Re: Not for Nuthin' But Close!
 

You pretty much summed it up perfectly. Can't wait to see what this thing does once that aftermarket header comes in......

Re: Not for Nuthin' But Close!
 

My HP tuners should be here today. I am hoping to learn about it myself. I even brought my laptop to work so I could go ahead and download the software and be ready when I get home!

Re: Not for Nuthin' But Close!
 

In my opinion, the hardest part of the entire program is finding where each parameter is in the tuning software. I knew nothing about hp tuners a month and a half ago, and just by playing with it I’ve gotten to be fairly competent of how to work the program. If you have any questions feel free to ask.

Re: Not for Nuthin' But Close!
 

Billy, there are those of us who are totally envious because you have stepped out to do something we have all wondered about, and so generously carried us all along for the ride. And you were successful beyond our expectations! The story related in this thread is rich! Thank you for including us in your fun!

Incidentally, my first race car (57 Chev 150 business coupe 283 2-barrel 4-speed in O/S) ran 15.08 on its maiden sorting-out day. Back in 1968!)

Re: Not for Nuthin' But Close!
 

Dwight, I couldn't have done many of the things that I have done in my life without the help and support of friends.

Re: Not for Nuthin' But Close!
 

All of us are in that category! But doing it together is where the value is (including the fun!).

Re: Not for Nuthin' But Close!
 

We might need to start a new thread regarding HPtuners. It might be more fitting on Classracer since dial in racing is going to have a pretty different tune rather than a fast street car tune, which seems to be moderately common on the repository.

My question is, how "simple" can I make a car for the strip only? Lock timing, RPM only shifts, no spark advance or retard, No IAT adjustments, etc..

Re: Not for Nuthin' But Close!
 

Basically what I did was find out what was varying run to run and locking it out. The timing is now locked because it did some wacky stuff from run to run before. I also disabled the knock sensor because even though it wasn’t pinging, it would randomly take timing out to try and mess with the air fuel ratio. I put it in open loop so it didn’t try and tune itself going down the track, and the shifts are set by rpm.

Re: Not for Nuthin' But Close!
 

I have found this to be true on many of the platforms that HP Tuners is used. The GM cars use different ECU's over the years and it can be challenging to find some settings.
I looked at the Caviler file early on and it is very basic with minimal tables and modifiers. As the technology has progressed they have become complicated.

One of the issues with the OEM hardware and HP Tuners software is that there are still items in the background that we cannot see or edit. In an earlier year car like this it's minimal. It will be interesting to hear how your data logs stack up on each other.

Good stuff you are doing!

Good luck!

Robin

Re: Not for Nuthin' But Close!
 

Billy/Doug do you have any pictures you could post? I have a buddy that recently bought I believe a 2004 Monte Carlo with intentions of running in stock a little. We will see. Did you say you are currently .50 under right now? Really like the progress.

Robert

Re: Not for Nuthin' But Close!
 

R,
The Monte is all V6 stuff. The 3.4 is okay, but we beat it up a little..
You may be thinking of the Malibu, 2.2 Ecotec

Re: Not for Nuthin' But Close!
 

Back in March I bought a 2007 Malibu to see what it would do.
My Granddaughter got her learner's permit about the same time and claimed the Malibu was hers. I have taken her driving in it, but with the covid closures I didn't get to the track until November. I took it to Milan and sat in the staging lanes for about 3 hours. I did make one pass and turned an 18.55.

Re: Not for Nuthin' But Close!
 

So, with no testing here for the next 60-90 days, and I have my HP Tuners ready, should I go ahead and make changes, or should I leave the factory tune in it, to get a baseline, or should I go ahead and change a few things, like the knock sensor?

Re: Not for Nuthin' But Close!
 

I would say it's all a matter of personal preference. I would say you should eliminate the speed limiter before you make a baseline pass if you put small front tires on it. What you can do is save your baseline tune, then make changes and save it as a different file name so you can easily write the ecu after your first run.

Re: Not for Nuthin' But Close!
 

Ya know Doug, I know that this doesn't count for much BUT the Natl. Record is at a minimum. That means that the Natl. Record is at a 15.10. You have gone .015 faster than the record!

Re: Not for Nuthin' But Close!
 

Billy, Can you show us a picture of that exhaust manifold when you get it off?

Re: Not for Nuthin' But Close!
 

If you are going to pull the head for the record, it would be a go time to swap out the head for a updated one. If I could remember how to post pics I could post one of a exhaust manifold. Tom

Re: Not for Nuthin' But Close!
 

Would it be feasible to use a stick one of these cars?

Re: Not for Nuthin' But Close!
 

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Re: Not for Nuthin' But Close!
 

If I can ever get my computer to let me post pictures again I will.

Re: Not for Nuthin' But Close!
 

Same problem Billy. What version of windows are you running?

Re: Not for Nuthin' But Close!
 

Windows 10

Re: Not for Nuthin' But Close!
 

Have you done any weight reduction in the car Billy? Of course we have the dirt car striped down, has a 6point cage with door bars that could stop a truck and full containment seat. It weighs about 2300 with a 200 lb driver. What size of rim you running? Tom

Re: Not for Nuthin' But Close!
 

Tom, I haven't even taken the spare tire and jack out of it. To make D/FS it has to weight 2830 with me in it. Well when I weighed it, it weighed 2850. I'm sure that I could get enough out of it to make C/FS if we decide to go in that direction.

Re: Not for Nuthin' But Close!
 

Email them to me ,and I'll post it. :-)

Re: Not for Nuthin' But Close!
 

The clutch and flywheel must be SFI approved per the NHRA Rulebook.

Re: Not for Nuthin' But Close!
 

"Honest to God" tech now in place ;-)

Re: Not for Nuthin' But Close!
 

I got it. Get back to work on that header.

https://i.postimg.cc/J0GxtBrd/132098...08270635-n.jpgphoto url

https://i.postimg.cc/T1Vh29yc/132174...35252633-n.jpg

Re: Not for Nuthin' But Close!
 

EWW. early on i posted a used header for $75...

Re: Not for Nuthin' But Close!
 

Isn't that rule for V8, not 4 cyl?

Re: Not for Nuthin' But Close!
 

not mine, no affiliation. header for 02-04 cavalier ecotec $100 https://www.facebook.com/marketplace...code=undefined

Re: Not for Nuthin' But Close!
 

CLUTCH, FLYWHEEL, FLYWHEEL SHIELD
Clutch and flywheel meeting SFI Spec 1.1 or 1.2 (2-disc
maximum) mandatory. Steel flywheel shield meeting SFI Spec
6.1 mandatory on all V-8 cars with a clutch. Flywheel shield
cannot be modified for clutch adjustment and/or cooling holes.


4 and 6 cylinders don't need a flywheel shield. They do need an approved clutch and flywheel.

Re: Not for Nuthin' But Close!
 

Billy,i have a vintage magazine feature on cavalier "hop ups".-in the stax.its yours!....."the train has left the station on this project"...billys nees after looking at the corvette for the last 30 years!.,the zinga!

Re: Not for Nuthin' But Close!
 

Billy breaking out old reliable to do some "laptop" tuning on the Cavalier...

Re: Not for Nuthin' But Close!
 

Not to stir the pot but can you run a hyd clutch in stock?? Tom

Re: Not for Nuthin' But Close!
 

Sure, if it came that way.
I can't imagine anyone would want to retro-fit one.
Almost sure you CAN'T use a hydraulic TOB..
And no, you can't put a line lock in the hyd. line, and hook it to a button ;-)

Re: Not for Nuthin' But Close!
 

The reason I ask is the 2002 F body came with hdy clutch but you had to make it mechanical. Tom

Re: Not for Nuthin' But Close!
 

Had to? Why, exactly?

Re: Not for Nuthin' But Close!
 

Don't think you have to,just easier to do mechanical with bellhousing and transmission they are using.

Re: Not for Nuthin' But Close!
 

I agree with you, buddy.
The 86 Cimarron was hydraulic, and I couldn't stand it.
It turned out that first year Cavalier (also a J car) had a cable clutch, so we just ordered all the parts new from a Chevy dealer..Of course they were only four years old then.
We're going to see if Ford has a better idea. ;-)