Pontiac Grand Prix Forums : Grandprix

So i finally decided to splurge and buy a powertuner and a used laptop. Question for all you modders is this: i want to keep a stocker pcm in case i get a little carried away, so will i need a 99 specific pcm to work with, or can i get a stock pcm from other years, or a used zzp/dph/intence one? completely new to tuning, and a little nervous about tackling this, but learning new things is always fun - though blowing things up is (in this case at least) not so fun

Try finding a 99 if you can. If it comes down to it, get you a different year, and flash it with the 99 file. Then you're good to go from there.

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GreenBastardPerformance2000 GTP Coupe (the green bastard)
XP, Pacesetters, LS1 TB & MAF,MSD System, P&P LIM, P&P GenV w/ 3.2, 3.0, 2.8, Devil'sOwn Injected 100% Methanol,PowerTuned, TripleEdge Trans w/3.29's
12.92 @ 105mph

Best tuning advice in the world is BABY STEPS then check. Some of the tables are super sensitive, while others are not, so even if your fuel or spark are way off, ease into it by making small steps towards where you need to go, and remember that every change you make will affect other tables.

Get yourself a copy of Jerry's tune handbook, and I will post up one of mine and read before you start, so you have an idea of whats going on. It will be a bit overwhelming, but practice makes perfect. For the record, I have never fried a PCM, and its really hard to do as long as you follow directions.

http://www.okgpc.com/website/Files/T...v%201.0.9h.doc

webracin

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2001 Grand Prix GTP
ZZP HUB 3.2 3.4, ZZP 8 Rib conversion, JC 3" DP Gen 2 cat & U-bend Delete, Accel Super Stock 8mm wires, DHP 1.5, 180* Thermo, Throttle Spacer, SS Intercooler, ZZP Fuel Rails, SLP CAI w/K&N Cone, Dynomax cat back, ZZP Tranny.

2000 Grand Prix GTP Daytona K&N, Flowmasters

I'll tell you what I did just in case it helps, as Webracin is right, baby steps is key.

1. I created a folder on my laptop and called it PowerTuner
2. Then I created a sub folder called software and I store all the software for the PowerTuner and related files there.
3. Created another sub folder of the PowerTuner folder and called it Stock Bins and I put the bin file I downloaded off my PCM in there just in case I ever have to revert it back to where I started.
4. Created another sub folder and called it Tuning. I created sub folders here that are labeled with the dates of any tuning I done. For instance, if I tuned today I would create a folder 08.01.2008. In side that folder would be the bin file I uploaded or contained the current tune after I got tuning for that day. I would label that tune with a revision number. For instance 08012008_RevisionA.bin. Everytime I upload to the PCM any changes, then I save that bin file in that folder for that day, 08012008_RevB, 08012008_RevC and so on. Also in that folder is a note pad file that includes detail on each revision. What I changed, what table, what the values were before I made the change and what I changed it to and so. Just very thourough details of each revision so that I can recall what I was doing and what I did to what. Even if I just go in and change a shift point or the point the fans come on, thats a new revision and it is documented as such.

This enables me to always be able to go back to a previously known good tune without having to wipe out everything and I have each tune saved and documented. So instead of having to reset everything back to stock or where I started from, I just upload the last know good tune until I can figure out what may have been wrong with the one that was not working.

It is a lot of extra work but well worth it considering the things that can go wrong. Plus it helps you learn because you have each little step saved that you can refer back to.

Once you get it tuned where you want it, create another sub folder named Final Tunes. In there store your street tune, track tune or whatever and save those files named in that way, 2001GPGTP_StreetTune_Final, 2001GPGTP_TrackTune_Final and so on.

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Scotty Hall
2001 Pontiac Grand Prix GTP
It whines a lot, but I like it.

The only place success comes before work is in the dictionary.

Great spirits have always found violent opposition from mediocre minds.

Scotty, I agree with the good file keeping. At work, my files and folders need to be organized and easy to understand and well labeled, so my home files are the same way.

I have the My Documents on my laptop setup as my PT folder. I have a folder for .bins. In that folder I have stock bins, custom final bins, and DHP 1.5 bins for reference. I have another folder where I store downloaded tables. Like if I want to export a MAF table to look at, I have it in the appropriate MAF folder under the Tables folder. Then I have a folder for car tunes. In there, I have one folder for my car, one for my wife's, and one for my dad's. In each of those, I have folders to save all associated files (logs, bins, etc) of that tuning session. Each of those folders are dated and labeled with what I was tuning.

So yeah, while it is a lot of work at first, it is really nice. I can go back 1.5 years and see what my tune was like, what I was working on, and how far I have come. And if anything happens (which it will), I can easily revert back to my previous tune, as I have them filed by date and item I am tuning as well.

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Morad Parts Company

1997 GTP - 200k+ miles, PEMs, 3" SS Exhaust w/ Borla Mufflers, 3.4", 180* stat(summer), FWI, 1.84 RR, PT, SLP hood, KYB GR2s, GMPP Handling Kit, etc...

Well Im glad to know Im not the only one anal that way, LOL

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Scotty Hall
2001 Pontiac Grand Prix GTP
It whines a lot, but I like it.

The only place success comes before work is in the dictionary.

Great spirits have always found violent opposition from mediocre minds.

Nope...not by far.

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Morad Parts Company

1997 GTP - 200k+ miles, PEMs, 3" SS Exhaust w/ Borla Mufflers, 3.4", 180* stat(summer), FWI, 1.84 RR, PT, SLP hood, KYB GR2s, GMPP Handling Kit, etc...

thank you for all the responses.

I definitely plan on doing things slowly and meticulously. I'll be keeping separate folders and keeping backups of everything.

I just got my Powrtuner in the mail today and was wondering if anyone had the program and files on hand that I'd need to install on my computer to get this running. ATM i am having trouble getting any account to register in the DHP forums.

Thank you again