Mail order tune or shop tune?

[KLaBZ28]

This summer I plan on tuning my 95 and was wondering what would be the best way to go. The makers of LT1edit live literally 2 miles down my street, so I could just have them do their thing. Or, I could bring my car to Slohawk Performance which is not too far away and have them tune it. Which is the better route? Any benefits of a shop tune over the mail order type?

[KissMyWhtSS]

What are your mods? Honestly, you probably don't need a shop tune and it's going to cost more.

I'd only have a shop tune it if you have a hard setup to tune (custom ground cam) and/or want a dyno sheet after the tune. For a bolt-on car, a PCM4Less/MadZ28 tune will suffice and save you $$$.

[KLaBZ28]

I just have a CAI right now, but I will have LT's, true duals, no emissions (AIR EGR cat's), and 3.42's before I get the tune. I also plan on a hotcam install and maybe other bolt ons next winter, (see post in LT1-LT4), so should I just wait until all that is done instead of having to tune it up twice?

[KissMyWhtSS]

Yeah I'd wait till you put the cam in it. Or atleast find a place (most do this) that will cut you a good deal when you need it retuned for the cam.

[96lt1m6]

Send your PCM to ION(madtuner) fill out his spec. sheet with your mods for 150.00. then when you instal your cam send the pcm back to him to get tuned for the cam for an additional 50.00 or you can get the car dynotuned at this point

[Camaro_94]

You are probibly safe either way you go... But one of the benefits to having a dyno tune is that the tuner has your car right in front of them and can see exactly whats goin on when they dyno it.. Unlike mail order tuners where your car isnt in front of them. If theres a good dyno tuner around you, they would get my vote.. A lot of people charge $300-350 for a dyno tune, then $100 or so for a retune if you add stuff to it in the future.

Mail order tunes still get the job done though.