'86 and Chips
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
'86 and Chips
My father has a cherry 86 coupe with 17,000 original miles on the clock. He has installed a Borla exhaust and a K&N filter. He is considering a new performance chip. Anyone have any experience with this?
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 22,209
Likes: 12
From: OBAMA IS HITLER
your father has not even begun to modify his vette, so there's no need for a custom chip. if you're referring to a commercial, off the shelf chip like Hypertech, that is most definitely a waste of money.
ask your father to join this forum so we can answer his questions directly.
ask your father to join this forum so we can answer his questions directly.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 1,247
Likes: 2
From: Parker, Colorado, USofA
I wouldn't bother. It's a stock car. Make sure the car is up to spec for STOCK before you go hunting for more power.
1. check plugs, wires, cap, and rotor
2. check your _base timing_. 100% of the Corvettes I've seen got a tremendous improvement just by reestablishing the timing.
3. remove the MAF screens.
4. adjust your TPS (search here for instructions)
5. Run a little redline injector cleaner through it.
6. change your fuel filter.
Then come back and let us know if it improved the car any.
1. check plugs, wires, cap, and rotor
2. check your _base timing_. 100% of the Corvettes I've seen got a tremendous improvement just by reestablishing the timing.
3. remove the MAF screens.
4. adjust your TPS (search here for instructions)
5. Run a little redline injector cleaner through it.
6. change your fuel filter.
Then come back and let us know if it improved the car any.
Drifting
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 1,730
Likes: 1
From: Charlotte NC
St. Jude Donor '05
I don't agree with everyone here. A chip is a affordable way to keep the car cooler, remove troublesome emmissions dtc's, adjust for the factory rich wide open settings, put in some nice punchy timing tables..
The vettes do come tuned up pretty good from the factory but its still not a complete waste.
The vettes do come tuned up pretty good from the factory but its still not a complete waste.
Pro
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 641
Likes: 3
From: Long Island NY
Originally Posted by Alvin
I don't agree with everyone here. A chip is a affordable way to keep the car cooler, remove troublesome emmissions dtc's, adjust for the factory rich wide open settings, put in some nice punchy timing tables..
The vettes do come tuned up pretty good from the factory but its still not a complete waste.
The vettes do come tuned up pretty good from the factory but its still not a complete waste.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 20,179
Likes: 673
From: Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction.
St. Jude '03 thru '24
Originally Posted by Alvin
I don't agree with everyone here. A chip is a affordable way to keep the car cooler, remove troublesome emmissions dtc's, adjust for the factory rich wide open settings, put in some nice punchy timing tables..
The vettes do come tuned up pretty good from the factory but its still not a complete waste.
The vettes do come tuned up pretty good from the factory but its still not a complete waste.
Over the counter HiPo chips are a waste of money. Custom tunes are
PM me if you have any questions
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 1,247
Likes: 2
From: Parker, Colorado, USofA
Originally Posted by Alvin
I don't agree with everyone here. A chip is a affordable way to keep the car cooler, remove troublesome emmissions dtc's, adjust for the factory rich wide open settings, put in some nice punchy timing tables..
The vettes do come tuned up pretty good from the factory but its still not a complete waste.
The vettes do come tuned up pretty good from the factory but its still not a complete waste.
The problem with custom programming around stuff is that you're not really making the car better long-term, you're just compounding problem on top of problem. ("I chipped out the emissions stuff, neglected to fix the vacuum leak to the EGR valve, now I wonder why it won't pass emissions?")
IMHO, I wouldn't get a custom tune until you break into the longblock...or you finish your exhaust mods (read: add headers) and decide to pitch your $300+ tune when you tear into the longblock.
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Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 22,209
Likes: 12
From: OBAMA IS HITLER
rocketsled, alvin from pcmforless here is a fantastic tuner. i think he's exceptional at what he does for a living 
it might be noted that his tunes are $150, new ones on top of that to account for additional mods are just $50 more
it might be noted that his tunes are $150, new ones on top of that to account for additional mods are just $50 more
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 1,247
Likes: 2
From: Parker, Colorado, USofA
Originally Posted by Hot Rod 90
rocketsled, alvin from pcmforless here is a fantastic tuner. i think he's exceptional at what he does for a living
it might be noted that his tunes are $150, new ones on top of that to account for additional mods are just $50 more
it might be noted that his tunes are $150, new ones on top of that to account for additional mods are just $50 more
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 20,179
Likes: 673
From: Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction.
St. Jude '03 thru '24
Originally Posted by Hot Rod 90
rocketsled, alvin from pcmforless here is a fantastic tuner. i think he's exceptional at what he does for a living
it might be noted that his tunes are $150, new ones on top of that to account for additional mods are just $50 more
it might be noted that his tunes are $150, new ones on top of that to account for additional mods are just $50 more
