I've got a 5.3/gt45 turbo combo @ 8-9 psi, 60#inj, stock MAF and Nelson perf. mail order tune. At wot my wideband reads 10.2 afr. If I turn up the boost, can I just monitor my afr's to about mid-11 afr without a retune?

 

You should be ok long as its not a crazy psi increase. Nelson tunes pretty conservative with mail order to protect your stuff.

 

timing and knock are just as important as a/f. being a mail order timing is probably pretty low. you should be safe to turn it up a little, just listen for any sign of knock. i would find a local live tuner tho. mail order and boost = no good. i've spent many many hrs on dyno/street tuning to get the most power safely.

 

You need a live custom tune .

 

There are no know LS turbo tuners in Hawaii, mostly imports or mustangs. Unless someone knows one. Until then pretty much limited to mail order tune.

Also scan gauge tells me I've got 16* @ wot/8-9 psi and 10.2 afr. Is this a conservative tune? Just wanting to verify if I can slowly turn up boost and watch afr's (mid 11) with same tune.

Or a future turbo upgrade (s400 or pt7675) that flows more air at same boost and monitor afr's with same tune.

 

to my very limited knowledge, mid 11s afr with your setup should be fine. Above 15* and 14psi I would suggest ARP head studs and LS9 head gaskets.
on my 4.8 im currently running 12 psi, on mid 11s afr with maybe 14* at wot without the studs & gaskets. (also mail tune)

 

you will be taking a risk w/ 16* timing. i run 16# boost w/ that much timing, but i'm spraying a lot of meth also.

 

You should be fine up to 12 psi with 16*, after that I would pull some. But for real, you should get hptuners, learn to tune and that way you can tune yours and since there are no tuners in your area you can make some money!!

 

Thanks guys for all your responses. Ya, I don't plan on boosting over 12psi and I'll keep my eye on what my final afr's are at that boost level.

True that on learning how to tune. To bad I'm more of a mechanical inclined/hands on person. I wish electronics came easy to me as it does to others.

 

Tuning software is a bear at first but just pull the trigger on it and you will be the happiest man alive. It is more than worth it.