I was wondering what the best chip or what chips are out there or if there are any, etc. I always get asked, 'did you put a chip in?' I was wondering what the options are?
Well, that is somewhat correct. But, to answer your question, the more popular ones are Superchips, Diablo, SCT (Superchips Custom Tuning), hypertech, and a bunch more I can't think of right now. In some ways, the best advice is to have the chip be the last mod you do and have it tuned for the car.
HOWEVER, I have learned from my own experience that this simply not really true. Why? Because of the newer programmers that are available. Programmers that take custom programs allow your car to easily grow with your mods. In some cases, for a few bucks, you can have tunes emailed to you as your car gets modified OR have the programmer upgraded by a dyno tuner. Programmers also work as a code reader (which has bailed me out more than once) AND can calibrate speedo for gears. My programmer has saved me at least $100 by not running to a FORD dealer to have something corrected and I can use it whenever I want.
Chips are installed to your ECU and it's a pain in the ars. Programmers or flashers hook up in seconds to your cars diagnostic port. The most common flashers are: Hypertech, Superchips (not a custom tune), SCT (custom), and the Diablo Predetor. The Diablo is the newest and has the most features. The SCT is the most proven, in my opinion and will be the most trouble free. SCT has a new release available soon, with the features of the Predetor.
With the Diablo or SCT, expect rwhp gains of 8 - 15 with your mods. Why wait for a chip then! For the same amount of money, you can be driving around now with more hp and have a useful tool. Instead of waiting for mods like cams that you may never do.
Oh, one more important thing with any chip/programmer: customer service! SCT is the best, by far.
Ive got a DiabloSport in mine, loved it since day 1. It greatly improved overall engine running in my opinion. It really smoothed the engine out at all rpm levels Technically anytime you do anything to affect a/f you should have the car dyno'd to see how the a/f ratio is. With a chip, if any of your mods like the o/r pipe, a tb/plenum combo, or if you do headers later on, your tuner will be able adjust the a/f to correct for anything that may throw it off whack. Im not saying any or all of these will, for every car its different, but it is a possibility. I have been able to keep the same tune on my chip since I got it installed. The L/T's leaned me out some, but not enough to cause me or the shop to worry. Its your call man, a Programmer will do the same thing for you