Need a tune but don’t know who to go with

[LucasM]

I have a 2005 GT I bought that’s pretty much fully built NA and tuned on 91/93. I believe it’s running a little rich so I’d like to get a revised tune, and I have no idea who previously tuned it. Im also hoping an 87 tune would help so I’m not spending so much on gas when I’m just dailying the car. However I have a small crack in one of the headers and don’t know how much it would affect the tune.
Money is tight right now so I can’t necessarily afford a dyno tune at a local shop. And I’ve heard a lot of good things about Lito but don’t know how much he charges. I have a bama tuner with free tunes for life that I got a couple years ago for a different car. But I know how controversial and sketchy bama is with their tunes. So would it be better to get it tuned by bama for now to have the piece of mind that it has a somewhat decent tune, or should I just wait until I can afford to get it tuned by Lito or at a local shop?

some mods are CAI, cams, lifters, rockers, long tubes, x pipe, 62mm throttle body, 4.30 gears, forged internals, etc.

 

[whitmanink]

lito is cheap and you must have a sct tunner ..

what cams are in it?

what forged internals are in it ?

what rockers and lifters are aftermarket in them?

it seems odd its a fully built motor for such little hp?

bama tunes are a joke at best ,,they leave alot on the table.

the crack in your header is gonna cause issues , id advise to fix that .

 

[GriffX]

A couple of years ago the bama tunes from American muscle had lots of problems, but they solved it. If you are tight on money go with them. The last revision I got, I didn't felt a need to send them a log file for correction.
I ordered the last tune from them in May this year.

 

[86GT351]

I have a 2005 GT I bought that’s pretty much fully built NA and tuned on 91/93. I believe it’s running a little rich so I’d like to get a revised tune, and I have no idea who previously tuned it. Im also hoping an 87 tune would help so I’m not spending so much on gas when I’m just dailying the car. However I have a small crack in one of the headers and don’t know how much it would affect the tune.
Money is tight right now so I can’t necessarily afford a dyno tune at a local shop. And I’ve heard a lot of good things about Lito but don’t know how much he charges. I have a bama tuner with free tunes for life that I got a couple years ago for a different car. But I know how controversial and sketchy bama is with their tunes. So would it be better to get it tuned by bama for now to have the piece of mind that it has a somewhat decent tune, or should I just wait until I can afford to get it tuned by Lito or at a local shop?

some mods are CAI, cams, lifters, rockers, long tubes, x pipe, 62mm throttle body, 4.30 gears, forged internals, etc.

Fix your mechanical issues first. A crack in a header can create a fueling issue. Tune will be off.

 

[LucasM]

lito is cheap and you must have a sct tunner ..

what cams are in it?

what forged internals are in it ?

what rockers and lifters are aftermarket in them?

it seems odd its a fully built motor for such little hp?

bama tunes are a joke at best ,,they leave alot on the table.

the crack in your header is gonna cause issues , id advise to fix that .

I didn’t say how much hp it has? lol
Cams sound like the ford performance hot rod cams but I can’t prove any of the internal mods because the previous owner did them and he didn’t say what exact part everything internally was. Just said that it had them. He was a senior so I didn’t wanna give him too hard of a time trying to figure it out

 

[LucasM]

Fix your mechanical issues first. A crack in a header can create a fueling issue. Tune will be off.

Got it will work on that

 

[skwerl]

Not as cheap as Lito but Justin has been specializing in Mustang tuning for over 30 years. VMP's canned tunes are great for stock vehicles and I have had a couple of those, but he is a wizard at built vehicles as well. In fact he used my 2009 Bullitt as his test mule when I bought his first TVS1500 blower unit to replace my Roush M90.

He also told me that he helped Lito get started and sold him the SCT software program to start tuning vehicles.

 

[LucasM]

Not as cheap as Lito but Justin has been specializing in Mustang tuning for over 30 years. VMP's canned tunes are great for stock vehicles and I have had a couple of those, but he is a wizard at built vehicles as well. In fact he used my 2009 Bullitt as his test mule when I bought his first TVS1500 blower unit to replace my Roush M90.

He also told me that he helped Lito get started and sold him the SCT software program to start tuning vehicles.

Where would I get a hold of him?

 

[StockishS197]

Where would I get a hold of him?

Send him an email asking for a tune. [email protected]

I will second Lito. He is THE 3v tuner. No better remote tuner.

Be sure all mechanical stuff is solved first otherwise you will be chasing your tail.

 

[GriffX]

I have problems to define "good" or "bad" tune. For me it is the throttle response, no artificial "if you press the pedal a bit too fast the tune gives WOT by itself", basically how the tune can mimic a carburetor. And for manual cars, throttle during clutch engagement (Bama was awful sometimes).
Or, what is so special in a Lito tune?

 

[whitmanink]

I didn’t say how much hp it has? lol
Cams sound like the ford performance hot rod cams but I can’t prove any of the internal mods because the previous owner did them and he didn’t say what exact part everything internally was. Just said that it had them. He was a senior so I didn’t wanna give him too hard of a time trying to figure it out

yea alot of people talk up stuff to get a sale..
id almost say nothing internal was done because i find it odd he would "build" a motor and then have a bama tune?..
and have the lowest hp gain cams there are?
and the only aftermarket roller followers are these jezzle or sumthing like that , and they are sooooo expensive (like $250 for one),, again highly doubtful .

im by no mean knocking on you at all brother,,
im just trying to inform you so u dont think the car has as much hp as u might think and dont want u to inflate hp numbers and then wonder why u lost a race.

let alone people calling you a liar,

altho i have 410 gears , and i love em , how do u like your gear ratio?

but u might get by with a high temp jb weld to cover the crack in the header and get you on your way..
or you can do like dino and myself and get jbl clone headers ($200 ) and send you on your way..
obviously the jb weld is the cheaper fix

or tig weld it if you can get to it in the car

 

[skwerl]

Where would I get a hold of him?

[email protected].
321-206-9369 Ext. 101

 

[StockishS197]

Not as cheap as Lito but Justin has been specializing in Mustang tuning for over 30 years. VMP's canned tunes are great for stock vehicles and I have had a couple of those, but he is a wizard at built vehicles as well. In fact he used my 2009 Bullitt as his test mule when I bought his first TVS1500 blower unit to replace my Roush M90.

He also told me that he helped Lito get started and sold him the SCT software program to start tuning vehicles.

Is Justin still tuning 3vs?

I have problems to define "good" or "bad" tune. For me it is the throttle response, no artificial "if you press the pedal a bit too fast the tune gives WOT by itself", basically how the tune can mimic a carburetor. And for manual cars, throttle during clutch engagement (Bama was awful sometimes).
Or, what is so special in a Lito tune?

have had two 3vs tuned by Lito…and have used other big tuners.

Litos tune drives the best overall and he took the time to log and answer my questions far and above most other tuners. My prior 3v ran his tune for 100k miles and not a single issue.

 

[XJCasper]

I have a lifetime tune thing from an older Mustang parts website. Thry have pilled awaybfrom Mustangs. After some gearing changes and tires stuff. I was debating converting to E85 during thr summer. I have one need that none of the mail order tuners will touch anymore.most shops won't do what i need. This is where I brought Lito into the picture .

Lito is very patient and helps solve tuning issues. Has given tips about onstall stuff. I started tuning my car about 2 years ago. It's difficult to run data logs with my original SCT and laptop in the car with my son.

My mustang is a toy who doesn't see much road time. It's difficult to get a schedule where my son is available to man the lap.top. So after a couple years I am still not done with my 92 tune. He has been great with me and my slow rolling of the situation.

My mustang is a bolt-on 4.6. It's not worth getting it dyno tune, while it would be quicker. So, when I can? I data log. Only had one chance this summer for more revisions. Getting closer, but still working on it.

 

[MrBhp]

Manuel is patient, up to a point. He has rules for engagement. He will ghost you if you piss him off. So don't piss him off. Other than that, he's awesome. He is the only tuner for my car. Like had been said, the other shops are getting away from the 3v. And btw, you don't gain anything from a dyno tune over a remote tune. But you can lose quite a bit. Like driveability. If Manuel retired, I would use Lund.
Edit: Manuel is Lito

 

[whitmanink]

Manuel is patient, up to a point. He has rules for engagement. He will ghost you if you piss him off. So don't piss him off. Other than that, he's awesome. He is the only tuner for my car. Like had been said, the other shops are getting away from the 3v. And btw, you don't gain anything from a dyno tune over a remote tune. But you can lose quite a bit. Like driveability. If Manuel retired, I would use Lund.
Edit: Manuel is Lito

i second this

 

[Bundle Bill]

In light of the recent developments in Venezuela, is Lito still around and how would you get in touch with him?

 

[StockishS197]

In light of the recent developments in Venezuela, is Lito still around and how would you get in touch with him?

[email protected]

 

[Squirrely]

Lidio, I am assuming that’s who y’all are referring too. I am extremely happy with his work. Simply turn key no idling issues and good power from the bottom to the top of the rpm range. Shift points and responsiveness of the 5 speed auto was spot on too! Just giving credit where
credit is due!!!

 

[ryunker]

Just wanted to share my experience from back in 2025 with getting a custom tune for my ride. I'm out in the sticks, middle of nowhere, so options were limited. I initially went with the "American Muscle" Tunes for Life setup—big mistake. Total waste of $400; it didn't deliver at all.

Ended up booking an appointment with LPJ Tuning down in Florida. Packed up for a four-day road trip, made it there on time, dropped off the car for a few hours, and picked it up with minimal small talk. Headed straight back home, and holy crap, the car is absolute perfection now. Night and day difference!

If you're debating tuners, skip the generic stuff and go pro if you can. Worth the drive. Anyone else have similar stories?