which chip to get?
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Joined: Apr 2004
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which chip to get?
im interested in getting a chip for my 03 lightning. ive looked into superchip, but im still not sure... i have little knowledge or experience about chips.. and if i do get a chip.. will an aftermarket exhaust have any effect on my ability to get one?
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Joined: Mar 1998
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From: Virginia
Hi mjbumpy4,
Glad you dropped by!
What I'd recommend for your Lightning is to have us do a custom tune in either our 4-bank 5-program Superchip, or our our newer custom tune capable version of the Micro Tuner, which is a hand-held device that you can simply "flash" the PCM in your Lighting with. Either of those devices will get you multiple custom tunes, so you can use your Lightning however you want to and still have maximum performance - like if you want to be able to do towing, or do a street performance tune that is capable of top speed runs, and then a more aggressive "drag race" tune you can use on the street and for 1/4 mile drag racing, etc. - there' all kinds of possibilities, but the point being, go multi-program so you have the best flexibility & protection for that supercharged engine.
The Micro Tuner is an easier installation than the chip, though that isn't a big deal - the chip is easy enough to install with our thorough documentation - the Micro Tuner also has a built-in OBD-II code scanner, so if you happen to get an SES light on the dash, you can simply plug in your Micro Tuner and retrieve the code to see what's up. The multi-program chip is less expensive than the Micro Tuner, for those watching their budgets and still wanting multi-program protection & flexibility - and that's the most important thing, if for no other reason than protecting that supercharged engine from the occasional bad tank of gas, etc.
At any rate, what I strongly recommend is using a multi-program type of tuning device, whether it's our 5-program chip (4 custom tunes plus your stock factory tune) or our 3-program custom Micro Tuner. That way, you can have more flexibility and do things like have an all-out performance tune, then a street performance tune, and even a towing-capable tune, if yo have not increased the boost level - or have a fall-back type of program in case you get a tank of bad gas, for example.
Briefly..............
An intake kit and a cat-back exhaust, or things like electric fans or a larger throttle body do NOT affect your tuning enough to require any changes. So you can do the tuning first, since it's the best bang for the buck, and then still be able to add things later on like an exhaust system, an intake kit, larger throttle body, etc.
The most common types of mods on Lightnings that WILL affect tuning and thus require custom tuning to compensate for (or an update to your existing tuning if you already have the chip or tuner), are things like using an aftermarket MAF meter and pulleys to raise the boost level. There are some others too, but those are the 2 most common mods on Lightnings that require custom tuning. Now if you do things like that after having us do a tune for you, we can simply update that tuning for a small fee - for example, with the custom Micro tuner, we can set you up with a hardware & software add-on package that will allow us to simply email your new tuning to you! This is a very neat approach, and very cost-effective, too. The bottom line is, no matter what types of performance mods you do to your Lightning, we can tune for them, and we can always update your tuning, etc., so you'll never be in a "dead-end" situation. It's very common for vehicle owners to do a number of different performance mods over the years they own their vehicles, so your tuning can always be updated if need be, later on, for additional modifications if they affect the tuning - so don't worry, you'll never be at a "dead end" with us.
Rather than try to give you a through overview of all of this by typing, I suggest giving us a call at our number listed below so we can go over all the info with you in proper detail - so you'll know the pro's & con's of each, benefits, features, exact costs, etc., and then you can make your decision being fully informed.
You can read up on all the basics over on our web site - read up on part#'s 5500, 6600 & 9100 for our 4-bank custom tuning products at the following link: http://www.troyerperformance.com/cgi...chips%3BFoMoCo
One quick tip for owners of supercharged vehicles, just in case you may not already be aware - make sure you change that factory fuel filter ever 5000 miles - not every 30,000 miles as Ford recommends, and use the stock factory Ford fuel filter.
Good luck with your 2003 Lightning, & we hope to hear from you!
Glad you dropped by!
What I'd recommend for your Lightning is to have us do a custom tune in either our 4-bank 5-program Superchip, or our our newer custom tune capable version of the Micro Tuner, which is a hand-held device that you can simply "flash" the PCM in your Lighting with. Either of those devices will get you multiple custom tunes, so you can use your Lightning however you want to and still have maximum performance - like if you want to be able to do towing, or do a street performance tune that is capable of top speed runs, and then a more aggressive "drag race" tune you can use on the street and for 1/4 mile drag racing, etc. - there' all kinds of possibilities, but the point being, go multi-program so you have the best flexibility & protection for that supercharged engine.
The Micro Tuner is an easier installation than the chip, though that isn't a big deal - the chip is easy enough to install with our thorough documentation - the Micro Tuner also has a built-in OBD-II code scanner, so if you happen to get an SES light on the dash, you can simply plug in your Micro Tuner and retrieve the code to see what's up. The multi-program chip is less expensive than the Micro Tuner, for those watching their budgets and still wanting multi-program protection & flexibility - and that's the most important thing, if for no other reason than protecting that supercharged engine from the occasional bad tank of gas, etc.
At any rate, what I strongly recommend is using a multi-program type of tuning device, whether it's our 5-program chip (4 custom tunes plus your stock factory tune) or our 3-program custom Micro Tuner. That way, you can have more flexibility and do things like have an all-out performance tune, then a street performance tune, and even a towing-capable tune, if yo have not increased the boost level - or have a fall-back type of program in case you get a tank of bad gas, for example.
Briefly..............
An intake kit and a cat-back exhaust, or things like electric fans or a larger throttle body do NOT affect your tuning enough to require any changes. So you can do the tuning first, since it's the best bang for the buck, and then still be able to add things later on like an exhaust system, an intake kit, larger throttle body, etc.
The most common types of mods on Lightnings that WILL affect tuning and thus require custom tuning to compensate for (or an update to your existing tuning if you already have the chip or tuner), are things like using an aftermarket MAF meter and pulleys to raise the boost level. There are some others too, but those are the 2 most common mods on Lightnings that require custom tuning. Now if you do things like that after having us do a tune for you, we can simply update that tuning for a small fee - for example, with the custom Micro tuner, we can set you up with a hardware & software add-on package that will allow us to simply email your new tuning to you! This is a very neat approach, and very cost-effective, too. The bottom line is, no matter what types of performance mods you do to your Lightning, we can tune for them, and we can always update your tuning, etc., so you'll never be in a "dead-end" situation. It's very common for vehicle owners to do a number of different performance mods over the years they own their vehicles, so your tuning can always be updated if need be, later on, for additional modifications if they affect the tuning - so don't worry, you'll never be at a "dead end" with us.
Rather than try to give you a through overview of all of this by typing, I suggest giving us a call at our number listed below so we can go over all the info with you in proper detail - so you'll know the pro's & con's of each, benefits, features, exact costs, etc., and then you can make your decision being fully informed.
You can read up on all the basics over on our web site - read up on part#'s 5500, 6600 & 9100 for our 4-bank custom tuning products at the following link: http://www.troyerperformance.com/cgi...chips%3BFoMoCo
One quick tip for owners of supercharged vehicles, just in case you may not already be aware - make sure you change that factory fuel filter ever 5000 miles - not every 30,000 miles as Ford recommends, and use the stock factory Ford fuel filter.
Good luck with your 2003 Lightning, & we hope to hear from you!