Yea tuning could be risky business.
For $400 you could buy a tuner, however you have to learn how to use it. If i had the time to i would have bought a tuner as my first mod.
I recommend that anyone who has the time to learn spend the money on an HP tuner and teach yourself. You don't have to pay for a new tune each time you get a new mod, you can make different tunes for different things (track, daily driving), and its highly effective to increase mpg's and 1/4 mile times. Someone even broke into the high 13's in a COMPLETELY STOCK 99 GTP with only a tune.
Their is tons of literature on tuning so people looking to learn aren't going blind. Again if you have the time, patience and like to read, buying a tuner would be your best investment.
That is a "need to see to believe"
now that you have had it awhile, are you happy with the performance and driveability? What are some of the changes you have noticed from the stock tune that you like or dislikewell intense finally sent me the pcm for the correct car and it works. still have a sour taste in my mouth about the whole thing, but the tune feels good, and no harm done to the car so all is well
the performance on your supercharger with a 3.6 is close to the performance level of a 3.4 on the 97-03's.........dont start with the 3.4 as I doubt you would be knock free even with the mods you mentioned above. I personally would start with a 3.6 and see where you stand. you can always re sell the 3.6 pulley if you dont need it anymore and can run the 3.5 for sure.........i was under the impression that with my current mods, plus headers, auotlites, and new wires i could safely go to a 3.4?
genV'ed cars are a lot easier to get knock on because of the more efficient supercharger. Get a 3.5" to start...then if your knock free get a 3.4"...get the modular system...that way you don't have to worry about pressing pulley's on.