Hello folks, I'm looking for some user feedback with regard to standard vs. custom programming on a Superchips module for my 99 5.4L trans combo. I'm currently in contact with Mike T. regarding a custom program for a new chip. I just wanted to know if anyone has had their transmission program altered from the standard superchips program, to acheive a higher level of performance. If so can you provide some feedback as to the results. I do not plan to tow or haul with this truck, so I want a more agressive transmission program. I'm sure that their have been others that have tried to achieve similar goals, so I'm looking for a little feedback and some advice. Thanks in advance.

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Bob P.
99 F-150 120" w/b
5.4L w/ASP underdrive pulleys, modified airbox w/K&N filter, and Borla Turbo muffler.

 

HI!... BOB P. : I have pretty much the same truck as you and I had a custom program written for my application. One of the mods was to increase the tranny shift firmness as high as it was safe to go. I'm happy with the results. I can chirp the tires slightly in 2nd gear and every once and a while in 3rd. When racing at full throttle, 3rd gear really bangs in a hard shift. Just a warning though, be extremely careful when driving in the rain or when the roads are wet because when the tranny shifts be prepared to do some corrective steering in a hurry! I still would like a much more aggresive shift so I will be installing a BAUMANN ENGINEERING shift kit in the spring.

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NEAL [ the horsepower freak ] NEWMAN
'99' F-150 XLT SPORT, oxford white, reg cab shortbox stepside,5.4, auto, 4.10L.S, captain's chairs, bedliner, GTS carbon fiber headlight covers, **** CEPECK clear halogen driving lights, GTS slotted tailight covers (painted oxford white), FORD locking lug nuts, tinted windows,true duel exhaust with 2.5 inch mandrel bent pipes and FLOWMASTER 3 chamber mufflers with 3' tailpipes exiting before the rear wheel like the LIGHTNING, HELLWIG rear stabalizer bar, AUTOMETER guage pod and tranny temp guage, custom fabricated air intake trac and huge K/N filter, TPS mod, BELLTECH 2-inch rear drop, custom programed SUPERCHIP.

FUTURE MODS : JBA headers, power pulleys, twin electric fans, traction bars, BAUMANN ENGINEERING shift kit, and a KENNE BELL BLOWZILLA supercharger.
ESTIMATED H.P TO DATE : 310H.P / 405ft/lbs of torque.

 

Dear Bob,

It should be pointed out that Neal (as do I)likes his shifts of the variety you get with a manual valve body, which the Superchip cannot achieve even cranked to 100%, but I do *not* recommend this for the street in your daily driver. Driving in the rain with the line pressure cranked that high can be tricky, and I don't recommend doing it. You don't want to spoil the smooth character of the vehicle when you apply throttle in *any* weather, and driving in the rain with the upshifts that stiff does indeed take some getting used to. Put it this way....Neal is obviously comfortable like that, he's a young single guy; I wouldn't want my wife to drive my vehicle set up like that, in the rain.

I've sent you an email (actually, several by now! ) regarding this, explaining it in a bit more detail, in answer to several of your questions. Getting some more feedback here is a good idea too! Neal tends to push his F-150 harder than most. Maybe it's the water up there in Windsor

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Mike Troyer
Performance Products, Inc.
National Distributor of Superchips
(540) 862-9515
Email: mtroyer@compuserve.com

 

HI!... Hey MIKE T. give me some RAIN-X and a raincoat and I am ready to race!8-) Did'nt you know, us CANADIANS are crazy. NEW YORK traffic : HA HA HA !!!!8-)

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NEAL [ the horsepower freak ] NEWMAN
'99' F-150 XLT SPORT, oxford white, reg cab shortbox stepside,5.4, auto, 4.10L.S, captain's chairs, bedliner, GTS carbon fiber headlight covers, **** CEPECK clear halogen driving lights, GTS slotted tailight covers (painted oxford white), FORD locking lug nuts, tinted windows,true duel exhaust with 2.5 inch mandrel bent pipes and FLOWMASTER 3 chamber mufflers with 3' tailpipes exiting before the rear wheel like the LIGHTNING, HELLWIG rear stabalizer bar, AUTOMETER guage pod and tranny temp guage, custom fabricated air intake trac and huge K/N filter, TPS mod, BELLTECH 2-inch rear drop, custom programed SUPERCHIP.

FUTURE MODS : JBA headers, power pulleys, twin electric fans, traction bars, BAUMANN ENGINEERING shift kit, and a KENNE BELL BLOWZILLA supercharger.
ESTIMATED H.P TO DATE : 310H.P / 405ft/lbs of torque.

 

I'm ready for the chip Mike. I've replied to you latest e-mails, and thanks once again. One quick question though, since the 5.4 gained about 25HP in 1999, how does it respond to the Superchips programming when compaired to a pre 99 engine? Are the gains similar?

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Bob P.
99 F-150 120" w/b
5.4L w/ASP underdrive pulleys, modified airbox w/K&N filter, and Borla Turbo muffler.

 

HI!... BOB : The "99" 5.4 makes 260h.p, With the SUPERCHIP installed it will make 288h.p. Along with other mods you have you should be making at least 300h.p and close to 400ft/lbs of torque.

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NEAL [ the horsepower freak ] NEWMAN
'99' F-150 XLT SPORT, oxford white, reg cab shortbox stepside,5.4, auto, 4.10L.S, captain's chairs, bedliner, GTS carbon fiber headlight covers, **** CEPECK clear halogen driving lights, GTS slotted tailight covers (painted oxford white), FORD locking lug nuts, tinted windows,true duel exhaust with 2.5 inch mandrel bent pipes and FLOWMASTER 3 chamber mufflers with 3' tailpipes exiting before the rear wheel like the LIGHTNING, HELLWIG rear stabalizer bar, AUTOMETER guage pod and tranny temp guage, custom fabricated air intake trac and huge K/N filter, TPS mod, BELLTECH 2-inch rear drop, custom programed SUPERCHIP.

FUTURE MODS : JBA headers, power pulleys, twin electric fans, traction bars, BAUMANN ENGINEERING shift kit, and a KENNE BELL BLOWZILLA supercharger.
ESTIMATED H.P TO DATE : 310H.P / 405ft/lbs of torque.

 

Hi Bob,

The pre-'99 5.4's were tuned a bit more conservatively than the '99 & later 5.4's are, so they see very close to the same gains in the F-150, even though the stock power rating was increased from 235 to 260 for the '99 model year. In the Expedition, which requires using a different intake & exhaust configuration, they gain a bit less power than the 5.4 in the F-150.

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Mike Troyer
Performance Products, Inc.
National Distributor of Superchips
(540) 862-9515
Email: mtroyer@compuserve.com

 

Hey there Neal,

I've been using you as an example to people a lot lately! Meaning all you've gone thru with the 4.10 gears & speedo issue, all the way up to how radical you can get behind the wheel. Actually, you remind me of *me*, in my younger days, but I think you exceed that even, you rascal! Just don't get yourself killed with all those highway hijinks! I know, that sounds terrible, but I had it happen. A couple years ago, when I was still a Sysop over on CompuServe, I had a customer of mine, a very nice fellow, who was on a city police force, and drag raced. Well, of course we made a chip for his vehicle, which he liked. And when his son was old enough, he got him a '93 LT1 Camaro 6-speed. I worked with his son on a series of mods, and his Camaro was running in the 13's, not real quick, but not too slow, a nice improvement over stock. A couple weeks later, I got the tragic phone call frrom his father, saying his son had been killed while starting a top speed run, went off the road out of control at an estimated speed of 130 mph. Needless to say, the father, his entire family, as well as us here at Performance were pretty well shattered when the news came. I don't mean to bum everyone out repeating that story, I just wanted it to serve as an eye-opener.

Yes, Lord knows I love speed, and there is no such thing as too much power. But it *ain't* worth your life, so when any of you are drivng at high velocity, please remember, anything can happen at high speed!

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Mike Troyer
Performance Products, Inc.
National Distributor of Superchips
(540) 862-9515
Email: mtroyer@compuserve.com