i just purchased a superchip for my 2001 L. though i thought i read somewhere that superchips used the jdm burn. anyone know for sure?

if so, i thought i saw where jim (from jdm) was still finalizing his programming on the 2001 chip. if this is so, how can superchip have a chip with a 2001 burn already?

also, when i ordered my superchip, i was very specific that i needed the chip for a 2001. is there anyway is can be sure that i was sent the right one, and not one for a 2000?

many thanks!

 

Dean-

I am not an expert, however, I believe that JDM burns his program onto a superchip. If you want a JDM programmed chip, you would need to purchase it from JDM.


Dave

 

All I know is that the JDM chip is a Superchips module, but I am almost positve that it is a different program than the standard Superchips program for the 2001 L.

The 2000 L computer code is CUX2, so if the chip says it is for another code, that is a good sign that it is a 2001 program chip.

On a side note:
I am not anti-chip at all, I have felt the difference in my buddies L, I know they make more power but, I would love all the chip tuners chime in on this thread and tell us what the differences are.

I doubt this will ever happen though because the chip tuners seem to be EXTREMELY secretive about their products. Even owners of multiple chips seem reluctant to reveal what is different about them.

I have waited for nearly a year hoping for someone to do some comprehensive and scientific comparisons. I don't believe it will ever happen.

In my dream world, what I want to see is:

standard street programs tested with no other mods on a stock (same) truck. 0-60 mph, 1/8 and 1/4 ET's and mph, 60 ft. times, top speed, air/fuel ratios, timing, shift points, rev limit, shift characterisitics, 4 cylinder drop, etc. compared to the stock program.

 

The Supechips company (available via Mike Troyer 'Superchips Distributor' on this board) produces their own program for Lightnings. JDM uses a Superchips chip with his own programs.

 

I am sure you realize that the actual chip doesn't cost much at all. The expense is in the development of each program. The time to go over and over each little characteristic to make them just how people want them. Each of them learn what part of each program does what. Some of them have their own vehicle to test on and then some have to rely on the public to make time to go and test it on their vehicle while being monitored.
It would be nice to know exactly what is going on but, for the most part it's not going to happen the way we want.

 

I am not sure but I think that JDM helps the superchip dudes program there chips. There may be some differances, but I bet alot of JDM is in the newer superchip programs.

 

...I'd just be happy with the EXACT RECIPE for Mrs. Fields cookies and McDonald's French Fries...

 

And don't forget Bushs' Beans. If I knew the dog was going to Auction the recipe I would have sent all the R/T Guys.

 

I wasn't even thinking of someone stealing a program, so you guys do have a good point there. I guess it's just one of those things that I am not meant to know, kinda like the mysteries of a woman.

I know those tuners work hard and spend tons of time, energy and money making their tune.

Realistically, I guess I can forget ever knowing the specifics. That being a one side of the rock, how about the other side, a fair, scientific comparison of the end result? I don't have the money to do that, but maybe someday a tuner will come along who will do it for us, maybe not.

It's interesting that I've never seen anyone mention how many trust a $10,000 drivetrain to a $300 tune that we know nothing about.

I guess I will continue to stand alone on this issue.

 

Since there is so much to know about chips, that never gets brought into the public eye, I will try to shed a LITTLE light into the subject, just enough to keep it mysterious, but also keep the natives at bay

"i just purchased a superchip for my 2001 L. though i thought i read somewhere that superchips used the jdm burn. anyone know for sure?"

JDM uses Superchips brand modules. Superchips distibutors don't have in house tuning software to make changes on the fly, but they can call Superchips to have changes made to thier programs, and then download the new program from the internet.

"I am not sure but I think that JDM helps the superchip dudes program there chips. There may be some differances, but I bet alot of JDM is in the newer superchip programs."

While a select few Superchips tuners have thier "own" programs, most are shared by the rest of the Superchips distributors. Places like JDM and Pauls Hi Performance, do have thier own programs that other Superchip distributors cannot access, but always remember that Superchips themselves has the right to use some or all of any program in thier own retail chips.

"I have waited for nearly a year hoping for someone to do some comprehensive and scientific comparisons. I don't believe it will ever happen. "

Whether it WILL happen nobody knows, but it SHOULD NOT happen. Chip makers and tuners are always changing, tweeking, and revising programs. There really is no "fair" comparison to be made. If one guy buys chips A,B,C and D, and tests them all together, all that proves is which worked best at that time. Chip A could have done the worst, but maybe the tuner made changes to the next version of the program and it would have beaten chips B,C and D. And if 99 people buy that new version of chip A, and it kicks total butt, all that people will remember is that when John Doe tested Chip A, it sucked.

"It's interesting that I've never seen anyone mention how many trust a $10,000 drivetrain to a $300 tune that we know nothing about. "

In my opinion, a customer has a right to know what's on his chip, if he chooses to ask. I never tell people that I won't tell them what I'm doing on thier chip. I do choose not to make it public knowledge, as the less your competitiors know the better, but the customer has a right to know. As a matter of fact, when I have to do mail order chips that require more programming than the standard bolt ons, I will call the customer, and do the chip right over the phone with him, going over each paramter to make sure it's what he wants.

What it basically comes down to, is who you are most comfortable using. Each vendor has thier good and bad points, there's no argument there. Each vendor also has thier way of doing things, and you've got to be comfortable with that as well. Best thing to do is just read old posts and new, and see which customers like each product and vendor and why, and choose the one you are most at ease with using. Remember, ANY brand of chip is going to put a smile on your face. They all improve performance.

 

mracer,

Seriously, you will know when the chip is in, when you drive it you will know the shift points and how it shifts. You can either put on a scan and find out all the parameters of just what your truck is doing including timing /rpm, converter lock up etc. You can get a good A/F ratio reading on the Dyno. If you are convinced that your chip is safe then the track is the final test. I can't think of anything you can't/don't know except the program.

Jim

 

Sal is my hero!!

Jason

 

LightningTuner,

I have to say thanks for taking the time to respond with that information. All I can say is that was more straight forward than any chip talk I have ever seen. Thanks

There is just one thing I don't follow you on, I don't understand what would be unfair about a head to head chip comparison on the same truck on the same day. I know tuners learn things and tweak their programs, but how would that make a head to head on a particular day unfair.

**********************
reality1, I know what the chips do in a general way, I have experience with them. Something as simple as shift points is hard to tell with just the guages.

What you are saying is that if I want to know specifically what the chips do, I should buy each one, a scan tool, multiple dyno runs, and the sacrifice of my Lightning's wear and tear, etc. That is not realistic, why should it be on the customer to figure this out if for example, all I really want to know is the maximum rpm a particular tune sees and the air/fuel ratio?

 

What I mean is that since tuners are improving calibrations all the time, the results of a head to head chip comparison may be useless a week later if new programs are available. Any chip you buy from the three popular chip vendors will make your truck go faster. I myself am always tweaking, always looking for more power, more ET, better calibrations. Sometimes these changes fix problems, sometimes they improve performance. My customers always know that they can send thier chip back to me anytime for updates. In my opinion, to buy an off the shelf chip, and never have it tweaked the whole time you own it, well that just means you are losing out on better performance and refinement.

Sometimes you have to look more into the people, R&D and abilities of the company you are getting your chip from, and less at ETs and big power numbers. If you have any specific questions, you can e-mail either myself or Spiro.

 

Sal, thanks again for the response.

Can you put one of your programs on a Superchips module or do you only work with a different brand?

You said "Sometimes you have to look more into the people, R&D and abilities of the company you are getting your chip from, and less at ETs and big power numbers. "

I agree totally with you on that. As a matter of fact, what I am interested in more than anything is making safe power with a "street" chip for the 2000 L. What that is exactly, I am not sure. On one hand we have the 2001 L that has a slightly hotter factory program and then we have L owners who are convinced that a chip is the reason they lost a tranny or engine, and others who either don't or don't care. I have even been told by a tuner (not you) that the super hard shifts are actually good for the transmission and will make it last longer. (no mention of the rest of the driveline) This same tuner also completely glossed over the fact that detonation was occuring with his chip on my buddies L. I myself am not interested in the biggest HP number. I know there are ways to get that, and then the motor and trans are gone at 10,000 miles.