which is better
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From: Universal City, TX
which is better
i have a 2002 f150 fx4 with k&n intake, flowmaster exhaust, and a throttle body spacer. more upgrades to come like headers, larger throttle body, electric fans, maf, and underdrive pulleys. should i get a diablo or superchip tuner? are the pretty much both the same?
thanks
thanks
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From: Sunny FL
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Joined: Nov 2003
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From: Yucaipa, California
Yes Yes Yes
Originally posted by jpdadeo
This is what you want
Superchips Custom Tuning Xcalibrator for ALL OBD-II FoMoCo vehicles 1996-2005
This is what you want
Superchips Custom Tuning Xcalibrator for ALL OBD-II FoMoCo vehicles 1996-2005
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Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 1,376
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I'm curious as to how many people have run both the superchips tuner as well as the predator tuner on the same or similar vehicles? Everyone here keeps saying the superchips is best, except for one or two people who have run both tuners. I realize Troyer is a big sponsor here but the 'online store' link at the top of the forum leads to Motorhaven, which sells both tuners but seems to promote the predator as the better unit.
I cannot compare units but I am 100% pleased with my predator tuner. Whichever tuner you get will be way better than no tuner at all. After driving my truck with the stock tune and then after the tuner, I cannot imagine owning a vehicle without a tuner ever again.
I cannot compare units but I am 100% pleased with my predator tuner. Whichever tuner you get will be way better than no tuner at all. After driving my truck with the stock tune and then after the tuner, I cannot imagine owning a vehicle without a tuner ever again.
Former Sponsor
Joined: Mar 1998
Posts: 13,385
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From: Virginia
HI kfox109,
I'm glad you dropped by to ask, as no, those two products are *not* the same.
What will actually get you the best result is to have us do our in-depth Troyer Performance custom tuning for you. Even on a bone-stock truck, our custom tuning will yield roughly 50% higher power & performance gains than what you'll get out of the "standard" 1715 Superchips Micro Tuner, and much better performance than what the Diablo tuning will yield as well. The last time someone posted their drag strip test results here, our custom tuning beat the Diablo tuning by 4 tenths in the 1/4 mile - that's a very significant difference in such a heavy vehicle.
We've specialized in performance-tuning the F-150 platform longer than anyone else, which is why most F-series owners come to us for their tuning - so they get the best actual results.
By all means, take your time & read some of the many posts from other F-150 Online members who have spent their hard-earned money on our tuning, to see what they have to say about it - you'll quickly find that most people come to us for their tuning & other F-150 performance needs because of our excellent results.
You should also drop by our web site at www.TroyerPerformance.com and spend some time reading there, too - check out the various tuning options at this link: http://www.troyerperformance.com/cgi...chips%3BFoMoCo
What I recommend is to use either our Part# SCT6600 (4-program custom chip) our Part# 9100 (3-program custom Micro Tuner), or our Part# 9300 (3-program custom Xcalibrator) - though you will see other tuning products also at that link, one of those 3 is what I would recommend you use, as we can load our custom tuning in any of those 3 products, and that is what will actually get you the very best results. You might also want to sped some time reading up in our Performance Packages section on our web site too, as there you will see our Stage 1 all the way thru our Stage 5 performance packages - that will give you a goo idea of what parts work, when to modify when, the results, costs, etc., just to give you a rough idea in general about modifying your F-150 for better performance.
Please feel free to give us a call to go over any details, we'll be happy to answer questions, go over your vehicle and any mods you many already have or be thinking about, etc., so you can give it some thought - and then do whatever makes you feel the most comfortable. We'll be happy to help.
Best of luck whatever you decide, & we hope you'll hang out here with us in your spare time!
I'm glad you dropped by to ask, as no, those two products are *not* the same.
What will actually get you the best result is to have us do our in-depth Troyer Performance custom tuning for you. Even on a bone-stock truck, our custom tuning will yield roughly 50% higher power & performance gains than what you'll get out of the "standard" 1715 Superchips Micro Tuner, and much better performance than what the Diablo tuning will yield as well. The last time someone posted their drag strip test results here, our custom tuning beat the Diablo tuning by 4 tenths in the 1/4 mile - that's a very significant difference in such a heavy vehicle.
We've specialized in performance-tuning the F-150 platform longer than anyone else, which is why most F-series owners come to us for their tuning - so they get the best actual results.
By all means, take your time & read some of the many posts from other F-150 Online members who have spent their hard-earned money on our tuning, to see what they have to say about it - you'll quickly find that most people come to us for their tuning & other F-150 performance needs because of our excellent results.
You should also drop by our web site at www.TroyerPerformance.com and spend some time reading there, too - check out the various tuning options at this link: http://www.troyerperformance.com/cgi...chips%3BFoMoCo
What I recommend is to use either our Part# SCT6600 (4-program custom chip) our Part# 9100 (3-program custom Micro Tuner), or our Part# 9300 (3-program custom Xcalibrator) - though you will see other tuning products also at that link, one of those 3 is what I would recommend you use, as we can load our custom tuning in any of those 3 products, and that is what will actually get you the very best results. You might also want to sped some time reading up in our Performance Packages section on our web site too, as there you will see our Stage 1 all the way thru our Stage 5 performance packages - that will give you a goo idea of what parts work, when to modify when, the results, costs, etc., just to give you a rough idea in general about modifying your F-150 for better performance.
Please feel free to give us a call to go over any details, we'll be happy to answer questions, go over your vehicle and any mods you many already have or be thinking about, etc., so you can give it some thought - and then do whatever makes you feel the most comfortable. We'll be happy to help.
Best of luck whatever you decide, & we hope you'll hang out here with us in your spare time!
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Even on a bone-stock truck, our custom tuning will yield roughly 50% higher power & performance gains than what you'll get out of the "standard" 1715 Superchips Micro Tuner, and much better performance than what the Diablo tuning will yield as well.
Last edited by RockyJSquirrel; Dec 7, 2004 at 07:20 PM.
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Joined: Aug 2004
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From: North Huntingdon,Pa.
truth
Originally posted by RockyJSquirrel
I'm curious as to how many people have run both the superchips tuner as well as the predator tuner on the same or similar vehicles? Everyone here keeps saying the superchips is best, except for one or two people who have run both tuners. I realize Troyer is a big sponsor here but the 'online store' link at the top of the forum leads to Motorhaven, which sells both tuners but seems to promote the predator as the better unit.
I cannot compare units but I am 100% pleased with my predator tuner. Whichever tuner you get will be way better than no tuner at all. After driving my truck with the stock tune and then after the tuner, I cannot imagine owning a vehicle without a tuner ever again.
I'm curious as to how many people have run both the superchips tuner as well as the predator tuner on the same or similar vehicles? Everyone here keeps saying the superchips is best, except for one or two people who have run both tuners. I realize Troyer is a big sponsor here but the 'online store' link at the top of the forum leads to Motorhaven, which sells both tuners but seems to promote the predator as the better unit.
I cannot compare units but I am 100% pleased with my predator tuner. Whichever tuner you get will be way better than no tuner at all. After driving my truck with the stock tune and then after the tuner, I cannot imagine owning a vehicle without a tuner ever again.
Former Sponsor
Joined: Mar 1998
Posts: 13,385
Likes: 4
From: Virginia
Hi RockyJSquirrel,
At some point in the past, maybe a year or so ago, I would say that there were a few codes in these F-150's in the 1715 where that statement would have been accurate - in fact, that is *precisely* what Phil Kanarkowski ("openclasspro#11" here on the boards) reporting finding in his testing at the drag strip on his truck, which was a 2003 5.4 automatic with a code of LGA2, if my memory serves me. Phil tested the 1715, the Diablo, and then our custom tuning - he felt the Diablo was a bit stronger at the drag strip than the 1715 for his code at that time, though not in top speed, as he pointed out that Diablo couldn't remove the top speed limiter on his F-150 - they were only able to raise it slightly. Then he tested our custom tuning, and we blew the Diablo away by 4 tenths in the 1/4 mile - that's on a *very* heavy truck, with a tune that is safe & sustainable for every day street use, and that will still pass an actual emissions tailpipe sniff test.
But then, many chip makers have problems with things like speed limiters and other issues in various codes in these trucks - what has to be remembered here is that F-150 tuning can be very difficult, in terms of consistently getting the best results on each and every different PCM code in every different model year of F-series. It's not easy, and with all we've gone thru over many years to be experts in F-150 tuning, I just don't wish that on anyone, as it can very easily be an exercise in how to end up in the poor house!
We have to do far more R&D each model year on the F-150 than is typically required on any other vehicle, to make each and every F-150 really sing to it's potential - and it's due primarily to the hundreds of different PCM codes & dozens upon dozens of different strategies, methods & techniques employed in all the various different factory programs each and every single model year in the F-150 - something not seen in other vehicles in anywhere near that degree. What has to be done just for one model year of F-150 is typically as much R&D as is required to do somewhere between a half-dozen to a dozen different vehicle platforms - and that just doesn't pay the bills for any "major" chipmaker. They have to try to do it all (and some do it pretty well), in order to generate the kind of enormous revenues it takes to pay for things like multiple buildings, multiple high-end dynos, a hundred employees, many of whom are engineers in different fields (EE, powertrain, etc.) and on and on...........it's a very interesting perspective, when you know what the score really is.
Anyway....over the past year or so, we have worked with Superchips regarding the tuning for the F-150's in the 1715, in areas of getting more performance out of them while still being appropriate for use in any part of the country, whether the local premium fuels are 91 or 93 octane - just as Superchips always does any time they feel someone is catching up with them in any area, they do whatever is required to further refine the product. Basic business 101, and nobody has been doing it longer or better than Superchips, who started this in 1982.
The bottom line is, you're absolutely right - having us do our custom tuning is what will get the best results in these F-series gasoline platform vehicles - which is why we talk so much about that when people drop by to see what will actually get them the best results, etc. Now that will always cost a bit more, there's no 2 ways about that, either - there is simply no way to provide our custom tuning for the same price that a registered F-150 Online member can call us and buy a 1715 Micro Tuner for - but the difference in cost really isn't significant to anyone that can afford to own & drive a late-model F-150, and it's always well worth it in the results..
Have fun, & thanks for your post!
At some point in the past, maybe a year or so ago, I would say that there were a few codes in these F-150's in the 1715 where that statement would have been accurate - in fact, that is *precisely* what Phil Kanarkowski ("openclasspro#11" here on the boards) reporting finding in his testing at the drag strip on his truck, which was a 2003 5.4 automatic with a code of LGA2, if my memory serves me. Phil tested the 1715, the Diablo, and then our custom tuning - he felt the Diablo was a bit stronger at the drag strip than the 1715 for his code at that time, though not in top speed, as he pointed out that Diablo couldn't remove the top speed limiter on his F-150 - they were only able to raise it slightly. Then he tested our custom tuning, and we blew the Diablo away by 4 tenths in the 1/4 mile - that's on a *very* heavy truck, with a tune that is safe & sustainable for every day street use, and that will still pass an actual emissions tailpipe sniff test.
But then, many chip makers have problems with things like speed limiters and other issues in various codes in these trucks - what has to be remembered here is that F-150 tuning can be very difficult, in terms of consistently getting the best results on each and every different PCM code in every different model year of F-series. It's not easy, and with all we've gone thru over many years to be experts in F-150 tuning, I just don't wish that on anyone, as it can very easily be an exercise in how to end up in the poor house!
We have to do far more R&D each model year on the F-150 than is typically required on any other vehicle, to make each and every F-150 really sing to it's potential - and it's due primarily to the hundreds of different PCM codes & dozens upon dozens of different strategies, methods & techniques employed in all the various different factory programs each and every single model year in the F-150 - something not seen in other vehicles in anywhere near that degree. What has to be done just for one model year of F-150 is typically as much R&D as is required to do somewhere between a half-dozen to a dozen different vehicle platforms - and that just doesn't pay the bills for any "major" chipmaker. They have to try to do it all (and some do it pretty well), in order to generate the kind of enormous revenues it takes to pay for things like multiple buildings, multiple high-end dynos, a hundred employees, many of whom are engineers in different fields (EE, powertrain, etc.) and on and on...........it's a very interesting perspective, when you know what the score really is.
Anyway....over the past year or so, we have worked with Superchips regarding the tuning for the F-150's in the 1715, in areas of getting more performance out of them while still being appropriate for use in any part of the country, whether the local premium fuels are 91 or 93 octane - just as Superchips always does any time they feel someone is catching up with them in any area, they do whatever is required to further refine the product. Basic business 101, and nobody has been doing it longer or better than Superchips, who started this in 1982.
The bottom line is, you're absolutely right - having us do our custom tuning is what will get the best results in these F-series gasoline platform vehicles - which is why we talk so much about that when people drop by to see what will actually get them the best results, etc. Now that will always cost a bit more, there's no 2 ways about that, either - there is simply no way to provide our custom tuning for the same price that a registered F-150 Online member can call us and buy a 1715 Micro Tuner for - but the difference in cost really isn't significant to anyone that can afford to own & drive a late-model F-150, and it's always well worth it in the results.
. Have fun, & thanks for your post!
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Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 418
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From: Antelope, CA
Thanks Mike...
Thanks for the Christmas card Mike. It's always nice to get some unexpected mail that isn't some type of BILL. lol
I've been reading through this post and was wondering... Are you now offering custom tuning for the 04? I purchased the 1714 or 1715... always confuse the two. I'm happy with it, but there is always room for improvement. Should I give you a call?
What is the process of a custom tune? Do you get a list of mods as well as ask the owner what the primary daily use is? For example one guy might want to race the local 1/4 mile whereas the next guy wants the most power without losing as much MPG. What I'm looking for is simply MORE power. I'm a kid at heart and I love the feeling of slamming the pedal to the medal and getting an awesome responce. I've never had a truck that will simply leave a nice burnout. Why do I want to do a burnout? It's just a cool thing that most guys like. This is just an example.
Thanks and Happy Holidays......
Rich
I've been reading through this post and was wondering... Are you now offering custom tuning for the 04? I purchased the 1714 or 1715... always confuse the two. I'm happy with it, but there is always room for improvement. Should I give you a call?
What is the process of a custom tune? Do you get a list of mods as well as ask the owner what the primary daily use is? For example one guy might want to race the local 1/4 mile whereas the next guy wants the most power without losing as much MPG. What I'm looking for is simply MORE power. I'm a kid at heart and I love the feeling of slamming the pedal to the medal and getting an awesome responce. I've never had a truck that will simply leave a nice burnout. Why do I want to do a burnout? It's just a cool thing that most guys like. This is just an example.
Thanks and Happy Holidays......
Rich
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 344
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From: SAN DIEGO, SOCAL
hey Mr. Troyer,
i was looking into doing a custom tune here in the near future, but i am a rock when it comes to performance stuff like this. i do know that i will go to you for the job, hands down, from, what i've read here on the site, you are sure respected. now these custom tunes, what exactly are they? is it like i say i want this and you guys tune the truck to what i want, or what, i know that was prolly a stupid statement, but like i said, i am clueless. i do though want better git up and go for my truck, i have a aririaid and flowmaster 40 so far, and i know the next biggest thing i will do is a lift, and a ram air hood. i'm not to much into the superchargers and big time stuff. just like to have atough truck though. anyways, i did like the specs on the Xcalibrator, since i know i will stay ford, plus i liked the fact that it can be used for such a wide array or years and reprogrammed. so i know that you must get dummies like me all the time, but i guess that is what keeps you in business huh? LOL! so any help, like "tuning for dummies" would be a mucho help!. happy holidays to all, thanks Mr. Troyer, Willie
i was looking into doing a custom tune here in the near future, but i am a rock when it comes to performance stuff like this. i do know that i will go to you for the job, hands down, from, what i've read here on the site, you are sure respected. now these custom tunes, what exactly are they? is it like i say i want this and you guys tune the truck to what i want, or what, i know that was prolly a stupid statement, but like i said, i am clueless. i do though want better git up and go for my truck, i have a aririaid and flowmaster 40 so far, and i know the next biggest thing i will do is a lift, and a ram air hood. i'm not to much into the superchargers and big time stuff. just like to have atough truck though. anyways, i did like the specs on the Xcalibrator, since i know i will stay ford, plus i liked the fact that it can be used for such a wide array or years and reprogrammed. so i know that you must get dummies like me all the time, but i guess that is what keeps you in business huh? LOL! so any help, like "tuning for dummies" would be a mucho help!. happy holidays to all, thanks Mr. Troyer, Willie
Former Sponsor
Joined: Mar 1998
Posts: 13,385
Likes: 4
From: Virginia
Hi Rich & Willie,
Yes, we offer custom tunes on every year of computer-controlled F-150, including the new 2004 & 2005 models.
Rich - we started shipping custom tunes for the 2004's & 2005's about 2-4 weeks ago roughly, so that is a new development since the last time you dropped by here, I think. The tuning itself for the new 2004 trucks we've had done for a year now - but we simply did not have the *hardware* that we could send to the customer - meaning, a hand-held tuner that we could load custom tunes into for those newest CAN (Controller Area Network) 2004 & up F-150's. So for the past year, we've been offering our custom tuning for the 3-valve 5.4's by owners sending in their PCM's to be flashed. But now we have a hand-held tuner available so the 2004 & 2005 F-150 owners can get our 3-program custom-tuned Xcalibrator, our Part# 9300.
For all the details, drop by our web site at this link: http://www.troyerperformance.com/cgi...chips%3BFoMoCo
Read up on our Part# 9300 for the 2004 & newer trucks, then for the 1996 thru 2003's, you can use either the 9100 or the 9300.
For further details on our custom tuning, you can either use the SEARCH feature here (the icon to access SEARCH is in the upper right portion of your screen here) to quickly & easily retrieve and read any of our many previous posts regarding our custom tuning, or just give us a call at our number listed below.
Some very basic brief info (and some of this will apply more to Willie, as Rich already knows how to install a tuner & other aspects of this from his previous experiences)............
What a custom tune is, is just what the name implies - we retune the vehicle for more power & performance, something these heavy trucks need no matter how they are used. We do a set of 3 different custom tunes, so that you can still do everything your vehicle was designed to be able to do from the factory and more - towing, daily driver, performance-oriented uses, etc. The idea is to increase horsepower, torque, powertrain response, improve automatic transmission shift characteristics, remove the top speed limiter, etc., while still retaining normal vehicle service life & reliability, etc - you get the idea.
To place an order for our custom tuning, you can do that either on our web site (at the link listed above), or by simply calling us at our number listed below - most people prefer to call us. How it actually works is, when you call us (or when placing the order on our web site), we'll take your basic info - name, address, email address, etc., etc. We then send out an email with our CPW's (Custom Program Worksheets), which the customer then prints out, fills in, and sends back to us. These are simple mechanical configuration worksheets that tell us about any modifications you have done on the vehicle, and it's maintenance history - very simple, only takes a few minutes to fill in, & that way we have a written record of the vehicle's configuration, any changes to it, etc. Then we set up the custom tuning for each vehicle based on how each vehicle owner uses their vehicle, their location if applicable, whatever modifications they may have done that would affect tuning, etc. Each custom tune gets done in the order it's received, and it usually takes anywhere from a few days to 7-10 working days from the time we receive the CPW's to the time we've got the tuning done and it's ready to ship.
The customer then receives the product and installs it, which is very easy to do - the hand-held tuners take about 10-15 minutes to install as it's a very simple plug-n-play installation. You don't even have to touch the computer, just plug the tuning device in, press a few buttons as per the included instructions, and you're all set!
So it's designed for a simple installation done by the customer in just a few minutes, it's very easy - you don't have to know anything about tuning, or about the computers in these vehicles, etc., we've made it very simple for any vehicle owner to do.
To get started on this is very simple - you can either drop by our web site at the link I listed above to place your order, or give us a call at our number listed below.
Yes, we offer custom tunes on every year of computer-controlled F-150, including the new 2004 & 2005 models.
Rich - we started shipping custom tunes for the 2004's & 2005's about 2-4 weeks ago roughly, so that is a new development since the last time you dropped by here, I think. The tuning itself for the new 2004 trucks we've had done for a year now - but we simply did not have the *hardware* that we could send to the customer - meaning, a hand-held tuner that we could load custom tunes into for those newest CAN (Controller Area Network) 2004 & up F-150's. So for the past year, we've been offering our custom tuning for the 3-valve 5.4's by owners sending in their PCM's to be flashed. But now we have a hand-held tuner available so the 2004 & 2005 F-150 owners can get our 3-program custom-tuned Xcalibrator, our Part# 9300.
For all the details, drop by our web site at this link: http://www.troyerperformance.com/cgi...chips%3BFoMoCo
Read up on our Part# 9300 for the 2004 & newer trucks, then for the 1996 thru 2003's, you can use either the 9100 or the 9300.
For further details on our custom tuning, you can either use the SEARCH feature here (the icon to access SEARCH is in the upper right portion of your screen here) to quickly & easily retrieve and read any of our many previous posts regarding our custom tuning, or just give us a call at our number listed below.
Some very basic brief info (and some of this will apply more to Willie, as Rich already knows how to install a tuner & other aspects of this from his previous experiences)............
What a custom tune is, is just what the name implies - we retune the vehicle for more power & performance, something these heavy trucks need no matter how they are used. We do a set of 3 different custom tunes, so that you can still do everything your vehicle was designed to be able to do from the factory and more - towing, daily driver, performance-oriented uses, etc. The idea is to increase horsepower, torque, powertrain response, improve automatic transmission shift characteristics, remove the top speed limiter, etc., while still retaining normal vehicle service life & reliability, etc - you get the idea.
To place an order for our custom tuning, you can do that either on our web site (at the link listed above), or by simply calling us at our number listed below - most people prefer to call us. How it actually works is, when you call us (or when placing the order on our web site), we'll take your basic info - name, address, email address, etc., etc. We then send out an email with our CPW's (Custom Program Worksheets), which the customer then prints out, fills in, and sends back to us. These are simple mechanical configuration worksheets that tell us about any modifications you have done on the vehicle, and it's maintenance history - very simple, only takes a few minutes to fill in, & that way we have a written record of the vehicle's configuration, any changes to it, etc. Then we set up the custom tuning for each vehicle based on how each vehicle owner uses their vehicle, their location if applicable, whatever modifications they may have done that would affect tuning, etc. Each custom tune gets done in the order it's received, and it usually takes anywhere from a few days to 7-10 working days from the time we receive the CPW's to the time we've got the tuning done and it's ready to ship.
The customer then receives the product and installs it, which is very easy to do - the hand-held tuners take about 10-15 minutes to install as it's a very simple plug-n-play installation. You don't even have to touch the computer, just plug the tuning device in, press a few buttons as per the included instructions, and you're all set!
So it's designed for a simple installation done by the customer in just a few minutes, it's very easy - you don't have to know anything about tuning, or about the computers in these vehicles, etc., we've made it very simple for any vehicle owner to do.
To get started on this is very simple - you can either drop by our web site at the link I listed above to place your order, or give us a call at our number listed below.