chip or no chip?
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Junior Member
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
From: Washington
chip or no chip?
okay guys... i am waiting on my volant cold air intake and my si/do magnaflow. my goals are to increase response when i step on the gas, increase my gas mileage, and over all have a nice sound and decently performing truck for my everyday plrasure. i have already spent $650, should i spend another $400 on a superchip? what are its pros/cons? is it a performance necessary part of my "stage one" goals? will i run into any computer trouble or glitches? i probably won't be doing anymore to my truck (lift, tires, gears, etc.) until i pay it off in 2009. if i do buy a superchip... will the #1714 be the right chip for the 2004.5 model? troyerperformance.com only lists up till 2003. i am excited to install my parts once i get them and hope i am satisfied with the results.
thanks... as much feed as possible would make me feel a lot better!
thanks... as much feed as possible would make me feel a lot better!
Former Sponsor
Joined: Mar 1998
Posts: 13,385
Likes: 4
From: Virginia
Hello hisurf,
All the info the F-150 owner could possibly want with regard to tuning is already posted right here in this section, by hundreds of fellow F-150 Online members like yourself - spend some time reading it & you'll see. Just FYI, most people here do tend to post their results, impressions, etc., for others to see, as they are happy to share their info - but they usually don't tend to come back to repeat it all over again every time another friendly F-150 owner drops by to ask the exact same thing that everyone who comes here wants to know (which is "what's the best?" - everyone wants to know the same basic thing among those who drop by this section). You'll probably get a few responses, but I would also suggest spending some time reading the existing posts here, & take advantage of all the info is already right here.
By the way - on our web site at www.TroyerPerformance.com regarding the 1714 Micro Tuner - you will see that the 1714 Micro Tuner is listed as being specifically for the 2004 models *only*. So if you want a "standard" performance tuning product, that is the correct Micro Tuner to use for your 2004 truck. You might be confusing it with the 1715 Micro Tuner, which is for the 1996-2003 trucks - just FYI.
Something you need to know regarding your intake kit - Volant is a good company, but we do not recommend the use of the Volant intake kit (or almost all others, for that matter) for the 2004 & up 5.4 3-valve F-150 - (and I'm assuming that since you list having a 2004 FX4, that you have the 5.4 3V engine). The reason is that you may very well have problems with lean conditions as a result of using that intake kit - it's happened with many people using it, and we found the same results in our testing (we've tested every intake kit we know of for the 5.4 3V, and then some, as we specialize in F-150 performance). Last we heard, Volant was supposed to be working on a "redesign" of that unit - in fact, every company that has offered an intake kit for the 5.4 3V F-150 that we know of has had problems with lean conditions, due to not enough R&D and the new MAS sensor design used in the new 3-valve motors - so most of them have had to go back and make changes, not just Volant by any means. As of right now, there is only 1 intake kit on the market that actually adds real power AND that do not cause lean conditions in the optional 5.4 3V engines in the 2004 & newer F-150's - the Airaid unit. If you'd like to go over any of that info, please feel free to give us a call at our number listed below. This is just FYI so you'll know.
Back to the topic of tuning - if you are interesting in getting the *best* results, that will be had with our Troyer Performance *custom* tuning - our custom tuning will do more than the intake kit and cat-back exhaust *combined* for the performance of that 2004 F-150 5.4 3V. Don't get me wrong, we're big fans of good intake kits & Magnaflow cat-back exhausts, and highly recommend them - this is just to give you a rough idea by way of comparison, as that seems to be the real heart of what you want to know. To get the best tuning results really takes specializing in the F-150's tuning, and we've been doing that for many years - which is why you see the vast majority of F-150 owners here coming to us for their tuning, so they get the best results.
The 1715 Micro tuner will do a fine job, don't misunderstand - it's a great product, and certainly the best of the "standard" tuning products for your vehicle. But if you want the *best* results, you'll want to go with our custom tuning.
This is all just FYI so you'll know - by all means, please do whatever makes you happy, just as every vehicle owner should - I'm just trying to give you some good info to help you get the best results for the money you spend on performance improvements for your vehicle.
Please feel free to give us a call to go over any of this in more detail, & do take some time to read some of the vast amounts of info here on tuning for your vehicle, etc - virtually anything you could want to know has been discussed hundreds, if not literally thousands of times here, so you can easily find what you want to know by reading some of the threads here. Oh, I almost forgot - try making use of the SEARCH feature here, too - you can retrieve & read posts on any specific topic here, quickly & easily - it has excellent search filters & is easy to use.
Best of luck whatever you decide, & have fun with that beautiful new FX4!
All the info the F-150 owner could possibly want with regard to tuning is already posted right here in this section, by hundreds of fellow F-150 Online members like yourself - spend some time reading it & you'll see. Just FYI, most people here do tend to post their results, impressions, etc., for others to see, as they are happy to share their info - but they usually don't tend to come back to repeat it all over again every time another friendly F-150 owner drops by to ask the exact same thing that everyone who comes here wants to know (which is "what's the best?" - everyone wants to know the same basic thing among those who drop by this section). You'll probably get a few responses, but I would also suggest spending some time reading the existing posts here, & take advantage of all the info is already right here.
By the way - on our web site at www.TroyerPerformance.com regarding the 1714 Micro Tuner - you will see that the 1714 Micro Tuner is listed as being specifically for the 2004 models *only*. So if you want a "standard" performance tuning product, that is the correct Micro Tuner to use for your 2004 truck. You might be confusing it with the 1715 Micro Tuner, which is for the 1996-2003 trucks - just FYI.
Something you need to know regarding your intake kit - Volant is a good company, but we do not recommend the use of the Volant intake kit (or almost all others, for that matter) for the 2004 & up 5.4 3-valve F-150 - (and I'm assuming that since you list having a 2004 FX4, that you have the 5.4 3V engine). The reason is that you may very well have problems with lean conditions as a result of using that intake kit - it's happened with many people using it, and we found the same results in our testing (we've tested every intake kit we know of for the 5.4 3V, and then some, as we specialize in F-150 performance). Last we heard, Volant was supposed to be working on a "redesign" of that unit - in fact, every company that has offered an intake kit for the 5.4 3V F-150 that we know of has had problems with lean conditions, due to not enough R&D and the new MAS sensor design used in the new 3-valve motors - so most of them have had to go back and make changes, not just Volant by any means. As of right now, there is only 1 intake kit on the market that actually adds real power AND that do not cause lean conditions in the optional 5.4 3V engines in the 2004 & newer F-150's - the Airaid unit. If you'd like to go over any of that info, please feel free to give us a call at our number listed below. This is just FYI so you'll know.
Back to the topic of tuning - if you are interesting in getting the *best* results, that will be had with our Troyer Performance *custom* tuning - our custom tuning will do more than the intake kit and cat-back exhaust *combined* for the performance of that 2004 F-150 5.4 3V. Don't get me wrong, we're big fans of good intake kits & Magnaflow cat-back exhausts, and highly recommend them - this is just to give you a rough idea by way of comparison, as that seems to be the real heart of what you want to know. To get the best tuning results really takes specializing in the F-150's tuning, and we've been doing that for many years - which is why you see the vast majority of F-150 owners here coming to us for their tuning, so they get the best results.
The 1715 Micro tuner will do a fine job, don't misunderstand - it's a great product, and certainly the best of the "standard" tuning products for your vehicle. But if you want the *best* results, you'll want to go with our custom tuning.
This is all just FYI so you'll know - by all means, please do whatever makes you happy, just as every vehicle owner should - I'm just trying to give you some good info to help you get the best results for the money you spend on performance improvements for your vehicle.
Please feel free to give us a call to go over any of this in more detail, & do take some time to read some of the vast amounts of info here on tuning for your vehicle, etc - virtually anything you could want to know has been discussed hundreds, if not literally thousands of times here, so you can easily find what you want to know by reading some of the threads here. Oh, I almost forgot - try making use of the SEARCH feature here, too - you can retrieve & read posts on any specific topic here, quickly & easily - it has excellent search filters & is easy to use.
Best of luck whatever you decide, & have fun with that beautiful new FX4!
Member
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 20
Likes: 0
From: Connecticut
1714 Tuner
Mike at Troyer,
I purchased your 1714 tuner and absolutely love it. I use the 87 octane setting and it is night and day better than the Ford factory settings. I purchased the Airaid system last year and never got it to work properly even with the help of Airaid. The check engine light would come on after only 1 mile of driving but idling it would not come on or it would disappear. I purchased the K&N version that was released recently but haven't installed it as of yet. I have used the K&N in the past and had no problems.
What is your personal opinion on the new K&N unit?
I have yet to install the Gale Banks Monster exhaust which will happen in June when I find the time to do it.
I purchased your 1714 tuner and absolutely love it. I use the 87 octane setting and it is night and day better than the Ford factory settings. I purchased the Airaid system last year and never got it to work properly even with the help of Airaid. The check engine light would come on after only 1 mile of driving but idling it would not come on or it would disappear. I purchased the K&N version that was released recently but haven't installed it as of yet. I have used the K&N in the past and had no problems.
What is your personal opinion on the new K&N unit?
I have yet to install the Gale Banks Monster exhaust which will happen in June when I find the time to do it.
Former Sponsor
Joined: Mar 1998
Posts: 13,385
Likes: 4
From: Virginia
Hi Paglaser,
You make a good point about how even Airaid originally had a problem with their first-release 5.4 3V intake kits for the earlier-build 2004 5.4 3V F-150's - just like everyone else has, that is precisely what we found, too! That was solved some time ago, however. We did not recommend the Airaid units until their 3rd revision ("3rd revision" being *our* term, not theirs), for example - but from then on, they have worked very well and make far more power gain than any intake kit has *ever* made on any F-150 - especially in the critical 2000-3500 rpm ranges.
As far as we are concerned, the jury is still out on the K&N unit for the 5.4 3V F-150's, at best - most important to us, we see no problems with Airaid units and get larger power gains (and at lower rpms) with the Airaid units, too.
Good luck!
You make a good point about how even Airaid originally had a problem with their first-release 5.4 3V intake kits for the earlier-build 2004 5.4 3V F-150's - just like everyone else has, that is precisely what we found, too! That was solved some time ago, however. We did not recommend the Airaid units until their 3rd revision ("3rd revision" being *our* term, not theirs), for example - but from then on, they have worked very well and make far more power gain than any intake kit has *ever* made on any F-150 - especially in the critical 2000-3500 rpm ranges.
As far as we are concerned, the jury is still out on the K&N unit for the 5.4 3V F-150's, at best - most important to us, we see no problems with Airaid units and get larger power gains (and at lower rpms) with the Airaid units, too.
Good luck!
I've only driven about 3k miles since installing my Xcalibrator, but I am absolutely loving it. You asked for pros and cons, well....the pros of owning an Xcalibrator are....
1. I get much better throttle response.
2. A WHOLE lot more performance throughout the complete RPM range.
3. Better shift points.
4. I can adjust (with the help of TP) changes in tire sizes, gear ratios, and other performance modifications that I decide to install later on down the road.
5. No more top speed limitations. (not that I really care, but some folks do)
6. It takes 20-30 minutes to install a custom tune into your vehicle, without ever turning a wrench. Can't get much easier than that.
7. Price. Show me a cheaper way to add that kind of HP.
8. Reliability. Although I haven't had mine installed for very long, I've not heard of anyone having any problems with their tuning.
9. NO regular maintenance or up-keep. A cold air intake is about the easiest mod (other than a tune) you can do to yourvehicle, but even that requires re-oiling.
These are all I can think of at 1am, but I know there are many more.
CONS
1. umm.....well...lets see....humph. Can't think of any.
Get one, you wont be sorry!! But for the love of all that is decent and good, get it from Troyer Performance.
1. I get much better throttle response.
2. A WHOLE lot more performance throughout the complete RPM range.
3. Better shift points.
4. I can adjust (with the help of TP) changes in tire sizes, gear ratios, and other performance modifications that I decide to install later on down the road.
5. No more top speed limitations. (not that I really care, but some folks do)
6. It takes 20-30 minutes to install a custom tune into your vehicle, without ever turning a wrench. Can't get much easier than that.
7. Price. Show me a cheaper way to add that kind of HP.
8. Reliability. Although I haven't had mine installed for very long, I've not heard of anyone having any problems with their tuning.
9. NO regular maintenance or up-keep. A cold air intake is about the easiest mod (other than a tune) you can do to yourvehicle, but even that requires re-oiling.
These are all I can think of at 1am, but I know there are many more.
CONS
1. umm.....well...lets see....humph. Can't think of any.
Get one, you wont be sorry!! But for the love of all that is decent and good, get it from Troyer Performance.
Yes Yes