Chip or not Chip?
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 158
Likes: 0
From: Waterford Michigan
Chip or not Chip?
Hey guys,
This chip came with the car when I bought it. The previous owner said it came with the car when he bought it but he never wanted to mess around with installing it. I've heard mixed reviews about chips and everyone seems to say stay away when it comes to hypertech. Anyway, can anyone tell me what type of chip this is and if I should install it on my car? Also will it perform well with my current setup. BTW... The car is modded quite nicely so it's not like I'm just looking to put in a chip and see huge gains. It currently has been lowered, has bilstein shocks, borla exhaust, newer control arms, newer bushings, newer tie rods, K&N filter, and quite a few of the cheap and free mods (cut air box... etc.)
Here's the pics...
This chip came with the car when I bought it. The previous owner said it came with the car when he bought it but he never wanted to mess around with installing it. I've heard mixed reviews about chips and everyone seems to say stay away when it comes to hypertech. Anyway, can anyone tell me what type of chip this is and if I should install it on my car? Also will it perform well with my current setup. BTW... The car is modded quite nicely so it's not like I'm just looking to put in a chip and see huge gains. It currently has been lowered, has bilstein shocks, borla exhaust, newer control arms, newer bushings, newer tie rods, K&N filter, and quite a few of the cheap and free mods (cut air box... etc.)
Here's the pics...
Last edited by Mr. Dude; Jul 16, 2008 at 04:26 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 62,137
Likes: 1,727
From: Athens AL
C7 of the Year - Unmodified Finalist 2021
C4 of Year Finalist (performance mods) 2019
I dont know what it is, but I see no reason for you to install any chip.
You should only ever do custom chips for the particular car, and you dont have mods that warrant them, nor is there really a gain to be had for what you do have.
You should only ever do custom chips for the particular car, and you dont have mods that warrant them, nor is there really a gain to be had for what you do have.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 158
Likes: 0
From: Waterford Michigan
Okay, I took the Memcal apart to show the chip. Just trying to identify it now. The only identification I can see is two stickers, one saying for off road use only and 1987/8 L98 and 1987/8 CM. Heres another pic.....
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 9,884
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From: Magnolia Mississippi
St. Jude '03-'04-'05-'06-'07
For those engine mods a perf chip is not required. That memcal does not require a piggy back, but is a direct replacement for 87 corvettes. An aftermarket chip is inserted on a piggyback unit and installed in the ECM...Bob93 correct info is required here
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 5,146
Likes: 3
From: The Motor City
To the op....you would need to "read" it to know what has been done, stickers mean nothing (outside of someones files who did the programming.
Last edited by mseven; Jul 9, 2008 at 09:02 AM.
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2003
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From: Magnolia Mississippi
St. Jude '03-'04-'05-'06-'07
Team Owner
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From: Athens AL
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Instructor
Joined: Dec 2005
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From: Centerport NY
So what mods. would need to be installed to benefit from a custom (ie. pcm for less)? Obviously cams with head upgrades. But a stock motor or minor mods are not going to benefit from a upgraded chip?
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2001
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From: Athens AL
C7 of the Year - Unmodified Finalist 2021
C4 of Year Finalist (performance mods) 2019
I do not believe you'll see gains that warrant the expenditure on a stock/near-stock engine. At the very minimum, on an L98, a full exhaust and intake porting (with replacement of the runners or base with aftermarket) in my opinion are required to see something.....but even then I dont see alot coming your way.
Of course if you want the thing to run cooler, fan settings can only be changed in the chip, unless you want to take away ECM control of the fans by wiring things yourself. If that is your goal, then having a custom one done would be fine.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 5,107
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From: Dublin CA
If this was an original GM "stock" chip, it should have a GM sticker on it. Chances are that it is an aftermarket chip that someone has had made for the car. The words 'Off Road Use Only" on the label should provid a clue. But you have no idea what has or was changed on this chip. There is no other identification to tie to a vendro. If it run well in you car, then keep it.
If you car is stock; like Vader86 implies, you will get little benefit from a custom chip. THe true "stock" chip should be able to handle most of the modifications you make to the car until you change out a cam.
If you car is stock; like Vader86 implies, you will get little benefit from a custom chip. THe true "stock" chip should be able to handle most of the modifications you make to the car until you change out a cam.