'01's wife here.

Ok, I need some advise. I bought Rick a 4lb pulley for our anniversary (August 17th). This will be the first real mod for the truck. BTW, yes I did get the tool and the belt.

Anyway, here is the question: Do we need to get a chip for it also, before running the 4lber.

Here is the criteria. The truck has 54,000 trouble free miles on it. We live at 5000ft (hopefully 6000 ft soon, if our house ever closes), but the truck does get down to the Phx metro area. This means it can be run at anything from 10 degrees to 120 degrees. Also, there is alot of mountain running. We also have the crappy 91 octane fuel here............... so you have to add that in. The truck is also used as a truck, meaning it tows and hauls (has towed up to 8500+ lbs using Expedition wheels and tires, a weight distribution hitch, and a trailer brake controller.......... over 580 mountainous miles with no problems what-so-ever).

So, what does everyone think. Even if we get a chip, it would have multiple programs, and not be to the ragged edge. However, we do not have easy access to dynos with A/F ratios to ensure that there will be no problems (we would want a completely stock setting however). Also, we would not eliminate the torque reduction at shift except for a race program.......... to save wear on the transmission. Yes we do plan on getting a FT valve body in the future.

Anyway, any help would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

 

You should be fine without a chip...However, you are using your L as a truck (gasp!), under diverse conditions. I would make a trip somewhere to have the Air/Fuel ratio checked, whether you get a chip or not. Since most tuners lean the truck out even more than stock, a standard chip won't guarantee you'll be safe either. The mountains, especially combined with towing, cause the L to spend more time in boost mode, and heat buildup in the intercooler can cause detonation on a A/F ratio or timing that would be safe in the flatlands.

If you cannot somehow get access to a dyno, my advise would be to talk with one of the tuners, and have them burn a 4way chip with four conservative, but different programs. Try them all, and pick the one that gives you the best drivability, with no pinging, knocking or flooding. Use that one as a baseline, and build your other programs from there. The tuner should document the criteria for each mode, so you should have a very good idea on where to go from there.

 

Hi '01's Wife

Great Gift

Getting a proper tune on a Chip with low Octane and
such a temp and elevation change, would be not easy.
Like you said, it would take "multi" programs

Many are running a 4lbr less a chip, but the fact remains
a chip is the Lightning's single most performance adding Mod
we got. It can stiffen up or change his shift points, add timing
and HP, move or change his rev limiter/fuel shut off, shut off
the torque reduction between shifts, and give him a nice noticable HP improvement while making it more efficient.

To be honest with you, to truly see the rewards of that
4lb pulley, you need it. You might be better off getting him
a Chip instead, and save the Pulley for a Christmas Gift

But to answer your question, yes you can run it less a Chip
I would recommend running a colder spark plug though
(I like denso IT-22's)

 

Awesome! 01ArrestMeRed's wife sounds like a true gear head!

Sounds like my wife, but with a TON more knowledge! Both know that us boys like our toys, and are willing to let us enjoy our hobby.... Props to you!

Definitely shop for a 4 program chip to give you all the setting you would want - Tow, race, street, and a warm weather possibly? Discuss with your tuner, they'll have the best recommendations!

 

Id look into PSP and his 4-way chip. Talk to Sal he ll help you im sure.