I know from searching and reading through all the threads that this is a debated topic. Some people will and some choose to get a chip. My question is has anybody, actually known someone or done it themselves, blown a motor running without a chip and having a pulley. I think I might get a chip but in the mean time if I could run without it and be safe that would be better on my wallet. Thanks for any response.

 

I would say some of it depends on your elevation, but for the most part you should be fine. I have a 6 lower and a 2.84 upper and ran it without the chip at a 12.8 A/F ratio.

 

There are a lot of guys out there running pulleys without chips. I believe that a PROPERLY tuned chip will enable your engine to make the most of its new found incoming air. A chip will adjust the fuel and timing tables in accordance with the extra airflow, thus enabling the motor to make more power as SAFELY or as aggressively as you tell your tuner to program(burn) it. Either way, once you've installed the 4# pulley, it would be wise to get it dynoed IMMEDIATELY to ensure your A/F are O.K. I'd consider anything above 12.5:1 really pushing it in your location.

Good Luck

 

Can anyone answer this specific question? I would love to hear if anyone has blown a non-chipped engine with a 4 pounder (or even melted a tranny). We known that plenty of people have blown chipped 4 pounders.

 

Ditto^^

 

I'm sure there'll be a response soon from a tuner who's heard of several, non-specific incidents...

 

I have a 5lb pulley and a 2lb pulley. I have dynoed my 01 3 times. 2 times it had the 5lb pulley installed. The A/F was 12/1 both times with the chip turned off, which was the same as when I ran it stock (I drove to the dyno with the chip turned off and made my first run that way as a base line, then turned the chip on). I have had 2 chips that both detonated no matter what the A/F was. My opinion is the chip is more dangerous than a pulley. It is too much advance that is the problem. On a really hot day that advance is great to get the power back, but the rest of the time I think it is a problem. I do not run around on the street with my chip on any more because of that.

 

can being the operative word. The factory programming is rich for a number of reasons - a regular safety margin, able to operate from Gnome, Alaska to Phoenix, Arizona, etc... chips gain power by leaning the rich mixture & adding timing, thus reducing the "safety margin" ( conservative programming ) the factory put there. Free lunch does not exist for performance, there may be literally hundreds here who are or have been running very aggressive chips for years now, but that doesn't necessarily mean that YOU will be ok because THEY did it. Each truck is different, as is each driver. Their environment might be more controlled, climate more amenable to performance, they may drive like Miss Daisy or maybe they're on borrowed time already... Within the last year, I think on NLOC, maybe here, we had 100 + post thread about this, and there wasn't any real conclusive evidence that running a pulley with no chip was dangerous. One of the things brought up was increased combustion chamber temps as a result of the leaner mixture, and I remember the question being asked if anyone had burnt plugs or melted them WITHOUT a chip... I think 2 folks did... IIRC 1 had a bad fuel filter

I think there were 1 or 2 folks who had blown a motor with just a pulley...IIRC, it was a 6 pound pulley...



let's see if this thread gets some traffic...

 

Before people start saying things, I realize I will not see the full potential of the pulley without the chip. I am just looking to have a little more fun with it and still be safe. Heck, if I could pop off a 12.99 with just a 4# pulley that would be enough for me. Also would I still need to change the plugs to run just the pulley? Over 100 people have looked at this thread and so far no bad experience with running just the pulley. Anybody else got anything they can add? Still looking for blown motor experience while just running a pulley and no chip. Come on guys. Thanks.

 

Like I said earlier, I dynoed my truck with a 6 lower and a 2.84 upper and I was around 12.8 on my A/F. As far as street driving, I drove around with a 4 lower for about 10,000 miles no problem without a chip, then another 3000 with a 6 without a chip, no problems.
I think you'll be fine, but again what is your elevation?

 

Nightrider,

My '99 has a JL 3#'er, open K&N, Magnaflows and Line Mod Valve. Been running it this way for a year now w/ no problems at all. I see 12+psi on my Autometer Boost Gauge, damn near every day! Just about ready to turn 31K.

I'd love to try out a chip, but in all honesty too many others have had problems with them, so I'll pass. My other truck gives me all the problems I need.

I ran pretty much exactly the same times you did BEFORE I installed the pulley - 13.36 @ 102.xx. I added the pulley and the time is in my sig, but I only had it to the strip (Atco, NJ) once since. It might have a bit more?

 

How quick things change with these trucks.. Not long ago no would even think about starting up a chipless truck much less driving it all over and racing it hmmmmmm...

PEacE................
Jim

 

I have been running IT 22 Denso's at .038 gap for over 30,000 miles. I replaced the original set after 25,000 miles earlier this summer, they still looked good. I don't know if you need colder plugs for sure, they sure work great in my truck (I put them in to try and get rid of detonation with the chip and haven't taken them out). If you have traction on a cool day with a 4lb pulley my guess is you will make it into the high 12's or darn close to it. I haven't run mine at the races on a cool day, but it runs 13.3 on an 85 degree day at sea level without the chip.

 

Anyone else? I'm hoping for more input on this subject. Thanks.

 

I have been running a 4#er on my '01 for 10,000 miles --- no chip and no problem! Never heard any hint of a ping, not even when I am towing my 3000# boat uphill in overdrive at 10# of boost!

Before I installed my pulley, my best ET was 13.4 @ 103.5 (in good fall-time weather). I have not been back to the track since, but I am expecting low low 13s or maybe even high 12s.

I did have my truck dynoed after the pulley, and it made 365/450 to the wheels (it was a humid 90*) and the A/F was a safe (for no added timing) 12.5:1.

Sammy