As I consider the GTO as my next car, I realize I will desire a few mods to feed my needs! :) CAI, exhaust, MAF, and the Predator are in order for me. Only concern is that some people feel the increased line pressure could cause future damage. So, could I simply use the rest of the tune, but keep the line pressure stock, but at the time same remove the torque management? That's a confusing series of questions, but I am sure you understand. ;) Thanks for the help, it's much appreciated, and will certainly aid in my decision in terms of a new vehicle!

Brett

The short answer is yes.

However, I would not use the rest of the stock performance tune. There appears to be issues regarding overly aggressive timing maps in the standard performance tune. If you want to go with the Predator - buy it from RWTD (sponsor) and have them set up a custom tune for your needs/wants. The cost is nothing once the unit is bought and the time frame for a new tune is about 5 days.

Thanks for the quick reply...I have been looking at RWTD and am interested in the "custom tune" option. I am assuming they could provide me with a couple tunes for just some basic mods such as CAI and MAF as I mentioned before? Also, I am ssuming I could have them do one for "mild" shifts, as well as something a bit firmer? Thanks again, I am just covering my bases!

Brett

As you do each mod that requires an adjustment - you would go back to RWTD and they would change the tune - it is extremely easy.

What I would do is sign up on their board and put some of your questions directly to James - it may take a day or two for him to get back - but he is very good at expalining what he can do.

He has done a couple of GTO's already and has a solid base performance tune set up already for the basic mods - ie CAI (he did mine this way). He will tell you though to stay away from changing the MAF with a 3rd party unit - apparantly they introduce their own timing changes - that is how they pick up the increased horespower.

from what i have i read, the MAF is good up to like 450hp. so i think that might be a waste of money. someone correct me if i am wrong.

MAF is a waste of money. It will temporarily add a few ponies as it leans out, but soon it adapt and learn to the new MAF and power levels will return close to where they were with the stock MAF. Predator is a waste of money, especially since you have Speed Inc. and Jim (in Schaumburg) available to custom tune it with LS1Edit far better than a boxed programmer can, all for the same $350/hr.

Anytime you increase line pressure and remove torque management, you decrease the longevity of the transmission. That's one of the reasons why GM added TM to the programming, to increase longevity. It's a double edged sword. Is longevity more important than performance or vice versa?

I wouldn't spend money on the MAF and the Predator has limits. IMHO it works for people who aren't going too far with the mods, and getting a custom tune is recommended.

I feel the Predator unit is overall a good product. The performance tune has causeed some issues for some people, but I still have mine in the car. I have tried to produce
knock retard under all rpms and I cannot. The car is much livlier in the lower rpms
on my 6 speed, and I like that. You can also monitor many parameters with the unit as
well. There is a new revision due out for the performance tune I believe soon, so I'm
hoping that will correct some issues. Having said all that, if I can find someone in Indy
who knows what they are doing tuning the LS1 GTO that's where I'm going to maximize
my tune.