TUNER SCHOOL – 100 Intro to High Performance Testimonial: Robert – Summer 2025 22 Aug 7:16 AM (2 months ago)

Robert from our Summer 2025 class discusses his decision to choose Tuner School! Would you like to learn how to make fast cars faster? Check out Tuner School where our classroom includes a chassis dyno cell and a 1/4 mile dragstrip – all on the Hennessey Performance campus!

Hennessey’s TUNER SCHOOL Testimonial: Cody – Summer 2025 21 Aug 7:20 AM (2 months ago)

Cody from our Summer 2025 class discusses his decision to choose Tuner School! Would you like to learn how to make fast cars faster? Check out Tuner School where our classroom includes a chassis dyno cell and a 1/4 mile dragstrip – all on the Hennessey Performance campus!

What is Vehicle Tuning? Understanding Different Types of Vehicle Tuning and the Science Behind Making Reliable Horsepower 5 Jun 12:44 PM (4 months ago)

In the high-performance automotive world, one term comes up more often than almost any other: vehicle tuning. Whether you’re talking about adding horsepower, improving drivability, or maximizing engine efficiency, tuning is the cornerstone of modern performance. But what exactly does it mean to “tune” a vehicle? And how does a dynamometer — often referred to as a dyno — play a critical role in this process?

Today, we are breaking it all down in this in-depth guide to tuning, dyno testing, and how both are taught at one of America’s leading performance training programs: Tuner School.

What Is Vehicle Tuning?

Vehicle tuning refers to modifying a car’s engine control parameters to optimize its performance, power, fuel economy, or drivability. It’s not about turning a wrench — it’s about adjusting the car’s brain, also known as the ECU (Engine Control Unit). Using sophisticated software and hardware, tuners can reprogram the ECU to control how the engine delivers power, how the fuel system operates, and how the ignition timing reacts at different loads and RPMs.

Whether the goal is maximizing horsepower, accommodating forced induction like turbochargers or superchargers, or making a vehicle run properly with aftermarket performance parts, tuning is where everything comes together. This is what separates a bolt-on car from a truly dialed-in performance machine.

The Role of Engine Control Unit (ECU) Tuning in Performance Builds

Most modern vehicles rely on a complex ECU that controls everything from idle speed and air/fuel ratios to throttle response and turbo boost. ECU tuning (also called engine remapping or chip tuning) allows professional tuners to manipulate these controls for maximum efficiency and performance.

For example, if a car is fitted with a larger turbocharger, the stock ECU may not supply the correct amount of fuel or ignition timing to take advantage of the boost. Without a proper tune, this can cause serious performance loss or even catastrophic engine damage. With custom tuning, however, the engine’s parameters can be recalibrated to match the increased airflow, resulting in massive power gains and smoother operation.

What Is a Dynamometer (Dyno)?

A dynamometer, or dyno for short, is a tool that measures an engine or vehicle’s output — specifically horsepower, torque, and RPM — under controlled conditions. This machine is essential to the tuning process because it provides precise data that tuners use to optimize engine performance.

There are two primary types of dynos used in automotive tuning:
1. Chassis Dyno: Measures power at the wheels, simulating real driving conditions.
2. Engine Dyno: Measures power directly at the crankshaft or flywheel (used in engine development).

At Tuner School, students work extensively with chassis dynos to tune real vehicles. This hands-on experience gives them direct insight into how performance changes affect power output and engine behavior in real time.

Why Dyno Tuning Is Critical for High-Performance Builds

Dyno tuning takes tuning from guesswork to data-driven precision. When a car is placed on the dyno, the technician runs the vehicle through different RPM ranges and loads while recording data such as:

• Air/fuel ratio
• Boost pressure
• Ignition timing
• Intake air temperature
• Wheel horsepower and torque

This information is then used to make live adjustments to the ECU, often using software like HP Tuners, SCT, or standalone systems like Haltech or AEM. These changes are uploaded to the ECU, then tested again on the dyno. This tuning process is repeated until the engine reaches its full potential in a safe and reliable way.

Tuning for Reliability and Longevity

It’s not all about horsepower. A good tuner knows how to balance performance, safety, and drivability. A poorly tuned engine can suffer from detonation, lean conditions, or overheating, potentially causing serious and expensive damage. That’s why professional dyno tuning is the gold standard — and why understanding the process is essential for any high-performance technician.

At Tuner School, students learn not just how to make cars faster, but how to tune with precision, consistency, and reliability. This approach ensures graduates leave with real-world knowledge that separates them from backyard builders or hobbyists.

Common Applications of Dyno Tuning

Dyno tuning isn’t just for race cars or exotic builds. It’s used across a wide range of performance applications, including:

• Tuning supercharged and turbocharged engines
• Optimizing naturally aspirated performance setups
• Calibrating for larger fuel injectors or upgraded fuel systems
• Adjusting for aftermarket intakes, exhausts, headers
• Making E85 or flex fuel conversions run safely and efficiently
• Tuning track cars, drift builds, side-by-sides, off-road rigs, and more

If you’re a car enthusiast dreaming of building or tuning high-performance vehicles — or want to turn your passion into a professional career — learning dyno tuning is an absolute must.

How Tuner School Teaches Dyno Tuning

At Tuner School, dyno tuning is one of the cornerstones of the program. In both the 100-level and 200-level classes, students work directly on high-performance vehicles in a fully equipped dyno bay. The school maintains a low student-to-vehicle ratio, which means each student gets real seat time and hands-on tuning experience — not just theory.

The 100-level class introduces students to the fundamentals of performance engines, air/fuel dynamics, and basic tuning concepts. By the time students reach the 200-level class, they’re actively performing dyno pulls, reading real-time data logs, and making tuning adjustments under the supervision of experienced instructors.

Learn from Industry Professionals

Tuner School instructors are working professionals from Hennessey Performance Engineering — the same team that builds 1,000+ horsepower Camaros, Mustangs, Raptor Rs, and the world-record-breaking Venom F5 hypercar. This means students learn from people who are tuning at the highest levels in the industry, not from textbooks.

Students don’t just observe dyno tuning — they do it. They learn how to interpret dyno charts, read AFR logs, diagnose tuning issues, and safely increase power. And they do it all in a professional shop environment surrounded by real customer vehicles, high-powered builds, and some of the fastest machines in the world.

Start Your Career in Automotive Performance Today

Whether you’re an aspiring performance tuner, a car enthusiast looking to build faster vehicles, or someone who wants to turn a passion into a full-time career, Tuner School is where it starts. With a curriculum focused on real-world tuning, dyno testing, and advanced vehicle calibration, there’s no better place to learn.

Tuning is both an art and a science — and it’s at the core of what makes modern performance vehicles truly come alive. Ready to learn how to tune like the pros? Ready to run the dyno yourself? Apply to Tuner School today and start building your future in the high-performance automotive industry.

Hennessey Tuner School: Jumpstart Your Automotive Career! 11 Oct 2022 9:47 AM (3 years ago)

Have you always wanted to work on high-performance cars and trucks? Are you looking to jumpstart your career in the automotive industry?
Hennessey Performance’s Tuner School offers two industry-leading certification courses to prepare you for a professional, long-term career in the fast-paced and exciting world of automotive tuning!
Our Automotive Technology course is our most popular program, as it teaches the basics of automotive performance in just 14 weeks. Over the semester, you will learn about every vital component of modern-day performance vehicles. The Automotive Technology program combines lecture hall instruction and first-hand lab/shop training, so there’s never a dull moment. Students get to practice the thrill of working on today’s latest and most common domestic performance cars while learning from the industry’s top skilled and experienced instructors.
After completing the Automotive Technology course, many graduates opt to further their knowledge and progress to our Advanced Tuning program. This advanced program teaches attendees everything from fundamental dynamics and strategy to safety and analytics when modifying performance cars, trucks, and SUVs. The Advanced Tuning course is 14 weeks long. While it includes the obligatory classroom lectures, there is even more hands-on time in the lab or shop tuning today’s muscle cars.
If you’re looking to become an asset in a motorsports role, want to kick-start your tuning career, or simply want to grow as a technician so you can wield a wrench with authority in the garage, Hennessey’s Tuner School is the destination.
Give our incredible recruiting team a call today to learn more about the courses and to discuss openings in the upcoming Spring and Summer semesters.

Hennessey Expands Tuner School Program Adding All-New Advanced Tuning Course 21 Apr 2022 7:51 AM (3 years ago)

New 14-week curriculum teaches high-level tuning

• Students access Hennessey’s Chassis Dynamometers, on-site test track, plus a training fleet
• New Advanced Tuning course builds on Hennessey’s Intro to High Performance program
• More than 600 students have graduated from Hennessey’s Tuner School since 2008

Sealy, Texas (April 21, 2022) – Hennessey, the Texas-based hypercar manufacturer and high-performance vehicle creator, has unveiled an all-new training course aimed at creating the next generation of highly-skilled automotive performance calibrators.

Called ‘200 Automotive Technology – Advanced Tuning’, the new 14-week curriculum teaches high-level tuning through a balanced program of practical lab-based learning and instructor led lecture sessions. Covering everything from Advanced Engine Dynamics and OEM System Strategies to Data Analytics and Aftermarket Engine Tuning, the new course builds on Hennessey’s ‘100 Automotive Technology – Intro to High Performance’ course.

Hennessey established Tuner School in 2008 and through the following 14 years has educated more than 600 students. With plans in place to quadruple the school’s existing footprint, the addition of the ‘200 Automotive Technology – Advanced Tuning’ course will enable hundreds more students to grow their expertise even further.

The brainchild of Hennessey Founder and CEO John Hennessey, Tuner School’s focus is to train students to become the next wave of professionals in the Performance and Racing Industry. The new Advanced Tuning program is only for those who have completed Hennessey’s 100 Automotive Technology course or have passed the entrance examination. Education takes place over 14 weeks – the comprehensive class includes more than 100 hours of lectures and over 175 hours of practical lab experience.

John Hennessey, Founder and CEO: “I love horsepower, but what I love more is hearing from Tuner School graduates that our program has changed their life. It’s hugely gratifying to play a small part in the futures of so many talented men and women. We believe whole heartedly in the program as demonstrated by the Hennessey Performance employment figures – more than half of our technicians are Tuner School graduates.”

Hands-on training includes use of Hennessey’s own chassis dynamometers, capable of analyzing vehicle output at speeds up to 200 mph with power of up to 2000 bhp. Practical experience extends to real-world testing on Hennessey’s own test track using models including a Chevrolet Camaro SS, Dodge Challenger Hellcat, and Ford Mustang GT.

Jason Haynes, Tuner School Lead and Hennessey Director of Research & Development: “For 14 years, the experienced Tuner School instructor team has helped hundreds of students to fulfil their ambition to work in the automotive performance and racing sector. The addition of our Advanced Tuning course will enable experienced technicians and those graduating from our Intro to High Performance course to raise their skills to the highest level.”

All the Tuner School instructors have professional experience in OEM and aftermarket calibration and serve on the Hennessey Performance Calibration Team. Many students they’ve trained have graduated into senior positions at Hennessey Performance or elsewhere in the performance and racing industry or professional race teams. One graduate, Jamason Provost, recently signed with Michael Jordan’s 23XI NASCAR Team.

Tuner School holds Military Friendly School designation (GI Bill) and has Texas Workforce Commission approval. Prospective students should contact Hennessey for more information by calling +1 979.885.1300 or visiting TunerSchool.com.

Hennessey celebrates 30 years of making fast cars faster 8 Apr 2021 6:33 AM (4 years ago)

Listen on Apple Podcast
Listen on Spotify

John Hennessey reflects on being a speed pioneer and the family support,
great customers and fast cars that have shaped Hennessey Performance since 1991

• Powered by passion: 1991-2021 – Hennessey celebrates 30 years of making fast cars faster
• Company has evolved into a global brand and hypercar manufacturer, employing 50 people producing more than 500 customer cars a year
• Special 30-year celebration podcast charts the history of Hennessey (video / podcast)

Sealy, Texas (April 6, 2021) – Building a world-renowned tuning business on the foundation of strong family support, John Hennessey’s company has created more than 12,000 customer cars since it was founded 30 years ago and has now evolved into a global brand manufacturing its own hypercar.

1991 was a great year for John Hennessey. He modified his 3000GT VR4 daily driver and competed in the Pike’s Peak Hill Climb and Nevada Open Road Challenge races. The year continued with Hennessey setting a class record at the Bonneville Salt Flats and winning the Unlimited Class at the Silver State Classic open road race in Nevada. Alongside modifying his car and racing, 1991 also saw Hennessey marry the love of his life, Hope who founded the business with John that same year after returning from their honeymoon.

John Hennessey, company founder and CEO: “At the end of 1991, looking back at that year of motorsport, I realized I’d learned the first rule of auto racing – if you want to make a small fortune in racing, start with a larger one! To continue my passion, I knew I’d have to find a way to pay for it. So, I thought, if Carroll Shelby and Alois Ruf could make a living by building and modifying cars then maybe I could too – that’s how our company began.”

With his wife, Hope, his five children and a team of 50+ skilled colleagues, the Texas-based king of speed has stuck to a simple principle that too much horsepower is never enough in his mission to create cars that make people smile. From building cars for international rock stars and world-famous athletes to claiming countless speed records, including the ‘World’s Fastest Car’ title, the business ethos has always been to seek out the next challenge.

John Hennessey: “Hennessey Performance is like one big family to me, and our fantastic customers are a big part of that. As we celebrate 30 years of business, I’m thankful for every customer and my whole team who’ve all contributed to us becoming a hypercar manufacturer and world-renowned high-performance vehicle tuning business.”

Shortly after founding the company, John Hennessey turned his attention to boosting the performance of the now-iconic Dodge Viper. By 1997 he achieved an important accolade with his 650hp Hennessey Viper Venom GTS being the first to break 200mph. Since 2006, the company’s recently extended 51,000 sq-ft HQ has been next to its own test track enabling the acceleration of its R&D, engineering and tuning business with cars like the 234mph, twin turbo 1000hp Ford GT and 200mph HPE 600 Corvette C7 produced by the experienced team of Hennessey engineers.

By 2010, the business had built its own hypercar, the Hennessey Venom GT. Based on the chassis of a Lotus Exige, the 1244hp monster weighed just 2743lb and was powered by a turbocharged Hennessey V8 that enabled 0-200mph in just 14.51 seconds. The Venom GT set a production car Guinness World Record for the fastest 0-300kph time (13.63 seconds) in 2013, then followed that in 2014 with another world record, becoming the fastest production car in the world with a 270.49mph top speed.

Truck tuning emerged as a new customer-led trend in 2012 with the 600hp Hennessey Velociraptor beginning a generation of ‘hypertrucks’ from 1000hp supercar slayers to 6×6 conversions. Alongside these monsters of the road, the Hennessey team continued its muscle car work with models like its 1000hp ZL1 Camaro – named The Exorcist – raising the profile of the business further still.

Today, alongside producing upwards of 500 customer cars a year, the Hennessey team is focused on the all-new 100% bespoke Hennessey Venom F5 hypercar. This ‘decathlete of hypercars’ boasts 1817hp from its Hennessey-built 6.6-litre twin-turbocharged V8 engine and targets a top speed exceeding 311mph (500kph).

In its 30th year, Hennessey sees the launch of the F5 as a rebirth for the brand and the beginning of an exciting new future. Looking ahead, Hennessey plans a series of exciting models, built on the same 100% bespoke basis as the F5.

Video – Venom F5 global unveiling

Hennessey – making fast cars faster for 30 years

Hennessey Tuner School Testimonial: David 7 Aug 2020 7:37 AM (5 years ago)

David from Dallas, TX discusses his decision to choose Tuner School! Would you like to learn how to make fast cars faster? Check out Tuner School where our classroom includes a chassis dyno cell and a 1/4 mile dragstrip – all on the Hennessey Performance campus!

Hennessey Tuner School Testimonial: Ziggy 2 Jul 2020 6:21 AM (5 years ago)

Hennessey Tuner School Testimonial: Ziggy

Ziggy from Belgium discusses his decision to choose Tuner School! Would you like to learn how to make fast cars faster? Check out Tuner School where our classroom includes a chassis dyno cell and a 1/4 mile dragstrip – all on the Hennessey Performance campus!

Tuner School VLOG Episode 1, Season 1 6 Apr 2020 6:27 AM (5 years ago)

Welcome to the Tuner School Vlog

More to come soon! Would you like to learn how to make fast cars faster? Check out Tuner School where our classroom includes a chassis dyno cell and a 1/4 mile dragstrip – all on the Hennessey Performance campus!

Hennessey Tuner School Testimonial: Jason 21 Nov 2019 9:07 AM (5 years ago)

Jason from New York City discusses his decision to choose Tuner School!

Would you like to learn how to make fast cars faster? Check out Tuner School where our classroom includes a chassis dyno cell and a 1/4 mile dragstrip – all on the Hennessey Performance campus!