What are the benefits from a chip?

[00BlackBeautyGT]

I've been wanting one for quite some time now, but never really knew the benefits of it. I do know that if I get gears (3.73 is coming soon), a chip or programmer is required to correct the speedometer and shift points (mines is an automatic ). But what other benefits can I get from it. The engine is pretty much stock except for a chrome BBK intake (I know it does nothing, it's just there for looks). Will it wake my 4.6 a little. Also, if adding gears and a chip, will it make my reliable daily driver a unreliable daily driver? I drive alot of highway and travel out of state (Vaction, business). I won't add nothing too hardcore that will make my mustang unreliable for a daily driver. Please input any advise or suggestions.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Red mustang Gt 46]

A chip isn't an unreliable mod...If you really want to see a benefit, buy a chip that can be locally installed and TUNED. If you buy an "out of the box" mail order chip, you probably won't get much. A tuner can modify your air to fuel ratio throughout the RPM scale and get the most out of a tune. A good tuner will do this while the car is on a DYNO...it can be expensive but well worth it.

 

[00BlackBeautyGT]

What is a tune? Sorry for the dumb question.

 

[00BlackBeautyGT]

Anyone?

 

[Red mustang Gt 46]

For a dyno "tune", your car would be hooked up to a computer where you could watch/adjust your air to fuel mixture while your car is accellerating on the dyno (throughout the RPM scale). Different mixtures at different RPMs make different HP numbers...by optimizing fuel to air ratio throughout the RPM scale/load, you optimize performance. Out of the box chips are preprogrammed to their specs, a tuned chip is programmed or "burned" to your specs...you can also program shift points to your liking (for auto's)...etc...

 

[KaPPaBaLL]

transgo shift kit, tranny cooler, torque converter. Don't get 3.73's
4.30's for your auto.

 

[Dr. Wu 2000]

What is a tune? Sorry for the dumb question.

I have an auto and I had a custom tune with chip and I am getting very
good numbers. (look at sig) The performance is night and day. you may
want to do a little more as far as bolt on's go before getting custom tune.
DO NOT get a mail order chip. I had a Diablo Sport chip that was tuned to
my mods and when the car was dyno'd, I made less power with the Diablo
chip than when it was not installed. You MUST have a dyno and tune with
your chip. Check out JDM Eng. They did mine. $800 for chip, dyno and tune.
Good Luck !!!

 

[KaPPaBaLL]

$800!!!

SCT tune

 

[Phoenix00GT]

The key benefit (aside from the ones you listed) is the variability in the air/fuel mixture. If you get a programmer like the SCT or the Diablo Predator you will be able to change this frequently as you add parts that effect your air/fuel ratio. Dyno tunes run between $120 and $200 depending on the shop...don't ever pay more than $200 unless they are doing an initial tune on a forced induction system (supercharger or turbo).

 

[Tylerb59]

http://www.diablosport.com/U7146.php < ---

 

[Dr. Wu 2000]

Those hand held units are fine, but you have to know what you are doing
as far as adjusting air fuel. You can't go setting that stuff without having
the data to let you know what needs to be adjusted or not, right. do those
have the capability to do that. I would never start messing with air-fuel
and timing, etc. I leave that up to the professionals. Does any of that make
sense. I would be afraid I would mess something up.