My very own Superchips thread! The HHP way.

[HighHorseman]

Well, all this talk about the Superchips programmer and I feel left out, lol. So - what is a man to do but start his own Superchips thread. Here it is, and I think I'll call it:

The Greatest Superchips Thread... Ever... 2.

Why 2? because the original was posted over at LXForums (http://www.lxforums.com/board/showthread.php?t=21359) and I also wanted to share this thread with all of you guys, too.

So, things are getting crazy on here about the Superchips tuner coming out but I think we all need to take a deep breath and relax. These tuners are going to be a great tuner when they are finally released but they are still possibly three or four months away from being released. We've heard February 1st but I think that is being too optimistic since a few of us have inside information that conflicts with this date. So, I would recommend not going out and obligating yourself to purchasing this tuner just yet. Adding your name to the interest lists is fine but don't obligate yourself because Superchips just might not be the first to hit the market. Hypertech and Diablo both are working on tuners, too, and who knows, one of these companies could release a tuner before Superchips and then what do you do. We have three manufacturers working on a product knowing that the first one to hit the market will get the jackpot. Wait, did I say three? I meant four... but I can't say anything about this other tuner manufacturer just yet other than they've done some pretty incredible things like getting 50 horsepower out of the Corvette. They hopefully will release their tuner on February 1st (also, lol). But back to Superchips since this thread is not about any of the other tuners. Superchips has done a great job on their tuners for the Ram's and I'm sure they will do the same great job for the LX's. The Ram guys will tell you how much they love their Superchips.

So, as soon as any manufacturer releases a tuner for these cars, you can guarantee we will be the first to offer it and at the best price, as always, but don't expect to see it until then because with so little concrete information on the release dates, we don't want to create any headaches for both us or for you incase something occurs like, say, another tuner comes out and Superchips delays their release six months. Stuff happens all the time, we've all experienced it. If you've already obligated yourself to purchase one tuner, are you going to want to stay inside at recess an watch all of the other kids play outside? I know I don't want to be that recess monitor. Do you want to be that kid?

So, can I make the suggestion not to obligate yourself to anything? Adding your name to a list is fine but please make sure you're not obligating yourself to anything or it could come back to haunt you. Take another deep breath. Much better, right?

Thanks!
Joshua

[HighHorseman]

And when I come across useful information, I'll post it here, too. Like this reply I posted over at 300CForums when asked:


Can someone explain to me why this chip is supposed to supplement the designer's intent for this car. If Chrysler had a choice between "better, bigger, improved" and "status quo", why would THEY not tune the car in a similar manner?
Ideally, "status quo" is what sells cars. The majority of customers, overall, want a car that is comfortable, quiet, and smooth but with some get up and go so the manufacturers build the car to market to the average customer. The average customer doesn't know the difference between 300 horsepower and 350 or horsepower. They just know it's a V8 and pretty quick, too. But to make matters worse, also, the manufacturers have to deal with emissions, and particularly the noise pollution emissions are what forces the manufacturers to make overly quiet cars since they have to be pretty quiet at cruise and even at a WOT drive-by. This forces them to put quiet (aka restrictive) exhausts and intakes on the cars.

This same approach applies to the suspension, too. In order to be more "comfortable" to many, they have to lose a lot of the performance of the suspension and use cushy springs and more flexible sway bars. You get the better handling when you replace these but it's a trade-off with comfort.

And to your original question about why a different tune is needed. The stock tune is great for a stock vehicle. It's set up for a stock vehicle but it is also set up for drivability and to allow for the best reduction of emissions, too. The tuners advance the fuel curve and the timing which gives you considerably more power but there is a sacrifice in the drivability the further you advance the timing. The further you advance the timing, the more power you can put out and the better your throttle response is but also, the less smooth the engine is and the louder is will be. You're not hurting your engine unless you really go extreme with a performance tune but you are sacrificing a little bit of drivability for performance.

My approach is that if you do even the basics of mods, then you are using a computer program that is not written for your vehicle in its current state. The tuners are a way of helping to compensate for these mods and their affect on the whole picture.

Thanks!
Joshua, HHP

[davidhSRT8]

Sorry for the nubee question, but how are these chips or programmers installed? Are they plug and play or is it more involved?

[HighHorseman]

The tuners will all more than likely program your car through the diagnostic port that's located underneath the dash on the driver's side. These are just plug and play units and they give you several options when you plug them in. They do take a little while to get the hang of but once you've done one install, you quickly get the hang of it and the next time you use it, install goes much quicker. The tuners usually start out by asking you yes or no questions or giving you different options on which tune you would like to install. Once you select the tune, it will download a copy of your factory tune for use later if you decide to return the car to stock but this action also locks the tuner to your car until you return the car to stock. It takes 3 to 5 minutes on average to upload you factory tune and then usually about the same amount of time to download the preprogrammed tune. The tuner will give you directions during the install, like turn the ignition on but don't start the car, then turn the ignition off and you usually end up repeating this cycle a few times. The tuners are really easy to use, so noone should be intimidated by them.

Since the Superchips tuners for the LX are going to be very similar to the Ram's, if you want to check out the installation instructions for the Ram, here's a link:

http://www.superchips.com/images/installation/ul/install-52.pdf

Thanks!
Joshua, HHP

[davidhSRT8]

So I see! (said the blind man) It's a self contained unit. I get it. OK, now I definately want one!!! Please, please, please, can I have one?

[HighHorseman]

Glad to help!

[DAYTONA_R/T]

I know this thread is about Superchips.... but I will hold off for a tuner from Diablo... Johan did some pretty trick tunes for the Chevy 5.3, and I will definitly have him e-mail me a custom tune for my Daytona after they release a programmer.... :D

[HighHorseman]

The Superchips tuner will be a good tuner no doubt, but we're also excited about the other tuners, too, that are getting close to being released because whichever one gets released first, Diablo (I use on my own car) or SCT, will give us the capabilities of burning you guys tunes specifically for your cars & tailored to your mods so that you won't have to be stuck with the one-size fits all performance tunes which are great on slightly modified vehicles but the more modifications you do, the less effective these tunes are. I've had customers use the preprogrammed tunes on Mustangs and actually lose power because these tunes are mainly for mildly modified cars, i.e. intake and cat-back. The SCT or Diablo software also enables us to email you the tunes so that all you have to do is download it from your home computer onto your programmer and upload it right then and there. Plus, we'll also have the capabilities to do dyno and street tuning, too, which is the best route.

[BetoMXL]

will it be one for the 3.5??, so we can have like a 400hp v6??? :whistle: :whistle:

[HighHorseman]

Probably not. The initial-release tuners will more than likely only work on the 5.7L's which leaves the 6.1 and V6 guys out due to enough major differences in the computer programming between the cars require you to have totally different programmers but one for the 6.1's will follow soon after the 5.7L's and a V6 version shouldn't be very far behind that. That's just my expectations on the tuners, though. not enough information has been released just yet for us to know anything permanent.

Thanks!
Joshua, HHP

[BlueonBlack]

thanks for this thread. I have never done one of these chip things but am think'n about doing it.