I have been doing some searching and havent found any companies that still make performance chips. Does anybody know if anyone does?

 

Performance chips and reprogrammed ECU's are not very popular anymore because of the lessening cost of standalone EMS products and the inability of chips to offer significant performance increases, especially in highly-modified engines.

You can still get chips/modified ECU's here:
http://www.jcwhitney.com/product.jht...D=1622&BQ=jcw2
http://www.autothority.com/

 

E.L Prototypes makes a custom programed chip ... they make it as close to your mods list as they can.

I have 2 chips from them... kinda pricey .. but well worth it I think.

 

Thanks for the link Evil Aviator. Are yo usaying that the chips dont do as averitised or they arent worth it compared to other computer upgrades?

 

They usually aren't worth it compared to other computer upgrades, which is why you see a lot more Haltechs and S-AFC's around town now as opposed to the chips which were popular in the 1980's. Also, a reprogrammed ECU from 1986-1992 simply cannot compare to current products for advanced levels of power and control. However, chips do have their uses, such as in applications where other computer upgrades are not allowed in a certain race class but chips are, or if you have absolutely no clue about how to tune your engine and "better" is a preferable option to a blown engine in a quest for "best".

If a chip, reprogrammed ECU, or any other product doesn't do as well as advertised, then simply return it for a refund if you are not happy with the results.

 

Ive seen you post about EMS before...Forgive my ignorance, but whats EMS? Is it better then getting a chip?

Rat

 

Engine Management System

Like a haltech or Wolf3d Setup. they usally replace the stock ECU entirely. They are alot more programable and configurable than a add on chip or ECu upgade. But usally you have to pay for dyno time to get them tuned right.. they are also much harder to install and alot more costly.. but when dialed in they outperform a ECU/Chip upgrade 10 fold. Most of them you can do Data logging and such with also. They do all the ECu functons .. including timing & fuel adjustment .. no need for a S-AFC if you get a EMS.

 

Thanks man, exactly how spendy are those things?

Rat

 

$1200 is a really good price for a Haltech. They more or less go up from there. There may be cheaper ones.. but you pay for quality ones.

 

GOOD GOD! Thats spendy as hell! Are they really worth the money for a mildy modded FC? What about emissions issues?

Thanks for answering my questions!

Rat

 

Haltech is worth the money in my opion, and i plan on goign that route very soon


For a reprogramed ECU, the best i ever saw was mdrace, or maby it was dmrace, whichever it is, they got a site mdrace.com or net and it showed pretty good gains for there top of the line reprogramed

 

I have heard it is easier to pass emissions with them. You can tune them way down to help pass, then tune them back up for your power back. Mildly modded maybee not, but the more mods you add the more they become needed. I wish i would have got one to start. I payed $395 for 2 modded ECu chips.. one for power, one to pass smog, then $315 for a S-AFC ... I could have spent a couple hundred more and had a stand Alone ... I could kick myself now, but live N learn i will still get one .. its just down the road a bit now. Other upgrades first.

 

Thanks! May be something to look into around tax return time next year.

Rat

 

I guess ill go with the S-AFC then since they are close to each other in price. Plus Id like tuning it and they look cool inside your car. How much hp do you think I could get out of the S-AFC with my mods in sig?


Sorry i dont know much about electronics and tuning

 

Chips are a waste of money, stand alone is the way to go. If you have a NA, stand alone wont help as much as it will on a turbo car. Get a WOLF 4.0 and be done with it. No better stand alone on the market. Haltech is dumb, its a dos-like program. Doesnt have the flexaility of the WOLF either. Played with both and the WOLF is the clear winner.

Graham

 

If you have an N/A then just buy a S-AFC and advance your timing. Thats all you need for an N/A seriouse. I bought two SAFCs and thier great. But you also need to spend the time to tune them profesionally but its well worth it and it has a pretty blue screen that matches my interior.

If you heavily modded you can get 10rwp out of a S-AFC on an N/A. Its dyno proven by someone on here. WIth your mods your looking at around 5rwp or something close.

 

S-AFC and S-ITC, then YOU can basically be the ECU chip upgrade lol.

the S-AFC will go for ~300$ and the S-ITC will go for like 200-270$, the S-ITC you can advance your timing up to 15 degrees at different RPM variables as distinguished by the unit, search on ebay for both. i think thats a better route for the n/a, but WOLF or Haltech for turbo's