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Surely tuning a engine isn't that much of a "black art"? If the tuner has sound knowledge in how to interpret his tuning equipment then he (or she?) should be able to get the best result possible, yes? If the time is taken to safely adjust all that is adjustable then the best possible result should be achieved.

The biggest factor I see with management mapping is the time the tuner spends getting everything as good as they possibly can.

Surely tuning a engine isn't that much of a "black art"? If the tuner has sound knowledge in how to interpret his tuning equipment then he (or she?) should be able to get the best result possible, yes? If the time is taken to safely adjust all that is adjustable then the best possible result should be achieved.  

 

The biggest factor I see with management mapping is the time the tuner spends getting everything as good as they possibly can.

The "black art" is making the maximum power available with the lowest boost setting whilst maintaining maximum realibility. The car should also feel responsive even with the high numbers. Ive seen cars with more power than others but doesnt feel anywhere as responsive.

If there isnt, perhaps dyno tuning shouldnt be so expsensive.

There must be experience involved with this... tuning cant just be a matter of knowing what numbers to read...

On a separate note, Martin is it possible to duplicate the mixtures on a remapped R32 GTR ecu onto a Power FC? Or are the settings completely different?

Completely happy with the 32 mixtures, just want the knock sensor warning from the FC.

You missed my point N/A.

A good tuner should have the knowledge on what is required to achieve the best results regardless of how the car/engine package is to be used. Be it a drift car set-up, drag car or everyday driver.

If the tuner can't achieve the "maximum power on the lowest boost setting and maintain reliability" then what the hell is he/she doing tuning engines!?

Dyno tuning prices are relative to how much the tuner wants to charge, how much people are prepared to pay and the time it takes to get the results desired. I'll bet my bottom dollar there's plenty of people that get charged like a wounded bull for a 1hr tune that could easily be improved upon, and that the tuner "can" improve but simply can't be stuffed or takes short cuts with.

Of course there's experience involved in tuning, and yes you should expect to pay for that experience. But just because tuner A has more experience with car XYZ it doesn't mean he'll put all his knowledge and time into getting the best results possible. And by the same token tuner B may have less experience with car XYZ but spends the time to really get maximum results. Both jobs may well cost the same but I know which one I'd prefer!

this has been a beneficial thread for me to read.

I am looking for a really good bloody tune for my R32.. obviously, im not in the sort of power level as some of you where it would worth paying $1,000 bucks for a Japanese tuner ! but nonetheless.. i am on the lookout for a trust worthy person to tune the car.. If anyone knows someone decent.

At the moment its running far too rich to the point where its spluttering black fuel all over the back of my car.. and reving way too high.. Its just not right.. its not responsive at all...

If you dudes know anything, rather than me hijacking this thread, maybe pm me?

Thanks,

Erica.

martin, it may be that the japanese came to have a look at how aussies were tuning the GTRs, but that was along time ago, and since then the japanese have gone from strength to strength with their cars, spending millions in R&D. They picked up the ball and ran with it, australia on the other hand, dropped it like a hot potato.

Matt, if it was so straight forward, V8 supercars would be down at your local tune up masters before a big event, no? Why do large companies like Top Secret, HKS, Jun, Signal, etc have top tuners? If it was so straight forward, why dont they teach 1st year apprentice mechanics to tune and get them out earning some money early in the piece? I think you yourself have noticed that mechanics aren't mechanics, engine builders arent engine builders, and I definately believe tuners arent tuners.

As martin pointed out, some people seem to get it better than others. If they had a company in australia, that competed in national competition to the level of the japanese, with japanese cars, then perhaps there would be tuners in australia with the runs on the board.

Keir Wilsons car is no ordinary car, it is a purpose built drag car. the team that built and tune it have every right to be very proud of a great job, but I dont think there is really too much in common with Kier's car and any other skyline here in this state - so really, I dont believe their achievements to be valid.

God knows I have already spent thousands on getting my car tuned. And each time, I dont get the results I want, or believe are possible. I dont think my expectations are unrealistic, I just want a car that is crisp, responsive, makes good power with a safe tune that doesnt ping. And it wouldnt be bad if the car didnt drink 20L per 100km.

Bai turned to me and said my car is using too much fuel and that the power curve isnt smooth (both spot on the money, and just by looking at the fuel and ignition maps) then went on to say he was concerned that there wasnt enough fuel in up top, and asked if it was ok to make some adjustments. Of course I was keen for him to do this, as he had picked the other things about my tune without even driving the car.

When I told him how much power I was making at 1.2bar, and that it made 1.2bar at 4000rpm, he seemed to think it was not enough power and that boost should be in a bit earlier! he gave me a couple of tips that he said should make a big difference.

He told trent and me why the idle wasnt stable, and was spot on the money.

Well hey, he is only a mechanic with signal (and driver), but probably did his apprenticeship on the cars we now drive, and worked on their drag cars and drift cars, plus built hundreds of customers cars too - they may not be any better than anyone else here in aust, but my money is that they are light years ahead - so many people here seem to be guessing, and its always the car owner that ends up wearing the bill when things turn to custard - too easy to blame the driver.

something else to consider, who here can change the base fuel maps on the power fc but an excel dealer? No one.

Is it worth $1500??? well is it worth spending alot of time and money taking your car back repeatedly to get different problems sorted, and then perhaps to have to do a rebuild because the tuner 'thought' it would be ok?

I suppose thats for the car owner to decide:)

I agree on the 'tuners aren't tuners' comment .... especially when Dean and I took our cars to XYZ Tune and expected it to be tuned by a professional tuner with 20+ years of dyno tuning under his belt - only to find out later my car was tuned by apprentice XYA .... no wonder I am not happy with many aspects of my tune - especially since the dyno provided to me upon pickup of the vehicle shows a/r ratios slumping into the 10:1's at some points (and significantly higher power figure expected).

Steve,

Keirs car has a set of Trust turbos, some cams, headwork etc on an 86 x 86mm OS RB engine. No smoke and mirrors. Its more valid than a lot of the poorly thought out and badly built cars you may consider to be of hero status. The fact that its reliable, and not constantly crapping engines etc. is because its properly setup, and of course, tuned. Their street R32, complete with the 8.8 second OS engine will be complete in around 6 months. This will provide a fairly comprehensive lesson in how to properly build and engineer a reliable 1000hp street car.

Anyway back to the point! Having a Jap tune your Jap car is like having a designer label on your jeans. If it gives you a warm fuzzy then by all means do it! It also means that Signal sticker is no longer just a rice accessory. Point out to them though that our fuel is a LOT different to theirs, in more ways than just basic RON measurement.

Erica, dont you know some of the best tuners around?

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