what is the best chip and where to buy it what are the gains?

 

Hi buckeye,

Hands down, most people use and prefer the Superchip. It's the only performance chip that has everything, meaning it's the only performance chip that tunes each vehicle invidually according to it's exact PCM software revision, that tunes for maximum horsepower and torque *all* the time at any throttle position and at any rpm, and that is still 50-state emissions approved & CARB certified for legal use in all 50 states. No other performance chip has all of that, only the Superchip.

As far as how much power can be gained, we have to look at what's actually being done..........what the Superchip is doing is retuning the engine specifically for the use of good quality premium gasoline of 91 thru 94 octane, to bring the raw power up. From there, it's a matter of just how much R&D the chipmaker has actually done on that particular platform, which will dictate just how much additional performance and improvement in overall driveability can be safely coaxed from various aspects of the powertrain program on top of what you get from just the raw power gain in the motor.

Superchips has more R&D in the F-150 platform than most other chipmakers *combined*, and here at Performance Products we are the oldest Superchips WD in America. We've specialized in the F-150 platform for many years, so in addition to the R&D Superchips has done, we have done much additional R&D that has gone into the Superchips programs we have available for these trucks.

The absolute maximum potential gain for the 260 HP version of the 5.4 motor from the Superchips tuning is 28 HP & 46 lbs./ft. of torque, SAE Net at the flywheel (like your factory rating is expressed). Now just exactly how much power each individual vehicle will actually gain is of course going to vary a bit, not just from the normal production line variances but also even bigger factors like the altitude at which the vehicle is operated and the octane level and especially the energy content (BTU's per gallon) of the gasoline being used. All of that plays a part in power output & power gained from the Superchips tuning. Some trucks might gain 23 HP, another may gain 26 HP , and so on, but basically, as long as the proper good quality premium gas is used, the vehicle will make about 10% more power than it did before.

I think the most accurate way I've ever heard to express what the Superchips does for these vehicles is to describe it as, in round numbers, about a 10% power gainer, as that is what the vehicle will basically feel like, like it gained about 10% more motor under the hood. The Superchip will also remove various delays & retards, vastly improve the automatic transmission shift characteristics and response times, improve throttle response, remove the top speed limiter, etc.

In terms of how much of an improvement in actual *performance* you'll see from the Superchips tuning, figure that you'll usually see at least a half-second off the 0-60 & 1/4 mile times in the V8 automatics, with reductions of as much as a full second+ also being reported (Average is about 7 tenths.) This will vary based on vehicle configuration of course, the lightest 2WD short-cab 5.4 will reduce acceleration times more from the exact same raw power gain compared to the heavier 4WD Lariat w/ORP (FX4 in '02 & up) with the towing package, the 7700 package, etc.

With regard to where to get them, we carry them right here at Performance, and we have an online ordering system right here, too! You can either call us at our number listed below or you can use our online ordering system to place your order, whichever you prefer. To access our online ordering system, just click on the link below in our signature line, and it'll take you right to it.

If you'd like to go over this in more detail, feel free to give us a call, our phone number is listed below.

 

Wow, lot's of info ~ thanks!

I too just bought a 2003 SuperCrew XLT (5.4/3.55ls).
The MagnaFlow p/n#15609 that I recieved from you guys the other day (thanks Anita) goes in this weekend.
Should I order the 'Y-Pipe' now and have it installed at the same time or should I just wait to do it after I have had the cat-back on for awhile.

Anyways, you spoke very highly of the Superchip for the '03 SuperCrew, would you recommend your 'SuperChip' over the 'Microtuner'?

-MrTude

 

Hi there Tude,

Great, glad to hear the Magnaflow is going in!

I think the best time to put the Y-pipe in is at the same time the cat-back exhaust is installed, absolutely! This isn't a *must*, so you can certainly do it later if you prefer, thats up to you. But it sure makes sense to do it at the same time if you can.

The Superchip and the Superchips Micro Tuner are going to give you the same basic results, they use the same basic programs, and the tuning hasn't changed, teh only thign that has changed ios teh hardware used to deliver the same performance program we've always offered, it's the same company, the same manufacturer, Superchips Inc.. The only difference is the added features of the Micro Tuner, like the ability to recalibrate the speedometer, alter WOT shift points & shift firmness, and it's built-in OBD-II code scanner, and that code scanner alone is a $150 bonus.

Actually, if you'll use the excellent search feature here, you can search thru our posts to find our original annoucement about the release of the Micro Tuenr, as in that thread you will find a TON of great info about the features & differences between them.

The bottom line is, the performance gains are basically the same, the primary difference is in the features & installation, the Micro Tuner has more features & it's easier to install.

Feel free to give us a call to go over this in more detail if you like, & enjoy your new exhaust system!

 

thanks for the feed back guys.whats the diffreence between diablo and superchips magna flow and flowmaster?????

 

Hi Buckeye,

While Diablo does tune via the PCM revision (computer code) in most of their applications, they are not certified for emissions compliance like the Superchips tuning is. Superchips has also been doing this for much longer. Superchips applications are legal for use in all 50 states, and carry CARB & EPA emissions approval, and that paperwork is included with each Superchip.

Diablo does not have the amount of direct R&D into their applications as compared to Superchips, as they've been making chips for just a few years. Superchips is the company that invented the performance chip 20 years ago, & has significantly more direct R&D into their applications, and has done much work directly for many of the world's major automakers, too.

Because we specialize in the Ford F-truck platform here at Performance Products, we take part in a number of ways in the R&D that goes into the Superchips programs that are used in the Ford F-150's, Lightnings, Harleys, etc. In fact, we just wrapped up our 2003 Lightning tuning R&D project a couple of weeks ago which we conducted, with much assistance from Superchips. The programs that we offer here at Performance for this platform simply have more R&D and refinement, and have more people using them than any other product.

What you might want to do is take your time reading thru this section of the message boards, they go back for *years*, and look for what the people that have spent their hard-earned money say about the Superchips tuning. That's always helpful to see, and if you spend a little time doing that, you'll quickly see that the majority of people here are using the Superchips tuning and love it.

With regard to the exhaust choice........................

There is literally no comparison between Magnaflow and Flowmaster, as they are as opposed as possible. Flowmaster serves the low end of the market, so to speak, offering the cheapest exhaust systems, while Magnaflow is stainless steel, using much higher quality components and having the best flow engienering, consequently costs more.

Flowmaster systems for these trucks cause significant loss of torque below about 3000 rpm, which is the *last* thing any of these trucks needs. And it's not just Flowmaster, I don't mean to pick on them, it's almost all of the exhaust systems that cause loss of low-end torque. So it's not just all the cheaper systems like Flowmaster, but almost all of the more expensive exhausts as well. Why? Because virtually nobody is doing real flow engineering that is specific to the needs of these heavy trucks & SUVs, for which part-throttle torque below 3000 rpm is absolutely *critical* to performance, driveability and fuel mileage.

Anyone can open up flow and pick up some horsepower at higher rpm at full-throttle, but to actually be able to provide more torque *everywhere*, all the time, at any throttle position as well as at any rpm, now that is a completely different matter. Opening up flow is easy, but you must also maintain exhaust flow *velocity* as well, to provide maximum possible scavenging, that is one of the single most important keys to getting a truly successful result in an exhaust modification in these trucks.

We've tested virtually every name-brand air intake kit & cat-back exhaust system (and a lot of other parts, too) available for the F-150 platform, and out of all of those, only the Magnaflow cat-back system produced increases in torque at any throttle position tested, at any rpm tested. They also showed the absolute highest peak gains in horsepower, the clearest posssible demonstration of superior flow engineering. The Magnaflow is a single 3" system that has shown gains of as much as 21.5 HP in the 5.4 F-150, for example. The next closest system was Spintech's 2.5" tru-dual system, which gained a maximum of 19 HP on the 5.4, but also lost torque below about 2800 rpm on part-throttle.

These days it's not about single or dual like it used to be back in the 60's & 70's, but about the end result of the flow engineering that goes into the system.

Feel free to give us a call if you'd like to go over any of this in more detail, go over your vehicle & what you want it to be capable of performance-wise and we can advise you on the best way to get there & what specific parts to use, etc. if you like, we're happy to help.