I have a few questions about this chip craze:
What do the people writing code for this eprom know that the engineers at Ford dont know? Do people think these guys just slapped down some B.S. for this firmware and
loaded it into the chip. I dont think so. I have a lot more trust in the guys in Detroit than anyone else, especially since they DESIGNED the truck and engine. The parameters this chip controls are very important and I want the people that have the experience, know how, and test facilities to back it up writing the code for my new truck. If its so great why doesnt Ford build em' like that. Hell, they had to modify the heads and other major engine components just to squeeze out some more HP and torque for '99, if it was as easy as a firmware mod., why didn't they do it? I'm sure they didn't want to save a bunch of money; no, they like to do things the most expensive way in Detroit and cut money from their profit margin. I guess that's why Earnhardt won the last NASCAR race, it was that last pit stop where they changed the eprom, HAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!
There are tried and true mods that help like improving air flow with special filters and easing exhaust restriction with more free flowing exhaust, but there are trade offs here too. More contaminants get past looser air filters and exhaust valves are more stressed with more free flowing exhausts. Anyone that claims there are NO downsides to a product like this is not being completely truthful.
I'm sure it is great, but I'm not willing to take the chance with a $30,000 vehicle. When the guys in Michigan tell me too, I'll put one in.
Just my .02 (I see that under a lot of posts that look like they are different people, I wonder if they might be the same.....Hmmm.....)
-Richard M.

 

Here we go once again. Do you drive a Ford sir?

 

Your probably right birddog so DON'T get the chip...or any other modification either...just get in line and do as you are told.

------------------
Red 99.5 Lightning,#0975,Born 5/6/99...Adopted 5/27/99 SuperChip

 

OUCH! boy is this going to start another one. Me for one love the idea of "personalizing" my ride. It's been a second childhood, creating the hot rod I couldn't afford as a youngster. The vehicles of today do not come off the assembly line ready to tear up the streets. We have too many federal regulations governing the emissions, etc. So what can we do? MODIFY! I for one have learned to trust what I have discovered on this site. I read alot of these messages before modifying. This site contains VERY committed and faithful FORD truck owners all with our varying taste, and for that have gained friendships and trust, and through that have been creating one AWESOME F-150. The "superchip" has been nothing short of very successful in my rig. I have proven it at the track, and on long distance drives with improved gas milage. You tell me what FORD is thinking by not doing this from the factory. Could it be "regulations", could it be "Corporate Control", coersion with others in the Big Blue, who knows, but since the beginning of automotive history, we all (most) have had a fasination with creating our own special blend of personalizing our daily drivers. Mike has been extremely supportive in his efforts to offer a top quality product for our Ford trucks, and I for one commend him and superchips for it. Good luck to ya with your "vanilla wrap". And oh yes, lets not forget that the neccessaty to use higher priced premium gas is more than offset by the NOW improved gas mileage.

------------------
1999 F-150 XLT, Ext.Cab, 5.4L, 3:55 limited slip, 4x2, Bright Torch Red(all color matched-bumpers, mirrors) "Sport" pkg., Tonneau,285/50/17, 3" custom catback, Superchips, Airaid, Lowered 4" rear & 3" front, Herculiner bed lining(self install) AWESOME! Newest E/T at the drags 6/26/99: 14.9sec at 90.4 mph. Billet Badges, Billet Antenna, Removal of "Sport" sticker and door guards. For photos e-mail me at: whtstuff@aol.com OR my web page at Http://members.aol.com/whtstuff/myweb.html

[This message has been edited by cableguy (edited 09-02-1999).]

[This message has been edited by cableguy (edited 09-02-1999).]

[This message has been edited by cableguy (edited 09-02-1999).]

 

I can see that this is going to be a heated one!

Ford has to design their computers to get optimal mpg so that they can stay within the limits of the CAFE standards. So you see, Ford is forced to compromise performance.

In the case of aftermarket chip makers, there only goal is to increase performance and they don't have to worry about meeting CAFE standards or any of the other stuff that Ford does.

I'm sure that other people who have more info/knowledge will shed more light on this subject than I did.

The only thing that has kept me from purchasing a SuperChip is the additional cost of using premium fuel. That may change one day...but not yet. If your not convinced that a chip is for you, than thats your decision. Don't make it sound like there's some big conspiracy on this board though.

And no, we are all different people.

Todd

------------------
93 F-150 4x2, 4.9L, E-4OD, 3.08 rearend, 31x10.5 BFG A/T's, Skyjacker Softride Hydro Shocks,K&N Airfilter, Jacobs Electronics Plug Wires/Rotor/Cap. (Other mods: Undecided!)

 

Tell us how you really feel. Everyone has an opinion. You seem to have a grudge against upgrades in general. Just let it be known that a few of us don't agree!!!!

I bet this thread gets lock pretty quick.

------------------
Black 1999 Roush F-150 Super Cab Flairside Roush package includes the Roush Suspension, 18"x 9.5 Chrome Wheels, B. F. Goodrich Z295/45, Full Ground Effects, Leather Signatured Interior (Front and Back), Flowmaster with Side Exit Infront of the Wheel, Embroidered Floor Mats, and Roush Eyebrow Logo. Extras are the , F1 Cobra Hood, ******* Hard Tonneau, Bedrug, Slide Window and lots of other little odds and ends
http://www.mindspring.com/~acbradley/mumbly2.gif
mumbly@myf150.com




[This message has been edited by Mumbly (edited 09-02-1999).]

 

AHH..... The big conspiracy. Lets see. Just for fun lets say there are 1000 seperate replies / users. Which of course are all Mike. "The man keeing us DOWN."

Cosidering ALL IP's are logged on this msg. board. He would need 1000 seperate accounts at lets say $10.00 per month. (Volume Discount!!)

10 X 1000 = $10,000 per month
Monthly net sales from F150online ????

BirdDog, using your own train of thought, logic and words.

"I'm sure Mike "AKA : Mr. Man" doesn't want to save a bunch of money; no, he likes to do things the most expensive way and cut money from his profit margin."

Sorry all, I couldn't help it! :-))

Be Well,

Todd

PS. BirdDog read my post under Superchip Converts.

------------------
97 White F-150 XLT 4X4 ORP, 4.6, SuperChip, Stillen Air Intake, Gibson Exhaust, Hellwig Sway Bar, Weld Wheels, 33" Bridgestone A/T Duelers, 3" Body Lift, Rancho 9000's, Billet Grill, SmittyBilt Nerf Bars (Stainless), SnugTop Shell (Expo), Sony ES CDX780 Head Unit, W/CD, Sony ES 10 Disk Changer, Sony ES XDP 210 EQ/DSP, MTX 4X75W AMP, Kenwood 300W AMP for Sub., 1 Fared Lightning Monitor Cap, Optima Yellow Top Battery, MTX ThunderForm W/2-8"-4ohm Fosgate Punch XLC, Infinity Kappa components in front, Infinity Kappa 5X7 rear. On Order: White face gauge? Still looking.......




[This message has been edited by LuvTheC (edited 09-02-1999).]

 

Birddogg,

Have you got a computer or did you get online with someone else's?

I'll bet you have your own, don't you?

Is it set up the way you bought it?

Are you tellin' me you changed or modified something? Uh-huh. Well I'm sure the folks that spent the millions of dollars designing your system knew what they were doing...

Are you telling me somebody knows more than Bill Gates! No way.

If this site's a scam, it's a fun one....

------------------
'98 XLT, 4.6L, SC, 4x2,
Black, SB, Flareside,
ARE Tonneau ,
Lined, [img]//millennium.fortunecity.com/magic/388/Smil_lw1.gif[/img]
Tinted,
Deflected,
Mini-Disced ,
Amped 4x100,
Subbed 2x12,
K&Ned,
B-B-B-M-F
Goin' thru tires fast
not chipped yet
not supertrucked yet



[This message has been edited by Mark G (edited 09-02-1999).]

 

Is that what this is about the superchip?? A scam?? Actually i can't wait to replace my jet chip with the the "scam" superchip, better yet, i wanted to join the thousands of F150 online members that is supporting Mike T's monthly notes on his isle in the Bahamas!! So if i were you birddog i would definitely not get a superchip, this way when you run across a blue oval with a superchip in it and blows by you and you wonder why?? You know why??? it's a "scam"!!

------------------
97 F-150: 5.4 with Jet chip for engine & tranny, Jardine catback, Airaid, Momo Vantage rims (18 x 8.5) on BFG 295 x 45 x ZR 18's, 2/4" via Eibach suspension, Cord Design flares Stull billet grille, Boston Acoustics Pro Series speakers (subs,mids,tweets), Crossfire dual amplifier (700 watts) & Eq, *******'s hard toneau cover w/ marine bedliner, 9007 headlight bulbs, white face gauges, magnesium alloy sport pedals.

Future mods: Paxton Supercharger, HID headlight system, Alpine Navigational System, 4.10 or 4.30

 

I guess the engineering wizards at ford see that 98 miles per hour (or whatever the speed gov. tops out at) is the absolute fastest you will ever need to go.

I have no respect for ford as a company,but i like my truck. I would have bought a Saab, if only they made a 4x4 truck.

 

Nothing like coming out of the starting blocks hot. I noticed birddogg this is your first and only post. Great coming out post. Like mudder said "Do you drive a Ford sir?" Now boys and girls this is a new member, play nice! Everyone take a deep breath and look at the title of this thread: "Something for nothing?!? It doesn't work that way" Well, birddogg is right. I think paying $200+ is a little something to start, also the additional 20 to 30 cents more per gal of gas is a little something for the rest of the trucks life (which by the way according to Mike is shortened about 1000 miles give or take over 120,000). It was also stated elsewhere that FORD sets the fuel standard by what is available here and abroad, also something about fleet mileage. And maybe they are just smart enough at FORD to know a lot of customers might buy other products if all their cars and trucks required premium fuel. And last but not least, who in their right mind would want a hot rod truck (the line forms behind me ).
Oh! By the way birddogg, welcome aboard. Nothing likes a baptism by fire.


------------------
'99 WHITE F150 XLT FlareSide SC 4.2 Auto 3.55, Superchip,
Black Westin Nerfs, White Prime Design BugShield,
White Vtech Taillight Covers, White Vtech Sidewinders,
'99 White Styleside Body Side Molding, K&N Air Filter
LOTTA SHOW and SOME GO

 

Birddogg-

First of all welcome. This is a great forum.

Do yourself a favor and dig back into this thread for the last few months. I know I’ve learned a lot about why Ford has to be conservative in their programming of the ECM. Mike Troyer (Superchips_Distributor), and to a lesser extent Sal (LightningTuner), have provided a wealth of information on the hows and whys of their modifications.
The biggest factors appear to be taking advantage of higher fuel octane (you have to run premium with the chips), revising the shift points for performance rather than comfort and elimination of the speed limiter which on most trucks cuts the engine abruptly at something less than 100 MPH. I don’t understand how the Superchip can do all this and still increase fuel mileage, but more power to them (and us).

You might also dig around in the Other F-Series Trucks/Lightning thread for more information and testimonials from a host of satisfied ‘Chippers’.


------------------
'99 Black Lightning

 

The tradeoff is you have to use premuim fuel.
The superchip is optimized to work with premium gas.
This answers the question of why Ford doesn't do it.


------------------
99 XLT 5.4l reg cab 4x2
120" Wheelbase
4 wheel disc/ABS
5 star larait style wheels
Toreador red 2tone
3.55 gears
255/70/16 OWL
Delta toolbox
Eclipse 5340 cd player
Memphis ARCS50 component speakers (excellent sound)
Sherwood amp
subwoofer coming soon
More mods as funds become avalible.

 

I think I got it, maybe.
It is Mike doing this.
There are or have been about 5 flamers out there on superchips and the author disappears after the initial post.
What a marketing genius! Sales get slow, he puts out a critical post and gets hundreds of supporters mobilized to support his position. Gotta love it.
Seriously, other than two decals, a superchip is my only mod and it is great, made an already serious truck a lot more serious and fun to drive. I don't even worry about mileage/premium fuel, I just enjoy every minute/mile of it.
I too welcome you birddog. This is one heck of a board, but stay loose!!!!!
Bill

------------------
Bill Murray
Current year Lightning
Oxford Muy Rapido White
Tow Package CD Player
Superchip GTech Meter
HobbyTownUSA Graphics
Identical 1/10 Scale Tamiya RC Truck incl. graphics.
Truck interest e-mail:
fastwhitey@myf150.com
Two decals

 

I really don't want to debate this, in truth, but I must add my two cents as well.

I confess that the performace side of the chip did not sell me on it. I don't think the average person can probably "detect" a small % increase in HP. However the change in shift points and rev limiter are real. If anyone wonders why Ford did not change these themselves they probably are in a fog. The average buyer wants soft, smooth shifts and likely never gets close to red-line. The rev limiter also makes it less likely that Ford will have to do warranty work. In my case the custom work allowed me to get more from my fuel injectors which did not get modified by mt supercharger kit and was badly needed....

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1999 F250 LD 5.4 4x4 Lariat Supercab. White & Silver
Supercharger, Super chip, dual exhaust, K&N, Hidden Winch, F-1 Hood, Billet grill, Color GPS, Chrome Nerf & Flaps, clear tail & turn lenses, 9007 headlights, Inyati liner. http://www.mindspring.com/~aw_jones/index.html