Help with 2006 5.7 Hemi for disabled son's drag car

[jefo]

Without the 180 thermostat, run the normal V3 Tune in post #15. Everything is the same except for fans settings - and the fans would constantly.

For the air filter, as long as its clean it shouldn't be much of a restriction and no worry of sucking something into the engine.

[cpenner]

put the settings back to stock or the fan will be running continuously (and the tstat will be closed simultaneously)

and remove the air filter

The track we are at is right beside a river. Lots of mosquitos in some seasons.

[LilSick]

mosquitos are protein

might pick up : )

[jefo]

Checked your times on the site; Looks like it got even better! Dropped 5 tenths and gained 2mph vs the stock tune, comparing runs with similar DA.

I'll want to check the latest logs, as the mph is still low - there's something holding it back. Great 60ft though!


Comparing before/after:
Screen Shot 2025-06-07 at 12.55.53 PM.png

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Edit: I checked the logs from a couple of weeks ago, and everything looks good, but I see the high IAT readings. Ideally, you'd have a closed airbox like a stock 6.1 SRT8 intake so the IAT is in check.

I did notice though, the IAT readings drop really slowly through the run. So I'd recommend cleaning the intake temp sensor in the intake tube with Mass air flow cleaning spray, if it has gunk on it the readings can be slow. I remember when I cleaned mine I couldn't even see the blue part of the sensor.

s-l400.jpg

Also, when you install the 180 thermostat and upload the logs from yesterday for review, I'll tweak the tune and make a V4 final version.

[PurpleRam]

Greetings! I'm a lot of a newbie when it comes to tuning. I'm looking for some pointers. It's a long story that I'll try to make short.

My son (21) uses a power wheelchair due to his disabilities. He is a car guy who loves everything automotive. When he turned 16 - he wasn't able to get a driver's license due to his limitations with strength and reaction speed. It just about crushed him.

Instead of wallowing in self-pity, he went out and bought a 2006 Dodge Charger 5.7. He takes it to the local dragstrip and has volunteer drivers take his car down the track. He rides shotgun, and is responsible for both driver strategy and car modifications. We have a blast - but we are not going very fast yet. The car has an exhaust (not sure which one) and a cold air intake. Otherwise it's stock. Our fastest pass was 14.8 seconds. (I'm blaming his old all season tires. He is saving his disability pension for some fresh rubber this year.)

One of the "make a wish" organizations made him a "Get Doug Racing" package last year. Among some other stuff, it contained of a folding power wheelchair that he can put in the trunk of his Charger and a MPVI3.

And here's my question finally. We want to start seeing if we can get a bit more speed. He's just started tire shopping for some grip - but we're pretty sure there's more power under the hood. I doubt it's been tuned for the intake/exhaust combo.

He's probably going to be looking for a tune. We're nowhere near capable of doing it ourselves, but maybe an e-tune is in the future.

The track opens again (weather dependent) next weekend. I'd love to log some runs and see if anyone can let us know where we should start looking. I've tried logging using a laptop with VCM Scanner on some previous runs but didn't seem to get anything useful. I'm a software developer - so I'm pretty computer happy - but I don't necessarily understand which sensors I should be logging and how to select them.

Maybe with a few runs logged someone can help me see if there are seconds hiding in the tune, or if he should be focusing his (limited) funds on other go fast goodies.

Attachment 144827)

Make a Wish , those guy(and Gals) are great to work with, The company I use to run did a lot of work with them over the years, helped set up a trip to the Monaco Race this year , got her in to Leclerc's pit for this year's GP race.

I looked at the two logs posted, Need more Data, (and Jefo's tune is a good solid tune).

Look into logging Accelerator Voltage and Throttle Voltage, it's more of a "lets see what it's doing during "stage and where spark is when it goes in to WOT tables,
In Air flow , Look at logging P-ratio and also Total VE ,
lets get Cylinder # 1 & # Pulse width and Fuel mass, that'll let us look at the Injector duty Cycle.
Also Fuel Command , log PE enrichment(FA adder)
Manifold Vacuum, Knock sensor # 1 ,
MRP is a real nice track, been there a few times, Elevation is under 50ft nice track,
2nd Log , you didn't record Baro (Under specific parameters in Environment).

[jefo]

Attached is the V4 Engine and Trans Tune to use when you have the 180 thermostat installed in the car. It should make more power overall down the track and shift quicker using SRT shift logic. Just keep an eye out for KR in the datalogs.

I saw in the V2 logs it was hitting cat protection starting at 85mph, which adds fuel and pulls timing - So I upped the ecu calculated value limit from 1715F to 1749F (To the same as a hellcat), and it should get you a little further before engaging.

Hopefully this tune gets you around a 14.5! And of course the tips mentioned in my above post will only make it better.

[cpenner]

Checked your times on the site; Looks like it got even better! Dropped 5 tenths and gained 2mph vs the stock tune, comparing runs with similar DA.

I'll want to check the latest logs, as the mph is still low - there's something holding it back. Great 60ft though!


Comparing before/after:
Screen Shot 2025-06-07 at 12.55.53 PM.png

---------
Edit: I checked the logs from a couple of weeks ago, and everything looks good, but I see the high IAT readings. Ideally, you'd have a closed airbox like a stock 6.1 SRT8 intake so the IAT is in check.

I did notice though, the IAT readings drop really slowly through the run. So I'd recommend cleaning the intake temp sensor in the intake tube with Mass air flow cleaning spray, if it has gunk on it the readings can be slow. I remember when I cleaned mine I couldn't even see the blue part of the sensor.

s-l400.jpg

Also, when you install the 180 thermostat and upload the logs from yesterday for review, I'll tweak the tune and make a V4 final version.

Yeah - we pulled a PB of 14.79. Thanks for your help in getting this far already!

Here are the logs of our two fastest runs from that night.

I can't find a photo of his intake other than the "before" one I took to guilt him into cleaning it.
PXL_20250524_005415673.jpg

I'm trying to find a photo of his engine bay so you can see how it's set up. Car is offsite today, and son is out making an Ikea run to get some lighting for his model car display...

As far as cleaning the sensor - what tools / link to video do we need?

We aren't running at the track this week, so his hands that wrench assistent will be doing the theromstat next week. He can clean the sensor then too....

[cpenner]

Attached is the V4 Engine and Trans Tune to use when you have the 180 thermostat installed in the car. It should make more power overall down the track and shift quicker using SRT shift logic. Just keep an eye out for KR in the datalogs.

I saw in the V2 logs it was hitting cat protection starting at 85mph, which adds fuel and pulls timing - So I upped the ecu calculated value limit from 1715F to 1749F (To the same as a hellcat), and it should get you a little further before engaging.

Hopefully this tune gets you around a 14.5! And of course the tips mentioned in my above post will only make it better.

Thanks for that. We aren't running this week - but the plan is that for next week we'll
- clean the MAF sensor
- install 180 degree thermostat
- flash v4

Doug is really enjoying making forward progress. Thanks to all you guys who have tossed ideas our way.

[cpenner]

Make a Wish , those guy(and Gals) are great to work with, The company I use to run did a lot of work with them over the years, helped set up a trip to the Monaco Race this year , got her in to Leclerc's pit for this year's GP race.

I looked at the two logs posted, Need more Data, (and Jefo's tune is a good solid tune).

Look into logging Accelerator Voltage and Throttle Voltage, it's more of a "lets see what it's doing during "stage and where spark is when it goes in to WOT tables,
In Air flow , Look at logging P-ratio and also Total VE ,
lets get Cylinder # 1 & # Pulse width and Fuel mass, that'll let us look at the Injector duty Cycle.
Also Fuel Command , log PE enrichment(FA adder)
Manifold Vacuum, Knock sensor # 1 ,
MRP is a real nice track, been there a few times, Elevation is under 50ft nice track,
2nd Log , you didn't record Baro (Under specific parameters in Environment).

Doug's first choice for his wish was to have a guided tour of Leno's garage. Unfortunately travel restrictions were in place so we needed to pivot to something local. So he got the folding power chair, MPVI3, GoPro, a signed hotwheels/pictures by Leno, and a video message from Jay. Pretty cool.

As far as logging more things, I'm happy to. Is there a config file I can use to load it? In post #3 in the thread I was given a link to DODGE2015Channels.xml. Is there a similar file you can send me that I can add in the parameters you want to see added to our next logs?

[jefo]

From the logs I was able to see I set the converter lockup too late in 2nd gear (past peak power) so I revised the V4 tune and saved it above.

Also, I see the fuel level is almost full. Target to arrive 3/8 tank or so when at the dragstrip if you can to lose some weight. And it there's any miscellaneous unneeded loose weight leave it at home as well.


For the IAT sensor, depending on the intake you have it should be here:
KN Intake.png

With oiled filter intakes, it can accumulate gunk on the blue portion of the sensor. If you check it and it's clean, this is a non issue. MAF sensor cleaner (CRC makes some) is good because it's not harsh and you don't need to touch the sensor, just remove it and spray clean the blue portion of the sensor.

Also, you want to make sure the IAT orientation angle with respect to the tube intake is correct, so the black housing on the sensor isn't shielding the actual blue sensor from airflow. From the perspective below, the airflow should be going directly into the photo.

IAT Sensor.png