Share your LSX Tuner Experiences and Recommendations

[MattG]

I finally found a tuner that made my LS7 run the way I always wanted it to. Ed at https://www.virginiaspeed.com/ really came through for me and I feel like we should all share which tuners have come through for us!

After 3 different tuners had their way with my car (some with better success than others), I can finally drive my car without it stalling or surging anywhere near idle (not to mention Much more Power).

There are many tuners that can post some big numbers (they are all over the place on LS1Tech.com), but with my experience the difficult part for tuning an LSX Pro Touring car is getting the drivability right.

I have a combo that I thought would be straight forward to tune, but proved to be vary challenging in the end. I found that just because someone can tune a new gen. Corvette, it doesn't mean they will be able to tune the many different combos that we come up with when we put and LSx into an old car. There are so many differences in computers, sensors and power combos that a tuner must really know the finer points in tuning.

I don't have my original dyno graph to show, but with a Much larger cam (243/253 on 113+3 .650 lift) my car only managed 500 rwhp and 475 rwt. I was very dissapointed to say the least and the drivability was poor. I then changed to the Katech Torquer cam to gain more torque and drivability (220/244 on 110) and got a retune. More torque for sure, but still didn't idle well and proved to be very difficult to manage.

Now to Ed at VA speed. He came highly recommended to me by a couple of local guys and by following him on LS1tech.com.

Ed discovered some key issues in the computer right away that no one else had seen, and ultimately discovered that the MAF was not working correctly.

Here are the results:



I drove the car home 3.5 hrs and picked up 2 mpg (23mpg at 70mph, Ford 9inch w/3.70 gears and t56) with 50 more hp than before, WOW!

At 70 mph I can cruise with the cruise control on with zero surging (never had a problem with that anyway) and when I come to a stop regardless of how I do it, it settles in at an 850 rpm idle.

First and second gear are a major exercise in throttle control and after 3 years of frustration, I FINALLY enjoy driving my car!

Hope this helps someone, and maybe we can make this a sticky to make finding a Good tuner easier for everyone around the country.

Thanks and lets hear about everyones tuners they trust,

Matt

[Mkelcy]

Good review, good results and a great idea for a thread. If it takes off, maybe it could be stickied?

[ProdigyCustoms]

Mike Norris is the best LS tuner I have ever seen. He actually aggravates me he is so damn good he does in minutes what thers do in hours! But when you do it day in and day out.............

If it is a stock ECM on a LS motor, Mike's the man!

[Mkelcy]

Mike Norris is the best LS tuner I have ever seen. He actually aggravates me he is so damn good he does in minutes what thers do in hours! But when you do it day in and day out.............

If it is a stock ECM on a LS motor, Mike's the man!

That's very helpful for those of us out here, for example, in California, who get to pay Mike's way out here, pay for his time and pay for dyno time. I have nothing against Mike and he's probably as good as you say, but a listing of good local tuners would be very helpful for lots of us (and according to LS1Tech.com there are several out here).

[ProdigyCustoms]

Ahh, but what one can do is organize a group of people that need tunes, and for a flat fee he can fly out and do a bunch of cars. He just came down to Florida for a tuning session over 2 days and it cost about $250 each for a $450 tune session

I know of at least 2 people in Cali right now that want Mikes services. I am not his booking agent............Hum! Maybe a new side gig?

So it is possible to have the best.

[Mike Holleman]

Ryan Robinson of RPM, Garner,NC tuned my Elky/LS2. He has also tuned other vehicles for me and many of my friends. Ryan specializes in GM LS engines, but does tune most other brands and aftermarket EFI's as well. He has a Dyno Jet. He came highly recommended to me and I pass on that recommendation as well. Garner is a suburb of Raleigh.
Mike Holleman
http://rpmmotorsportsnc.com/display/splash.html

[Patrick]

Mike Norris.


Mike tuned my Kenne Bell SuperCharged LS1. He also spec'd the cam and injectors. Puts down 530rwhp and no drivability problems.

[ls6monte]

One of the best tuners in the New England area is Don aka Slowhawk of Slowhawk Performance. He is very honest about what your car does/does not need.
http://www.slowhawkperformance.com

[Mike Norris]

Thanks to Frank and Patrick for the kind words to say the least.

MattG, I have met Ed before and he is one of the good guys out there for sure. If you see him again tell him I said hi.

Mkelcy, thanks for bringing up those points and as Frank mentioned, there is a viable option. It may not work for everyone for sure and yes there are a lot of folks out there who are good at this trade.

Here is a link to my services Frank Mentioned:

https://www.pro-touring.com/forum/sh...ad.php?t=64456

Hope this helps and thanks again guys.

Mike Norris

[turbo kid]

In Illinois call speed inc Talk to Larry.

[bijanmaleki]

If in AZ NicD is the man.

[brans72]

Heard alot of good things on Mike Norris but as Holleman stated RPM in Garner,NC is getting well known in this state for the work. Mike has proof with his swee sounding and deadly Elky. Thanks for the tour again Mike!!!! Brandon

[FN_FAST]

LMR in houston does a good job as well. I've sent alot of people that way lately and havent had any problems. Flaco at strictly performance is also very good. They are primarily a mustang shop, but he does alot of lsx's there. His personal truck (yes, truck) has been 8.70's, lol

[LSXZ28]

I've been tuning LS cars/trucks for years, and I'll agree with the original poster that there is alot more to it than tossing the car on the dyno and doing a couple pulls! Yet, sadly, that is what a whole lot of so-called tuners do!

You guys hit on several of the good ones already - Ed at Virginia Speed, Slowhawk, Mike Norris... another great one over on LS1tech is Frost (Steve).