Well, I am getting that modding feeling again and I am looking into either a Magnaflow exhaust or a SuperChip...

As for the Magnaflow, I am either looking to do one of two things.

1. Change out the stock muffler for a replacement Magnaflow at around $50 or

2. Put a cat back on... 15609.. for about $400.

I looked at the M-Flow website and while the HP gains are good (over 20+ HP increase), the torque is basically nothing, only 2+ ft/lbs. That makes me lean toward replacing the muffler only and get some of the gains.


As for the chips, I am looking at either the tuner or the flip-chip in an 87/91 octane setting.

I'd like to hear from those that have done either or both and what you thought of it in the bang for the buck aspect.

Thanks for the replies!

Chris (ReelWork)

 

Chris -

You asked me about my Superchip in another thread, but I will answer here. After having the Superchip, I would not drive it without. I went from a 99 SC 4x4 with 3.73's to the heavier Screw with 3.55's and thought I'd bought myself a dog. Well, the Superchip definitely made it perform much better, and the shift improvement alone is worth the purchase price.

I see you're considering a flip chip. Not sure what they cost, but I remember looking at it and it was much more than the regular chip. I didn't think it was worth it since 91 octane is only 10 cents more a gallon.

I'm also looking at a Magnaflow, but not ready to purchase yet. Let us know what you end up with and how it performs.

 

I did the tuner for 2 reasons.

1. I did not have to worry about being a goober and leaving pecker tracks when cleaning off the J3 connector and having problems like no start issues ( every post to date with these problems seems to be from poor cleaning of the connector.

2. If needed I can put the stock program back on, and the dealer cannot tell that anything was done to the PCM. I don't know if my dealer is mod friendly or not, the only time I was there was under the seatbelt recall in 01, and they did not pick the hood up and look, or comment on the xhst.

So lazy and keeping the dealer from raping me are the reasons I went with the tuner.

One thing to keep in mid when selecting between a Tuner and a chip, what are the future mods you are doing ?

Tuner cannot have a 90 mm MAFS or injector upgrades added to it, nor header upgrades added to the program, need a chip burned for these things.

Chip has the shift points changed, and if you add a valve body upgrade, or shift kit, you would need to have the chip burned again for these ( to return to stock levels ), where the tuner you can opt to leave them at stock levels during programming / reprogramming.

Chip is for the specific PCM code version on your truck, so if you have the PCM changed ( under a repair or reflash of PCM code), or sell your truck, the chip might not be able to be reused on the next truck.
The tuner has programs for multiple PCM code revisions, or if you have the PCM changed, or buy a new truck, you can de-program your old truck ( reinstall stock program ) and then use it on the next truck, or sell it to a wider range of truck owners.

Just a few thoughts on the chip / tuner, I went a differnet mfgr on the xhst system, not what you are looking for, so I'll leave that one out.

Steve

 

I got the tuner because I can use it on my next truck, cannot with a chip. You can use it as a code reader on ANY Ford product from 96(i think '96) to '03. Select different levels of tranny settings, and is easier to use than the chip (no cleaning). Quite frankly, the engine HP increase is hard to feel, but the tranny shifting characteristics are OBVIOUS!. The tranny shifting is great compared to factory settings. I love the tuner! Even my mileage has increased. The longer the programming is installed, the more my mileage creeps upward. I went from getting 13mpg with factory settings, to 15mpg with the SC tuning. Normal driving to work and back, etc.
I even got 18.31 on a 300 mile trip this weekend. All interstate, cruise set a 75 mph.

I highly recommend it.

EDIT: Oh yeah, I forgot, you can correct the speedo/odo for larger or smaller tires. I have larger tires, so the tuner allowed me to correct that so I get accurate readings on the guages.

 

I did a regular SuperChip on my 2000 SuperCab, liked it so much that I pulled it (left the Gibson exhaust on though) when I traded for my present 2001 Screw. I would say the chip was the best bang for the buck, although I did a Borla cat back on this truck with dual rear exits. Only other thing was a K&N filter in the stock airbox.

Very happy with these mods, and I really don't plan of much else as of now.

Greg O.