Ty Merritt

i have a na 88fc vert. im about to build a new exhaust for it(1.5in - 2.5in) headers to mufflers. was wondering if it is worth trying to find someone to tune my car the way it is or if i should try to get a piggy back ecu or just go full stand alone. i plan on turboing it next winter with a bridgeport and i will be getting the hal tech that comes with the wiring harness is it worth trying to tune it stock or just run the exhaust without tune. please help!!

Dak

It's my understanding that there is no tuning the stock ECU. There was Rtek once upon a time, but it was a modified stock ECU and are no longer made. So beyond using a piggyback or getting a used Rtek, a standalone is your only option for tuning. You'll be fine on a n/a running the exhuast without a tune. You might not make as much power as you could with tuning but shouldn't risk breaking anything like on a turbo.

WondrousBread

Agreed with Dak. The car will run fine with the exhaust, even without a tune.

If you're planning to turbocharge it then skip the piggyback options and just save up for the standalone. There are people using Rtek with good results, but standalones are pretty affordable now (in relative terms) and will go a lot further than an Rtek will.

j9fd3s

iTrader: (3)

the only real tuning you can do with the stock ecu is to play with timing, and adjust the adjustable stuff (TPS, Idle mixture).
you can (and should) have fresh fuel filters, and have the plug wires routed either away from each other or cross at 90 degree angles (the google search term is inductive cross fire)