With only six buttons to figure out, programming doesn't get any simpler than this. We plugged it into our '01's OBD-II port, flipped on the key, and started following the menu prompts.

The SCT X3 handheld tuner (PN 3416) is completely menu-driven. It comes with pre-programmed tunes, but also has the capability to store up to three custom tunes that can be loaded by any of SCT's custom tuning dealers.

To keep things simple, we chose the pre-programmed 91-octane tune. The stock tune was then uploaded into the X3 handheld tuner for safekeeping before the new tune was downloaded. This way it's easy to go back to stock whenever we want. Like the sign says, it's critical that the unit is not unplugged, or the power cut during the programming process.

This is the part where we need to say, "your results may vary." Depending on the car and its current state of tune, you may get a large gain or a small one. Our Camaro was already running pretty good, so our gains were only a couple of horsepower. In addition, since the programmer was stacked on top of the K&N filter install, the law of diminishing returns came into effect. We're pretty sure that if we had done the programming on the stock air intake, the gains would have been larger. These numbers are corrected to SAE and not our standard, more generous STD factor.

To us, the other aspects of the X3 handheld are even more important than the engine tuning. With this unit we're able to record our Camaro's PCM data and review it on either the X3 handheld screen or on a laptop PC using SCT's free datalog software, LiveLink. Also, if we ever had a check engine light pop on, we would be able to diagnose the problem and clear the light, without heading to a dealership.

There was much rejoicing when we found that we could change certain parts of our Z28's programming. The first to go was the annoying Computer Assisted Gear Selector, more commonly referred to as CAGS. This annoying feature tries to force you to skip a gear while shifting. We also ditched the top speed limiter. In the future we will be able to adjust for new, 18-inch rollers, and raise up our rev limiter when we bump up the camshaft a bit. If this were an automatic, we would also be able to set the shift points and firmness. That's a lot of functionality for a unit small enough to fit in our glovebox.