Safe to run untuned?

[4.6L GT]

I built my motor several months ago and knock on wood no problems found yet (around 1500 miles). I have not had the car tuned by a professional I just set timing and fuel pressure to what I have seen in some articles in MM&FF. I would really like to take my car to the track, but don't need to hurt my motor or wallet. Should I wait to be safe or go for it? There is a local shop here that i've heard does really good work,H.E.D(Harrell Engine Dyno), I can afford to get it tuned but don't want to waste money if its not needed or no hp. or tq. gain will be seen. Any suggestions?

Mods listed in sig.

[dkcardwell]

HED does do great work. Know some folks that have had work done by them. If your running massair with A9L computer and you've already drove it that many miles it's probly just fine. If your concerned however take it to the chassis dyno and let em' get a air/fuel on it to make sure she's not to lean. 3 pulls on the dyno should tell the tale.
Lots of folks on here build up there engines and don't have tunes.

[boostedcoupe]

Yea what he said. If it looks good on the dyno, spend the money on some of that nows stuff.......... im just sayin!

[92LX-5.8]

Doing this is not near as dangerous on a N/A motor such as yours. Just keep your ears open for any kind of back firing and you will be fine...

[midnight stang]

You should not need a tune for those mods, HED has done a lot of work for me over the years, in fact I think mine was the first efi car he tuned on the dyno.

[4.6L GT]

Do you think that a tune would yeild a good power increase?

[footbraker]

you dont NEED a tune. It would never hurt, but unless you go wth nitrous or boost I think your gain would be minimal ... other words, not worth the money.

Id take it to the track like it is.

[midnight stang]

you dont NEED a tune. It would never hurt, but unless you go wth nitrous or boost I think your gain would be minimal ... other words, not worth the money.

Id take it to the track like it is.

+1 you would gain 5 to 10 hp on that set up (not worth it), tune is not really needed on a mass air car unless you stroke it, or add boost nos.

[4.6L GT]

Thats good to know. I probably will eventually get a tune, but would like to change my intake to a Track Heat or Sysytemax first. I also would like to evetually throw some boost at it (turbo) then get it tuned. I have used some of the compression ratio calc. and my compression comes up to around 9.8:1. will that compression be too high even if i have a very safe tune? thanks

[midnight stang]

should be fine up to 10-12 lbs of boost then you will need to run good gas or take timing out.

[4.6L GT]

Cool, I was a little worried about my higher compression causing a problem, but I was only looking for 8-12 lbs of boost anyways. So I will save my money for my tune now and put it towards my turbo setup later. Thanks for all the help.:thumbsup1:

[nastynotchback1]

You don't have to get it tuned and will be fine but a tune (when tuned right) will net you more than just 10 hp.It is well worth the money to get your car tuned and you will probably see somewhere in the 20hp range of a gain.

[4.6L GT]

If I do decide to get a tune, can the chip I get be reused for when I get a turbo later down the road or will I have to buy another, or should I just ask for them to set fuel pressure and timing to get my A/F ratio right. I know it is a little rich because I can smell it at stoplights.

[nastynotchback1]

If I do decide to get a tune, can the chip I get be reused for when I get a turbo later down the road or will I have to buy another, or should I just ask for them to set fuel pressure and timing to get my A/F ratio right. I know it is a little rich because I can smell it at stoplights.

the chip can be re-burned over again and you can get a flip chip and have different tunes put on it.They can not get the a/f right just by changing the fp.They will have to adjust the fuel through out the rpm range.