Tuning a 6.0

[Cadillacmak]

I have been promising a friend that I will tune his K2500 2004 6.0 one day (before summer, long winters up here) with HP Tuner. Nothing drastic, just clean it up so he has a little more towing power. If anyone has tips or hints for me, I would appreciate it.

 

[ORVietVet]

I am lost as to how to do that. I depend on BlackBear Performance, who did a "traditional tune" on my 2005 Tahoe Z71 5.3.

 

[Cadillacmak]

I am getting okay with the 5.7 tuning, but I know there are different tricks to each platform.

 

[ORVietVet]

My shop owner friend can do it as well. He starts talking about having to "buy credits" or buy something and he loses me.

It's like when you buy your first new vehicle and say, "I don't care what it costs, just what's the monthly payment"?

 

[Cadillacmak]

The nice thing about HP Tuner is once you buy the credits, you can play with that vehicle computer all you want. The pain is you have to buy credits for every vehicles computer that you want to tune! I am thinking about getting one of those open source programs so its cheaper.

 

[ORVietVet]

The nice thing about HP Tuner is once you buy the credits, you can play with that vehicle computer all you want. The pain is you have to buy credits for every vehicles computer that you want to tune! I am thinking about getting one of those open source programs so its cheaper.

There you go, you are losing me again. "Open Source"?

BlackBear Performance forever!

 

[DateNight]

A good tune with dyno and street time is close to 1k in Dfw. I’m going to start learning how to do it myself also

 

[ORVietVet]

A good tune with dyno and street time is close to 1k in Dfw. I’m going to start learning how to do it myself also

Dyno too?

 

[Cadillacmak]

Some day I hope to have a dyno, I can dream right!

 

[stutaeng]

Some day I hope to have a dyno, I can dream right!

You can do a data log with HP Tuners. Not as good as Dyno tuning, but I think it's good enough for most.

 

[Cadillacmak]

You can do a data log with HP Tuners. Not as good as Dyno tuning, but I think it's good enough for most.

Yup, I do a lot of data logging.

 

[Cadillacmak]

I finally got all the little issues worked out on the 1997 K2500 Suburban and spent a about an hour working on the tune. Took the truck out on a run and MAN was that a good tune!

 

[99Sierra2500]

Patron saint of tuning:



BTW: How did it go? Supposedly mine has a tune, though I don't know, runs pretty good, so I am leery of messing with it.

 

[Cadillacmak]

Patron saint of tuning:



BTW: How did it go? Supposedly mine has a tune, though I don't know, runs pretty good, so I am leery of messing with it.

The 97 k2500 with the 5.7 is tuned very nice right now, just little stuff. I have yet to get my buddy over here and tune his 6.0, still winter in Alaska so I have some time. I just got a 2001 Yukon with a 5.3 but I wont do much with it because of the 4Lslippy. I will just add some lean cruise.

I don't know if you know this or not, but from the factory, they limit the torque in the computer to under the advertised torque rating of the motor. Its just a mathematical limit and they can argue that it doesn't really limit torque, but when you change it you get more torque.

 

[99Sierra2500]

I didn't know that, thanks.

 

[Cadillacmak]

I didn't know that, thanks.

That example is just one spot in the program that limits torque, there are a few spots to go through and clean up to get the torque back.

 

[99Sierra2500]

I seem to recall my old sierra with the same setup felt a little more quick, though it was lighter than this one, it's an extended cab. I have had three quarter ton action line and square bodies, both fine powerful trucks, though overall not fast or comfortable really.

 

[CPB]

The 97 k2500 with the 5.7 is tuned very nice right now, just little stuff. I have yet to get my buddy over here and tune his 6.0, still winter in Alaska so I have some time. I just got a 2001 Yukon with a 5.3 but I wont do much with it because of the 4Lslippy. I will just add some lean cruise.

I don't know if you know this or not, but from the factory, they limit the torque in the computer to under the advertised torque rating of the motor. Its just a mathematical limit and they can argue that it doesn't really limit torque, but when you change it you get more torque. View attachment 2673

It’s also worth expanding that torque delivery is part of the driver demand system, so the GM ecu will only run enough fuel and timing to hit the desired number given the table mapping. It’s also linked to the PTM in newer GM products, since they are calculating the maximum torque that will prevent traction loss. It’s a really tricky system, but often throws tuners used to speed density for a loop. You can toss mods at a vehicle, and it will pull back some timing if it’s easily hitting target output.

 

[stutaeng]

The 2500HD 6.0 LQ4 on this generation was factory rated at 300HP, which I believe was "detuned" from the factory. Most likely because they knew these trucks were going to be worked hard towing and hauling as work trucks.

The exact same LQ4 on the 2500 Suburbans was rated at 325HP. I've never looked at what the differences are on the tune. GM would sometimes just limit the RPM on the tune on certain vehicles, to keep the HP rating lower.

That's why the folks that get an aftermarket tune like Black Bear on their 2500HD always note that the tune really wakes up the engine...

As long as the transmission can support the extra power from tune: tune away

 

[DateNight]

you should do very simple mail order tunes, probably make some good side money.