superchip
Thread Starter
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Member
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 25
Likes: 0
From: ft. lewis, wa usa
superchip
mike,
i've been reading the posts on this forum for a while. from what i read, your product seems to work well. i just have the basic questions. will it void the warranty, what kind of hp increase. what kinds of chips you offer and any other info. that would be useful. one question a little off the subject. i don't hear to much of these people say anything about headers. are they not worth it? thanks.
2001 f-150 sc
5.4
red
future mods
airaid,jba headers,custom exhaust with flowmaster,maybe superchip
i've been reading the posts on this forum for a while. from what i read, your product seems to work well. i just have the basic questions. will it void the warranty, what kind of hp increase. what kinds of chips you offer and any other info. that would be useful. one question a little off the subject. i don't hear to much of these people say anything about headers. are they not worth it? thanks.
2001 f-150 sc
5.4
red
future mods
airaid,jba headers,custom exhaust with flowmaster,maybe superchip
Junior Member
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
chech77,
hey, i'm not mike, but I will try and answer your questions, just so you have input from somebody other than the guy trying to sell you something, before you decide to spend you money.
First, no, aftermarket equipment will not void your warranty. Now, there are stipulations on this, and I will try and find the entire article for you. If you have questions on these stipulations, feel free to ask and I will try and give you a run down.
Second, I'm not sure on the HP increase a Superchip will give you, from what these guys say its a significant amount. But results do vary and if you bash superchips in this forum you will be flammed!
Third, I have almost always found headers to be very beneficial. However, on newer trucks, if you want to see any benefits from headers, you will end up spending alot of money. I put a set of cheapies ($350) on my 99 F-150 and gained a grand total of 2HP. The standard aftermarket headers (usually $150 - $500) are not much better than the OEM exhaust manifolds.
Hope this helps you out a little, if you need anything else, let me know.
Thanks
[This message has been edited by 1badvr4 (edited 01-30-2001).]
[This message has been edited by 1badvr4 (edited 01-30-2001).]
hey, i'm not mike, but I will try and answer your questions, just so you have input from somebody other than the guy trying to sell you something, before you decide to spend you money.
First, no, aftermarket equipment will not void your warranty. Now, there are stipulations on this, and I will try and find the entire article for you. If you have questions on these stipulations, feel free to ask and I will try and give you a run down.
Second, I'm not sure on the HP increase a Superchip will give you, from what these guys say its a significant amount. But results do vary and if you bash superchips in this forum you will be flammed!
Third, I have almost always found headers to be very beneficial. However, on newer trucks, if you want to see any benefits from headers, you will end up spending alot of money. I put a set of cheapies ($350) on my 99 F-150 and gained a grand total of 2HP. The standard aftermarket headers (usually $150 - $500) are not much better than the OEM exhaust manifolds.
Hope this helps you out a little, if you need anything else, let me know.
Thanks
[This message has been edited by 1badvr4 (edited 01-30-2001).]
[This message has been edited by 1badvr4 (edited 01-30-2001).]
Former Sponsor
Joined: Mar 1998
Posts: 13,385
Likes: 4
From: Virginia
Hi bad,
Ahh, that's a great question, and things have changed in that regard over the past decade or so, allow me to explain a bit......
It used to be, from the time that catalytic converters were first mandated for use starting with the 1975 model year for US-spec vehicles until the late 80's to early 90's, that the cats were indeed a significant source of restriction. Instrumented tests showed backpressure amounts ranging from 5 to as much as 7 psi backpressure at power peak!
That has changed significantly however, and today's cats are much more free-flowing in general, as well as the automakers using multiple cats, primary and secondary, so that each unit flows better, etc. Catalytic converters on most vehicles made over the past decade or so now produce no more than, and many times less than than 3 psi backpressure on stock or lightly modified vehicles, as a loose & rough general "rule".
For example, on these late-model F-150 V-8's, the factory cats are fine and don't start being a significant source of restriction until you're approaching the 350-400 hp level. In the case of the supercharged Lightning, those cats are fine and aren't overly restrictive until you're well over the 450 hp level.
This will vary a bit based on the vehicle of course. An "economy car's" cats are going to be restrictive sooner than a truck's cats will be, simply because these trucks are designed taking into consideration the fact that they're going to be used for towing, and thus the motor is going to be pushing a lot of airflow, more than a regular passenger car, for example, to say nothing about the weight difference and the effect that has on the load on the motor.
When we're talking about today's late-model F-150's and the effects of aftermarket cat-back exhaust systems, in the case of the 5.4 motor most good name-brand systems will add anywhere from a low of about 10 hp to a maximum of about 14 hp at the flywheel. So they're still very much worthwhile, in fact they are #3 on our unofficial best "bang-for-the-buck" list of mods for the F-150.
And of course the factory exhaust systems themselves have changed greatly over the past decade too, these F-150's now come with 2.5" diameter exhaust tubing, whereas year ago it used to be considerably smaller. This means that while you can still make nice horsepower gains at heavier throttle openings at higher rpms, you can still actually lose some low-rpm torque, especially on part-throttle, so flow engineering is the most important it's ever been in this regard.
We could go on forever about how many aspects of exhaust systems have changed over the past decade or so, but I think that will give you a rough idea of what we've seen, and the kinds of results that can be had nowadays, etc.
------------------
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
Ahh, that's a great question, and things have changed in that regard over the past decade or so, allow me to explain a bit......
It used to be, from the time that catalytic converters were first mandated for use starting with the 1975 model year for US-spec vehicles until the late 80's to early 90's, that the cats were indeed a significant source of restriction. Instrumented tests showed backpressure amounts ranging from 5 to as much as 7 psi backpressure at power peak!
That has changed significantly however, and today's cats are much more free-flowing in general, as well as the automakers using multiple cats, primary and secondary, so that each unit flows better, etc. Catalytic converters on most vehicles made over the past decade or so now produce no more than, and many times less than than 3 psi backpressure on stock or lightly modified vehicles, as a loose & rough general "rule".
For example, on these late-model F-150 V-8's, the factory cats are fine and don't start being a significant source of restriction until you're approaching the 350-400 hp level. In the case of the supercharged Lightning, those cats are fine and aren't overly restrictive until you're well over the 450 hp level.
This will vary a bit based on the vehicle of course. An "economy car's" cats are going to be restrictive sooner than a truck's cats will be, simply because these trucks are designed taking into consideration the fact that they're going to be used for towing, and thus the motor is going to be pushing a lot of airflow, more than a regular passenger car, for example, to say nothing about the weight difference and the effect that has on the load on the motor.
When we're talking about today's late-model F-150's and the effects of aftermarket cat-back exhaust systems, in the case of the 5.4 motor most good name-brand systems will add anywhere from a low of about 10 hp to a maximum of about 14 hp at the flywheel. So they're still very much worthwhile, in fact they are #3 on our unofficial best "bang-for-the-buck" list of mods for the F-150.
And of course the factory exhaust systems themselves have changed greatly over the past decade too, these F-150's now come with 2.5" diameter exhaust tubing, whereas year ago it used to be considerably smaller. This means that while you can still make nice horsepower gains at heavier throttle openings at higher rpms, you can still actually lose some low-rpm torque, especially on part-throttle, so flow engineering is the most important it's ever been in this regard.
We could go on forever about how many aspects of exhaust systems have changed over the past decade or so, but I think that will give you a rough idea of what we've seen, and the kinds of results that can be had nowadays, etc.
------------------
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
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 255
Likes: 0
From: northeast usa
mike,
thanks for taking time to post something like this. it was very interesting, and it was not 'sales' related.
you da man.
much appreciated.
------------------
mr k
_ ____________________ _
1999 f150 xlt ex-cab 4x4
4.6 triton v8
5 speed manual
3:55 rear
towing package
k&n f.i.p.k.
gibson ss swept side
thanks for taking time to post something like this. it was very interesting, and it was not 'sales' related.
you da man.
much appreciated.
------------------
mr k
_ ____________________ _
1999 f150 xlt ex-cab 4x4
4.6 triton v8
5 speed manual
3:55 rear
towing package
k&n f.i.p.k.
gibson ss swept side
Thread Starter
|
Member
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 25
Likes: 0
From: ft. lewis, wa usa
thanks for the info fellas. ok, so at sea level the max hp increase was 28, what would be the lowest increase i would see. i plan on getting single in dual out exhaust, but i do not know what diameter of pipe would be best. any info from anyone appreciated.
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 255
Likes: 0
From: northeast usa
i just did a cat back on my truck and this is what i was told from another member on this page (i think max mitchel). i had a gibson single in single out with 3 inch diameter pipe installed. although this pipe was 1/2 bigger than the stock pipe the catalytic converter was not changed and that has a 2 1/2 pipe coming out of it. that is where my limiting factor is coming from. from what i understand your restriction is held back by your narrowest point and that would be my cat. i was also told though that this would be fine for me unless horsepower levels starting crossing over the 300 mark. the 2.5 diameter pipe can handle whatever volume i will be pushing through up until that point.
whatever you get look for mandrel bent pipes, and stainless steel for the lifetime warrantee.
------------------
mr k
_ ____________________ _
1999 f150 xlt ex-cab 4x4
4.6 triton v8
5 speed manual
3:55 rear
towing package
k&n f.i.p.k.
gibson ss swept side
whatever you get look for mandrel bent pipes, and stainless steel for the lifetime warrantee.
------------------
mr k
_ ____________________ _
1999 f150 xlt ex-cab 4x4
4.6 triton v8
5 speed manual
3:55 rear
towing package
k&n f.i.p.k.
gibson ss swept side
Trending Topics
Former Sponsor
Joined: Mar 1998
Posts: 13,385
Likes: 4
From: Virginia
Hi chech77,
No, the Superchip will not void your warranty. In fact, you are protected by the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act. What that Act states is basically as long as whatever you install on or do to your vehicle, as long as teh aftermarket part dos not cause actual damage to the vehicle, then your warranty remains intact by law. It's important to know your true legal rights, as some dealership service departments will tell you anything. In order to legally deny a warranty claim, teh automaker has to first prove that the aftermarket part in question was the sole cause of a related parts failure. They must further prove that had teh aftermarketanopr been installed, the related part(s) would not have failed, and that is very strong legal protection. The Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act puts into place what we like to call a very effective set of "fair play" rules. Meaning, if you do something to damage your vehicle, it's really not fair to expect the automaker to stand behind the warranty on that, but as long as you do not install anything that causes actual damage to the vehicle, then you warranty remains intact, and that's fair play. Here is a link where you can find more information on this: http://www.sema.org/fedleg/warranty
In terms of the power gain you can expect from the Superchip, the maximum rated gains at sea level altitude are 28 hp & 46 lbs./ft. of torque. In terms of what you can actually expect it to do for you, in round numbers you're going to pick up about a 10%-12% increase in power, and that is also a good description of how your vehicle is actually going to feel, like you just picked up about 10%-12% more motor under the hood.
It is also going to clean up the transmission shift characteristics quite a bit, and get rid of the soft-shift strategies that Ford uses to entice female buyers. This results in reduced slippage and extended service life of your friction materials inside your automatic transmission, which are your bands & clutches.
With regards to the types of power gains you can expect from the rest of your mods "wish list", the Airaid kit will add a solid 14 hp on those 5.4 F-150s. The JBA shorty bolt-on headers will add anywhere from 14-17 hp, and a good cat-back exhaust system anywhere from 10 to as much as 14 hp. These are all flywheel figures, and have been dyno'd numerous times, they're good numbers.
All of those products except the Superchip are available here in the F-150 Online Store; the Superchip of course is available directly from us, and can be ordered either by callingus, or by using the link just below in our signature line to order in our online ordering system.
If you'd like to go over any of this in detail, etc., please feel free to give us a call, we're always happy to help.
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
No, the Superchip will not void your warranty. In fact, you are protected by the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act. What that Act states is basically as long as whatever you install on or do to your vehicle, as long as teh aftermarket part dos not cause actual damage to the vehicle, then your warranty remains intact by law. It's important to know your true legal rights, as some dealership service departments will tell you anything. In order to legally deny a warranty claim, teh automaker has to first prove that the aftermarket part in question was the sole cause of a related parts failure. They must further prove that had teh aftermarketanopr been installed, the related part(s) would not have failed, and that is very strong legal protection. The Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act puts into place what we like to call a very effective set of "fair play" rules. Meaning, if you do something to damage your vehicle, it's really not fair to expect the automaker to stand behind the warranty on that, but as long as you do not install anything that causes actual damage to the vehicle, then you warranty remains intact, and that's fair play. Here is a link where you can find more information on this: http://www.sema.org/fedleg/warranty
In terms of the power gain you can expect from the Superchip, the maximum rated gains at sea level altitude are 28 hp & 46 lbs./ft. of torque. In terms of what you can actually expect it to do for you, in round numbers you're going to pick up about a 10%-12% increase in power, and that is also a good description of how your vehicle is actually going to feel, like you just picked up about 10%-12% more motor under the hood.
It is also going to clean up the transmission shift characteristics quite a bit, and get rid of the soft-shift strategies that Ford uses to entice female buyers. This results in reduced slippage and extended service life of your friction materials inside your automatic transmission, which are your bands & clutches.
With regards to the types of power gains you can expect from the rest of your mods "wish list", the Airaid kit will add a solid 14 hp on those 5.4 F-150s. The JBA shorty bolt-on headers will add anywhere from 14-17 hp, and a good cat-back exhaust system anywhere from 10 to as much as 14 hp. These are all flywheel figures, and have been dyno'd numerous times, they're good numbers.
All of those products except the Superchip are available here in the F-150 Online Store; the Superchip of course is available directly from us, and can be ordered either by callingus, or by using the link just below in our signature line to order in our online ordering system.
If you'd like to go over any of this in detail, etc., please feel free to give us a call, we're always happy to help.
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
Junior Member
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
Mike,
I have a question for you? How can you honestly see much power from a cat-back system, when one of the biggest problems in the exhaust is the catylitic converters themselves?? This has always bothered me. Maybe you can shed some light on this for me.
Thanks
I have a question for you? How can you honestly see much power from a cat-back system, when one of the biggest problems in the exhaust is the catylitic converters themselves?? This has always bothered me. Maybe you can shed some light on this for me.
Thanks
Member
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 32
Likes: 0
From: Traverse City, MI
I have posted some hard numbers for various upgrades in engines. Exhaust was very beneficial, I was very suprised.
------------------
2001 Screw, 4x4, 5.4L, 3.55LS, trailer tow III, 255-16 tires, skids, no cap yet.
Superchip
Gibson Stainless SS
AirRaid FIPK
Line X, other misc.
------------------
2001 Screw, 4x4, 5.4L, 3.55LS, trailer tow III, 255-16 tires, skids, no cap yet.
Superchip
Gibson Stainless SS
AirRaid FIPK
Line X, other misc.
Former Sponsor
Joined: Mar 1998
Posts: 13,385
Likes: 4
From: Virginia
Hi 1badvr4,
You're right, there's just nothing like the sound of a classic American V-8 throbbing thru a nice free-flowing exhaust.
------------------
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
You're right, there's just nothing like the sound of a classic American V-8 throbbing thru a nice free-flowing exhaust.
------------------
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
Former Sponsor
Joined: Mar 1998
Posts: 13,385
Likes: 4
From: Virginia
Hi billycouldride,
Thanks, we try.
Exhaust systems are fascinating, there has been so much change over the past 10-15 years in everything from the catalytic converters to pipe diameter to flow engineering now being absolutely critical, and it's all combined to change some of the basic approaches to opening up the exhaust in modern vehicles.
For example it used to be that you could put a set of "duals", (what we now call "true duals") on any V-8, and you knew you were going to get a nice horsepower and torque gain at every throttle position and throughout the entire rpm range. Gains of 25 hp+ were common over a factory single-exhaust system.
Nowadays, it's very easy to gain higher rpm horsepower at heavy throttle openigns, and just as easy to at the same time actually lose low-end torque, particularly on part-throttle where we spend almost all our time.
I am by no means an expert on this, I wish I had the real knowledge of exhaust pulse & phasing and how to affect them positively, etc., it's a real science these days!
------------------
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, we try.
Exhaust systems are fascinating, there has been so much change over the past 10-15 years in everything from the catalytic converters to pipe diameter to flow engineering now being absolutely critical, and it's all combined to change some of the basic approaches to opening up the exhaust in modern vehicles.
For example it used to be that you could put a set of "duals", (what we now call "true duals") on any V-8, and you knew you were going to get a nice horsepower and torque gain at every throttle position and throughout the entire rpm range. Gains of 25 hp+ were common over a factory single-exhaust system.
Nowadays, it's very easy to gain higher rpm horsepower at heavy throttle openigns, and just as easy to at the same time actually lose low-end torque, particularly on part-throttle where we spend almost all our time.
I am by no means an expert on this, I wish I had the real knowledge of exhaust pulse & phasing and how to affect them positively, etc., it's a real science these days!
------------------
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
Former Sponsor
Joined: Mar 1998
Posts: 13,385
Likes: 4
From: Virginia
Hi chech77,
Well, it's hard to say what the absolute minimum gain would be, as that is affected primarily by altitude & fuel quality, which can make big differences in the actual hp numbers. However, what you can expect is to pick up about 10% more raw power over whatever you're making right now, and that's also a good way to describe what the vehicle is going to feel like as a result of installing the Superchip. Meaning, it's going to feel like you just picked up about 10% more motor under the hood, in round numbers.
For your exhaust, a single system like you described will need a pipe diameter of 3 inches.
Good luck!
------------------
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
Well, it's hard to say what the absolute minimum gain would be, as that is affected primarily by altitude & fuel quality, which can make big differences in the actual hp numbers. However, what you can expect is to pick up about 10% more raw power over whatever you're making right now, and that's also a good way to describe what the vehicle is going to feel like as a result of installing the Superchip. Meaning, it's going to feel like you just picked up about 10% more motor under the hood, in round numbers.
For your exhaust, a single system like you described will need a pipe diameter of 3 inches.
Good luck!
------------------
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
Former Sponsor
Joined: Mar 1998
Posts: 13,385
Likes: 4
From: Virginia
Hi J&JHalo,
The Superchip is a sealed module with a female data slot on the back of it, that simply mates to the corresponding male edge connector on the back of the Ford computer, so it's attachment is basically like Tab A going into Slot B.
The computer is removed from the vehicle for the first-time installation, so you can get access to properly clean that connector on the back of the computer. Installation time for someone who has never done this before ranges anywhere from 30-60 minutes, and of course complete installation instructions are included.
If you'd like to go over this in more detail, go over the steps of the installation prodedure, etc., please feel free to give us a call, we're always 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
The Superchip is a sealed module with a female data slot on the back of it, that simply mates to the corresponding male edge connector on the back of the Ford computer, so it's attachment is basically like Tab A going into Slot B.
The computer is removed from the vehicle for the first-time installation, so you can get access to properly clean that connector on the back of the computer. Installation time for someone who has never done this before ranges anywhere from 30-60 minutes, and of course complete installation instructions are included.
If you'd like to go over this in more detail, go over the steps of the installation prodedure, etc., please feel free to give us a call, we're always 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