[Brettallen59]

I searched but really did not find any discussions about a chip tuner. I am considering the purchase of a Thorton Stage 3 chip tuner. I would like some feedback. Are these things snake oil, or do they actually add 60 hp? This one would plug into my OBD2 port. Any feedback would be appreciated. I am not going to purchase it until I feel comfortable that it will actually do some good and work. Many thanks in advance.
Brett....

[WhiteMale]

snakeoil

[Megahurtz]

Look into purchasing HPTuners and hire a remote tuner to send a custom calibration for you car. Chip tuners are thing of the past and not relevant with any GM Gen V platform.

[KingLT1]

Chip tuning hasn't been a thing since Eprom ECU's were used in the 80's and early 90's. Hptuners has been the gold standard since around 2000.

[Brettallen59]

Thanks guys, I really appreciate it! I did look through the HPTuners website and did not see the 2023 6.2L LT4 Supercharged V-8, VVT with Direct Injection as a powerplant that they supported. I sent them an email inquiring about their support so I will wait to see what they say. Any thoughts on what I could be doing wrong?
Thanks,
Brett.....

[ariZona28]

You've got a new car that makes 650 well engineered HP. Leave it alone. Tinker and experiment with your '69. I have a couple of hobby cars that are not stock and I always need to fiddle or repair something. I contrast them with my completely stock '15 Z/28. 505 turn-key HP is very nice.

[Z OH 6]

Originally Posted by ariZona28

You've got a new car that makes 650 well engineered HP. Leave it alone. Tinker and experiment with your '69. I have a couple of hobby cars that are not stock and I always need to fiddle or repair something. I contrast them with my completely stock '15 Z/28. 505 turn-key HP is very nice.

For some of us, stock is not enough or gets boring.

[KingLT1]

Originally Posted by ariZona28

You've got a new car that makes 650 well engineered HP. Leave it alone. Tinker and experiment with your '69. I have a couple of hobby cars that are not stock and I always need to fiddle or repair something. I contrast them with my completely stock '15 Z/28. 505 turn-key HP is very nice.

If you drove a A10 ZL1 that had nothing done other than my trans tuning, you would question why Gm has not fired their calibrator. Gm calibrates all automatic transmission vehicles with 1 goal in mind...max fuel economy. The problem is this is done at the expense of how the car drives. The constant locking and unlocking of the converter on each shift, the short shifting, and soft shifts really leave a lot to be desired imo on a performance car. I want my performance car to shift firm, fast, no short shift, and I don't want the converter locking each gear part throttle pulling on the motor.

[radz28]

Too add: or - do what you want with your money as you see fit. As said in the 2-posts before mine, sometimes factory isn't good enough, and sometimes you just like to fiddle with stuff. 650 HP or not - it's your car - do as you see fit. Just because, I DO agree, with OEM calibration is pretty good, there are definitely compromises OEMs make. Sometimes those compromises don't align with the owners, and that's where you should modify as you see fit.

As King' already said - while I really liked the tuning of the OEM A10, knowing there is a broader spectrum between nice smooth shifts at low throttle to bark the tires at high freeway speeds and getting the calibration tuned to my liking is a great investment.

There's no free lunch though. Once you start cracking into the car, you should know that your warranty coverage will suffer in the instance there's an issue.

[Megahurtz]

Originally Posted by Brettallen59

Thanks guys, I really appreciate it! I did look through the HPTuners website and did not see the 2023 6.2L LT4 Supercharged V-8, VVT with Direct Injection as a powerplant that they supported. I sent them an email inquiring about their support so I will wait to see what they say. Any thoughts on what I could be doing wrong?
Thanks,
Brett.....

It is supported, you must have missed it.

[ariZona28]

Originally Posted by Z OH 6

For some of us, stock is not enough or gets boring.

I definitely understand. I noticed in his sig he has a '69 that is already highly modified. Sometimes a car like that can get a bit frustrating and at that point it would be nice to jump into a nice, unmolested ZL1 and go for a good therapy run. I would at the very least wait until the warranty runs out before doing any modding to the '23 Z. Then I would probably do headers, cat delete, maybe a pulley and a good dyno tune from a reputable local tuner.

[ariZona28]

Originally Posted by KingLT1

If you drove a A10 ZL1 that had nothing done other than my trans tuning, you would question why Gm has not fired their calibrator. Gm calibrates all automatic transmission vehicles with 1 goal in mind...max fuel economy. The problem is this is done at the expense of how the car drives. The constant locking and unlocking of the converter on each shift, the short shifting, and soft shifts really leave a lot to be desired imo on a performance car. I want my performance car to shift firm, fast, no short shift, and I don't want the converter locking each gear part throttle pulling on the motor.

Kinda curious, does it exhibit the same undesirable characteristics when you shift it manually? I'm not familiar at all with the A10 but like a lot of people I live in the land of "maybe someday". I may then choose a 6-speed if I'm gonna stay bone stock.

[Brettallen59]

Great comments! I admit, with the 454 not yet in the 69, it is awesome to be able to get into a 650 HP, awesome handling NEW vehicle and GO! I ordered this ZL1 with the A10 because I already have a Tremec 5 speed and I can go bang gears if I want. But, I concede - I should spend my time getting the 69 going with the 454efi, not on an already nice, awesome, fast, cool (I could go one with adjectives, haha) ZL1! I do have a Ultimate9 Throttle Controller which blows my mind! It adds spunk and responsiveness I can't believe. I want to do the larger pulley and headers, but I need to re-assess my priorities. The 69 should be the vehicle getting the attention as I just need to do the engine swap. But Megahurtz said the HPTuner supports the LT4 for 2023? I did miss it. I would go look again, but I think I will focus on the 69.
Thanks to all of you!
Brett....

[arpad_m]

Originally Posted by Brettallen59

Great comments! I admit, with the 454 not yet in the 69, it is awesome to be able to get into a 650 HP, awesome handling NEW vehicle and GO! I ordered this ZL1 with the A10 because I already have a Tremec 5 speed and I can go bang gears if I want. But, I concede - I should spend my time getting the 69 going with the 454efi, not on an already nice, awesome, fast, cool (I could go one with adjectives, haha) ZL1! I do have a Ultimate9 Throttle Controller which blows my mind! It adds spunk and responsiveness I can't believe. I want to do the larger pulley and headers, but I need to re-assess my priorities. The 69 should be the vehicle getting the attention as I just need to do the engine swap. But Megahurtz said the HPTuner supports the LT4 for 2023? I did miss it. I would go look again, but I think I will focus on the 69.
Thanks to all of you!
Brett....

Brett, congratulations on your ZL1, first of all. I also think you should just give the LT4 some time to shine bone stock, you already have a very highly capable car. Then, judging by your signature and your posts, I definitely see mods in your future

BTW my "standard" for power mods is the car should command respect and a small, healthy pinch of fear whenever you drive it fast, and my car is right at that point (see my signature).