FAQ: Tuning a 1996 Riv SC?

Mr.Riviera wrote:

so now all you have to do is reflash your pcm with the edited one?

yes. he should keep a copy of the 1.5 bin, a copy of the stock bin, and then start a third when he gets fuel tuned, then timing, etc.

if he doesnt wanna mess with it, just load the 1.5bin and go for a spin. and there will be spinning. I believe the timing on the 1.5bin is still stock and maybe even the fueling.

So what exactly does the 1.5 change? I really can't wait!

BTW thanks to you drew and everyone else that contributed to this.

A lot of little things, and some big things. too. Timing, MAF, commanded A/F, multipliers, fan settings - only thing they didn't change much was shift points and trans pressure. I think the 1.5 was one of DHP's employee's tunes that was made into a generic program. There are a few settings that are a little weird, and I think this is why some at the DHP board advise starting with stock BIN instead of the 1.5.

TonySmooth89 wrote:

So what exactly does the 1.5 change? I really can't wait!

BTW thanks to you drew and everyone else that contributed to this.

I mainly noticed that it removes the speed limiter, raises shift points just a little, and removes alot of things that are torque management/abuse related. Like "disable 3 injectors" at speeds above 102mph

AA wrote:

A lot of little things, and some big things. too. Timing, MAF, commanded A/F, multipliers, fan settings - only thing they didn't change much was shift points and trans pressure. I think the 1.5 was one of DHP's employee's tunes that was made into a generic program. There are a few settings that are a little weird, and I think this is why some at the DHP board advise starting with stock BIN instead of the 1.5.

maybe timing and fueling on the 97's up. On 96's its like they just did a bare-bones 1.5bin tuning. Which is probably the case since so few of them were even sold.
I agree on tuning it yourself though.Im just saying that throwing the 1.5 bin in will show quick, immediate results if he wants to feel his money's worth the day it arrives.

Update:

PowrTuner open software will tune a 1996 Riviera.

TonySmooth89 wrote:

Update:

PowrTuner open software will tune a 1996 Riviera.

awesome. Take it out and let us know how it runs now.

Finally! Someone who supports and programs for the '96!!!


http://www.pcmperformance.com/programming.html

the powertuner will work on a 96 riv. you just need a 1.5 bin to write first.
Tony just tuned mine yesterday (thanks again Tony!)

oh....cool....thanks! I've been researching this for months!!

Mr.Riviera wrote:

the powertuner will work on a 96 riv. you just need a 1.5 bin to write first.
Tony just tuned mine yesterday (thanks again Tony!)

Thank you for changing those belts for me!

BTW did you load up those pics yet?

Hey, I have a 1996 riv, and im buying slowly buying some things for my car. How can I tune my 96? A guy i know locally has a turbo regal gsx and he has an hp tuner but its only good for '97+ rivs. What can I do?

You can use a DHP PowrTuner. You have to buy one used unfortunately, so search the classifieds on www.clubgp.com , www.3800pro.com. or http://www.regalgs.net/regalgsforum/ .

use can easily swap to a 97 riv pcm also.
then u can use hptuner too i think.

is it pretty easy to swap in a 97 riv pcm? will it run any different right after i put it in? how much would a 97 riv pcm be?

SCbuick010 wrote:

is it pretty easy to swap in a 97 riv pcm? will it run any different right after i put it in? how much would a 97 riv pcm be?

well, I got mine off of here for like $90 or $75...something like that. Not very much. Put a wanted ad in the wanted forum.

98 and 98 pcms are vastly different from our rivs....so that wont work.

the 97 and 96 pcms are very similar....only the 97's have pinouts for an electronic controlled transmission. But you can use the powertuner to remove all the DTC codes that trigger.

if your pcm is stock, and you get a stock 97 pcm, there should be no problems. Maybe timing and fuel trims might be slightly more aggressive, but not probably enough to notice.

Yeah my 96 pcm is completely stock and I have a lot of parts on the way including nitrous and i WILL NOT put any of it on until I know i can tune my car. So i can swap the 97 pcm in with out doing anything else? I know nothing about pcms so I need as much info as i can. It wont throw any codes or anything will it? whats the worst case scenario?

you will throw codes, because the trans related pins of your pcm will be sending out signals that cannot be used. You just write down the DTC and disable those numbers in the powertuner. Your DTC light will stay off.

since your trans is vac controlled, it will still work right.

So that is the only thing i need to worry about? is it pretty easy swapping it in?

So I'll start off with a question here. I've heard that the 96 isn't too mod-friendly. Is this true or not, and what am I going to have to do to start modding? For starters, I'd like to tune it, and open up the exhaust. I'd like to do headers, no cats into a pair of cherry bombs and some slash cut tips. Eventually, I want to open up the intake and drop pulley sizes, but that's a LONG way off.

epic612 wrote:

So I'll start off with a question here. I've heard that the 96 isn't too mod-friendly. Is this true or not, and what am I going to have to do to start modding? For starters, I'd like to tune it, and open up the exhaust. I'd like to do headers, no cats into a pair of cherry bombs and some slash cut tips. Eventually, I want to open up the intake and drop pulley sizes, but that's a LONG way off.

Whoever told you this needs to be castrated. They are dead wrong.

No kidding. I dont have the data but guess that 40% of the posts are about improving something with another 40% on fixing it. You are limited by your wallet because a lot of imagination has already been posted.

From what I was told, the 1996 model in particular is tough to mod due to the PCM (?), some computer, and the way the transmission connects. If the 96 is easy, point me to the info! haha

Abaddon wrote:

epic612 wrote:

So I'll start off with a question here. I've heard that the 96 isn't too mod-friendly. Is this true or not, and what am I going to have to do to start modding? For starters, I'd like to tune it, and open up the exhaust. I'd like to do headers, no cats into a pair of cherry bombs and some slash cut tips. Eventually, I want to open up the intake and drop pulley sizes, but that's a LONG way off.

Whoever told you this needs to be castrated. They are dead wrong.

It's the '95s that are mostly unmoddable. I wouldn't want to mess around with one of the older engines anyway, but you have a Series II which are very, very moddable. Welcome!

ibx wrote:" It's the '95s that are mostly unmoddable"

not true. just takes more work

robotennis61 wrote:

ibx wrote:" It's the '95s that are mostly unmoddable"

not true. just takes more work

Quickly came to this same realization after doing a little research. The Series I is just as "mod friendly" there just aren't as many aftermarket parts avaiable for it becasue they only made the engine for 2 years. With a little ingenuity and the helpful hands of "Karma", a Series I can be kick ass. It doesn't matter what Riv you have they can all be modded with a little work.