Whats a better performance chip

[cmcallister6]

I want a performance chip for my mark vii ive been looking around these are what ive found

lincolnmotorsports.com has a powermaxx chip

or ive heard the SCT chip is great too

Which ones better?

and with the SCT chip would i need to buy Xcal too?

 

[unity]

When looking for a chip, I never found the best one. Just that the programing is MUCH more important. So the chip itself is just hardware, but a great chip does not make a great tune.

For example, I bought an SCT chip from Torrie at Fast Parts Network. There were many, many flaws in the programing I later learned. Only because I had so many issues I moved onto flashing the ECU myself and started, with MUCH help from Tommy on here, to create my own programs and get live reading from the car.

So as far as I can tell, any decent chip will do, its all in the programing.

On a side not, I have a chip from a 96 still for sale. Code EBP2 (or something like that). The chip can be reprogrammed to any code or 96 on up. But if you buy the chip, you will have to find someone to flash it.

 

[DieselDan]

What year is your car OP?

 

[SATURN5]

Chips = generic changes that may or may not work on a given vehicle...

Reprogramming = ability to tailor changes to a specific vehicle....

If you have the funds, a programmer is the way to go...

 

[unity]

Chips = generic changes that may or may not work on a given vehicle...

Reprogramming = ability to tailor changes to a specific vehicle....

If you have the funds, a programmer is the way to go...

Not really. The whole idea behind getting a chip is that its tailored to the vehicle. Reprogramming is not always best, unless one pays to have it done OR knows how to themselves, and those people are very few.

 

[SATURN5]

I've seen the crap people sell as performance chips from my days fiddling with 165 and 7730/7749 GM ecms of the 80's and 90's.

Unless the person burning the chip has the vehicle in person, it's generic, based on "best guess" changes needed.

My stance is having a programmer is best, and if you are going to make any changes from stock, you best learn what how to do it. Otherwise forget the junk chips and leave it stock... A lesson I learned from one of the best, Bruce "Grumpy" Plecan.

and yes, I am one of those people that know how to do it thanks to him....

 

[TyCorr]

Custom tuning trumps 'canned' tuning anyday. Any vehicle. An sct x3 is good hardware but w/o someone who knows about the fuel tables, air, and timing its all a crap shoot.

Its more involved than just maxing out fuel injection rates. Ive learned this very fact the hard way with diesel trucks. Ive gone from making moderate horsepower with tons of aftermarket parts but smoking like a freight train to making unfathomable amounts of power and not emitting anything more than a haze at WOT. Thats what tuning is all about!