I have 98 f150 4.6L no engine mod yet. the only thing i done so far i've installed 3 1/2 liftkit from fabtech and add new tires 285/75/16 around year ago.I'm interested in a superchip hearing all kind of info on.Question hear chip will recalibrate for all new modification on vehicle right? that even goes for big tires too?.

 

Hi hmiz,

Because you have a 1998 model F-150, you can still recalibrate your speedometer & odometer by simply replacing the reduction gear in the tailshaft. That's much cheaper than a custom program in the Superchip to compensate, since up thru 1998 they still use the same standard type of reduction gears that have traditionally controlled speedo calibrations. That is what I would suggest. You'll need to know how far your speedometer is off, so you'll need to determine that first, before you can determine which reduction gear you need. If you can determine which reduction gear you need and install it yourself (there are severl "engines" on the internet that you can plug your numbers into to get your answer on how many teeth you need on the reduction gear), you can pick the appropriate reduction gear at most Ford parts counters for well under $20.

Or if you prefer, any speedometer shop can take care of this for you, though that costs a bit more since they have to do all the work to determine speedo error & which gear, etc.

The Superchip isn't going to "automatically" compensate for modifications, that can only be done in a custom program, but you're right in that just about any mechanical modifications you do to the engine can be compensated for, such as superchargers, aftermarket MAF's, nitrous, etc.

If you'd like to go over this in greater detail, please feel free to give us a call, our number is just below and we're always happy to help.

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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

 

Mike,

Maybe you can comment on what kinds of mods would require custom programming and what wouldn't? I'm thinking of chipping my 98 Expy 5.4L but know that I'll be bitten by the mod urge soon I've heard that flow mods like FIPK and catback don't require any custom work. If so, I could add those in whatever order made sense. What about the GMS MAF? When does custom programming enter the picture? Headers? Gears? If I plan some mods that would require custom programming, I'd rather know it *before* I bought a chip that I'd want to replace later. I'm hoping for some general guidelines

Thanks for your insight!
K.

 

Hi FrozenTexan,

What an appropriate screen name these days!

You seem to have a pretty good idea already of which types of mods require custom programming, let's go over that a bit.........

Things like FIPK kits, K&N air filters & cat-back exhaust systems do not require any changes to the program.

An aftermarket MAF (mass airflow meter) will more often than not require a custom program, as aftermarket MAF's for these vehicles these days are leaning out the A/F mixture in an effort to gain power on basically stock engines that simply cannot benefit from any more airflow capacity in the MAF, as a trick to make people feel they got a power gain. But this has to be compensated for, so you're not running around dangerously lean. Once you compensate for the lean out, unless you have a supercharger, there really just isn't any appreciable power gain, we've done this countless times on the dyno on these F-150's & Expeditions, so that is why we generally do not recommend going with a larger MAF, unless the engine has been substantially modified to the point that it is capable of out-stripping the flow capacity of the stock MAF. Don't get me wrong, they're great parts, they simply have their place in terms of when it's really appropriate to use one, that's all.

Other mods, things like superchargers, nitrous oxide, ported cylinder heads, camshaft changes, etc. are generally the types of changes that require a custom program. We don't need to change the program for gear ratio changes up thru and including the 1998's simply because they still use a standard reduction gear in the tailshaft of the transmission like they always have, and that is a much easier way of compensating for the gear ratio change, as it restores speedometer accuracy, so shift points etc. are automatically brought back into line.

With regards to headers, they usually do not require a custom program, though we can do a custom program for them that will get a few more ponies, 3-5 more hp out of that mod for you. Most peoople don't opt for that since it's not required in most cases, but it is available for those who have to have every last hp they can get.

I think that covers most everything you asked about specifically, and if you'd like to go over this in more detail, please feel free to give us a shout.

------------------
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 Mike.

I started using it when I moved from DFW to Massachusetts and was bummed about not being able to drive the vert year-round. Looks like I wouldn't be doing that at home now either

Good to know...

This is pretty consistent with what I've seen in the LS1 community, specifically in the lower RPM ranges, say maybe below 4000. Interestingly, most there are using aftermarket MAF sensors to control KR due to lean conditions detected by O2 but not stock MAF.

Okay, so for the most part simple bolt-ons don't really benefit from or require custom programming, more extensive work usually does. What kind of ball park are we in for custom programming, say headers and then again later for heads and cam mods? The business model for most C5 tuners encourages repeat business (initial PCM tuning is a few hundred $$$, later updates for subsequent mods are only $$.) How does the Superchips pricing structure work?

Thanks for the feedback!
K.


[This message has been edited by FrozenTexan (edited 01-08-2001).]

 

Cool... Sounds like I have enough info to make a better purchasing decision now

Thanks!
K.

 

Hi Frozen,

With regards to the pricing structure, custom programming fees, etc. the Webmaster here has a policy of not discussing exact pricing issues here on the message boards, which we respect of course, so if you don't mind, please just shoot us an email and we'll be happy to go over all for that for you.

However, you'll find that same basic structure (custom programming fees being smaller than the initial purchase price) in force at any chipmaker, it's always been that way, and it works well. Those that don't need custom programming can save the money, those that do need it pay a small fee for it, and it can always be updated later on, of course, so that your basic investment is protected. It's standard in the industry, quite appropriately, that if you make major mechanical modifications later on that require custom programming, there will always be a fee for it.

With Superchips, the custom programming fee is a flat fee for any and all changes needed at that time, and most others work that way as well. The custom programming fee is the same at the time of original purchase as it is later on, barring any price changes in the interim period of course, which are rare. So you are not penalized in the price structure for needing custom programming later on, it's the same fee now or later.

Just give us a shout in email or by phone, and we'll be happy to get you all the details.

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