I have a 1997 F150 XLT 4x4 regular cab with a 4.6L 5spd. I am having the motor rebuilt next week. After that, I am going to put on a Gibson exhaust, most likely the split rear (because of that deep rumble). After the exhaust, I am going to get a AirForce 1 FIPK. Would anyone recommend a superchip next, after I get these mods?? Will I notice a gain in performance taking in consideration I have a manual tranny?? (I know that with an auto, the shift patterns are firmed up). Finally, will it be worth the money with the manaul tranny?? Any help from Mike at SuperChips Distributor or any one else will be appreciated. Thanks, Matt

 

Hiya mhussey,


Yes you will still reap benefits from the chip install. I would ask a few questions of you first. You say you are rebuilding your engine? Are you going with the stock cam setup and pistons and such. if not, you should tell Mike what setup you are going with and he may be able to custom program a chip for you with the setup you are building. But either way the chip will help......

 

ecm747x is right, if your doing anything diffrent to the engine such as a cam or MAF change, etc. It would definatly be worth your while to get a custom programed chip to take advantage of these changes. If not then I still recommend the chip as I have noticed a large diffrence with mine. I do have an automatic but you will notice the additional horespower and torque.

 

Hi Mhussey

Like the other guys said, when you say rebuilding motor...

Is that a stock rebuild or ??

Dont know whats available for these tritons....

If you can pick up gains with the rebuild, nows the time to figure that out.. I know it costs more so that maybe of concern or not?

If i were rebuilding today, especially that 4.6L...I would find out what could be done to increase output of that engine..it already has some performance parts...but can they be improved upon, dont know, maybe someone here has done it or knows?

Other mods. you mention help improve gains, no doubt about that. Also your getting more hook-up (hp) to those rear wheels with that 5 speed thats a plus. Loose alot thru auto.tranny etc.

I did cat.back/k&n filter, picked up some increase, then i installed superchip and picked up even more, also with better AT shifting (not on 5sp.) even got little bit more mpg...

Good luck. OT

 

Hi mhussey,

Sure, that's natural to wonder about , and the answer is you'll make the same raw power gains from the Superchip with either a manual transmission or an automatic, that will not make any difference in how much power the engine gains.

As another poster correctly pointed out, you'll actually get more of the power gain from the Superchip getting to the rear wheels with a manual transmission as compared to an automatic, as the driveline losses with a manual are about half of what they are with an automatic, roughly 30-35 hp for a 5 or 6-speed manual versus 65-70 hp for an automatic.

The Superchip will work nicely with the other modifications you are planning on as well, adding almost as much power as both the intake & exhaust mods combined. Those 3 areas, the powertrain programming (the Superchip), the airbox elimination kit and the cat-back exhaust are the top 3 best bang-for-the-buck mods for these vehicles, so you've got a good plan, you're on the right track.

If you'd like to go over any of this in more detail, please feel free to give us a call, we'll be happy to go over anything you like.

Good luck with your truck,

 

I assume the rebuild is stock setup because of the 4yr/40k mile warranty that is included, but if I can squeeze in some performance parts for a couple hundred bucks, I'll do so. I do know that the super chip is mostly the next mod on my list (after the exhaust and FIPK). Or should it be first?? Do you guys think that with the Gibson Dual split rear, superchip, and AirForce 1 intake I would have 230 rear wheel horsepower?? (I got this number 215hp (stock) - 30hp (drivetrain loss)= 185hp + 15hp (AF1) + 10hp (Gibson) + 20hp (superchip). If my numbers are off, just say so and tell me what you think I can expect. -Matt

 

I couldn't tell you the 230 figure is correct. I hope it is though being that I pretty much have the set up that you are proposing.

I would highly reccomend all three of the mods. I don't think it matters which one goes first. Maybe the exhaust. The sound will make you want the other two right away. Then I would go for the chip. The FIPK is the icing on the cake.

I would like so much more. A blower or quad-turbo would be nice. I just aint got that kind of cash. The mods I've got were relatively cheap and make me happy. I think they will make you happy too!

Good luck.
Tom

 

Hi Matt,

Overall, you're probably within 10-15 horsepower of what you'll end up with at the rear wheels, so you're not far off. The Air Force One kit adds 15 hp at the flywheel though, not at the rear wheels, it's about 12 hp to the wheels, so figure a few less pnoies there. Also, your driveline loss could be 35 hp instead of just 30. All in all, you're pretty close.