Is there any differenc between the ADS Super Chip that can be bought at www.truckperformance.com or Mike Troyers Super Chips?

 

Surely somebody has to know. I'm looking to order a chip asap so I really need to know today.

I have a '94 F-150, with a 351 and a E4OD. Absolutely stock, and I'm ready to start modifying slightly. I plan to add a Superchip, K&N FIPK, Pulleys, and exhaust (everything but headers).

Thanks for any help.

 

Has anybody installed a chip on a pre 97 F-150 before? I just took the parking brake assembly off to look at the computer, and I think I'm looking at the right thing. It's protected by a silver metal box, and it has a white sticker with KID1 on it. Is this the computer code that Mike Troyer is always asking for?

 

Hi 94,

It's a good thing you did your homework and checked on this!

ADS is a company that folded *years* ago, they went out of business. ADS does NOT make the Superchip and never has!

The genuine Superchip is manufacturerd by a completely different company, Superchips Inc., which is the company that invented the performance chip back in the early 80's over in Bletchley, England, at their World Headquarters, with their US development facility in Florida. We here at Performance Products, Inc. serve as the National Distributor of Superchips Inc. products.

In fact, ADS never even made a chip for any Ford vehicle, all they had were some rather low-grade chips for older GM models that were rejected in the marketplace to the point that they had to close their doors, literally, with no notice to any of their customers, vendors, etc. We've heard rumors for months that they were going to try to open up again. They're going to have to do a far better job than they ever have in the past to have any chance of being a viable company, they made a *LOT* of people angry when they folded with no notice, etc. as they did.

They have confused people for years by calling their product the same thing, a Superchip, only with them they split it up into two words, and call it a Super Chip. This has caused no end of grief, causing customers who didn't know any better a lot of disappointment when they realized they did not get a Superchip, and caused us to have to explain to so many people that ADS has absolutely *NOTHING* to do with Superchips Inc., and has never had anything to do with the genuine original Superchip that you see most people here using. The way they use that name, it make people who don't check things out think their product is a genuine Superchips, Inc. Superchip, but it's not, it's a completely different product that virtually nobody wanted, which is why they closed their doors years ago.

If you want a Superchip, the best thing to do is to contact us, you can place your order with us by phone or you can use our convenient online ordering system right here, and the link to access that system is also just below, in our signature line.

I'm glad you checked, and if you would like to go over any aspect of this in more detail, please just give us a quick call & we'll be happy to.

Yes, that code you found, KID1, is the correct format for the computer code for your vehicle.

The pre-1997's have their ECU's (that's the powertrain computer) over on the Driver's side instead of on the passenger side like the newer trucks do. We will also provide complete step-by-step instructions for accessing the ECU and installing the Superchip in those pre-1997's as well when you order your Superchip from us, so you won't have any surprises or guesswork on how to do that the easiest way, etc..

Good luck with your truck,

 

Thanks for the great explanation Mike. I'll be placing my online order sometime later today. Any estimation on how long it will take to recieve the chip if I order today or tonight?

 

Hi 94,

Well, most orders generally ship the very same day, so it should ship out the same day you place your order, if it is placed by say, 2-3 pm Eastern time. Then it's just a matter of how far it has to travel, and what method of shipping you select.

Let's see..... you're in Idaho, and let's say you order it shipped via UPS Ground like most people do......figure it would normally take about 5 working days to arrive, since we're in Virginia, but for those who are that far away we automatically upgrade the UPS Ground shipping to UPS's 3-day service at no additional charge, so that it gets to you in just 3 business days. Now with the 4th of July holiday, that will add some time, so if it was ordered tomorrow (Wednesday) by no later than 3 PM Eastern time to ship via UPS Ground, it would actually arrive roughly on Tuesday the 9th with our automatic upgrade to UPS 3-day service.

To get it in time for the weekend would require UPS Red overnight service, since UPS is not delivering or picking up any shipments on Thursday the 4th of July.

I hope I've managed to make that a little bit clearer than mud for you!

 

Thanks for all the help Mike. I've already placed my order so I'll probably be looking at early next week for the arrival of the chip. It'll be the first mod to this truck performance wise so it'll be interesting to see what happens.

Thanks Again.

 

You're very welcome!

As your first performance mod, the Superchip will make a very nice addition. It won't feel like a supercharger of course, it's just a very easest & cheap way to pick up a 10%-12% power gain.

By the way, if you have added any timing (initial spark advance) on that vehicle, you'll want to make sure that your initial timing is set as per factory specs to use the Superchip, which is I believe 10 degrees BTDC on that 5.8 (351) motor, if memory serves. I mention this simply because some people will crank the distributor on those models that allow timing to be adjusted to add in more initial spark advance & pick up power a bit. The Superchip is designed to take over timing chores based on the engine being timed to original factory specs. Just FYI in case you may have cranked in more timing..........................

 

Mike,

Would it be at all possible to get a tracking number on my Superchip? I ordered it a few days ago and my anxiety is getting the best of me.

Thanks.

 

Hi 94,

Sure, we'll be more than happy to get you your tracking number.

Those kinds of things (Tech Support, order status, pricing, etc.)have to be communicated privately, off these message boards, so please just give us a call at our number listed below and we'll get your full name and then be able to look up your tracking number immediately.

Talk to you soon,

 

I'm not trying to be contrary or flame anyone. . .but I had (still have) an old ADS Superchip module for a 1991 Mustang GT 5-speed at home. It installed between the main harness and the ECU box. I installed it one time (along with the 160° thermostat and 'octane bar' they packed along with the module) and the car pinged to high hell and made the exhaust smell awful. So I removed it. The second time I installed it (same car) I toasted my ECU- because the module was not 'keyed' to prevent putting it on upside-down or backwards. It would fit anyway you tried it. It was not marked in any way as to the proper installation method. On those vehicles, there are two pins which, if crossed up, will drive the VREF (constant power) signal somewhere it doesn't belong. . .which is why I had to spend $250 to replace my A9L box. The old burnt, crusty, black, warped one is on my workbench as a constant reminder to myself to always follow the directions. If they are unclear DON'T GUESS. Ask questions and keep asking questions until you are crystal clear on what exactly to do.

BTW- the ADS modules sucked. Superchips is 100 times the company they ever where. And as far as programs go- Superchips & DiabloSport have some of the best programs going. Next to real-time data aquisition and custom in-car tuning/burning . . .these guys have the best chips you can buy.

Just my $0.02.


Later,

 

Hi WrongdayJ,

Thanks for your post!

We don't consider those to be performance chips, as they do not actually reprogram the ECU nor do they provide a replacement powertrain performance program for the ECU to run on.

Those types of inline devices are just "data-alterers," what they actually do is simply to alter the incoming sensor data to try to trick the ECU into thinking it's colder outside than what it really is, usually. This is an attempt to force the ECU to throw some gross spark & fuel at it and is a poor technique. Jet did that too with a number of their Ford applications, just put a device inline, and neither worked well. That type of device prevents the ECU from seeing the true conditions as it needs to, and has never been a proper or effective way to really improve performance and/or raw power.

But you're absolutely right in pointing out the offering of even that type of device for a Ford from them, so don't worry about flames, etc.

We got basically the same impression from them that you did, Wrongday J, there's a HUGE difference in just putting a product out there, versus having properly qualified people doing painstaking R&D, you're absolutely right.

Thanks for your post!

 

You are right, Mike- now that I think about it. . .those modules weren't really chips.

I've never heard them called 'data alterers' before, though.

LMAO.

But seriously. . .I need to know what options (or variables) are there in these superchip programs that can be customer specified.

Can I specify if I want the trans to shift harder or not?

Basically- what CAN I have changed or not changed about the program in my vehicle (aside from the obvious timing and fuel curves)?

Thanks in advance for your input.

 

Hi WrongdayJ,

(I love that screen name, it just cracks me up for some reason!)

Yeah, they're just data alterers in function, and don't actually reprogram the ECU at all, but instead alter a few of the incoming sensor data streams to "trick" the ECU, and what it really tricks is you out of your money, basically. You want a laugh? One of the things we've seen done in those units (and I won't say by who) is to fool the driver into thinking there is an increase in part-throttle power by tricking out the TPS signal so the ECU thinks the driver has pressed the gas pedal further than he/she actually has. Some power gain, eh?

As far as what kind of parameters you can specify for us to change in the Superchip, it's really more of a matter of what is actually appropriate to do to each individual vehicle based on it's modifications and how it is to be used, along with any special requests you may have. We can do things like making it shift even harder than we normally do for example, but we really don't like to crank up line pressure to very high levels via electronic means alone, simply because large increases in electronically controlled line pressure can cause the front pump to show premature wear as miles accumulate. But we can sure crank it up in the program easy enough!

What I would suggest is to give us a call so we can go over this specifically to see exactly what you're thinking, what you want, etc. and go over the best way to accomplish that for each item. I can go over with you what we're already doing and what effect that will have, and then make suggestions based on your mods, how you use the vehiecle and of course, based on what your preferences are.

There are dozens upon dozens of parameters we alter that improve performance and speed up powertrain response, etc., far too much to list here in practical terms, so if you wouldn't mind, please give us a shout when you can & we can spend some time going over exactly what we do, what you'd like to have done, etc., to make it just like you want it, ok? Thanks!

 

Will do.