chips and gears

adrift · Apr 14, 2004

I know there's lots of posts on gears already, but after doing lots of searching I'm still kind of confused about options for tuning my chip. I'm planning on going with 4:10's, a buddy of mine is going to put them in, he's pretty experienced with putting in gears but has only done so with 5.0's, so he's never really had to deal with the chip issue. He told me a freind of his put in 3:73's on his 4.6 and actually ended up with slower times at the track because he ignored tuning his chip.
As far as I can tell you can
a. get a new performance chip
b. get your chip re-burned (?)
or
c. flash your chip with a flasher that basically costs the same as a performance chip

So I'm wondering what's the cheapest and all around best thing to do? I'm also wondering... about these flashers, do they need to stay in your car or can the chip be flashed and then removed... and if the latter is the case, would a performance auto shop flash your chip for you for a nominal fee?

RickJamesbch · Apr 14, 2004

Is your car already chipped??

adrift · Apr 14, 2004

I um... don't really understand that question. If you mean, do I have a performance chip in my car? no. As far as i know my car is bone stock (except for a K&N filter)

RickJamesbch · Apr 14, 2004

Well, since you have an automatic I would suggest the Hypertec Power Programmer. It will let you correct you speedometer and firm up you shift by increasing line pressure, among other things. There are other programmers out there, I just don't remember the names. It cost like 300 bucks. Go to www.hypertech.com and research it some more if you want.

BTW, where do you live in Ohio?

'01 Steed · Apr 14, 2004

adrift · Apr 14, 2004

Yep I've seen the SCT and the HPP flasher already, but for $300-$425 bucks... man what a drag. I mean, I know in the long run it's worth it... still. That's why I asked about performance shops possibly flashing your stock chip for a fraction of the cost with one of these programmers... from the instructions for the HPP it doesn't look like it has to stay in your car, course I suppose that means finding someone with a programmer for my make model and year.
I live in Lima, it's about half way between Dayton and Toledo.

'01 Steed · Apr 14, 2004

I get recals on my SCT chip for $25. Paid $307 shipped to my door. I don't think you have a chip. Your car is stock, yes, tune wise? So you'll need a chip. You may be able to pick up an HPP used, but my take on that is...if it were that good, why would it for sale?
Ken B at Mod. Depot is in Cinci. You should call him.

RickJamesbch · Apr 14, 2004

[QUOTE='01 Steed]I get recals on my SCT chip for $25. Paid $307 shipped to my door. I don't think you have a chip. Your car is stock, yes, tune wise? So you'll need a chip. You may be able to pick up an HPP used, but my take on that is...if it were that good, why would it for sale?
Ken B at Mod. Depot is in Cinci. You should call him.[/QUOTE]

With the HPP all you do is plug it in, do what you want with it and your done unless you want to keep it for future use, ie. new gears, rims, or changing back to stock. If you are not going to use it again after the intial use, why not try to get some of your money back?? Can't really do that with a chip. No flame intended, both are good suggestions. You should do what you feel will fit your needs the best. Just my .02.....

Dark Knight GT · Apr 14, 2004

With an automatic, your only options are a programmer(HPP or SCT), sport chip, or dyno tune. Of these three, the dyno tune will prove to be the most efficient. However, you will have to wait till after the gears are installed and then drive to the dyno tune site with a bad speedo but thats no biggie as long as you try not to go too fast and arent hard on the car. If you dont do the dyno tune, I recommend either the hypertech programmer or SCT programmer. Either will let you customize your shifts and rev-limiter. You can also advance your ignition input and increase shift firmness. Not to say the a sport chip isnt good but its more or less a "guessing" procedure based on other cars that have been built similar to yours which they have records on. If you get the chip, and it doesnt work, you'll need to get the chip reburned and that often times costs as much as 100 dollars per reburn.

adrift · Apr 14, 2004

With an automatic, your only options are a programmer(HPP or SCT), sport chip, or dyno tune. Of these three, the dyno tune will prove to be the most efficient. However, you will have to wait till after the gears are installed and then drive to the dyno tune site with a bad speedo but thats no biggie as long as you try not to go too fast and arent hard on the car. If you dont do the dyno tune, I recommend either the hypertech programmer or SCT programmer. Either will let you customize your shifts and rev-limiter. You can also advance your ignition input and increase shift firmness. Not to say the a sport chip isnt good but its more or less a "guessing" procedure based on other cars that have been built similar to yours which they have records on. If you get the chip, and it doesnt work, you'll need to get the chip reburned and that often times costs as much as 100 dollars per reburn.

Ok thank you, that's exactly the answer I was looking for. But thanks to everyone else too.

I don't think you have a chip. Your car is stock, yes, tune wise? So you'll need a chip.

For my future understanding, can you explain this statement? It seems similar to what Rick James was asking about weather or not my car was chipped. Doesn't the 4.6 come from the factory with a "chip"? I mean... that's what the computer in your car is, isn't it? Or is this just common or obvious mustang venacular for a "sports chip"?

And one last question... Is it common for say, several people in the same area with similar makes and models to buy one programmer and trade it off to one another, or is that pretty much unheard of? Seems in the long run it would save a lot of people a lot of money.

Dark Knight GT · Apr 14, 2004

Is it common for say, several people in the same area with similar makes and models to buy one programmer and trade it off to one another, or is that pretty much unheard of? Seems in the long run it would save a lot of people a lot of money.

The manufacturers of these "self programable devices" such as the Hypertech and SCT systems have made this an impossible feature. Once the unit has been used to program one tune, there is a "code" sort of to speak downloaded into the memory of the programer and anytime you hook it up to another ECU unit besides the one it has already been used to program, it will not allow for any programming to take place. Thus, it can only be used on one computer at a time. If you wish to sell it to someone else so they can use it, you must first erase all the information in your cars ECU, then, the unit will be cleared and allow for future programming of a different ECU. Each self programing unit comes with an instruction booklet that makes this clear.

adrift · Apr 14, 2004

Ohhh... Well that's really rotten. Well I suppose it does make sence. hmm.. well thanks once again then.

'01 Steed · Apr 14, 2004

Rick James said:
...If you are not going to use it again after the intial use, why not try to get some of your money back?? Can't really do that with a chip. ......

If you are using the HPP (or any other "self" programmer), then you know perfectly well that this is not possible. No flame back, but that statement almost sounds like you would take advantage of someone who doesn't know any better.

adrift Your car (and mine) does not come with a chip. All of the calibration is progammed into the EEC (or ECU or PCM. The nomenclature differs in different circles). A chip overrides/augments certain schedules and commands. It physically attaches to the EEC. Hope that sheds some light on it for ya.

All I can say is that the SCT guys are the best in the business, period.

Good Luck!

RickJamesbch · Apr 14, 2004

[QUOTE='01 Steed]If you are using the HPP (or any other "self" programmer), then you know perfectly well that this is not possible. No flame back, but that statement almost sounds like you would take advantage of someone who doesn't know any better.

adrift Your car (and mine) does not come with a chip. All of the calibration is progammed into the EEC (or ECU or PCM. The nomenclature differs in different circles). A chip overrides/augments certain schedules and commands. It physically attaches to the EEC. Hope that sheds some light on it for ya.

All I can say is that the SCT guys are the best in the business, period.

Good Luck! [/QUOTE]

I am glad you set me strait on this . I was told that it could be reused but it had to be on the same year as the previous vehicle. Sorry for the misinformation everyone .

'01 Steed · Apr 14, 2004

It can be reused, but not "duplicated". Once you load a program onto a given EEC, the tuning software will not recognize any other vehicle (it reads the VIN for the vehicle in which the tune is dumped into). It will only release that VIN when the stock tune is returned to the vehicle in question. Then it will let the user tune another vehicle, logging this "new" vehicles data, and starting the whole process over again.
Good subject.

adrift · Apr 14, 2004

adrift Your car (and mine) does not come with a chip. All of the calibration is progammed into the EEC (or ECU or PCM. The nomenclature differs in different circles). A chip overrides/augments certain schedules and commands. It physically attaches to the EEC. Hope that sheds some light on it for ya.

All I can say is that the SCT guys are the best in the business, period.

Ok, that clears quite a bit of confusion. Thank you.

RickJamesbch · Apr 14, 2004

[QUOTE='01 Steed]It can be reused, but not "duplicated". Once you load a program onto a given EEC, the tuning software will not recognize any other vehicle (it reads the VIN for the vehicle in which the tune is dumped into). It will only release that VIN when the stock tune is returned to the vehicle in question. Then it will let the user tune another vehicle, logging this "new" vehicles data, and starting the whole process over again.
Good subject.[/QUOTE]

Thanks again . The guy at JEGS must have "accidentally"( ) left the part about returning the vehicle to stock condition before it could be used on another vehicle, or he just didn't know what the hell he was talking about. I haven't bought one yet and I would have felt pretty bad if I would have used it and then sold it on Ebay or something.

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