Quote Originally Posted by ThatDude-98 View Post
Hello everyone, I have began getting my feet wet with tuning..theoretically, to save time instead of following the procedure to tune the ¨right¨ way (add aftermarket parts, get vehicle to idle, datalog, emulator, or burn chips, rinse, repeat, etc) could a guy just advance timing until spark knock- then back off a few degrees until no more knock, follow the procedure to reset the IAC and then turn the idle screw in or out to get the vehicle to idle...then make the fuel pressure regulator adjustable to adjust afr (lean or rich), read spark plugs (white = lean, chocolate = about right) and continue to adjust idle screw and FPR, then read the plugs again and again until you get ¨close¨with your target RPM and spark plug color, exh smell, etc? I get this isnt the correct way of dialing the vehicle in after headers, heads, cam, intake, etc. This is just an idea I thought of. I am anxious to hear others opinions. Also If someone were to adjust the timing, fuel by the FPR and idle as described, would injector BPW or other scalars need edited to compensate? I hope this thread can create a good discussion, as I always like to learn and hear others ideas, theories. PS, I am not dead set on this ¨method¨ just curious is all, Thanks - AJ.

All the stuff you're saying is not tuning using the computer, it's tuning without the ECM and a laptop. That's fine if that's what you want to do. The best way forward if that's your thing is a carburetor, and HEI ignition. Then you won't be fighting the computer, and you will know what your motor is doing. ANY motor will benefit from a wideband O2 sensor - they are cheap now. I use the computer, and datalog, but I have a wideband with a gauge, too. I can see if the AFR is good. Good luck