C4 Tech/Performance L98 Corvette and LT1 Corvette Technical Info, Internal Engine, External Engine

Performance Chip a good idea?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old May 7, 2011 | 03:33 AM
  #1  
#1weatherman's Avatar
#1weatherman
Thread Starter
Intermediate
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 38
Likes: 0
From: Milton, FL
Default Performance Chip a good idea?

I have a '92 LT1 and am entertaining the thought of putting a performance chip in her to bump the HP up a bit. Just wondering what something like that would cost, would it really be worth it, or would it just cause more problems than it's worth? Anybody got any comments or suggestions? Thanks.
Reply
Old May 7, 2011 | 03:48 AM
  #2  
vetteoz's Avatar
vetteoz
Safety Car
20 Year Member
 
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 3,556
Likes: 13
Default

Originally Posted by #1weatherman
putting a performance chip in
Anybody got any comments or suggestions? .
Save your $$$

Get a custom tune done to suit your specific needs ;
the off the shelf chips are too " one size fits all"
Reply
Old May 7, 2011 | 07:11 AM
  #3  
joesgulfstream's Avatar
joesgulfstream
Drifting
 
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 1,884
Likes: 0
Default

Originally Posted by vetteoz
Save your $$$

Get a custom tune done to suit your specific needs ;
the off the shelf chips are too " one size fits all"
Don't waste your time or money even a custom tune is not worth it for a C4, take the $500 and use it for some real HP gain.
Reply
Old May 7, 2011 | 08:05 AM
  #4  
toptechx6's Avatar
toptechx6
Safety Car
15 Year Member
Conversation Starter
All Eyes On Me
 
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 3,629
Likes: 28
From: FL
Default

Okay, I'll go against the grain here and tell you to go for it. Decent tuners such as PCM for Less http://www.pcmforless.com/index.php?...e&Itemid=199or
Madtuner http://madtuner.com/ and others are so familiar with LT1's that they can commonly send you a mail order tune that will add an additional 10 to 15 HP for around $150.
While that may not be enough for the seat of the pants dyno to register I challenge you to find that much horsepower for the price with any other mod.
Add a low temp thermostat and have the tuner adjust the fan on/off temps at the same time for a cooler running engine and to me the price is a bargain, just my take of course.
Reply
Old May 7, 2011 | 08:15 AM
  #5  
Muffin's Avatar
Muffin
Race Director
Supporting Lifetime Gold
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 14,924
Likes: 9
From: Merritt Ils Fl
Default

tech, I don't think he is talking about that kind of chip. What you describe is a semi custom burn. That kind can be worth the $$$. I think he is asking about the value of a "one size fits all" which, IMHO are not worth the $$$.
Reply
Old May 7, 2011 | 09:16 AM
  #6  
toptechx6's Avatar
toptechx6
Safety Car
15 Year Member
Conversation Starter
All Eyes On Me
 
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 3,629
Likes: 28
From: FL
Default

Originally Posted by Muffin
tech, I don't think he is talking about that kind of chip. What you describe is a semi custom burn. That kind can be worth the $$$. I think he is asking about the value of a "one size fits all" which, IMHO are not worth the $$$.
You may be right Muffin, if I misunderstood and iin fact the OP was thinking of Hypertech or something similar I would agree with others that he should save his money.
The mail order chip/tunes I mentioned are about the same price and I have seen dyno results that show they deliver.
Reply
Old May 7, 2011 | 09:21 AM
  #7  
leesvet's Avatar
leesvet
Safety Car
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 3,660
Likes: 22
Default

Originally Posted by toptechx6
You may be right Muffin, if I misunderstood and iin fact the OP was thinking of Hypertech or something similar I would agree with others that he should save his money.
The mail order chip/tunes I mentioned are about the same price and I have seen dyno results that show they deliver.
For the price, the mail-order chips can work wonders...

The generic chips like hypertech are only good for changing fans, mild alterations in the way the motor runs, not necessarily making it better..just different.

The custom chip, made based on a description of your motor, is much more suited to your motor. Exactly like buying a suit off the rack, or having one tailored...
Reply
Old May 7, 2011 | 09:52 AM
  #8  
RLG's Avatar
RLG
Burning Brakes
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 877
Likes: 0
From: Broken Arrow Oklahoma
Default Tune

Originally Posted by toptechx6
Okay, I'll go against the grain here and tell you to go for it. Decent tuners such as PCM for Less http://www.pcmforless.com/index.php?...e&Itemid=199or
Madtuner http://madtuner.com/ and others are so familiar with LT1's that they can commonly send you a mail order tune that will add an additional 10 to 15 HP for around $150.
While that may not be enough for the seat of the pants dyno to register I challenge you to find that much horsepower for the price with any other mod.
Add a low temp thermostat and have the tuner adjust the fan on/off temps at the same time for a cooler running engine and to me the price is a bargain, just my take of course.


This is exactly what I did. $150 for the chip,a 160 t-Stat and I burn 91 octane or above. pretty cheap HP. I told him what I wanted to do and he fixed me up.
Reply
Corvette Stories

The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts

story-0

2027 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 First Look: Everything You NEED to Know!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-1

5 Best & 5 Worst Corvette Daily Drivers

 Joe Kucinski
story-2

The Headlights of Every Corvette Generation Explained

 Joe Kucinski
story-3

5 Best & 5 Most Overrated Corvette Track Packages of All Time!

 Joe Kucinski
story-4

Every 2027 Corvette Engine Explained

 Joe Kucinski
story-5

Designer Imagines A Corvette That Looks More Like a Corvette Than the Corvette

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love

 Joe Kucinski
story-7

Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer

 Brett Foote
story-8

10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)

 Michael S. Palmer
story-9

8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems

 Pouria Savadkouei
Old May 7, 2011 | 10:37 AM
  #9  
jaa1992's Avatar
jaa1992
Le Mans Master
25 Year Member
Conversation Starter
All Eyes On Me
 
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 7,999
Likes: 14
From: Life is just one big track event. Everything before and after is prep and warm-up and cool-down laps
Cruise-In III Veteran
Cruise-In IV Veteran
St. Jude Donor '12
Default

Shoot, thanks for reminding me. I need to schedule dyno time at PCMFORLESS so they can tweak the mail order tune I got for my 383.

My 92 came with the Hypertech chip, the useless airfoil and it didn't run any better or have any more horsepower than a stcok tune.

A custom tune is best
Reply
Old May 7, 2011 | 10:49 AM
  #10  
l98tpi's Avatar
l98tpi
Max G’s
Supporting Lifetime Gold
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 2,751
Likes: 79
From: Monroe OH
NCM Sinkhole Donor
Default

Originally Posted by vetteoz
Save your $$$

Get a custom tune done to suit your specific needs ;
the off the shelf chips are too " one size fits all"
Reply
Old May 7, 2011 | 11:37 AM
  #11  
aboatguy's Avatar
aboatguy
Race Director
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 10,641
Likes: 13
From: Slidell Louisiana
Default

I've used a couple of different (LT1) mail order tuners before I found Ed Wright....(Phil from AI recommended him when I started my build and I should have listened)

If/when I replace my 355 Ed will be the tuner....


Mike
Reply
Old May 7, 2011 | 11:54 AM
  #12  
cv67's Avatar
cv67
Team Owner
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 81,241
Likes: 3,063
From: altered state
St. Jude Donor '05
Default

Some in house tuning can get you more, a mail order will only be so good.
honestly the factory tune is not bad, unless youre going to do other mods why bother really. 10-15hp gain and nothing else is a waste youll never feel it.
Reply

Get notified of new replies

To Performance Chip a good idea?





All times are GMT -4. The time now is 08:08 AM.

story-0
2027 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 First Look: Everything You NEED to Know!

Slideshow: Is the 2027 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 the best Silverado yet?

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-06-16 08:01:12


VIEW MORE
story-1
5 Best & 5 Worst Corvette Daily Drivers

Slideshow: 5 best and 5 worst Corvette daily drivers

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-15 10:32:13


VIEW MORE
story-2
The Headlights of Every Corvette Generation Explained

Slideshow: The headlights of every Corvette generation explained

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-15 10:17:14


VIEW MORE
story-3
5 Best & 5 Most Overrated Corvette Track Packages of All Time!

Slideshow: The 5 best and 5 most overrated Corvette track packages ever.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-09 12:46:45


VIEW MORE
story-4
Every 2027 Corvette Engine Explained

Slideshow: Every 2027 Corvette engine explained

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-09 12:16:31


VIEW MORE
story-5
Designer Imagines A Corvette That Looks More Like a Corvette Than the Corvette

Slideshow: A Jaguar designer's personal project imagines what a modern front-engined Corvette might look like if Chevrolet revisited the golden age of the Stingray.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-06-08 19:53:43


VIEW MORE
story-6
10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love

Slideshow: 10 ugly Corvettes that we still kinda love.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-03 10:34:17


VIEW MORE
story-7
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer

A lot of money has changed hands at the online auction house over the years.

By Brett Foote | 2026-06-03 10:21:50


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)

Slideshow: 10 great gifts Corvette enthusiasts actually want for Father's Day!

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-06-03 15:43:40


VIEW MORE
story-9
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems

Slideshow: These are the quirks, annoyances, and oddly lovable problems that every Corvette owner eventually learns to live with.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-28 09:31:39


VIEW MORE