I notice that the most popular gain of a chip other than HP is the changed shift points in an Auto tranny. Would it benefit me much to install a chip in my 93 F150 Supercab w/ 4.9L and 5spd tranny. I do some towing for work and I also have a 19ft boat that I tow. Would it be worth the $300 investment to get a chip? Thanks..

 

First off, I'm no expert, just been around here for a while.

I have a 5-speed also. Some might look at the chip thing like those of us with the manual transmission some how are getting less than those with the auto. I can tell you that the changes in engine performance are worth the money. We don't get changed shift charictoristics but if you think about it we are at an advantage to begin with. There is less drive-line loss with a manual. Unfortunately we have to deal with a somewhat weak clutch, "unsmooth" syncronizers, and a mile long throw of the shifter. It may be harder to compete with an auto in the quarter mile due to the weaknesses of the manual but I think in the real world being able to put the power to the wheels with less loss can be done more efficently with out manual transmissions.

I don't know what kind of changes you get for that 4.9. I had a '94 F150 with the 4.9/5-speed. It was a pretty good truck. I think a V8 is better but that big 6 is pretty strong. My 4.6 woke right up with a tune. Now, I wouldn't go without a good tune.

It's my opinion that it is worth the money you will shell out for a tune. Take a look at some of the alternatives. I think that you will see that a tune is the best value for the money.

Good luck!

 

Thanks wittom. I like my 4.9, I just got rid of a Bronco w/ a 5.0 Auto and I am so glad to be back in a 4.9 manual. This is the 3rd 300 that I've had. I had an 84 with a 4.9 and 3spd on the column and a 91 5spd and now the 93. This one is by far the nicest of the three and I plan on keeping it awhile, thats why I am interested in tuning it a bit. Thanks again. Anyone else with any opinion, please post.

 

Hi lahiggs,

You'll want to make use of the SEARCH feature, that's what it's here for & you'll enjoy the ability to instantly access information - for example, you will find plenty of posts made here over the years from numerous customers of ours who own those "Big 6's" as we call them, and who use our tuning for them and love the results - it's been a while since the last one posted here, but over the years there have been dozens & dozens of posts from other 4.9 I-6 owners like yourself who have installed our tuning..

The gains you'll see from our tuning for those older 4.9 I-6's runs 15-20 HP and well over 30 lbs./ft of torque - assuming the engine is well maintained & healthy. If it's a 180K-200K mile motor, then in that case with those older design engines it would be better off being rebuilt before throwing performance parts at it. Today's modern modular motors can still have performance mods added at say, 150K miles, we even have a number of customers with say, 180K miles who add a supercharger, etc. - but you usually can't go that far and then start upping the power in the older design Big 6's.

Regarding manual tranny vehicles in general, tuning gives even better peak power gains at the wheels for the same reason Tom mentioned, which is the fact that the driveline losses are half of what they are in automatic transmission vehicles. And the manual-tranny trucks *still* have torque mgmt that is improved via our tuning. It's largely a myth that automatics get more from tuning in general than manual tranny vehicles do in these vehicles.

Tuning is always the single best bang for the buck performance enhancement you can make to virtually any computer-controlled vehicle - especially these trucks & SUV's.

The Big 6 is a great engine, makes a lot of torque down low so it was very popular for towing, for example- they are prone to clogging the oil pump pickup & screen however, so they need very frequent oil changes - but with 3000 mile oil changes and using top-quality oil & good oil filters (none of the "quick lube" generic cheap oil filters), those engines can get 250K miles & sometimes even more from them - only you will really know just what kind of condition that engine is in your truck, of course, so this is just some general FYI info......

Please feel free to give us a call at our number listed below if you'd like to go over this in more detail, we'll be happy to help.

Thanks for your post & best of luck with your truck!