Mike,

I'm a new member since July and am considering ordering a chip for my 99 4.6L A/T. Two questions (all the reading and your responses have answered all the rest):

First, does the chip eliminate the in-and-out of overdrive lock at speed (freeway) during tip-in and tip-out? When your coasting on the freeway (or slowing down) and then accelerate again the rpms hang higher than drop as the converter re-locks.

Second, the information on your web-site says the computer code is behind the driver's side kick panel, and your notes say it's behind the battery. Which is it?

Third, one note on the message board talks about a "nose dive at 60" when you let off the gas for the first few days (while it's learning). Is this common?

Lastly, when you say "firm shifts" does that mean that it "clunks" into gear or is there still a measure of comfort retained?

------------------
1999 SuperCab 4.6L AT
K&N Filter
Factory Installed Soft Cover
50-Series Delta-Flow Single-In/Out (currently)
Wish List: More Rumble, 2/4 Lowering, aftermarket shocks to "de-bouncify" the ride

 

Forgot one more question:

Regarding getting premium in the tank before making the change. Do you have to run the tank "bone dry" before filling up with premium or can you have 4-5 gallons of regular left in the tank and have it still work?

 

No, you do not have to be "bone-dry", that wouldn't be very practical, we don't want anyone running out of gas!

Seriously, we generally suggest that you simply run it down until the fuel light comes on, at which point you usually have about 3-5 gallons in the tank. You will still have some dillution of the incoming premium gas, but as you fill up with each sucessive tank, this will quickly go away.

------------------
Mike Troyer
Performance Products, Inc.
National Distributor of Superchips
(540) 862-9515
Email: mtroyer@compuserve.com
Performance Products F150Online Superchip ordering system: F150Online Superchip Ordering System
First National F-150 Online Rally Event Organizer

 

Thanks for the help. Mine is on order!

 

EMBINNS:
I HAVE HAS MY SUPERCHIP FOR 10 DAYS NOW EVEN IF IT DID NOT CAUSE ANY MORE HORSEPOWER AND IT DOES, IT IS WORTH THE TRANS SHIFT CHANGE!
HAPPY AS CAN BE!!

 

EMBINNS:
I HAVE HAS MY SUPERCHIP FOR 10 DAYS NOW EVEN IF IT DID NOT CAUSE ANY MORE HORSEPOWER AND IT DOES, IT IS WORTH THE TRANS SHIFT CHANGE!
HAPPY AS CAN BE!!

------------------
1999 F-150 5.4 SB,FS, AUTO,BLACK XL, 3.55 GR
K&N MOD, CATBACK, SUPERCHIP, 275-16 ON POLISHED 16X8 PYTHONS.3-4 BELL TECH DROP
POLISHED ALU GRILL, BLACK FLUSH CHECKMATE TONN COVER
CLEARS ALWAY AROUND,STREET SMART MIRRORS
WISH-LIST: F-1 COBRA HOOD,PULLYS,ELECT FAN,POWERAID,ON&ON.

 

When I posted the reply about the nose dive at 60mph I was talking about the Torque Converter. My new 5.4 would do this for a few days and then quit and has occured every time I have reset the computer. I am wanting to get a superchip but have been holding back due to gas prices. Hopefully I will get one soon. Seems everybody has been real pleased.

------------------
2000 F-150 XLT, 5.4L, 3.55 Reg Axle
Regular Cab Shortbed 2WD
MODS
K&N FIPK
Kenwood CD and CD Changer
Kenwood Door Speakers
Flowmaster 40 Series Muffler (42541)

 

Hi Code Blue,

Ahh, *now* I understand! It sounds like what you are experiencing is due to the factory programming, and I'll describe it, and you can tell us if this is what you mean.

In the factory program (automatics), about half-way thru 2nd gear the torque converter is locked up prematurely when at full-throttle, and when that happens you lose 100 lbs./ft. of torque, we've re-created this on the dyno many times. The actual speed at which this happens can vary a bit based on gearing & tires, but about half-way thru the rpm range in 2nd gear this happens on the 1997 & newer V-8 automatic F-150. This definitely can be felt, as losing 100 lbs./ft. of torque suddenly makes quite a difference, and is enough to describe it as falling on it's nose!

The Superchip fixes that too, of course, so you'll feel a bigger difference than normal from the Superchip in that part of second gear; we have restored that 100 lbs./ft. of torque that the factory program basically robs by locking up the TQ & WOT prematurely.

I'm guessing that is what you're describing, and yes, the Superchip takes care of that very nicely.


------------------
Mike Troyer
Performance Products, Inc.
National Distributor of Superchips
(540) 862-9515
Email: mtroyer@compuserve.com
Performance Products F150Online Superchip ordering system: F150Online Superchip Ordering System
First National F-150 Online Rally Event Organizer

 

Thanks for your help that is what I was talking about. I have two topic two ask.

My truck will not spin the tires from a stand still on pavement it might chirp them but not spin them. Is this part of the factory programming and will the Superchip change that (not saying that I am dissappointed just wondering).

I am also wanting to get a chip for mine and before I started reading the posts I was thinking about getting a Hypertech. But from what I have heard and Superchips direct dealing with this web site I am probably going to go with the Superchip. But what is some of the main differences between Superchip and the rest of the brands. I had a buddy that had a hypertech in his truck and had to change the thermostat (92 Chevy). Will I have to change the thermostat and what other changes besides the 93 octange gas are recommended. What power gains should I expect and will it be worth the extra money in gas. I appreciate your direct involvement with this web site and your help.

One more thing does WOT stand for wide open throttle

------------------
2000 F-150 XLT, 5.4L, 3.55 Reg Axle
Regular Cab Shortbed 2WD
MODS
K&N FIPK
Kenwood CD and CD Changer
Kenwood Door Speakers
Flowmaster 40 Series Muffler (42541)


[This message has been edited by CodeBlue (edited 08-09-2000).]

 

Hi embinns,

Good questions!

No, the Superchip does not eliminate torque converter lock & unlock, nor do you really want to do that, believe it or not. Anytime you take your foot off the gas, put your foot back on the gas, or apply the brakes in some of these vehicles, the TQ will immediately unlock, just as it should. Eliminating this causes the torque to drop rather drastically, and spoils the performance of the vehicle in those situations, very noticeably so. These trucks use very small V-8 engines that are not big torque producers. We've played with that, and the slight benefits don't come close to out-weighing the driveability changes that result. We know exactly what you're talking about, and how that drives some people right up the wall. But the alternative, eliminating this lock/unlock when coming off the gas and when re-applying the gas after having come off the throttle, results in detriments to performance that are very annoying. By the way, it's not just throttle tip-in when this occurs, it's anytime you come off of, or get back onto the gas this will happen, and it's their way of providing maximum available torque. Keeping the TQ locked up in those situations, and here we're primarily talking about when you get back on the gas, causes torque to drop noticeably, and nobody likes that in most situations.

Are there some situations when this would be nice? Sure, on the surface, until you actually do that and see *all* the results. Towing is another excellent example of when you do not want to do this, and there is no way to tell if a particular truck is ever going to do any towing or not, many of them do.

Now, could we do a *custom* program to accommodate you on this? Probably, but you wouldn't like it. Nobody else has.

Next, that is not *our* web site, that is the manufacturer's web site, just so you'll know. And what it says is that the *computer* is in the driver's kick panel, which is true for all 1996 & earlier F-trucks. Starting in the 1997 model year, the computer is over on the passenger side.

What we tell people is to open their passenger door, and look in the front part of the door frame, in the general area of the door hinges. There will be a sticker there with 3 letters and 1 number, and that is your computer code.

I have absolutely no idea what you're talking about "a nose dive at 60" when letting off the gas, that is not any characteristic of the Superchip, or any other part that we're aware of.

With regards to the shift characteristics of the automatic transmission changes made, no, it does not "clunk" into gear, unless you have u-joints that are already in need of replacement perhaps. We're not trying to turn a 2-3 ton pickup truck into a Camaro! The way the upshifts are calibrated is so that when you are driving on light throttle, light load, the shifts are still smooth and fluid. As you give it more throttle, the shifts get progressively firmer in response, just as they should. Even on WOT (wide-open throttle), it's not going to be a neck-snapping muscle car type of upshift, the increase in line pressure is relatively small, just enough to give it a positive engagement without nearly as much slippage as the factory calibration. What you have to remember here is that Ford, like every other automaker, has adopted what they call a "soft-shift" strategy, and that is what we fix. The automakers do this because they realize that females buy more than 50% of all new vehicles sold in this country, and this is what the automakers think females want, very silly for those of us who like to hear & feel what our powertrain is doing. The vehicle can still be driven by your wife in the rain, for example, as we maintain the original charactger of the basic vehicle, which is what I mean by not trying to turn it into a Camaro.

Please feel free to give us a call if you'd like to go over all the specifics of the Superchip for your application, we're happy to help.

------------------
Mike Troyer
Performance Products, Inc.
National Distributor of Superchips
(540) 862-9515
Email: mtroyer@compuserve.com
Performance Products F150Online Superchip ordering system: F150Online Superchip Ordering System
First National F-150 Online Rally Event Organizer

 

One more thing, Mike. When I ordered my chip yesterday, I forgot to mention that I'm running a K&N filter and a high flow exhaust (currently a flowmast delta-50, but soon to be a Hooker aero-chamber). Would that have made any difference in the chip you sent?

------------------
1999 SuperCab 4.6L AT
K&N Filter
Factory Installed Soft Cover
50-Series Delta-Flow Single-In/Out (currently)
Wish List: More Rumble, 2/4 Lowering, aftermarket shocks to "de-bouncify" the ride

 

Hi Code Blue,

The primary difference betwen the Superchip and the others is the fact that each Superchip is programmed for each individual vehicle, and the others are programmed generically, or in other words, one program for all 1998 4.6 automatic F-150's, for example. We make a different program for each different software revision used in these vehicles, and there can be 50-100 or more different programs each model year for all the various configurations of the F-150. Even the exact same identical vehicle in every aspect can have a dozen or more different software revisions, and the only way to properly optimize the powertrain programming is to program for that specific vehicle in each case, which is exactly what we do. Also, we tune them at every throttle postion, whereas the others only add power at WOT (wide-open throttle), and that ias due to the structure of the emissions laws in this country. You see, even for a brand new vehicle, during WOT operation there are no emissions standards that have to be met, so if you only tune on WOT, you don't have to certify for emissions compliance, etc., which is very expensive on each different program. So the bottom line is with the Superchip, you get a program that was made for your individual vehicle, and one that works adding power *all* the time.

I should also quickly point out that we here at Performance Products Inc. are not the actual manufacturer, we are the National Distributor of Superchips Inc.'s product line. It's easy to get us confused, as when we talk about the Superchip or the manufacturer I do say "we" a lot, as that is how close our relationship is, we are involved with numerous different aspects with the manufacturer, but we are a separate entity. It is our banner ad you see at the top of these pages advertising the Superchip.

Your comment about not being able to spin the tires is one that is heard very often around here, and let me explain a bit about that to you. There can be a *tremendous* amount of weight difference between all the various configurations of the 1997 & newer F-150's. From the lightest 2WD short-cab V-6 manual to thw heaviest Super Crew 139" wheelbase 4WD Offroad package, there is well over 3000 lbs. of potential weight difference. This of course affects your vehicle's actual power-to-weight ratio, and that is the single biggest factor governing whether or not your vehicle will spin the tires or not, it's not something that Ford uses in their programming to prevent the vehicle from being able to. Now of course there are some other factors too, such as which rear gear ratio your truck has, and which tire & wheel combo is has, as the amount of dry traction available can vary in the different tire options. We've seen vehicles that with no more than a different tire, would spin them as that tire had less dry traction. But overall, it's your power-to-weight ratio that mostly affects this. Weather (hotter = less power) and altitude (you lose 3.5% of your power for each 1000 feet above sea level elevation you go in a normally-aspirated motor) also affect this.

I see that you have a 2K 5.4 short-cab 2WD, which is one of the lighter configurations as far as the body itself goes, but of course the added weight of the V-8 and that automatic transmission has an affect, too. At the Norfolk Rally, we had a similar 5.4 2WD short-cab F-150 run at the drag strip, and it turned a 16.1 second time in extremely hot & humid weather, which was excellent, as with a little bit better weather, that truck is easily down into the low 15's, pretty darn snappy for a bone-stock F-150!

With the Superchip, you shouldn't have any trouble spinning the tires on dry pavement. Will it do a smoky burnout? Maybe not, we're not trying to turn a 2-ton pickup truck intoa Corvette, of course. But you will definitely notice the difference with the Superchip.

Yes, with any performance chip you have to use premium gas. The rated power gains on your 5.4 from the Superchip are 28 horsepower and 46 lbs./ft. of torque at the flywheel. And no, you do NOT have to use one of those abnormally cold thermostats with the Superchip like you have to with the Hypertech and others, nor do we advise you do that under any circumstances in that vehicle. To make it's rated power even bone-stock, the engine has to be at about 190 degrees of coolant temperature, that is the temperature at which most gasoline engines make their peak horsepower in these fuel-injected computer controlled engines. Your factory thermostat is usually 190-194 degrees, right where it should be for best power, performance, gas mileage, & emissions.

With regards to gas mileage, most people report back here that they get about 1.5 to as much as 2.0 more mpg with the Superchip in the V-8 automatic F-150's. This is not something we did on purpose, but rather is merely a by-product of the performance tuning on part-throttle, so your results are going to depend primarily on your right foot as usual, and the actual energy content of your local fuel supply. If you put an engine on an engine dyno to do the scientific fuel consumption test, in every case with this kind of tuning you will see a lower BSFC (brake specific fuel consumption) number in comaprison to the factory tuning. Whether that will actually translate into true increases in gas mileage in the real world depends mostly on your right foot, just like before the Superchip. Most people do get better mileage.

And yes, WOT does stand for Wide-Open Throttle.

I hope that information helps, and please feel free to give us a shout if you'd like to go over all of this in greater detail.

------------------
Mike Troyer
Performance Products, Inc.
National Distributor of Superchips
(540) 862-9515
Email: mtroyer@compuserve.com
Performance Products F150Online Superchip ordering system: F150Online Superchip Ordering System
First National F-150 Online Rally Event Organizer

 

Hi embinns,

No, those changes will not affect your Superchip program. Most of the exterior bolt-on stuff is fine, so things like a K&N air filter, and airbox elimination kit, exhaust system changes, etc. do not need to be compensated for in the F-150. Also, should you ever do major mechanical modifications that require a custom program, your Superchip can always be updated for your vehicle.

------------------
Mike Troyer
Performance Products, Inc.
National Distributor of Superchips
(540) 862-9515
Email: mtroyer@compuserve.com
Performance Products F150Online Superchip ordering system: F150Online Superchip Ordering System
First National F-150 Online Rally Event Organizer