I just bought the HyperTech programmer for my 2001 4.6 F150 and was wondering if anyone has played around with the shift points to get the best performance. I've got everything maxed out right now. Also, I'm wanting to get new tires. I want an all terrain that gets a good ride, but looks good too...any suggestions?

 

Hi jpraptor,

In general, unless you open up the intake with a good airbox elimination kit (such as the Air Force One, for example) and open up the exhaust as well, raising the WOT (wide-open throttle) upshift points doesn't help the truck accelerate quicker. If the motor can't breathe well up there, then it will strain to gain the last few hundred rpm and slow down a bit as a result.

If you have an intake kit and some kind of exhaust on there, then sure, run the WOT upshift point up to somewhere between 5200 & 5400 rpm.

Good luck!

 

in my opinion, the best all terrain tire out there is the BFG All Terrain T/A ko. Fantastic traction in all conditions....but pricey. I am on my second set with this truck now.
I got 44,000 miles on the first set...and I drive like a bat out of hades. I have 20,000 on my current set and they are lookin' good.

How difficult was the hypertech to install? Post back with your opinions on it from time to time. I have just gotten a SuperChip, which I am really happy with so far, but, I am always looking for something better

 

Thanks guys. I do have a K&N FIPK, but no exhaust mods. It seems to pull good at the higher RPM's. I had the option to go up to +500 on the shift points, so I went +500 between every gear...I know more isn't always better, but I like to think it is. I don't remember where it shifted stock, so I'm not sure where +500 takes me. They say to take it to a drag strip so you can fine tune the shift points, but I haven't had a chance to do that yet. I had a 2wd 5.4 (bone stock) before this truck and now this 4.6 feels better than the 5.4 ever did. So far I like the Hypertech.
As far as the tires, I was kind of leaning towards the BF's because that's the only ones I was familiar with and then I saw the Yokohama Geolander A/T's.....that's a good looking tire. I'll keep you updated on the Hypertech.

 

To jprator,

whoa!!!! Can you give a little more detail in what you mean by "...this 4.6 feels better than the 5.4 ever did." Does it "feel" faster than the 5.4? Does it "feel" like it has more torque than the 5.4?

I considered the hypertech programmer and played "devils advocate in this section concerning a comparison of it and the superchip. The "chippies" came out of the woodwork to slam me so much, I feel like that comic book character, The Human Torch as he would say, "Flame on!" ha! But, their loyality to the superchip did show how much of a difference the superchip must have made for them. Thats good enough for me.

Although, I have made my choice, it would be interesting to know what the hypertech does for your 4.6L especially since you had a 5.4 to compare it to. Infact, I hope you consider providing any review of all the modifications you do to your 4.6 in comparison to your 5.4. Your review would be very helpful to many (okay, at least me).

Note: My superchip came in today! I got it in the classified section of this site. I saved about 55%. Hope I don't need to solder the "jumpers". The guy that I bought it from had to have his soldered. I guess I'll find out this weekend when I attempt to install it. Wish me luck...because you know I am going to post the results of my install.

 

Good luck on the install Iron Horse! You don't have the instructions that we get from Performance Products, do you? Take it slow! If you have questions come back here and figure it out. Don't guess. It's not bad at all!
You know your truck. Just remember this is a tuning chip that will optmise the componants that are already there. The result won't be earth shattering but will be well worth the money. Even more so in your case since you got the deal!
Glad to see that you will be Superchipped!

Tom

 

Wittom,

Thanks. They guy I bought it from was great. He sent me the original instructions including a how-to-solder fax from superchips. However, the fax is faded.

Also, I did not plan on getting my superchip this fast, therefore I have about 3/4 of a tank of low octane fuel I need to use and then put a tank of high octane fuel in. Although, around here the highest is 91 octane.

 

91 octane should be fine with the chip.

I had one of the ECU's that had to be soldered also. Mike e-mailed me detailed photos of the soldering operation, but I didn't feel comfortable doing the soldering myself, so I obtained a return number from Mike and sent it overnight to Superchips and had them solder it free of charge. It was on a thursday when I shipped it, so it was 9:00a.m. Monday when I got it back, but well worth the short wait.

Good luck with your chip! You'll love it! (The 1-2 shift is a blast! )

 

RebelYell,

Thanks. The guy I bought it from sent it in as well, to have it solderd. I was going to get a kit and do it myself, but I am concerned about putting too big of a "drop" of solder on the circuit board and ......frying the entire ecu/pcm!!! But, like wittom said, I just need to take it slow. I think I am at least going to call superchips in the morning and see if they can fax me the solder info. so I can determine what to do if it does not start after plugging it in.

 

If you bought it from an individual, they have no obligation to you and may not send you the info on soldering. I still have the pictures that Mike Troyer e-mailed me. They were of excellent quality, but I could not match my ECU up with any of the 5 that were shown.
If Mike does not mind, i will be glad to forward the pics on to you. But I will not until Mike ok's it first. after all, they were supplied by Performance Parts to me as a customer.
That's the downside to "finding a good deal" from an individual, there is usually no customer support from the manufacturer/supplier.
I am going to be out of town over this weekend, but if Mike reads this and ok's it, i will forward them on to you on Monday.

 

RebelYell,

Thanks for that kind offer of assistance. It is Friday morning (3-22-02) and I just called Mike T.s organization. I spoke with a very helpful lady. She said that they were going to email me the solder info.

I will post an update this weekend after I (attempt to that is) install the Superchip. Thanks again.

 

RebelYell,

Its Friday night and I installed the SuperChip. I tried 3 (three) times and it would not start. It turns over but acts like it is not getting spark and or gas. I took it out and cleaned it again, yet it still would not start after another 4 (four) more "trys". So, I took it out and my truck started on the first try. Hopefully, I can get the soldering info buy tomorrow mid-morining so that I or a local T.V. repair guy can solder the correct jumpers.

Did not receive info. from Mike T.s organization, but he has been very helpful to me and of course you are right, his organization is not obligated to provide any information since I did not buy it from them, therefore, I am going to post a thread and see if I can buy the info from someone. Thanks again for your offer of assistance.


Note: Several guys have emailed me with the info. I got the Type A box. Now I got to figure out if it is connect all 4 (four) "dots" or is it connect the first 2 (two) and then connect the second 2 (two)?

Note: Mike Troyer's organization did try to email me the soldering info. However, it did not go through. Thanks Mike.

 

I do a lot of processor overclocking and to overclock the AMD processors I use something called silver conductive epoxy to connect laser cut bridges on the processor. They are about the size of a typed colon [:] (grammatical not anotomical)[( | )]. Has anyone considered it or are you not familiar with it?

 

Dr. D,

Thanks for your post. I hope the T.V. repair guy that is hopefully going to solder the jumpers, knows what you meant by your post because you lost me. ha!

 

Got ecu/pcm soldered.

Installed and truck started.

Just put 100 miles on it.

Shifting is better. A little bit of more responsiveness in mid-range and high end. In high winds and exceeding legal speed limits with overdrive off, continually trying to spin the tires and creating a disturbance on 4 wheels, I did not use anymore gas, which tells me that my gas mileage has gone up. Excited that truck starts with it in. Ha!

Not impressed.....yet. Can not spin tires any better. Need more low end torque. Throttle still feels stretched.

If this is what an extra 20hp/20tq. does in a late model F-150, then I must need about 200 more! ha!

Going to garage right now, to cut a large hole in a perfectly good airfilter housing to increase airflow.

Going to continue to save for 2 or 3 underdrive pulley set, electric fan, and catback exhaust.


Thanks to everyone that tried to help.