Best tune at $200 or less?

414 Views 16 Replies 6 Participants Last post by squilliam, 3 d ago

Gimmeahemi

Discussion Starter · 11 d ago

I’m wanting to get my sky redline tuned. But I also want to know if I should get my engine or components reinforced before I get it done. Any suggestions?

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steveorama

· #2 · 10 d ago

Gimmeahemi said:
I’m wanting to get my sky redline tuned. But I also want to know if I should get my engine or components reinforced before I get it done. Any suggestions? View attachment 123065

I have a ZZP canned tune and it was just under $200 a couple years ago. My engine was completely stock at the time, but I've since replaced the charge pipes and added the GMPP intake, but it's not like those add and additional power anyway. I've had no issues with the tune and it's notably faster acceleration.

zzperformance.com

ZZP LNF Turbo PCM

The ZZP LNF turbo PCM brings the performance of your turbocharged Cobalt to the level that the factory should have released it with.

zzperformance.com

zzperformance.com

Gimmeahemi

Discussion Starter · #3 · 10 d ago

That sounds great man, any 0-60 numbers by chance?

Gimmeahemi

Discussion Starter · #4 · 10 d ago

steveorama said:
I have a ZZP canned tune and it was just under $200 a couple years ago. My engine was completely stock at the time, but I've since replaced the charge pipes and added the GMPP intake, but it's not like those add and additional power anyway. I've had no issues with the tune and it's notably faster acceleration.

ZZP LNF Turbo PCM

The ZZP LNF turbo PCM brings the performance of your turbocharged Cobalt to the level that the factory should have released it with.

zzperformance.com

Also, how did installation work? I see it’s a pcm. Did you just swap the pcm? I’ve seen most tuning set ups as a OBd 2 sender connection

Robotech

· #5 · 10 d ago (Edited)

Gimmeahemi said:
I’m wanting to get my sky redline tuned. But I also want to know if I should get my engine or components reinforced before I get it done. Any suggestions? View attachment 123065

That intake reminds me of the one I did for my 2.4...and seeing your name I'm now envisioning a huge Hemi swap into a Kappa...LOL

A tune is going to wake the car up the most. I'm not a fan of "canned" tunes which that ZZP tune most likely is. ZZP...and DDN, PAW, and RPM...also offer true tunes where they remotely tune your car for your mods and conditions. This will yield better results than a canned tune but is also much more expensive than your $200 budget.

Canned tunes CAN be provided for simple mods such as intakes, charge pipes, catted high flow or straight through down pipes, and exhausts, but anything more complex than that and you need a true tune anyways.

For the most part, the ZZP canned tune will give you 80% of what you can do without adding some major items that would require a custom tune. Exhausts won't net more than 7hp and a high flow cat may get you 15hp though both those gains only happen IF you have a tune that disables the way the ECM will adjust boost to hit a pre-programmed power level. This is referred to as the "learn down" feature. I am not sure if the ZZP canned tune disables it completely or just raises it to higher level like the GMPP tune does but I'd ASSuME it eliminates it.

Intakes and charge pipes look nice and change the sound of the car but add no significant power. A better intercooler may be in order as the OEM intercooler can balloon and leak at higher than stock boost levels all tunes command and would not require a better tune. The turbo's bypass valve can tear creating a boost leak but more robust options are vavailable but very pricey ($175-$200).

E85 tunes will add power but you will need to update your fuel system (new in tank pump, new high pressure fuel pump aka HPFP, new intake camshaft with a larger HPFP lobe, and/or Opel injectors) and a true tune. Larger turbos are available but you need a true tune. Meth, cams, NO2, etc would all add power but all need custom tunes.

That covers the basics. Expect a 30-40 bhp gain from the ZZP, GMPP or Trifecta canned tunes and nothing else with maybe a 40-55 bhp gain with tune, exhaust, intake and downpipe.

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Robotech

· #6 · 10 d ago

Gimmeahemi said:
Also, how did installation work? I see it’s a pcm. Did you just swap the pcm? I’ve seen most tuning set ups as a OBd 2 sender connection

Not sure how Steve did it but you can send them your ECM, pay a refundable core charge and swap ECMs, or have them send you and HP Tuners file and use YOUR HP Tuners interface to upload it...which is OBDII based. You can also pay a deposit for the HP Tuners interface of $275 and use YOUR laptop to upload it...or pay a $525 deposit and they send you HP Tuners and a laptop to use to upload it.

So depending on if you want to pay a core or deposit amount determines your options.

Gimmeahemi

Discussion Starter · #7 · 10 d ago

Robotech said:
That intake reminds me of the one I did for my 2.4...and seeing your name I'm now envisioning a huge Hemi swap into a Kappa...LOL

A tune is going to wake the car up the most. I'm not a fan of "canned" tunes which that ZZP tune most likely is. ZZP...and DDN, PAW, and RPM...also offer true tunes where they remotely tune your car for your mods and conditions. This will yield better results than a canned tune but is also much more expensive than your $200 budget.

Canned tunes CAN be provided for simple mods such as intakes, charge pipes, catted high flow or straight through down pipes, and exhausts, but anything more complex than that and you need a true tune anyways.

For the most part, the ZZP canned tune will give you 80% of what you can do without adding some major items that would require a custom tune. Exhausts won't net more than 7hp and a high flow cat may get you 15hp though both those gains only happen IF you have a tune that disables the way the ECM will adjust boost to hit a pre-programmed power level. This is referred to as the "learn down" feature. I am not sure if the ZZP canned tune disables it completely or just raises it to higher level like the GMPP tune does but I'd ASSuME it eliminates it.

Intakes and charge pipes look nice and change the sound of the car but add no significant power. A better intercooler may be in order as the OEM intercooler can balloon and leak at higher than stock boost levels all tunes command and would not require a better tune. The turbo's bypass valve can tear creating a boost leak but more robust options are vavailable but very pricey ($175-$200).

E85 tunes will add power but you will need to update your fuel system (new in tank pump, new high pressure fuel pump aka HPFP, new intake camshaft with a larger HPFP lobe, and/or Opel injectors) and a true tune. Larger turbos are available but you need a true tune. Meth, cams, NO2, etc would all add power but all need custom tunes.

That covers the basics. Expect a 30-40 bhp gain from the ZZP, GMPP or Trifecta canned tunes and nothing else with maybe a 40-55 bhp gain with tune, exhaust, intake and downpipe.

That’s a

Robotech said:
Not sure how Steve did it but you can send them your ECM, pay a refundable core charge and swap ECMs, or have them send you and HP Tuners file and use YOUR HP Tuners interface to upload it...which is OBDII based. You can also pay a deposit for the HP Tuners interface of $275 and use YOUR laptop to upload it...or pay a $525 deposit and they send you HP Tuners and a laptop to use to upload it.

So depending on if you want to pay a core or deposit amount determines your options.

That’s a TON of info man thanks a lot, I won’t do any purchasing until Friday the 9th so hopefully I will find a local tuner or the infamous Saturn sky tuner that I’ve heard about. Waiting to hear from the “guy with a laptop” guy I contacted earlier.

Reactions: 1

Gimmeahemi

Discussion Starter · #8 · 10 d ago

Robotech said:
Not sure how Steve did it but you can send them your ECM, pay a refundable core charge and swap ECMs, or have them send you and HP Tuners file and use YOUR HP Tuners interface to upload it...which is OBDII based. You can also pay a deposit for the HP Tuners interface of $275 and use YOUR laptop to upload it...or pay a $525 deposit and they send you HP Tuners and a laptop to use to upload it.

So depending on if you want to pay a core or deposit amount determines your options.

Thanks a. Lot man I’m going to look into that.
I posted a video to my YouTube @obviously_pro with the exhaust clip

Robotech

· #9 · 10 d ago

Sounds real good. Did you just "Y" at the rear axle?

Gimmeahemi

Discussion Starter · #10 · 10 d ago

Robotech said:
Sounds real good. Did you just "Y" at the rear axle?

Yea it came with dual exhaust. Considering quad tips but I don’t want it to pop less when I let off the gas

Robotech

· #11 · 10 d ago

Gimmeahemi said:
Yea it came with dual exhaust. Considering quad tips but I don’t want it to pop less when I let off the gas

Yea the Red Lines do but if you wanted single I am sure there are some base model owners who would gladly swap you rear valances. lol

Gimmeahemi

Discussion Starter · #12 · 10 d ago

steveorama said:
I have a ZZP canned tune and it was just under $200 a couple years ago. My engine was completely stock at the time, but I've since replaced the charge pipes and added the GMPP intake, but it's not like those add and additional power anyway. I've had no issues with the tune and it's notably faster acceleration.

ZZP LNF Turbo PCM

The ZZP LNF turbo PCM brings the performance of your turbocharged Cobalt to the level that the factory should have released it with.

zzperformance.com

I’m looking forward to hearing feedback from you about hp gains or differences in 0-60 or 0-100

Gimmeahemi

Discussion Starter · #13 · 10 d ago

Robotech said:
Sounds real good. Did you just "Y" at the rear axle?

Thanks for the feedback man

Reactions: 1

kappaccino

· #14 · 10 d ago

You can take advantage of the currency exchange and go with Wester's who is located in Canada. Think you have to send in your ECM.

steveorama

· #15 · 6 d ago

Gimmeahemi said:
I’m looking forward to hearing feedback from you about hp gains or differences in 0-60 or 0-100

Sorry for the late reply. I haven't had the car on a dyno or officially timed so I'm not much help there for those numbers.

ZZP advertises their basic (canned) tune usually results in around 280whp. For me it was an extremely noticeable difference after the install. Without a dyno I can't give exact numbers for you, but I would imagine if/when I do, the numbers should be in that ballpark.

Like what Robo said, a canned tune although not an actual "tune" where pulls are recorded and adjustments made. Will still net most what they are looking for. In my situation it was exactly what I wanted. The canned tunes are more or less built off of the GMPP tune and adjusted based on the tuners experience on what parameters usually work for most. With that said, I'm extremely happy with the canned tune I received from ZZP and have recommended it often.

VA_Red_Sky

· #16 · 5 d ago

Gimmeahemi said:
Yea it came with dual exhaust. Considering quad tips but I don’t want it to pop less when I let off the gas

How do I pop more?! Not trying hijack.

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squilliam

· #17 · 3 d ago

I’m a huge fan of the ZZP tune. The $200 isn’t just for a canned tune. They will do multiple revisions with that tune after you get them log files. With my mods, they did 4 revisions, and it hauls ass (e85, bigger injectors, charge pipes, bigger intercooler, bigger intake cam, thermal intake isolator, etc).

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