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New engine, first start up tune ?

Posted: Mon Jan 29, 2024 3:06 pm
by Jaso74
Hi All .

I will soon with any luck be firing up a freshly built 355 in my VR commodore ute .
I started with a crappy running project ute then one thing led to another and now I'm in the process of finishing a new engine build and trying to get prepared for the tuning process/learning curve that will ensue.

Still getting some items together but wondered about initial start up of this money pit and what would be safe as it were for starting,cam run in and with any luck not washing down the cylinders in that process more to the point .

Would the std 304 tune be ok for this or should I be putting a std 215i bin in or what else ?
I have my new nvram loaded with the enhanced code, aldl interface , tunerpro rt on laptop, ose plugin 1.80, VR_$11 adx file downloaded and I think a rough idea of where I'm going. (Have to choose a wideband kit and order that also).

Any help appreciated .

Re: New engine, first start up tune ?

Posted: Mon Jan 29, 2024 3:16 pm
by antus
Enhanced is for the later pcm type, so I assume you mean 11P on an ecm nvram. Yes, use the factory 5L as a starting point. But you mention a cam, and I wonder if you have different injectors too. If you have different injectors you'll want to change the injector rate and cranking tables to start with. If you have a cam you might be able to find better VE and Spark tables to copy in to the base 5L tune. You might also want to load up a 5.7 tune with its matching XDF and copy and paste the VE and Spark in to Excel and take note of the columns, then use excel to scale it to suite 11P and copy it in. As always you'll want to check your base timing before going to far, and keep an ear out for knock since you'll know you are mixing and matching a bit, just to be safe. Someone who's done it before might have further advice.

Re: New engine, first start up tune ?

Posted: Mon Jan 29, 2024 3:22 pm
by Charlescrown
I think the std 165 or 185 bin file should be fine. I don't know if the 215 has bigger injectors though. Make sure you keep the revs up to around 2000-2500 after startup and warmup. I'v seen flat tappet cams rip the lobes off in no time if left to idle after the first startup.

Re: New engine, first start up tune ?

Posted: Mon Jan 29, 2024 4:06 pm
by Jaso74
antus wrote: Mon Jan 29, 2024 3:16 pm Enhanced is for the later pcm type, so I assume you mean 11P on an ecm nvram. Yes, use the factory 5L as a starting point. But you mention a cam, and I wonder if you have different injectors too. If you have different injectors you'll want to change the injector rate and cranking tables to start with. If you have a cam you might be able to find better VE and Spark tables to copy in to the base 5L tune. You might also want to load up a 5.7 tune with its matching XDF and copy and paste the VE and Spark in to Excel and take note of the columns, then use excel to scale it to suite 11P and copy it in. As always you'll want to check your base timing before going to far, and keep an ear out for knock since you'll know you are mixing and matching a bit, just to be safe. Someone who's done it before might have further advice.
Oh bugger , Gareth preloaded the nvram with enhanced , does that mean it needed to be re-burnt with another code I guess for 11p ? I'm using a 424 ecu auto .

I have only a baby cam 4503 crow and std fuel system , no bigger injectors etc .

Re: New engine, first start up tune ?

Posted: Mon Jan 29, 2024 4:28 pm
by antus
It could be just the terminology... This one? viewtopic.php?t=3612
And with 11p? That is what you want for the '424 pcm.

Re: New engine, first start up tune ?

Posted: Mon Jan 29, 2024 4:35 pm
by Jaso74
Yep that's the nvram I have , ecm type for 424 ecu

So I'm a little confused on the enhanced mod code . Is that applicable to what I want to do , ie the 424 on VR auto ? In this - viewtopic.php?f=27&t=2518 ,it say VS to VY which would be a pcm nvram not a ecm nvram right ? Ahhh confused

Re: New engine, first start up tune ?

Posted: Mon Jan 29, 2024 10:48 pm
by vlad01
Depending on how hot the engine is, anything cam or related mods pretty much always run rich as shit on a stock memcal, this is due to the engine having lower vac for a given rpm, lower vac means higher up the stock memcal sees the VE table than it normally would be, therefore more fuel.

It's not uncommon for hotted up engine to billow black smoke on the stock memcal. I would lean everything out, and lean cam bed in is beneficial as the bores and rings get their best foot forward so to speak on the initial bedding in as the mixture is lean and no chance of fuel contamination of the oil film.

Re: New engine, first start up tune ?

Posted: Mon Jan 29, 2024 11:27 pm
by antus
Jaso74 wrote: Mon Jan 29, 2024 4:35 pm Yep that's the nvram I have , ecm type for 424 ecu

So I'm a little confused on the enhanced mod code . Is that applicable to what I want to do , ie the 424 on VR auto ? In this - viewtopic.php?f=27&t=2518 ,it say VS to VY which would be a pcm nvram not a ecm nvram right ? Ahhh confused
Yeah, I think since the ECM type are older and used more rarely as time goes by, he probably has gotten used to saying "enhanced" when referring to the software on all of them. Technically 11P is not that, but if you have the right hardware I think you'll get it with the right software too. I wouldn't worry about it at this point, and I am sure we can sort it out if there is a problem.

For what its worth i'd always recommend getting an eeprom programmer that supports the chip too, as accidentally uploading an incompatible file or short circuiting the read/write wire you need to solder in to the case against the pcm box will also damage the data on the chip. That's frustrating to then have to wait for a programmer at that point, so if you can, it's probably worth getting one now so should that happen you are able to recover on the spot. That advice goes to everyone running an nvram setup. Usually a gq4x4 from mcumall.com or darkwire.com.au or a TL866-3G from ebay are good options. The GQ has better software, but the TL866-3G is cheaper and can still get the job done.

Re: New engine, first start up tune ?

Posted: Tue Jan 30, 2024 5:25 am
by Jaso74
Thanks guys , that's cleared my ideas up in my head at this stage at least hehe .

I will speak to a guy at work before I fire it up and see if he can assist with leaning the ve table , he does dyno tuning , ve and spark table mods as part of his job , not something I have done working more so on another brand that doesn't have that requirement .

I will look at the eeprom programmer and get something , seems logical to have .

Re: New engine, first start up tune ?

Posted: Tue Jan 30, 2024 8:17 pm
by Jaso74
Is it possible to just tell tunerpro that your running a bigger injectors than your actually using and lean out the whole table across the board including cold enrichment etc ? Just thinking out loud