Dealer upgraded my computer,it seems to have more power,4.6 4x4 larate 1997.Is chip better ?they said it was the same?

 

HI!... SKIIIBOAT : Don't let your dealer fool you! What they did is nowhere even close to what a SUPERCHIP does for you. The computer program upgrade that the dealer did for you is usually done for "DRIVABILITY PROBLEMS". I know because my dealer did it for me. They usually just give you their most UPDATED program for your size engine. The SUPERCHIP will give you H.P and TORQUE increases, eliminate your TOP SPEED LIMITER, increase TRANNY shift firmness, QUICKER shifts, better FUEL milage, increase rev limiters, and increase shift points slightly. The dealers program does NONE of this. Do yourself a favour and get yourself a SUPERCHIP. Give MIKE TROYER a call, he will explain it to you more thouroughly than I can. Hope this helps you out.

------------------
NEAL " THE H.P FREAK"
'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), fiberglass smooth wiper cowl (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, 3 AUTOMETER guage pods, filled with tranny temp, engine temp, and oil preasure AUTOMETER "PHANTOM" guages,custom fabricated air intake trac and huge K/N filter, TPS mod, BELLTECH 2-inch rear drop, custom programed SUPERCHIP, BAUMANN ENGINEERING shift kit (on stage 5 setting)BYPASS CLUTCH CONTROL VALVE/PREASURE REGULATOR VALVE, ASP POWER PULLEYS, custom tig welded and ported JBA "JET BLACK coated headers, twin DERALE 16 INCH ELECTRIC FANS, PERMA COOL 14"/10" tranny cooler with 10" electric fan, custom ported (STOCK) throttle body, custom digital air intake temp sensor, custom ported TB intake elbow, relocated ATS.


FUTURE MODS : FORD SVT 24LB INJECTORS, CUSTOM SUPERCHIP FLIP-CHIP, BBK 75MM THROTTLE BODY, 80MM PRO-M MASS AIR METER, AADI F1 RAM AIR HOOD WITH CUSTOM FABRICATED RAM AIR SET-UP, CAL-TRAC TRACTION BARS, EXTRUDE HONED INTAKE MANIFOLD, SHM CUSTOM FUEL RAILS, SHM "RACE WATER PUMP, 90/10 FRONT CE SHOCKS, 70/30 REAR CE SHOCKS, BELL TECH 2/4 DROP, EXPEDITION CENTER CONSOLE, HARLEY DAVISON F-150, LOWER FRONT VALANCE (painted oxford white) and a KENNE BELL BLOWZILLA SUPERCHARGER.

ESTIMATED H.P TO DATE : 330H.P / 425ft/lbs of torque.

CURRENT PERFORMANCE : 1/4 MILE - 14.53E.T * MPH - 93.00 * 0-60MPH - 5.8 * 1/8 MILE - 9.2 * 60 FT - 2.0

OTHER TOYS : "83" PRO STREET FORD RANGER : 351-w stroked to 408c.i 625H.P (natural), 875H.P with 250H.P "BIG SHOT" N.O.S kit, tubbed (crome moly tubing), 12 point chrome moly roll cage, 4-link with coil overs, MUSTANG II front suspension, c-4 tranny (race prepped), 4000rpm stall converter(8 INCH), 3" chrome moly driveshaft,AUTOMETER guages, 15.50 MICKEY THOMPSON rear tires, 4" M/T front tires, CENTERLINE CON-VO PRO rims, fiberglass hood - bumper - prostock hood scoop, wishbone trac-link, two chrome moly driveshaft loops, 16 gallon RCI fuel cell,etc

 

They should have put a sticker under your hood stating letters and numbers for your new code. Superchip (Mike) will need to know that number before you order.

I went through this a while back with my 99.

Check under hood near radiator for the sticker---Bob

 

Hi Skiiiboat,

I think they're possibly mistaken.

Ford dealerships cannot increase the power of your non-Lightning F-150's engine with a new powertrain program, that's a myth. If you've actually got any real increase in power, there may have been something else wrong, or an adjustment that needed to be made, but they cannot increase the power output of your engine with any other factory program. There are anywhere from 80-150 and sometimes even more different factory programs for each model year of the F-150 alone, and none of them affect peak power output, your engine is still rated at 220 hp peak SAE Net at the flywheel, unless it's a very early 1997 model, in which case it could be 215 hp SAE Net.

Every one of those factory F-150 programs requires the use of 87 octane regular gasoline, none of them require any higher octane, and thus they cannot increase engine power with any other factory program, not in that vehicle or in most others.

The only way to substantially increase actual engine power output via powertrain programming in the non-Lightning F-150 is to program specifically for higher octane gasoline, like we do in the Superchip. The engine is reprogrammed specifically for the use of premium gasoline, and that along with other changes increases engine power output by approximately 10%-12% in these F-590's.

No, your new factory program didn't do anything like what the Superchip does, that is a myth, though I'm sure the guys at your dealership meant well, and did not mean to deceive you.

If you'd like to go over this in more detail, please feel free to give us call, we'll be happy to go over that with you.

If you take a look under your hood, anytime they change the program at the dealership, they are required to place a "Notice of Modification" sticker under the hood in a prominent location so you'll see it, usually on top of the airbox, or near the upper radiator support, etc. Those are all factory programs that do not change the power output of the engine. We too, have seen and heard techncians/mechanics at a dealership tell people that this will increase power, and some of them actually think that, but it's simply not the case, they are mistaken.

In the meantime, as long as you're happy with how it's performing, that's all that matters!

Best of luck with your truck,

------------------
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

[This message has been edited by Superchips_Distributor (edited 12-26-2000).]

 

So, can the dealers increase hp with Lightning engine program "updates?"

------------------
99 Black Lightning
factory tonneau cover, 100k mile warrantee, Line-Xed
F150online.com R hp sticker mod in the mail.
2.145 60' 8.789@82.71 (1/8) 13.603@101.05 1/4 same run
straight pipes, 'Major' rear lights, no chip
Lightning!
Kills!
More kills!

 

Hi Tundra,

No, they cannot. In the 2000 Lightning (only) there is a setting in the factory program for selecting fuels, either 87 octane or 90+ octane. They are set for 90+ octane from the factory of course, though we've seen a few dealers re-set them for 87 octane just to lower power for test drives, etc. They have to be set on the 90+ setting to get close to their rated power. And before anyone else asks, no, regular non-Lightning F-150's don't have this feature, nor do any other FoMoCo vehicles I can think off of the top of my head.

But in terms of being able to take your Lightning to any Ford dealership and get more power from a different program for the ECU, no, they do not have any other programs that will significantly increase engine power. In fact, there are only 2 factory programs to date for the 1999 & 2000 Lightnings. All 1999 Lightnings are CUX1, and all 2000 Lightnings are CUX2. Now there have been a few 1999 Lightnings that had had a computer replacement, and are now using the 2000 computer, but it's still a standard CUX2 code.

If you'd like to go over this in more detail, just give us a call and we'll be happy to go over all this with you.

Best of luck with your Lightning!

------------------
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