I must be in Waaay over my head

[steveo]

What do others actually do when they tune for something like a head and cam swap?

same we do when we tune for any major engine modification

first i usually try to make it idle well so it doesn't just coke up or rinse the rings clean while we're playing with it. experimentation with idle speed and timing is required for that

then we usually log for afr errors outside of power enrichment (cruise areas, light load) and tune to correct the errors and hit the fueling targets (whether that be a maf or ve table or injector constant, all those modify fueling output)

while we're driving we also look at transitional fueling if it seems a bit laggy or stumbly during throttle changes (acceleration enrichment) or if it pops and farts if you cut the throttle abruptly (decel enleanment or decel fuel cutoff)

now that we can drive it somewhere to really lay the throttle down we log for afr errors in power enrichment (wideband) and attempt to achieve a balance between safety and peak power during power enrichment

at the same time we modify the timing tables to suit the new combustion chamber and cam. usually add or subtract timing in cruise range until it's smooth and burning all the fuel you're feeding it, and for wide open throttle or high load areas we usually find the point that knock occurs and back it off a bit from there. timing takes a lot of practice and sometimes just experience, some engines like tons of timing and some don't, also the burn rate of your fuel is a huge factor so you're tuning for a particular fuel octane here

then we might repeat the process one more time because timing and AFR affect each other a bit, so once your timing is dialed your AFR might not be quite right

[MadMikeZ28]

then we usually log for afr errors outside of power enrichment (cruise areas, light load) and tune to correct the errors and hit the fueling targets (whether that be a maf or ve table or injector constant, all those modify fueling output)

I never logged with the AFR gauge input into the data log. I asked the person tuning how to do so as if memory serves me, my AEM gauge has an output for do that. He informed me that people usually delete the EGR and use that portion of the data stream. I need my EGR so I asked about eliminating the EGR diagnostic (the temp sensor on the EGR valve). In so many words he just told me it was more complicated than I think. Which may be true.

I think he just tuned by watching the BLM. And I think he got it done pretty good that way as the AFR gauge would be around 14.7 at idle and part throttle cruising. But as I mentioned in previous post, that was done during the valve train failing. Valve train fixed now. Running lean now and I need to fix that.