Bottom line, the Superchip does what it advertises. People know what horsepower and torque increases are from the start. Obviously, it does what they want because people buy them. Why do they buy them? Because they want an easy performance upgrade and it don't get any easier than plugging a chip in. The increase in performance may be limited, but it seems to be enough for a lot of people. These same people don't want to mess with tearing apart their motors and getting rid of their computers. Maybe that's why the chips are discussed in the computer chip forum. If you want to discuss tearing apart your motor and putting a carb on it or whatnot, try putting it in the "Engines" forum. If you're here to discredit what a Superchip does, you're gonna have a lot of people on you.

 

2000regcab54,

Thanks for your response. I agree with your thought process 100%. Infact, before I edited one of my posts in this thread, it had stated that I was leaving this forum and headed to the Engine forum for the reasons you mentioned.

I am not "new" to working on my vehicles. However, I am "new" to owning a late model truck (99' 4.6L, supercab, flareside). I have driven a 69' chevy and a 76' Ford in the past, with my main vehicles being firebirds and harleys. The use of a programmer or chip was one of several mods. I was considering to perform on my truck.

The only reason I considered a chip was because my brother-inlaw has a 95' Chevy v6 vortech, regularcab, stepside. The only thing he did was put a FlowMaster exhaust, K&N filter and a JET off-road, computer chip in it. The thing beats Ford 4.6L and 5.4s all day long. I was not going to let his Chevy beat my Ford. Yeah, I know, his truck is lighter than mine and is engineered for quicker take-off, while mine is more for highway use, but still, I am looking for ways other than supercharging and nos to beat those Chevys, pass other vehicles with more confidence and ...whitesmoke my tires off the line, with out maxing out one or all my credit cards. For me, the 10% to 12% offered by a computer chip alone, will not do it.

I got pretty excited about one internet site that sells mod. combos, including catback exhaust, air management systems, headers, and computer chips. They said that 30, 40, and even 50% gains were possible with some of theses combos. Possible where? on Mars? According to this site and the other, some of these items produce 0 gain infact, some might even reduce hp and or torque. As well as the fact that according to many people on these forms, just because a chip is suppose to give you 20 more horses and a catback is suppose to l give you 20 horses, for some reason when combined they do not provide 40 more horses.

I am not trying to discredit the use of chips by no means. Infact, if a 30 hp/tq. + chip becomes available, I will be the first in line to buy one (unless I have already figured out a way to not be dependant upon the computer system) .

 

Quoting IronHorse...
The warped carb. intake manifold that the previous owner had put on the former computer controlled TPI 350 that I discussed, acted like a supercharger in the sense that, the leaks due to the warping, created additional openings to the engine. Because an engine is one large pump and sucks in air and fuel anyway, the leaks caused more air to be sucked into the engine. A supercharger does the same thing. It forces more air into the engine, than can normally be sucked into the engine.

----------------------------------------------------------------

Yes, this is not an engine thread, so this is my last post here concerning this subject.

I was only pointing out the fact that you do not know what the heck you are talking about. If you are so misinformed about how a supercharger works, yet speak of it so eloquently about it, then perhaps you are incorrect about part or all of your post. Misleading others to believing the "facts" you post.

A supercharger forces the air/FUEL mixture into the combustion chamber. A leak in the intake manifold allows the engine to suck more AIR into the combustion chamber. Just air, no more fuel, therefore creating a lean condition which does not help performance.

If this would work, no one would buy superchargers. We would all just drill holes in our intakes and smoke tires all day.

I am not in any way disputing how strong the vehicle(forgot now what kind it was) ran or how powerful it was or whatever, just pointing out that you are incorrect in assuming that a warped intake helps performance at all, much less, acts as a supercharger. Because it, in fact, hurts performance, not helps.

(I edited this post after I reread it and realized I sounded as though I was being a butt. I do not in any way want to make you feel unwelcome here. This forum is far ALL ppl to come and discuss '97 thru present F150's...the finest truck in the world. We are all good ppl I think. Post again soon )

 

Rebe Yell,

Thanks...I think. I still contend that I know exactly what I am talking about. Because I actually did it. I didn't just write about possiblities or dream it up. Out of need, I did it. I am not trying to mislead anyone. Infact, I am trying to get to some real truth. I am not going to act thrilled about a 10% hp gain or act like I am so grateful to have the honor to spend the price of a good used vehicle just for a supercharger kit. I am not putting anyone down that does. I am just saying there has got to be another way. When I remembered that a decade ago, I did just that, I put my real world experiences in the thread.

The facts are the facts. I did take a former computer controlled engine that had already been "de-computerized" and put a carb. and carb intake on it. I know, because I performed these mods. myself. I did not have a shop do it for me. It ran great and beat late model, and expensive computer controlled vehicles.

If you re-read my posts you will see that do to the warped carb. intake manifold leaks, yet, smooth running of the engine, we therefore thought that the cam may have been changed as well.

Of course, a supercharger SYSTEM affects air and fuel. However, my point was that both the warped intake leaks and the supercharger HEADUNIT, increase the air quantity in the engine. That is not inaccurrate, nor is that misleading, that is factual.

Yes, in ordinary circumstances the lean condiiton created by the warped intake should have made the engine run rough or not idle correctly. It Idled a little high, but ran smoothly. We did have a high flow Holley electric fuel pump hooked up to it, maybe thats why it continued to run smoothly. I never really cared since it ran so strong proving a lot of socalled experts, wrong.

All I know is that it was a former computer controlled engine. I spent $650. for the entire vehicle that it came in. Sold the vehicle for $400. I put the engine and trans in a computer controlled Firebird. Spent about $140 for a new Holley carb., about $110 for the edlebrock carb. intake manifold., another $50 for intake gasket and related items for a total parts cost of $650-400=250+140=390+110=$500.

I have already posted a new thread in the Engines section. I am already getting slammed for even considering going back to carbs.
Oh well, you got to do what you got to do.

 

iron horse,
Let me guess, your truck is bone stock, right? If you would "give in" and start the mods people have done here already, you will see that they do actually work! Not that tiresmoke is what you want, but the standard Superchip made the difference. My truck would barely chirp the tires fom a dead stop, popped in the chip, and it will spin without trying now. What exactly are you talking about when you say there are little or no gain from a chip? The other thread in the engines forum is a little more civil (so far) but this one is just turning ridiculous. Yank out your 4.6 and computer, and drop in a supercharged 460, I think you'll be satisfied then. Then you can stop bad mouthing proven performance mods Of course that will mean rewiring the entire truck to work correctly, have a working speedo, working brakes, etc...etc... In fact, I would like to see you succeed, sincerely I would. (No sarcasm!) It would be a one of a kind, and surprise even the most hopped up late models,,,,98

 

Not to mention for the price you're paying for your truck right now, You could build a wicked early model tire burning monster. Just a thought,,,,98

 

98screamer,

Thank you very much for your post. I know I am crazy, but I was begining to believe that all people on these boards have never even looked under the hood of their vehicle and or blindly obey the Ford dealers and question nothing on their own. It even appears as if some find my questions and concerns as sacrilegious. ha!

I am not putting down the chips/programmers (I was looking forward to getting one, once I decided between Jet, Super/FlipChip, Diablo and Hypertech), nor do I have something against computers. I am using one right now (I use one at work). However, you raise the critical point that underlines all my posts. When you talk about me begining to make some of these standard mods. such as the chip (catback, air managment, etc.?) you state that I will see improvement. That is my entire concern. Will I? Or if I spend the cash for these items, will I just "think" I got a "real" increase in hp/tq. and therefore defend till the end, that I did? What is a real increase? You can tell by the "seat of your pants" meter.

I began to review these forums after my recent (two months ago) purchase of a used F150. The reason for that activity was that, I was looking for "real world" proven mods. that work. Since generally, people on these types of boards have no hidden agenda, they post honestly and truthfully.

Yet, what I have found so far, seems discouraging. Many people's posts include topics relating to the following: air management did nothing; new catback exhaust caused a loss in torque; Shortie headers had to be removed because it caused engine to run rough; no real change with chip or had to send chip back for "re-burn"; programmer did nothing but make shifting rougher so sent back; airmass sensor and spacer did nothing; etc. etc.

For example, I got really excited about a vendor that sold "combos" of mods. They claimed a 30, 40 even 55 increase in hp/tq. for the 4.6L. Yet, I find out on these boards, that is not reality. If a chip might get you ten (10) to twenty (20) horses and a catback exhaust might get you ten (10) to (twenty (20) horses, combined they do not get you twenty (20) to fourty (40) horses. If this is the case. Which specific items can you put on your late model F-150 that, will increase overall hp/tq., what is the increase per item and more importantly, what is the total increase in hp/tq with a combo of items? That is what I am seeking.

You also bring up another good point about just putting in another engine. When this 4.6L is finally worn out, I intend to either have the internal engine components upgraded and put a supercharger on it or put an entirely different drivetrain (Lightning supercharged 5.4 or 351? or supercharged 460?).
But, what I am looking for now, are mods. other than another engine, NOS or late model supercharger kit, that will pass the "seat of the pants" meter. Is it one item or a combination of items?

After reading all theses forums (and getting totally confused) the only thing I have done to my truck is put a K&N airfilter in it and I just ordered front and rear Hillwig anti-swaybars. ha!

Maybe the creators/managers of F150online could put a special forum aside that defines the "proven" "combos" of items from all the different forum topics? This forum could show the real increase per item and more importantly, the overall increase in hp/tq. with combos of items "bolted on". Maybe they already do and I have just not found it yet. Its just a thought. Thanks.

 

iron horse no flame intended but i never knew that a warped intake was a performance up-grade. i understand wanting more performace for the money but 20% from a chip is not a resonable number. do you think you could add 20% gians with a carborator and a distributor on say a stock 79 trans- am (if the stock parts were brand new and the car had just had a professional tune-up) because in a sense that is what you are asking for.

btw, the 403 in the 79 trans ams, was an oldsmobile. pontiac also offered a pontiac 400 that year. the 403 said 6.6. liter on the scoop and the 400 said 6.6. t/a.

 

Most of these do work, you just have to read through every post you can, and decide what works for you. On a 4.6 at least, I dualed out the exhaust with 2 1/4" pipes and glasspacks. I also did a chip and a full K&N intake, and it's like a completely different truck now. Most mods are a best case scenario during ideal conditions, so they may not make as much power on your vehicle.
A chip will make the biggest one time HP jump from stock, though. You will be surprised, honestly. Stay small on your pipe size on the exhaust. A single in dual out with a custom Y-pipe seems to be the best from what I have read on these boards. The spacers are nice paperweights, save your money Just a couple of pieces of advice Search out Neal the HP freak like I told you about in the other thread, and he should be able to give you some real world gains to expect from modding these trucks. Good luck.,,,,98

 

To BrotherDave and 98 Screamer,

Thanks a lot for your input. This is the kind of input I was looking for all along. The few words from 98Screamer is going to save me a lot of money, time and effort. BrotherDave knows alot more than me, about the first car I owned! Of course your right, it was a 403 Olds engine. I hated the quadrajet carb.(imagine a 16 year old trying to rebuild one with springs flying everywhere.ha! The Holleys were easier to rebuild. If guys like you use the chip, I am going to have to reconsider it. Thanks.

 

I always love comparasons to late 70s and 80s junk where the big 3 made horriblely inefficient engines chasing emissions problems. Engines as big as a 5.4l making 150 HP, that could gain 50% in hp by adding a cam, intake and carb. We still pay the price today because of the hords of car guys that remember the days when $500 in parts and a trash can full of emissons parts would result in unbeliveable gains. My 1979 351M Ford engine couldn't have made 150 hp. The same version of the engine in non-emissions form made 220 + hp a few years eariler.

Now I can buy a new truck with 5.4l with over 250 hp. I'm so darn happy that I can harly think of a modifications. I don't even care that tons of people can run me with their new trucks (Ford and otherwise) and whoop me.

Now if my darn transmisson would shift fast and firm I'd be happy. Remember when transmissions could do that?

 

Truck trannys shift so soft these days to satisfy all the ppl who drive trucks as cars...commuting in town, to work, gettin' groceries, etc. etc.
I want crisp positive shifts too, which is the main reason I bought the Superchip. Not necessarily for the added HP, although it is a nice "icing on the cake", but for a crisper shifting tranny. Mine is as mushy as my wife's mini-van. Hopefully, after I get the jumper soldering information from Mike and can actually install my chip, I can get the desired results

 

Man, you just scared me about the soft shifts, lol! I remembered back to before I had the chip I remember that three second lag on the 1/2 shift, lol. You'd floor the truck and get shoved back into the seat, then when the shift came up, you almost hit your head on the steering wheel when the truck nosed over,,,,98

 

You scared me a bit too. I just got a reply to my email about a flip chip from Mike T. today. It sounds like the ticket.

So what is this solder jumpering. Is this just a personal mission you are on or should I start taking notes for my chip install?

 

Some trucks have a circuit in the computer that wasn't done at the factory like it should have been. When you put the chip in, the truck won't run. From what I've heard it's a simple procedure, but you can get Mike T. to "fix" it for you. You send the computer via overnight mail, and they fix it, and send it overnight back to you. So in total, you'd be looking at about a 3 day turnaround. Mine was okay, and yours could be good to go too. It's a pretty rare condition, but it is possible. You should contact Mike for more info, though. I'm not an expert on it,,,,98