TPI custom chip ....do they work?
Thread Starter
7th Gear
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
TPI custom chip ....do they work?
I had someone contact me recently and offer me a custom TPI chip and said it would really "wake up" my 1987 Vette. Do these work? Do they cause problems ? Any advice would be greatly appreciated as this is my first C4 and first Vette in a long time
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 3,556
Likes: 13
One tailor specially for your individual car ( a custom tune )
or a generic " off the shelf " chip like a Hypertech , et al?
It is generally agreed the off the shelf variety offer little benefit for the cost except for turning the radiator fan on earlier
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 3,745
Likes: 275
From: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Define " custom" ?
One tailor specially for your individual car ( a custom tune )
or a generic " off the shelf " chip like a Hypertech , et al?
It is generally agreed the off the shelf variety offer little benefit for the cost except for turning the radiator fan on earlier
One tailor specially for your individual car ( a custom tune )
or a generic " off the shelf " chip like a Hypertech , et al?
It is generally agreed the off the shelf variety offer little benefit for the cost except for turning the radiator fan on earlier
The only diferences i found was the fan comming on a lot sooner and the auto trans torque converter lock up shifted higher up in the rpm range with a hypertech stage 2 chip, no noticable difference in performance.
Still have the chip in the garage somewhere, was a waste of money.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 28,376
Likes: 3,260
From: Hartford WI
How is it "custom"? How is it custom when it is basically a "Hand Me Down"? Custom is when you put your car on a dyno and tune it. I have a custom program that is based off what my car does. If you take my tune, it is a HMD
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 6,528
Likes: 752
From: South Dakota
I had an '87 4+3 and started doing some minor mods. Simple stuff like a flowmaster exhaust, air cleaner cover, throttle body air foil, 1.6 rockers, etc. I found that with those few mods I was getting a hesitation or bog at low rpm when I gave it gas. I took off the air foil and it was better.
I bought an SLP chip and there was no problem even with the airfoil. I did not notice any improvement in performance, but a little in driveability due to the chip.
I agree with several others that an off the shelf chip doesn't do much and a chip made based on datalogging your car will be much better. I also have heard good things about PCMforless since they have so much experience.
(I also know there are a lot of airfoil haters. Although it didn't do much, it did enough that it affected driveability, so it did something. No need to comment on the airfoil, I am not recommending them either.)
I bought an SLP chip and there was no problem even with the airfoil. I did not notice any improvement in performance, but a little in driveability due to the chip.
I agree with several others that an off the shelf chip doesn't do much and a chip made based on datalogging your car will be much better. I also have heard good things about PCMforless since they have so much experience.
(I also know there are a lot of airfoil haters. Although it didn't do much, it did enough that it affected driveability, so it did something. No need to comment on the airfoil, I am not recommending them either.)
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 62,127
Likes: 1,727
From: Athens AL
C7 of the Year - Unmodified Finalist 2021
C4 of Year Finalist (performance mods) 2019
As others have said, you must define custom.
Unless you have several mods, or need to run cooler, you do not need a chip and likely will not get anything from it.
Unless you have several mods, or need to run cooler, you do not need a chip and likely will not get anything from it.
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 90,675
Likes: 304
From: SE NY
Cruise-In II Veteran
Unless you have several mods, or need to run cooler, you do not need a chip and likely will not get anything from it.
When racing my prior '88 I used an AFPR to assure enough fuel at WOT to match my air flow mods and still the BLMs were very close to 128. Only benefit I could have gotten from a "chip" would have been fan on/off to match my 160deg T-stat.Best thing to "wake up" your '87 would be a little more air flow, with fuel flow to match, and lower temp T-stat.
If you want to get a little more "fun" also have a TransGo shift kit and 2,000rpm TC installed.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor
Joe Kucinski
