is there a major difference between an off the shelf chip and a custom tuned chip (by custom i mean being at there shop on there dyno,i may be wrong but thats my perspective)

 

generic being off the shelf, custom tuned being tuned by a tuner over the phone/email, and dyno tune meaning actually tuned on a dyno. Dyno tune is the best way to go. Custom tune is what most people get. Generic, dont get one.

 

cool thanks

 

Off the shelf chips are just that: One size fits all with slight changes to account for emissions, altitude, box code, etc. You will see gains, and in some cases the gains are quite nice. The programs are quite robust, and if you haven't seriously modified your vehicle (beyond an air filter and a muffler), most people would agree that this kind of chip is more than enough to satisfy most drivers.

Custom tuned chips are done by tuners with real time data aquisition capability either on a dyno, or real-time with on-board rigs hooked up to various sensors on the vehicle on the road in real world driving conditions (which I personally prefer over dyno tuning). By 'looking' at how your vehicle is running and tuning for things like local available octane, vehicle modifications, state of mechanical tune, local conditions, etc. the tuners are able to 'fit' a program that exactly matches the way your particular vehicle runs in your area with your gas and your driving habits/style and extract every last bit of power that would normally be lost with the off-the-shelf chips. There's just no way that one program can account for all the variables that exisit in vehicles (and their environments/drivers) these days.

So if you are looking for a moderate gain in power and economy, with the added transmission shifting bonuses, and you haven't modified your L, then an off-the-shelf chip is for you. You can always get it re-burnt later if you decide to upgrade your hardware. But if MAX power is what you are after and you have modified your L, then you must get one custom tuned.

Later,

 

svt360
I see you live close to Buffalo NY.

If you ever do get close to NYC I would go get a custom tuned chip from Jim, Sal, or JL.

I realize it is a long drive, so in your case I would say go with one of there off the shelf programs. Give them a call and tell them what mods you have or want, and what you are looking for. I can't speek for the other tuners, but I know JDM has many programs sitting in his computer and one of them will be perfect for you.

I agree with WrongdayJ, since no 2 trucks are exactly the same a custom tune is sometimes needed on some trucks, but on most trucks a off the shelf chip will work just fine.

 

thanks for the replie's guys,im debating weather or not i want to drive to one of the shops or or just call,i have a swanson chip now but im getting 20's and am debating weather or not i want a pulley,i think ill be making a road trip very soon!!

 

I'd direct your question to 'SuperChips_Distributor' and any other chip guys over in Computer Chip section