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Topic: chips in J3 service port- snake oil? (Read 1204 times) previous topic - next topic

chips in J3 service port- snake oil?

I have never seen anybody in real life have an aftermarket chip / tuner on EEC-IV computer like ours.  only in articles (where the chip company is an advertiser in the magazine).  I see advertisments all the time.    what's the deal?  can this really "unleash"  a little bit?    has anyone on here ever tried?    some companies advertise gains of 30HP.    I don't buy that for a second.

chips in J3 service port- snake oil?

Reply #1
Well.  They work, but typically only when you get them tuned for your combo.  From what I understand, the aftermarket chips give you a little bit more favorable advance curve as the company is trying to set a program that will still work on all engine combinations.  So they really only shine if you have some mods to your engine and have access to the programmer or are willing to take it to a shop for a tune.

I think you could probably get the same kick from bumping up your timing a few degrees and running premium, which is what the chips probably going to do anyway.

Rear Gears were the only thing I've ever done that were A. fairly cheap, and B. provided maximum results on the butt dyno (feels fast).

Just my $0.02
-Z
My car is a gravity hybrid.  The gasoline engine gets me up the hills, and gravity gets me down.

chips in J3 service port- snake oil?

Reply #2
What are the details on your car?Give up some info.
'88 Sport--T-5,MGW shifter,Trick Flow R intake,Ed Curtis cam,Trick Flow heads,Scorpion rockers,75mm Accufab t-body,3G,mini starter,Taurus fan,BBK long tube headers,O/R H-Pipe, Flowamaster Super 44's, deep and deeper Cobra R wheels, Mass Air and 24's,8.8 with 3.73's,140 mph speedo,Mach 1 chin spoiler,SN-95 springs,CHE control arms,aluminum drive shaft and a lot more..

chips in J3 service port- snake oil?

Reply #3
X2 for rear gears!
1983 Tbird with '03 Split Port V6 motor swap done! Headers, dual exhaust, 500CFM Edelbrock, 3G upgrade, Electric fan. 3.73 Gears and an FRPP Limited Slip. Five lug complete! 5-Speed conversion complete! Standalone Fuel Injection in progress...

chips in J3 service port- snake oil?

Reply #4
When I went from 2.73's to 3.45's (then 3.55's,and 3.73's coming soon),it was like night and day.gears made a LOT of difference,and,they can be found for cheap.
'88 Sport--T-5,MGW shifter,Trick Flow R intake,Ed Curtis cam,Trick Flow heads,Scorpion rockers,75mm Accufab t-body,3G,mini starter,Taurus fan,BBK long tube headers,O/R H-Pipe, Flowamaster Super 44's, deep and deeper Cobra R wheels, Mass Air and 24's,8.8 with 3.73's,140 mph speedo,Mach 1 chin spoiler,SN-95 springs,CHE control arms,aluminum drive shaft and a lot more..

chips in J3 service port- snake oil?

Reply #5
i'm not a horsepower junkee and i don't race.  but the car is fun to drive, it's in great condition (except see below),  and i'd like to get as much as i can out of it with as little effort as possible.  very unique vehicle in my area.  everyone leases a new car every 3 years around here.     

vin-  i've been acspoogeulating the HO conversion parts and have installed the headers / exhaust so far.  i know it should all be done at once but i couldn't wait for it to sound cool.    the rest of that swap is on hold because,  as you might recall from my previous thread called "oil light",  my engine is on it's way out.  once i get new block or mine rebuilt,  i'll continue with that.    I've overhauled the front end (thanks to this website and cool cats),  and i have a lead for TC rear end with 3.55's

chips in J3 service port- snake oil?

Reply #6
Don't waist your money on a chip. If there for real they won't be able to burn you one,
if you do mods to it. cam as an example. Most of what you do to our cars can be done bye you. If you get to the point of needing a tune, then it won't be by mail.
Old Grey Cat to this.88 Cat, 5.0 HO, CW mounts, mass air, CI custom cam, afr165's, Tmoss worked cobra intake, BBK shorty's,off road h pipe, magnaflow ex. T-5,spec stage 2 clutch, 8.8 373 TC trac loc, che ajustables with bullits on the rear. 11" brakes up front. +

chips in J3 service port- snake oil?

Reply #7
X3 for the gears. I went from 2.73's to 3.55's and you'd swear I picked up another 75 horses. Can't wait to do the HO conversion, where I actually WILL pick up 75 horses :D
2015 Mustang GT Premium - 5.0, 6-speed, Guard Green - too much awesome for one car

1988 5.0 Thunderbird :birdsmily: SOLD SEPT 11 2010: TC front clip/hood ♣ Body & paint completed Oct 2007 ♣ 3.55 TC rear end and front brakes ♣ TC interior ♣ CHE rear control arms (adjustable lowers) ♣ 2001 Bullitt springs ♣ Energy suspension poly busings ♣ Kenne Brown subframe connectors ♣ CWE engine mounts ♣ Thundercat sequential turn signals ♣ Explorer overhead console (temp/compass display) ♣ 2.25" off-road dual exhaust ♣ T-5 transmission swap completed Jan 2009 ♣

chips in J3 service port- snake oil?

Reply #8
Go with gears. My combo runs fine without a chip ;)
88 Thunderbird LX: 306, Edelbrock Performer heads, Comp 266HR cam, Edelbrock Performer RPM intake, bunch of other stuff.

chips in J3 service port- snake oil?

Reply #9
You can get 90% of what a chip does by increasing the ign timing to 14* and running a higher grade fuel...

chips in J3 service port- snake oil?

Reply #10
ok.  got it.  so take the spout thing out,  set to 14*,  and put spout back in?  is that it?

 

chips in J3 service port- snake oil?

Reply #11
Quote from: mattg;305154
  is that it?


Yup, other than the better fuel... Possibly can use mid-grade, especially in winter...