Microtuner and Lightning Question
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From: Erie,PA
Microtuner and Lightning Question
Mike,
I am about to make the plunge, but I do have a couple of questions.
I have a PSP air kit,Accufab throttle body and have done a line mod valve on my transmission on my L
1) what type of improvement in hp and tq would one expect to see with these minimal mods?
2) will it affect my current shift hardness? I like the way the mod shifts now, easy when driving easy and hard when driving hard
3) on some posts, (and this may be limited to an actual chip change vs the microtuner) but there is a learning period before all the improvement shows up, would this also be the case with a Microtuner on an L with min mods like mine?
Thanks
Dana
I am about to make the plunge, but I do have a couple of questions.
I have a PSP air kit,Accufab throttle body and have done a line mod valve on my transmission on my L
1) what type of improvement in hp and tq would one expect to see with these minimal mods?
2) will it affect my current shift hardness? I like the way the mod shifts now, easy when driving easy and hard when driving hard
3) on some posts, (and this may be limited to an actual chip change vs the microtuner) but there is a learning period before all the improvement shows up, would this also be the case with a Microtuner on an L with min mods like mine?
Thanks
Dana
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Joined: Mar 1998
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From: Virginia
Hi Dana,
It varies depending on model year of the Lightning, & you didn't include any info on what year your Lightning is.
'99 & '00 bolts gain 40+ HP, while the 2001 & up Lightnings gain 30-35 hp.
Yes, of course the shifts will be firmer with the Micro Tuner.
I run that valve as well, and run the same tranny program, and I think it's fine. It's snug but not harsh on light throttle, and when I nail it, it'll spin the tires on the WOT 1-2.
The Micro Tuner does allow you to alter shift firmness, but in the Lightnings taking the shift fimness all the way down results in you getting the same shift charactersitics as you would with our standard performance programs for the Lightning. Other non-Lightning F-150's can bring shift firmness levels up and down with the Micro Tuner, but in the Lightnings they respond differently, and you won't be able to back them all the way down to stock, for example.
Remember, the Micro Tuner is for stock to lightly modified trucks, so you can't use it with any mods that require custom tuning, such as pulleys to raise boost, or an aftermarket MAF, etc. Any such mods will require custom tuning & thus the Superchip module needs to be used, and preferably the 2-program Flip Chip on these supercharged 5.4's.
I run the standard transmission program in my Lightning along with the line mod valve, and it's perfect, it shifts snugly but not "jerky" when driving normally, and when I nail it, it will burn the tires for 20-30 ft. on the WOT 1-2 upshift at my power levels (way over 500 HP).
Personally, I think you'd be fine with the Micro Tuner's program for the shifting, as I'm using that same transmission program with the line mod valve & love it. The only potential downside is if it shifts too firm for *your* tastes, you can't adjust it all the way back down to stock unless you just remove the Micro Tuner's tuning altogether.
The shift firmness level in the Micro Tuner, just like in the Superchip, is in direct correlation to throttle opening & load: the more throttle you give it, the firmer it will shift, just as any automatic transmission really should respond.
When you install the Micro Tuner, just like the Superchip module it goes to work right away. Installed properly, the Superchip module will deliver about 75%-80% very quickly, and then take a coupla tanks of gas to get up to 100%. With the Lightning you don't have some of the aspects as in regular F-150's, where they have to take a few tanks to run out all the 87 octane being used previously, and it takes longer for the PCM to get up to full power, usually 350-500 miles. The Lightning already requires premium, so that aspect is eliminated, though anytime you change PCM programming, it will take a number of miles & drive cycles to get the full 100% effect. Figure a couple hundred miles & a dozen or so drive cycles at most & you'll have all the benefits of it.
That doesn't mean it doesn't work right away, it certainly does, and doing properly controlled timed acceleration testing will clealry show immedaite improvement. It's just that it will take a couple hundred miles to get the full 100%, anytime you change engine tuning that will be the case, the PCM adapts as you drive, it's all part of adaptive strategy.
Even when using the 2-program Superchip Flip Chip, if you flip the switch to change from the more conservative program to the more aggressive program at the drag strip, it will take several 1/4 mile passes before you get your quickest times, this will be true anytime you change engine tuning, basically, it's going to take some miles & drive cycles to get full implementation & effect.
We just wrapped up our 2003 Lightning tuning R&D last month, for example, and taking a brand new bone-stock 2003 Lightning and running it on the dyno to get stock power level readings, and then installing the Superchip and doing an immediate pull showed 24.0 HP gain to the rear wheels, and that is *immediate* gain with ZERO miles and no drive cycles being put on the truck prior to dyno testing with the Superchip installed. It was an *immediate* before & after, we installed the chip with the vehicle still sitting on the dyno. So rest assurred it's going to go to work immediately, it just takes a little while to get the full 100%, that's all.
Give us a call to go over this in more detail, etc.
It varies depending on model year of the Lightning, & you didn't include any info on what year your Lightning is.
'99 & '00 bolts gain 40+ HP, while the 2001 & up Lightnings gain 30-35 hp.
Yes, of course the shifts will be firmer with the Micro Tuner.
I run that valve as well, and run the same tranny program, and I think it's fine. It's snug but not harsh on light throttle, and when I nail it, it'll spin the tires on the WOT 1-2.
The Micro Tuner does allow you to alter shift firmness, but in the Lightnings taking the shift fimness all the way down results in you getting the same shift charactersitics as you would with our standard performance programs for the Lightning. Other non-Lightning F-150's can bring shift firmness levels up and down with the Micro Tuner, but in the Lightnings they respond differently, and you won't be able to back them all the way down to stock, for example.
Remember, the Micro Tuner is for stock to lightly modified trucks, so you can't use it with any mods that require custom tuning, such as pulleys to raise boost, or an aftermarket MAF, etc. Any such mods will require custom tuning & thus the Superchip module needs to be used, and preferably the 2-program Flip Chip on these supercharged 5.4's.
I run the standard transmission program in my Lightning along with the line mod valve, and it's perfect, it shifts snugly but not "jerky" when driving normally, and when I nail it, it will burn the tires for 20-30 ft. on the WOT 1-2 upshift at my power levels (way over 500 HP).
Personally, I think you'd be fine with the Micro Tuner's program for the shifting, as I'm using that same transmission program with the line mod valve & love it. The only potential downside is if it shifts too firm for *your* tastes, you can't adjust it all the way back down to stock unless you just remove the Micro Tuner's tuning altogether.
The shift firmness level in the Micro Tuner, just like in the Superchip, is in direct correlation to throttle opening & load: the more throttle you give it, the firmer it will shift, just as any automatic transmission really should respond.
When you install the Micro Tuner, just like the Superchip module it goes to work right away. Installed properly, the Superchip module will deliver about 75%-80% very quickly, and then take a coupla tanks of gas to get up to 100%. With the Lightning you don't have some of the aspects as in regular F-150's, where they have to take a few tanks to run out all the 87 octane being used previously, and it takes longer for the PCM to get up to full power, usually 350-500 miles. The Lightning already requires premium, so that aspect is eliminated, though anytime you change PCM programming, it will take a number of miles & drive cycles to get the full 100% effect. Figure a couple hundred miles & a dozen or so drive cycles at most & you'll have all the benefits of it.
That doesn't mean it doesn't work right away, it certainly does, and doing properly controlled timed acceleration testing will clealry show immedaite improvement. It's just that it will take a couple hundred miles to get the full 100%, anytime you change engine tuning that will be the case, the PCM adapts as you drive, it's all part of adaptive strategy.
Even when using the 2-program Superchip Flip Chip, if you flip the switch to change from the more conservative program to the more aggressive program at the drag strip, it will take several 1/4 mile passes before you get your quickest times, this will be true anytime you change engine tuning, basically, it's going to take some miles & drive cycles to get full implementation & effect.
We just wrapped up our 2003 Lightning tuning R&D last month, for example, and taking a brand new bone-stock 2003 Lightning and running it on the dyno to get stock power level readings, and then installing the Superchip and doing an immediate pull showed 24.0 HP gain to the rear wheels, and that is *immediate* gain with ZERO miles and no drive cycles being put on the truck prior to dyno testing with the Superchip installed. It was an *immediate* before & after, we installed the chip with the vehicle still sitting on the dyno. So rest assurred it's going to go to work immediately, it just takes a little while to get the full 100%, that's all.
Give us a call to go over this in more detail, etc.
Last edited by Superchips_Distributor; Mar 27, 2003 at 02:06 PM.
Former Sponsor
Joined: Mar 1998
Posts: 13,385
Likes: 4
From: Virginia
Hi Dana,
On an '02L, you'll see anywhere from about 36-40 lbs./ft. of torque. The torque gains are virtually always larger than the HP gains in tuning.
We have over 4000 Lightning customers, so we have a lot of "Ron's" and a number of customers named "Ron" in the DFW area, so I wouldn't have a clue who you mean specifically.
Unless perhaps you're talking about Ron D. out of Plano, 02LightninRocks is his screen name here? In which case, yes, we modified his truck, in fact he drove it from Texas to Florida to participate in our 2003 Lightning tuning R&D sessions.
On an '02L, you'll see anywhere from about 36-40 lbs./ft. of torque. The torque gains are virtually always larger than the HP gains in tuning.
We have over 4000 Lightning customers, so we have a lot of "Ron's" and a number of customers named "Ron" in the DFW area, so I wouldn't have a clue who you mean specifically.
Unless perhaps you're talking about Ron D. out of Plano, 02LightninRocks is his screen name here? In which case, yes, we modified his truck, in fact he drove it from Texas to Florida to participate in our 2003 Lightning tuning R&D sessions.
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Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 555
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From: Erie,PA
Same one
we were at dyno day together when he ran his a week ago.. amazing numbers!!.. 
Can you tell me how you are different from Hypertech's unit or would you prefer I call in for that type of info?
Thanks
Dana
Can you tell me how you are different from Hypertech's unit or would you prefer I call in for that type of info?
Thanks
Dana
Former Sponsor
Joined: Mar 1998
Posts: 13,385
Likes: 4
From: Virginia
Hi Dana,
Actually, we can still lay a lot more power on that truck (or any other). Ron made 434 HP at the wheels on our last dyno pull down in Florida, which is about 510-520 hp at the motor.
Ron hurt his dyno numbers that day a bit, allowing his battery to drain down & having to be jump-started which doesn't allow for best power, especially with the ignition booster. Ron and I spoke at length about this, he mentioned that those pulls he dropped 1 HP, and how he was told why that happened by the people at that facility (meaning, about the battery being dead and how that causes a little less power to be made). Ron also got a good chance at that local dyno day to see just how much dynos vary, and how even the exact same dyno can vary significantly. Dyno's are simply a tuning & testing tool.
Ron's making good power at this point, he's well over 500 hp at the motor now & he's pretty happy with his performance, for now that is.
The difference between Superchips tuning & Hypertech is day and night.........Hypertech is generic, and tunes only during open loop operation, which is basically only at full-throttle. The rest of the time there are *no* changes to engine tuning at all, unfortunately most chipmakers tune like that because it's so much cheaper & easier, but it yields a very poor program with little performance gain in comparison to how Superchips tunes. Hypertech also just doesn't have the ability to do proper custom tuning on these vehicles very well.
In fact, the original Lightning that Hypertech used for their Lightning tuning R&D, after being given a free Hypertech program, that Lightning came to us and purchased a Superchip, which he was much happier with.
We can go over all of that in detail when you call.
Actually, we can still lay a lot more power on that truck (or any other). Ron made 434 HP at the wheels on our last dyno pull down in Florida, which is about 510-520 hp at the motor.
Ron hurt his dyno numbers that day a bit, allowing his battery to drain down & having to be jump-started which doesn't allow for best power, especially with the ignition booster. Ron and I spoke at length about this, he mentioned that those pulls he dropped 1 HP, and how he was told why that happened by the people at that facility (meaning, about the battery being dead and how that causes a little less power to be made). Ron also got a good chance at that local dyno day to see just how much dynos vary, and how even the exact same dyno can vary significantly. Dyno's are simply a tuning & testing tool.
Ron's making good power at this point, he's well over 500 hp at the motor now & he's pretty happy with his performance, for now that is.
The difference between Superchips tuning & Hypertech is day and night.........Hypertech is generic, and tunes only during open loop operation, which is basically only at full-throttle. The rest of the time there are *no* changes to engine tuning at all, unfortunately most chipmakers tune like that because it's so much cheaper & easier, but it yields a very poor program with little performance gain in comparison to how Superchips tunes. Hypertech also just doesn't have the ability to do proper custom tuning on these vehicles very well.
In fact, the original Lightning that Hypertech used for their Lightning tuning R&D, after being given a free Hypertech program, that Lightning came to us and purchased a Superchip, which he was much happier with.
We can go over all of that in detail when you call.