A Little Wait4me Tune Question?

04z71steve · November 8, 2007

ok guys well heres the problem... I've been tossing back and forth between a new intake, exhaust or a tune... and I've been trying to read other posts and tried to find out which would be best..

it seems like most guys say the stock intake on the truck is actually pretty decent..

most people will also say that the stock exhaust is pretty decent as well...

so I'm wondering.. I've never tuned a truck or car before.. I've heard allot about the wait4me tune and it seems like everyone seems to agree that its a good investment for the money. I'll give you a little background maybe u can help me decide...

I tow allot all summer i have 2 boats and a flatbed utility trailer so i usually tow about once a week.. i carry loads often cuz... well its a truck thats what its made for... but i like the idea of saving gas, and I've heard most guys say even with the nastiest hp tunes you still gain more mpg... that would be nice... but i also don't have a light foot whatsoever... so I'm wondering... what kind of tune would be best for me? what do you guys that have experience with the wait for me tunes think?

which would be the best for what i do!!!

all of your opinoins thoughts and experiences will be much appreciated!!!

thanks, Steve!

jrrod2004 · November 8, 2007

I would go for the wait for me tune with an aftermarket intake and cat-back exhaust system (engine will breath better) since you are pulling loads and actually using the truck. It is a very good investment (free updates with paid shipping). Its up to you on how much you want to spend, if nothing else, get the custom tune and leave it at that, if you want to spend a little more, replace the intake and exhaust with aftermarket ones, it will definitely help. other guys are gonna tell you that it is really up to you and what you want to spend, for me its gonna be the entire exhaust system from the headers back (already got the k&n intake) and then to help out with the bigger power, a shift kit, aftermarket transmission oil cooler, billet servos, and a deeper oil pan, in addition to the wait 4 me tune. I am interested to what else people would recommend for your situation. I want to bite the bullet, but I too want to know that my money is well spent.

wlvrn1215 · November 8, 2007

I have the wait4me tune...basically its an ''everything'' tune Call jesse @ wait4me and he'll explain. All you need to provide is your VIN and any mods you made, and he goes from there. I left the Torque Mgmt alone because I have a stock 4l60E and want it to last a long time. Since the tune this thing runs like a raped ape. He is at the SEMA show now so call in a week or so. Great investment....Hundreds of tables in the ECM are changed to run for more power throughout the entire rpm range...if you have any questions PM me and I'll be more than glad to fill you in.

MHeffe · November 8, 2007

I am in the same boat as you I am working on getting more out of my truck. I have also done some looking around and found that the first thing you should do is buy all you after market parts air intake, exhaust and so forth. The reason I say that is because when you get your engine reprogrammed they will ask you what you have done to it and program it with those mods in mind. It just makes since to me to only do it once if you are going to have to send off your brain for reprogramming.

One other thing I have found inserting is that it voids your warranty if they find out you have done that. That is why I am going with a hand held programmer rather than sending them my computer. It is a sacrifice of performance for piece of mind. I am sure you will get a 100 different responses and this is just mine.

2004GMC1500CC · November 8, 2007

I would go for the wait for me tune with an aftermarket intake and cat-back exhaust system (engine will breath better) since you are pulling loads and actually using the truck. It is a very good investment (free updates with paid shipping). Its up to you on how much you want to spend, if nothing else, get the custom tune and leave it at that, if you want to spend a little more, replace the intake and exhaust with aftermarket ones, it will definitely help. other guys are gonna tell you that it is really up to you and what you want to spend, for me its gonna be the entire exhaust system from the headers back (already got the k&n intake) and then to help out with the bigger power, a shift kit, aftermarket transmission oil cooler, billet servos, and a deeper oil pan, in addition to the wait 4 me tune. I am interested to what else people would recommend for your situation. I want to bite the bullet, but I too want to know that my money is well spent.

It's interesting you talk about all of these power mods, but you bought a truck with the 4.8L. instead of the 5.3L or 6.2L.

redvett · November 8, 2007

I have had my Jessie tune for 2 years on my 04 and the only mod is the electric fans everything else is just as GM built it including tires. I tow a trailer north every two weeks and Jessie tuned my truck for fuel economy no TM taken out and its an animal when you step on it. Fuel economy is never below 17 mpg average. I frequently get 19-20 mpg in summer with out the trailer & AC on.

I couldn't be more pleased with my tune. A air intake will not help fuel economy since the OEM intake is a fresh air & the exhaust the is the same its just the sound.

dalejrfan88 · November 8, 2007

Get the tune. Its worth it.

jrrod2004 · November 8, 2007

It's interesting you talk about all of these power mods, but you bought a truck with the 4.8L. instead of the 5.3L or 6.2L.

Very correct, but this is something I plan to give to my dad once I am done playing with it (plus it was my first NEW truck). Dad ain't a big fan of BIG displacement, rather how efficient it can run, If it was just me (he co-signed at the time of purchase but is no longer on the loan) deciding, I would have gone with a Cadillac Escalade EXT since that was the only vehicle that was available with the 6.2 when I was in the market for a new vehicle. If you look at my profile, it says age 21, which I am, so for me (and everyone else around here), i started at the bottom and then moved up, plus the bigger the truck the worse it is on insurance premiums.

04z71steve · November 9, 2007

I would go for the wait for me tune with an aftermarket intake and cat-back exhaust system (engine will breath better) since you are pulling loads and actually using the truck. It is a very good investment (free updates with paid shipping). Its up to you on how much you want to spend, if nothing else, get the custom tune and leave it at that, if you want to spend a little more, replace the intake and exhaust with aftermarket ones, it will definitely help. other guys are gonna tell you that it is really up to you and what you want to spend, for me its gonna be the entire exhaust system from the headers back (already got the k&n intake) and then to help out with the bigger power, a shift kit, aftermarket transmission oil cooler, billet servos, and a deeper oil pan, in addition to the wait 4 me tune. I am interested to what else people would recommend for your situation. I want to bite the bullet, but I too want to know that my money is well spent.

I have the wait4me tune...basically its an ''everything'' tune Call jesse @ wait4me and he'll explain. All you need to provide is your VIN and any mods you made, and he goes from there. I left the Torque Mgmt alone because I have a stock 4l60E and want it to last a long time. Since the tune this thing runs like a raped ape. He is at the SEMA show now so call in a week or so. Great investment....Hundreds of tables in the ECM are changed to run for more power throughout the entire rpm range...if you have any questions PM me and I'll be more than glad to fill you in.

I am in the same boat as you I am working on getting more out of my truck. I have also done some looking around and found that the first thing you should do is buy all you after market parts air intake, exhaust and so forth. The reason I say that is because when you get your engine reprogrammed they will ask you what you have done to it and program it with those mods in mind. It just makes since to me to only do it once if you are going to have to send off your brain for reprogramming.
One other thing I have found inserting is that it voids your warranty if they find out you have done that. That is why I am going with a hand held programmer rather than sending them my computer. It is a sacrifice of performance for piece of mind. I am sure you will get a 100 different responses and this is just mine.

I have had my Jessie tune for 2 years on my 04 and the only mod is the electric fans everything else is just as GM built it including tires. I tow a trailer north every two weeks and Jessie tuned my truck for fuel economy no TM taken out and its an animal when you step on it. Fuel economy is never below 17 mpg average. I frequently get 19-20 mpg in summer with out the trailer & AC on.
I couldn't be more pleased with my tune. A air intake will not help fuel economy since the OEM intake is a fresh air & the exhaust the is the same its just the sound.

Get the tune. Its worth it.

thanks guys i appreciate all of your input!!!

good to hear some first hand experience... i guess my only other question is what kind of a hp gain could u see doing something like this... i mean i always hear about people getting about 7-8 more with a good intake what kind of hp gains can u get from a tune depending on the type?

mcreyaufmiller · November 9, 2007

Normally you will not see an add in mileage with mods because after you add stuff, you tend to try it out. Foot deeper in the throttle will cause bad mileage. I had Jesse retune my computer after having it dyno tuned and the difference is great. Jesse was able to fix a few things that the dyno guy was unable to work out. It is worth the money a few years ago when he tuned the computer for the stock motor.

cmoore74 · November 9, 2007

From what I've read the tuners do not make any adjustments to the tune for minor mods such as cat-back exhaust and air intake. The do make adjustments for major mods such as cam, headers, supercharger, etc. I think if you are only thinking of doing minor mods you should be OK getting the tune now. I am getting one soon, just haven't bit the bullet yet.

I did install a brute force intake and saw no gains in mileage nor any noticable gains in power (not that I had it dyno'd). Then I installed a Corsa rear side exit and I'm getting about 1/2-1 MPG better mileage. Seems to scoot a bit better when I nail it, but again no dyno so I can't give a definitive answer.

svensk · November 9, 2007

The PCM will automatically adjust to minor mods like intakes and exhaust on it's own.

04z71steve · November 10, 2007

thanks guys! i appreciate it I'm gonna call him as soon as he gets back... and I'll probably be okay I'm guessing since the only thing i plan on doing after this is maybe swapping mufflers...

thanks again!

Steve

Dans Denali · November 10, 2007

I have a Hypertech and can see no gain in power or MPG. Remember that if you get a 93 octane tune your fuel cost will go up 10-15%, that can be a huge expense if you drive a lot.

Dan

silvy2k · November 10, 2007

I had the all out balls to the wall 93 tune on my truck and it got about 2-3 mpg better mileage and boy did it wake up that 4.8. That little boy with a 5 speed and 33's would lite em up all day long. I have since gone back to stock tires and she chirps third like nobodys business. All I have is a K&N drop in filter and a catback dual exhaust. He doesn't suggest running the balls to the wall 93 if you plan on towing a lot. I am actually sending the computer back to be retuned for 87 cause the 93 around here is getting rediculous. I actually have taken the computer out and def. noticed a difference with it not on there mainly in the upper rpms and when i downshift from a roll is when you notice the difference. So far his tune is the best money I have invested into the truck so far. You can;t go wrong with it. Oh and there is no way the dealer can tell if you changed out the computer. If you doubt it just put the stock one back in before you take it to the dealer. It takes all of 5 minutes to swap out the computers.