sorry guys..new to the Z here but whats a tune and what does it do exactly? :driving:

A tune is actually a great mod. Your vehicle's engine is controlled by a computer, the ECU. A "tune" gives the ECU a newer image which opens the engine up for more power and quicker response. A stock ECU tune is geared for some performance, but also for engine efficiency and reliability. An aftermarket tune can improve performance.

Usually, a reputable garage performs dyno tests to calculate hp gains vs. stock.

They used to refer to this as "chipping" a car as well, because unless I'm mistaken, one used to literally replace a chip in the vehicle. Now it's all software through the OBD-II, if I'm correct.

:iagree:

ahh icic..yeah i'm familiar with reflashing an ecu and "chipping" from the ricer days lol. awesome info! thanks

yea in the EPROM days, you had to change the actual chip, 300zx's were that way. but now the stock ECU can be flashed and retuned. the way i always explain it is that when nissan tunes the stock car, they have to tune it so that it will run in the middle of a desert, at the top of mt everest, and at the north pole all on the same tune while running off gasoline with quality so poor, you could relabel it coca-cola and last at least 60k miles without destroying itself. running the fuel you usually get in your area and tuning it on a dyno allows them to open up the constraints to get more power out of it and get it running more efficient for the fuel you use. typically you get more power and your fuel mileage either stays the same or in some cases goes up slightly... after you get done with your 40-100mph pulls the first week that is :tup:

Your absolutely right. I'm getting my BERK HFC's first...then Stillen CAI...then shortly after that a tune (that will be the last thing that I do internally for performance)..I will work on exterior next. Probably trying to lighten things up just a bit but not going crazy.

just to give you a reference, my only performance mod right now is a true dual exhaust on my frontier and i had jon@z1 tune my truck with uprev. i gained 11hp and 22ft-lbs. but the big gains were all the way across the curve with 20-30ft-lbs consistently across the mid range in the meat of the rpms. this is where you can improve your fuel mileage depending on what rpms you usually cruise at