Superchips Custom Burned Chip

[Skandocious]

Found a guy on craigslist with a custom burned Superchips performance chip. The chip is for EXACTLY my truck, 95 F150/Bronco 351 4x4 E4OD MAF. I called the guy and he wants $50 for it. He said it basically just advances the timing a bit and tightens up the shifts by increasing line pressure... He said you have to run 91 octane and you'll definitely see a performance gain and MAYBE a mileage gain. He either works-for or owns West Coast Differentials which is a huge gear outfit out here in Cali, so he said he's got some hookups and had this chip custom burned for his truck for around $300. Now he has done some more engine mods and upgraded to a different chip.

You think the chip really offers an better performance over just advancing my base timing and running 91 octane all the time? Could it possibly give me better gas mileage?

 

[tomtoc]

would you get that and possibly do your zf swap still?

 

[Skandocious]

Well the guy with the ZF flaked, and I can't find another one in my budget for the life of me... If I can't get the trans and all the related parts in the next 2 weeks or so, I'll have to wait 'til next summer.

Anyways -- this thread is not about whether or not I should BUY it... It's about whether or not the chip really does jack, lol.

 

[CaFordDude]

While I have no "chip" experience, I have seen many many posts across several forums that say that a properly programed chip can lead to MPG gains. Since warranty is not an issue for your truck I say $50 bucks is worth it. Just avoid insert favorite vice here for a few weeks and it should pay for it.

 

[Skandocious]

Well the $50 is no big deal... But having to fill it up with 91 all the time after installing the chip could make the purchase a bit more painful...

As for MPG gains... I asked him if he saw better mileage with the chip and he said it was hard to tell-- because he did a bunch of engine upgrades and gears and tires and blah blah blah at the same time as the chip, and the mileage stayed just about exactly the same. So I suppose that if all those upgrades he did COST him some MPGs, the chip could have very well have made up for it...

 

[Skandocious]

I'm also curious... Do you think there's any way I could modify the chip and wire it to a switch on the dash so I can disable it whenever I want? I think it would probably be pretty hard...

 

[eco]

Whats more important...MPG or performance?

If performance then it would probably be worth it because a chip is made to change certain parts of the timing tables without changing them all. You can't do this by turning the dizzy. If done properly you will notice a difference.

If MPG, then it's probably a waste because what you save in MPG you lose in the added cost of the fuel.

 

[Skandocious]

Yeah I'd be perfectly happy if it gave me better performance and little-to-no gain in MPGs. To be honest, a fillup from 1/4 tank on my truck normally squeezes about 13-14 gallons, and with a difference of $.20 between 87 an 91, thats only $2-3 difference at fillup time...

So eco-- you're fairly certain that a properly programmed chip will offer me noticeable performance gains by adjusting the timing tables?

 

[Skandocious]

http://www.superchips.com/product_reference.php?make=Ford&x=50&y=7

Looks like they do, in fact, do custom burns for the older trucks. The page above lists the F150 5.8L as "Requires programming", which I'm just assuming means that it needs a custom burn from Superchips. That page says the 5.8L should see 18hp and 27ft-lb from the chip that I'm looking at getting for $50...

 

[eco]

So eco-- you're fairly certain that a properly programmed chip will offer me noticeable performance gains by adjusting the timing tables?

The key word being properly - yes. But, there is no free lunch here. As you know, the fuel will cost more, thats one set back. Also, emissions come into play and that has alot to do with why they were not programmed this way in the first place. You advance the timing the emissions go up.

Also, the chip could richen the mixture and have the O2 sensor input altered to accomodate - did they do that to this chip?

But, not all "HP gain" claims made by manufacturers are true.

 

[F 150Cobra]

they do work some.. remember me when i swapped the ECU how crisper shifts and how mu truck became way faster.. becuase that ECU had advanced timing and make it shift harder.. im running on the old one now it sucks... lazyyyy shuifts.. no power i say try it out...

you only have to fill up with 91 oct. to see its full performance gain ... not for normal driving

 

[eco]

I'm also curious... Do you think there's any way I could modify the chip and wire it to a switch on the dash so I can disable it whenever I want? I think it would probably be pretty hard...

You could do this with a tuner - set it up the way you want, change it, change it back.

You did at one time say that you were going to get a tuner.

 

[blacksnapon]

Thats what I dont like about a chip. They change perameters, but which ones, and how much? You're kind of at their mercy.

 

[Skandocious]

Well if the guy had programmed this chip himself, I'd be a bit weary. But Superchips is a huge tuner/chip manufacturer... I have to assume they'd do it right. I think I'm gonna go for it

 

[F 150Cobra]

be shure to let us know

 

[6L PWR]

BOOM!!! Was that a rod??? ROFLMAO!!

 

[Skandocious]

Deal should be sealed. I just left a message on his cell phone that I wanted to meet up. I'll keep ya'll posted.

 

[msb71]

BOOM!!! Was that a rod??? ROFLMAO!!

Famous last words right there,,lmao

 

[Skandocious]

Meeting the guy at 5:30 today to buy the chip. Won't be able to install it for a while cuz I gotta run the rest of the 87 out of my tank and fill it up with 91.

 

[NeXtras]

where does the chip plug into? if its the one that plugs into the air intake, it doesnt do anything, just a resistor