I am going to install a Vararam air intake system, would this require a tune? My next project will be to install a Bassani X pipe, need a tune then? Any help on this will be greatfully accepted. This is my first corvette
I would say not quite yet unless you are very close to a good tuner and get a good price. Your MAF sensor should meter the increased incoming air and act accordingly. I would add a few more mods before tuning.
You may get a CEL until the PCm relearns the air coming in. If you get the CEL just run the scan and reset the codes H and C. Don't worry about a tune until other mods are added i.e. cam, heads, intake and headers. my $.02
Replacing the stock intake/filter will cause your MAF to report false air volume. Let it try and tune itself for 50 miles, or so. Then drive it and pay close attention to jerkiness in engine operation. You'll feel it through your foot. The un-smooth feeling at various points is the VE table and the MAF table fighting with one another. If you have access to a scanner, have a look at the LTFT and STFT values. You'll see what I mean.
The cost of a quality tune is approximately the same as buying HPT or EFILive and doing it yourself.
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Best regards,
Bill
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
2003 Quicksilver roadster , 1SB, F55, QF5, MN6, Z06 Ti catback, 2 cat H-pipe & air lid, Euro red/amber tails, Vette Net, and HP Tuners s/w - available for free to anyone in Calgary
I installed a VaraRam and six months later I installed a Corsa Catback with X-pipe. After the VaraRam install my gas mileage took a dive to ~14 MPG. I don't know if it was the increased air flow that wasn't being compensated for or, the MAF sensor got gummed up from the initial thin coating of light oil on the new air filter (it was running lean and pulling timing). I decided that after I put on the Corsa's I would have it tuned. Many say that these mods don't do anything for performance to require a tune. I felt that I wasn't going to do any other mods in a long while that will affect the cars breathing. However, since the tune I have noticed a big increase in perceived (SOTP) power. With just these two mods, I got 325rwhp on a loaded Mustang Dyno with my stock 03 A4 and I'm back to getting ~20 MPG (Avg). The choice is yours on whether you tune it after your mods, I would. IMHO.
I did just a tune as my first, "mod" and got close to 40 more rwhp I then added vara-ram and then got retuned and only gained about 5 or so then got Borla stingers cat back, and re tune for a few more I'm now at 375rwh with only the above mods.
I have a local tuner for $400 on 1st tune and $100 for retunes after mods, so I'm lucky for the convenience. But just the tune was the most increase I got, so in my opinion go there first,......if it's feasable.
D.
You will get the "full" benefit of the mods by investing in a quality tune.
Every Vette is an individual and GM has to tune for "all conditions" mechanical and environmental. This means compromises but they all run "good" straight from Bowling Green.
Once you start stacking on the mods, a tune will show itself more and more beneficial. And as U4ick mentioned, he picked up the most just tuning from stock.
Corvette Store
When to tune
I don't know if it was the increased air flow that wasn't being compensated for or, the MAF sensor got gummed up from the initial thin coating of light oil on the new air filter (it was running lean and pulling timing). I decided that after I put on the Corsa's I would have it tuned. Many say that these mods don't do anything for performance to require a tune. I felt that I wasn't going to do any other mods in a long while that will affect the cars breathing. However, since the tune I have noticed a big increase in perceived (SOTP) power. 
With just these two mods, I got 325rwhp on a loaded Mustang Dyno with my stock 03 A4 and I'm back to getting ~20 MPG (Avg). The choice is yours on whether you tune it after your mods, I would. IMHO. 
