new guy-have alot to learn about tuning

[jxnslotcar]

Hi,My name is Jim and I am an automotive tech. I own a small shop in Jackson. I am pretty good at repairing problems with EFI,driveability and electrical. The thing is that I have not done any tuning. Always have been on the repair side of these systems. I am now interested in installing LS style engines into older cars,ie 55 Chevy,ect. In order to do that I will need to either make or purchase stand alone harnesses and pcm. I would like to be able to do my own tuning while installing a LS style engine but it is not like I will have a line of cars waiting to have this done. At least,not at 1st. ;)
So,I am trying to decipher what would be the right way to go as far as to what i need to learn,what equipment I should buy (need to be conservative in terms of dollars spent),ect. I got to this site through another site where they sell LS engine packages with harness and they are using EFIlive. Any advice would be much appreciated. I intend on taking a project 55 Chevy and install a 5.3 engine for practice. I do not want to learn on a customer's car or truck. We are doing a TPI engine into a 1986 El Camino next week but it came with a Howell ecm and harness. We are going to install fuel pump,ect to do the install but that is a little different than doing a LS style engine install.
Thank you Jim

[joecar]

Hi Jim, welcome to the forum :cheers:

For the LS family of engines (GenIII/GenIV), you will need a editing/flashing tool like EFILive FlashScan V2.

This includes an advanced scantool which helps greatly with diagnosing EFI/driveability problems.

You can test drive the actual software, download/install the V7.5 software from here (http://www.efilive.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=48&Itemid=133), sample log and tune files are included; see www.holdencrazy.com (http://www.holdencrazy.com) for more tune files.

If you change exhaust headers and/or intake plumbing (as you probably will have to on earlier model vehicles), a wideband controller/sensor will help; if you change heads/cams then a wideband becomes necessary to ensure tuning success; see V2 serial comms compatible widebands (http://www.efilive.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=138&Itemid=143)

The LS engine PCM's/ECM's are very capable (e.g. provide engine protection features), making them seemingly more complicated than aftermarket controllers; you will need to do a lot of reading and question asking; the forum has a lot of how-to tuning material, there's quite a few members with various specialties, I know they are willing to help answer questions... they have made this forum the Great One :thumb_yello::rockon:
:cheers:

Please follow the links in my sig...

Cheers
:santa1: