Mustang Dyno Tuning and Optimizations

Email info@realspeedautomotive.com or Call 631-563-7325 and leave a message to make an appointment.

You've invested in your vehicle's performance. No matter how good the tuner, you can't get live real-time feedback and customized adjustments with a mail-order tune. Finish the job right by making sure the engine reaches its full potential. 

Every car has subtle differences. When you want the best possible performance, there is no substitute for an experienced tuner working in the same room as the engine and making adjustments specific to your car.

At Realspeed, we treat every vehicle with the care and dedication that we would want for our car. 

We have extensive knowledge of Ford electronic engine controls, SCT, HP tuners and other tuning software, high-performance engine design theory, and forced induction, including supercharging, turbocharging, and nitrous. 

We have the experience to give you the best tune possible and go the extra mile to ensure correct tuning with every job.

Time, experience, and education make a Realspeed tune the best. We put more time into tuning each vehicle than other tuners do, and we have more experience getting down to all the little details that make the engine run better. 

In addition, our tuners regularly attend seminars and advanced tuning classes to keep up with the latest factory technology and learn from the industry's most educated and advanced engine calibrators. 

A Realspeed tune is much more than a quick "tweak" of your car. We thoroughly go over your vehicle and your computer's calibration and take the time to do the extra steps required for the best possible result.

We tune full throttle, part throttle, idle, transient fuel (tip-in), and cold-start parameters.

Realspeed does a complete 38-point MAF Transfer calibration mapping from idle to redline, not just full throttle like other tuners. 

We are SCT tuning software-certified tuners certified at the highest "Calibrator" level through SCT's Advanced Dealer Training Program.

We are also four times certified in Advanced Coyote Engine Calibration by EFITO University. Regular training keeps us up to date with the latest advancements in engine controls and tuning software.

We insert our wideband air and fuel (A/F) ratio gauge in the midpipe instead of the tailpipe for more accurate readings, and we calibrate our wideband A/F sensor before each tune.

We use a more accurate and expensive NTK wideband A/F sensor for tuning instead of cheaper and less durable Bosch sensors.

Realspeed's Mustang Dyno simulates vehicle weight AND aerodynamic drag for more accurate "real world" tuning than other dynos. 

Unlike competitors' cheaper dynos, our Mustang MD1100-SE dyno allows us to steady the engine rpm even as the throttle angle and power increase. The MD1100-SE enables us to do more advanced engine calibration work that many other dynos can't do.

Our standard checks include the following:

• Fuel pressure and timing 
• Spark plug to confirm the correct type and heat range
• O2 sensor function 
• Reviewing the ACT and coolant temp sensor process 
• TPS sensor 

We also monitor IMRC and variable cam-timing functions on vehicles with those features.

1986-1995 Mustang sensor functions and computer outputs are data-logged with our exclusive hardware and software to read computer data that many other shops can't get

1996-2023 Mustangs are data-logged with SCT Live-Link or other data-scanning software suites to see and record computer inputs and outputs in real-time.

We tune until the car is right, with no pre-set time limit or rush jobs. Realspeed Automotive is a certified top-tier Vortech supercharger installer recommended by Vortech for tuning their superchargers.

We have experience with numerous superchargers, including:

• Roush
• Whipple
• Kenne-Bell
• Paxton
• Procharger
• Powerdyne
• Saleen
• VMP
• Magnuson
• Tork Tech
• Edelbrock superchargers

We also have experience with turbocharger systems such as Hellion, HP, and On3.

The short answer is "As long as it takes."

Regardless of the combination, we tune the car until it is correct. There is no pre-set limit on how many pulls we will do. Good calibration work takes time. Ford had a team of engineers working on the engine calibration for your car for months (sometimes years) before they released the vehicle for production. 

If you've changed multiple components related to engine calibration, why would you settle for someone who tells you they can properly recalibrate the car in just an hour or two?

Some cars are straightforward to dial in, with an exact combination of parts that all function correctly. We complete those cars in about four hours with as little as three or four full-throttle pulls and a few "miles" of part-throttle tuning on the dyno. Other vehicles have more complicated setups that might include:

• Variable cam timing
• Electronic "drive-by-wire" throttle control
• Computer-controlled electronic fuel pressure feedback systems
• MAF transfer functions  
• Transient fuel tables that need a lot of work 
• Injectors or meters that are past capacity 
• Fuel pressure that needs to be adjusted
• Supercharger belts that are slipping
• Spark plugs that need to be re-gapped

A complicated or "uncooperative" car could take all day and 15 or more passes. All tunings are drop-off only. If you are staying in the local area while we tune your car, be prepared to wait for at least 6 hours, minimum. We take our time and can only give you the best results possible if we are patient. Typically we spend an hour or more looking over your car and writing a fully customized tune before making the first dyno pull.

A basic dyno check with three runs and a printout of horsepower, torque, boost (when applicable), and air-to-fuel ratio (tailpipe probe) is $175 for a 1986 or newer Mustang. 

All other cars or trucks start at $200, or more, depending on the specific vehicle. Additional charges apply for recording air-to-fuel ratio with leaded race fuel. We can take air-to-fuel readings from the midpipe for an additional $75 on most vehicles.

A combined dyno test, data-logging, and consulting session to evaluate the current tune on your Mustang are $250.

A basic dyno check or consulting session ("baseline dyno") includes no tuning. See below for a complete breakdown of our tuning rates.

We can sometimes tune '86-'93 Mustangs reasonably well with just a "mechanical tune" using an adjustable fuel pressure regulator and a timing light, but only if the MAF has correct calibration, is in the factory location, and your vehicle uses 24lb/hr or smaller fuel injectors. 

Most Mustangs require a chip, handheld tuner, or a computer re-flash software license to make proper tuning changes. The tune result for all Mustangs with cold air intakes with a bend in the tubing in front of the air meter will be much better if a full computer tune is done.

It depends on what brand you have. We can re-write SCT brand chips and XCal Flash tuners (X4, X3, X 2, etc.). We can also re-burn Moates chips for 1995 and older vehicles. If you have another brand of chip, we cannot re-write it. 

You will have to purchase a new chip. We include a $150 software license fee in the price of the chips we sell. If you supply your chip, you will still be required to pay $150 for the software license.

There is a $40 charge to remove and reinstall your computer and for chip access when tuning with a chip. If you have a Diablo Predator, we can make basic adjustments to the Wide Open Throttle (WOT) fuel and timing using the on-screen adjustment in the handheld unit. 

More involved tuning will require a switch to an SCT tuner. SCT no longer supports XCalibrator-1 software, so we cannot tune your vehicle with it. 

You will be required to upgrade to an X4. If you bring us an XCal3 or X4 tuner over two years old, you may incur a small fee for the time it takes us to upgrade it to the latest firmware.

Realspeed Automotive often performs minor changes, such as recalibrating the speedometer to match a rear-gear change, at no charge, as a courtesy to our customers. Prices for more extensive retunes, which require dyno-time vary depending on how extensive the changes are to the vehicle. 

The price for a retune could be as much as the original tune or as little as $100 for minor changes that don't require the dyno or test driving. There is a minimum charge of $300 to connect to the dyno for a retune. We charge a minor fee to access the computer and chip for cars tuned with a chip. 

As a rule of thumb, if you have changed the Mass Air Flow sensor, fuel injectors, and electronic throttle or camshaft(s), then much of the entire tune would be reworked on the dyno and charged accordingly. If the MAF sensor, injectors, cam(s), and electronic throttle are unchanged, the retune will be less expensive than the original tune.

Running the car on the dyno puts no more load on the engine than going full wide open throttle on the street (or track). Running a car on the dyno is safer than running your vehicle full throttle on the road (or track) because it monitors air-to-fuel ratio, coolant temperature, and ignition timing.

Any time an engine is operated at full power (wide open throttle), whether on the street, racetrack or the dyno, there is a small risk of something going wrong or a component failing. While this risk is somewhat smaller in the closely monitored environment of a dyno session, the risk still exists. 

Realspeed Automotive, its employees, and owners assume no liability for engine or driveline damage that may occur while operating the vehicle on the dyno. All dyno work is strictly and expressly at the customers' risk, and all dyno services require a signed liability release form. Customers are still responsible for dyno charges if the vehicle breaks on the dyno (prorated based on time on the dyno).

• 1988 or older: Please call or email
• 1989-1995 Mustangs requiring an SCT, Moates, or Realspeed chip and software license: $399 ($249 for chip + $150 for software license)
• 1989-1995 Mustangs must have a dedicated fitting installed for our wideband AFR sensor. If you don’t have one, we will weld one in for an additional fee before tuning.
• 1996-2004 Mustangs require either an SCT X4 flash tuner: $399 or an SCT chip: $299
• 2005-2023 Mustangs require an SCT X4 flash tuner (or software license for other brand tuning software): $399

Manual transmission: $550

Computer-controlled automatic transmission (1994 and newer): $650

The tuning rate for stock or standard bolt-on naturally aspirated is only for Mustangs that are stock or have limited modifications, such as:

• Exhaust midpipes or shorty headers
• Mufflers
• Pulleys
• Gears
• Name-brand cold air intakes like Steeda, JLT, BBK, Roush, Airaid, and KNN

This category also includes mechanical throttles (2004 and older) but not aftermarket electronic throttles.

Note: Dyno Tuning charges are in addition to the cost of the chip or flash tuner. 

Dyno tune rates shown are for tuning factory Ford computers. Call for rates on stand-alone EFI systems or other brand computers.

Manual Transmission: $700

Automatic Transmission (computer controlled): $800

Modified naturally aspirated tune rates are for cars with any of the following:

• Non-stock electronic throttles
• Non-original intake manifolds
• long tube headers
• ported or aftermarket cylinder heads
• non-factory camshaft(s)
• non-stock fuel injectors, IMRC deletes, non-factory mass air meter (MAF), etc.

Note: Dyno Tuning charges are in addition to the cost of the chip or flash tuner.

Dyno tune rates shown are for tuning factory Ford computers. Call for rates on stand-alone EFI systems or other brand computers.

• Supercharged with stock heads and cam, manual transmission: $850
• Supercharged with performance cam or heads, manual transmission: $950
• Supercharged with stock heads and cam, automatic transmission: $950
• Supercharged with performance cam or heads, automatic transmission: $1050

Note: Dyno Tuning charges are in addition to the cost of the chip or flash tuner.

Dyno tune rates shown are for tuning factory Ford computers. Call for rates on stand-alone EFI systems or other brand computers.

E85 tuning: Additional $200 for tuning, plus a 1/2 hour labor charge at current shop rates to drain gasoline and refuel with E85. E85 tune price includes base tune for gasoline. (We may limit the gas tune for safety on high boost applications.)

Water/methanol injection: Additional $150

Turbocharged or nitrous: Tunes will start at $900 but may go as high as $1800, depending on the vehicle. Nitrous Oxide tunes include a base tune for running without the nitrous and a nitrous tune.

Note: Dyno Tuning charges are in addition to the cost of the chip or flash tuner.

Dyno tuning prices listed here may include:

• Standard tuning procedures (as required), such as setting the timing
• Adjusting the fuel pressure
• Tightening supercharger belts
• Check one spark plug to ensure previous mechanics installed the correct type and heat range

These prices do not include mechanical repairs such as changing clogged fuel filters, changing or re-gapping spark plugs, fixing supercharger belt alignment problems, or repairing other pre-existing mechanical issues. We highly recommend bringing your car to us to look over before your dyno appointment to avoid time-consuming and expensive delays on the dyno. Fresh spark plugs of the type and gap we recommend and a new fuel filter should be considered a "must "for any heavily modified or supercharged car.

For cars running leaded race fuel, there is an additional charge of $50. This charge goes towards replacing the sensor on our wideband Air/Fuel ratio gauge, which leaded fuel will harm.

Dyno rates may vary for special applications, such as racecars requiring custom work, other brand vehicles, different tuning software, etc. Dyno rates above are for tunes based on a Ford computer. We price stand-alone computer systems differently. Call for info.

Note: Dyno Tuning charges are in addition to the cost of the chip or flash tuner.

Dyno tune rates shown are for tuning factory Ford computers. Call for rates on stand-alone EFI systems or other brand computers.

Knowing and controlling your nitrous pressure is crucial to good performance with nitrous oxide. 

Realspeed Automotive will only tune cars with functioning pressure gauges and bottle warmers. We would not send a car out the door with our name on the tune if we had to guess the bottle pressure we tuned with.

You must bring the car to be tuned with a FULL nitrous bottle or inform us at least 24 hours before your tuning appointment if you need your bottle filled. If the bottle runs low during tuning, we can only continue the tune after refilling the bottle. 

Bottle refills take up already-limited dyno time. If we must fill your bottle to finish your tune, we will charge you for the refill and the time taken to un-strap and reconnect your car to tune other cars while refilling your bottle. 

Note: Dyno Tuning charges are in addition to the cost of the chip or flash tuner.