Dyno-Tune/Chip cost???

[Rock777]

I have seen similar threads, but thought I might get some more input from people from the Midwest.

I called a local shop near St. Louis and told them what I have and that I was interested in having my car dynoed and a chip burned for it. They quickly quoted me $580, is this right?

I always thought it was closer to $500 than $600, but maybe I haven't looked into it in a while.

(Hoping to get near 320rwhp, dyno in sig is untuned, with stock Cobra intake and 65mm tb)

Any input appreciated!!

 

[gcomfx.com]

www.lasotaracing.com Ask Don who he recommends in the St. Louis area. He trains alot of the shops on using SCT chips.

 

[Grn92LX]

You will be VERY dissappointed with the $600 spent. Looks like you're already running pretty on point, a chip tune wont do much if anything. You can have it dynoed to see where you're at but don't waste money on a chip.

 

[DDSTANG94]

You will be VERY dissappointed with the $600 spent. Looks like you're already running pretty on point, a chip tune wont do much if anything. You can have it dynoed to see where you're at but don't waste money on a chip.

a chip is not just for power tho....it does alot of other things....if he has driveability issues and such

and there are a lot of guys on here running the same combo WITHOUT the porting having around the same horsepower...i think his numbers should be more like what hes looking for 320-330 rang.......i would say $600 is plenty reasonable for 20-30 hp....

 

[Grn92LX]

If you read, you would see he has NOT dynoed it since swapping to the performer intake and 75mm tb. His numbers are NOT with those He may as well be at 320hp now, but he hasn't re-dynoed. He will not gain 30hp with a chip. Been there/done that No one can say what he "should" make on the dyno as we know NOTHING about his camshaft!

 

[5spd GT]

One person's results cannot reflect another persons results with a different car, combo, and more importantly, THE SHOP.

There have been a few guys that have gained 30 hp with a chip.

GroverDill is one.

 

[5spd GT]

In fact, he gained 23rwhp which is 26.45-27.14 HP with 15-18% drivetrain loss.

He stated that the SCT chip gave "better driveability, easier hot starts, and death to the hunting idle!"

 

[Rock777]

I thought about just dynoing it first, seeing where it's at, and going from there.

Honestly though, the main reason I want it tuned is for idle and drivability reasons. It hangs between shifts, and when I start it when it is colder than 50 I have to keep the rpms about 1500 for a minute or two for it to warm up or it will die. Not to mention the occasional, random surging.

I just want to be able to get in it and go, not worrying about this crap.

I have been debating doing this for about a year because it runs strong as hell. I just kept trying to "tune" out the gremlins myself (via AFPR, IAC, TP sensor, timing, tune-up, etc..), but I realized it needs a chip.

BTW. I would give the specs of the cam cause I personally don't care, I just know that that isn't proper "etiquette" and such.

Also, the extra hp would just be a bonus from the tune, maybe

As far as my first question though, is $580 high? I have done research and this company is known to do good work, but just seemed pricey.

 

[5spd GT]

Contact Don at Lasota.

I believe his username is Don 95Vert or similar.

 

[Grn92LX]

You did not mention any issues at first.

No, $580 isn't high. Its unfortunatly a one shot deal I had similar problems as you and fixed it all myself with my PMS. Its nice because when the weather changes, your tune will need to change and I (and all us self-tuners) can do it on the fly Yeah thats exactly what I wanted from my street car, turn the key and go, and I do

 

[5spd GT]

Profile of Don for the hook-up:

http://forums.stangnet.com/member.php?u=7009

Factory vehicles are tuned and run from their "chip," and encounter scenarios from below 0 degrees to 120 degrees.

If a tune/chip was not possibly necessary, they never would have invented the cheaper handheld pieces to the nicer TwEECer R/T software programs.

 

[DDSTANG94]

If you read, you would see he has NOT dynoed it since swapping to the performer intake and 75mm tb. His numbers are NOT with those He may as well be at 320hp now, but he hasn't re-dynoed. He will not gain 30hp with a chip. Been there/done that No one can say what he "should" make on the dyno as we know NOTHING about his camshaft!

ooo..no i did see that..i thought he had the preformer now and the cobra before??

forget the hp rating...i guess u guys are right

but like i said he has driveability issues.....


good luck with the tune.....

 

[drakesdad]

I agree with contacting Don....he and his son are very trustworthy...and good.....they are in range of what you are looking at but I went to a local tuner who didn't do squat....I dropped my car off with Don/Rob and havnt had a problem in 2 years.......I took mine for issues such as yours...
good luck

 

[final5-0]

Over the past several years I've seen a low of a bit less than 500 to a high
of just over 800 for Dynojet time and the tune via a chip.

I've not paid attention to the area of the US where each tune
was done however.

Good Luck with the tune

Grady

 

[greenlantern]

Yeah unfortunatley $580-$600 is about right, by the time you end up paying for the chip, dyno pulls and labor.
I think its ridiculous what you have to do in order to get that T4M0 to act right.

 

[Rock777]

You guys are helpful, thanks for the replies!

The reason I didn't give ALL the reasons I wanted a tune in the first post is because I didn't want it to turn into a "Is a tune worth it?" thread, I already know the answer to this. I just wanted to get some input on the price I was quoted, as I didn't want them to see me coming from 10 miles away. Not that I don't definitely appreciate all the input, I just know that base has been covered multiple times.

I am going with a chip because I don't see me changing anything major in the near future, given other things going on right now. I know alot of people say this, but I am getting ready to build a house in a year so can't get too crazy on the stang (unless I snap an axle in my pursuit of low 12's) .

FWIW, the shop I'm talking about is Mustang Muscle, if any of you have heard of it. For the most part, they appear very reputable, judging from local boards. I think I will give them a shot. They are a Diablo dealer and are in the process of becoming an SCT dealer.

I guess that brings up one more question. Given the choice, which works better with our cars, the Diablo or SCT?

 

[drakesdad]

You guys are helpful, thanks for the replies!

The reason I didn't give ALL the reasons I wanted a tune in the first post is because I didn't want it to turn into a "Is a tune worth it?" thread, I already know the answer to this. I just wanted to get some input on the price I was quoted, as I didn't want them to see me coming from 10 miles away. Not that I don't definitely appreciate all the input, I just know that base has been covered multiple times.

I am going with a chip because I don't see me changing anything major in the near future, given other things going on right now. I know alot of people say this, but I am getting ready to build a house in a year so can't get too crazy on the stang (unless I snap an axle in my pursuit of low 12's) .

FWIW, the shop I'm talking about is Mustang Muscle, if any of you have heard of it. For the most part, they appear very reputable, judging from local boards. I think I will give them a shot. They are a Diablo dealer and are in the process of becoming an SCT dealer.

I guess that brings up one more question. Given the choice, which works better with our cars, the Diablo or SCT?

I have the SCT..can't speak of teh Diablo.....but I do know that I wanted to change a few setting a year after my chip was installed by Don.......I pulled it out...mailed it off...and Don took care of what was needed for a very low cost and mailed it back......sometimes it is worth going with a "known reputation."

 

[Centaur]

I know this is an old thread but just in case anyone new is reading, I went to Mike Post at DynotuneMP in Dekalb Illinois and got a sct4 chip and a custom tune for my 88 mustang gt convertible after i had my top end kit installed. Mike started pressing buttons and my car gained 41+ rwhp and 37 torque. It was my first time in and he charged me $350 for the tune and $200 for the chip. He said future tunes would cost less because of repeat business. Supercharged engines cost $100 more for the tune he also said. Plus he got rid of my annoying idle. Also i had questions. He answered every one of them and also explained why. Whats more is he informed me where i could get additional gains by changing some previous mods and explained why. This guy is great. The car runs better than it has ever before. I couldnt be happier. Thanks Mike!

 

[99FiveOh]

I know this is an old thread but just in case anyone new is reading, I went to Mike Post at DynotuneMP in Dekalb Illinois and got a sct4 chip and a custom tune for my 88 mustang gt convertible after i had my top end kit installed. Mike started pressing buttons and my car gained 41+ rwhp and 37 torque. It was my first time in and he charged me $350 for the tune and $200 for the chip. He said future tunes would cost less because of repeat business. Supercharged engines cost $100 more for the tune he also said. Plus he got rid of my annoying idle. Also i had questions. He answered every one of them and also explained why. Whats more is he informed me where i could get additional gains by changing some previous mods and explained why. This guy is great. The car runs better than it has ever before. I couldnt be happier. Thanks Mike!

Sounds like you found a good tuner, gratz! Just a FYI to people with 94/95's they are tricky to tune and not all SCT tuners know what they are doing with them. I've seen it a few times on these boards where someone will take their SN5.0 in for a tune and it's a disaster! Matter of fact here in FL there's only one tuner I trust to tune my 94/95's and that's HP-Performance in Orange Park. This guy knows his SN5.0's!