able to do some good with mine lol. I'd imagine its just gonna be a trial and error kinda thing tho
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[Ackattack]

I have HPT also.

I bought it knowing I was going to need it for my truck build. I split the cost with a buddy who had a twin turbo GTO. I tuned on my corvette and was able to run low 12s in it with intake and exhaust. The version I have doesn't have the wideband input thing, but on the corvette I was able to hardwire it into the ECM using the "EGR" port.

On my 68 I haven't used it much....no time. I just flashed the computer to remove the vats and a few other minor things.

I also had a '05 CCSB pickup and a G8 GT that I messed around with it on, but not enough to say it was worth it.

Bottom line, if you want to learn to tune you have to read a lot and be willing to accept the risks of your actions.

[68GMCCustom]

I also have HPT. I'm lucky in the sense that I can scan my truck, send the file to my tuner with a description of what its doing or what I need...and he sends me back a new tune file to load up. Being able to compare the old files and new ones is teaching me as we go. I also downloaded my TrailBlazerSS's stock tune to "play with". He's supposed to send me a file for it too.

I have no interest in tuning for others...if my friends want it bad enough...they can pay for the HPT credits and borrow my laptop to adjust their tune themselves.

[Wasted Income]

It really isn't that hard to learn how to tune...it's just REALLY time consuming, as there's a pretty big learning curve, especially if you've never really messed with EFI before. Jon01 was spot on when he said read read read read read read read.

It also definitely helps if you have a good understanding of how EFI works, and what each individual sensor adds to the equation. That helps you understand what your datalogs are telling you, and what parameters to change to sort out a problem.

Tuned all my rigs by myself. There's a lot of pride in that.

[Wasted Income]

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