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

performance chip help

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Old Dec 15, 2014 | 01:30 AM
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Default performance chip help

I have 1985 TPI 4+3 Manual Transmission with Overdrive. I am trying to figure out bang for buck what will give me the best choice. I want to put a new chip in the car but im not sure if I should use a off the shelf or take it somewhere. if anyone has dyno sheets for stock vs off the shelf or custom chips.

I have a bbk 48 mm throttle body, flow master exhaust, flame thrower coil and module, k&n air filter,

all help would be great

thank you
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Old Dec 15, 2014 | 10:01 AM
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4 ways to do this:

Off the shelf: SWAG. I turn on your fans sooner and life is good. Maybe a couple of harmless tweaks and call it a day

Guessing: You send me the specs, I send you the chip

Datalogging: You datalog, send them files and they write a chip and you datalog more till it is done.

Dyno tune: They put it on a dyno, tweak and tweak till there is nothing more to do then release it back to you.

I'd only consider the last 2. The rest, I save my money. You haven't really got a ton of mods so I doubt it would be worth it.
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Old Dec 15, 2014 | 12:10 PM
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THis vid pretty well sums up how effective chips are...

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Old Dec 15, 2014 | 01:18 PM
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You will gain about 15-20 solid dyno proven hp with a good mail order chip. those fake ebay devices have given tuning a bad name

Last edited by Z51breeder; Dec 15, 2014 at 01:22 PM.
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Old Dec 15, 2014 | 01:19 PM
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Originally Posted by Tom400CFI


THis vid pretty well sums up how effective chips are...

Performance Chips - Mythbusted - YouTube
Thats not a chip, thats a resistor meant to trick the IAT sensor. Read this article , you will see that Chips work great in a TPI or LT1 car. Read this, http://www.superchevy.com/how-to/040...tchip-install/

Last edited by Z51breeder; Dec 15, 2014 at 01:22 PM.
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Old Dec 15, 2014 | 02:24 PM
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Originally Posted by Z51breeder
Thats not a chip, thats a resistor meant to trick the IAT sensor. Read this article , you will see that Chips work great in a TPI or LT1 car. Read this, http://www.superchevy.com/how-to/040...tchip-install/
Yes they do but is it worth it? For what he has, I'd say not. After adding headers and intake? Absolutely
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Old Dec 15, 2014 | 03:14 PM
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Originally Posted by Z51breeder
Thats not a chip, thats a resistor meant to trick the IAT sensor. Read this article , you will see that Chips work great in a TPI or LT1 car. Read this, http://www.superchevy.com/how-to/040...tchip-install/
^Actually, it's not even that. Did you watch the vid??
I know what is in the video, and I know what it doesn't do. I know what an off-the-shelf chip is too, and I also know what they don't do. For the purposes of this discussion the video is relevant. It has become nearly universally understood that at best, an off-the-shelf chip WON'T slow you down, in an L83, L98, or LT1.

Last edited by Tom400CFI; Dec 15, 2014 at 03:29 PM.
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Old Dec 15, 2014 | 03:33 PM
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Originally Posted by Tom400CFI
^Actually, it's not even that. Did you watch the vid??
I know what is in the video, and I know what it doesn't do. I know what an off-the-shelf chip is too, and I also know what they don't do. For the purposes of this discussion the video is relevant. It has become nearly universally understood that at best, an off-the-shelf chip WON'T slow you down, in an L83, L98, or LT1.
Wallet will be lighter
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Old Dec 15, 2014 | 06:41 PM
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The chips I were talking about where there hypertech or jet chips if that makes a difference.
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Old Dec 15, 2014 | 07:01 PM
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Originally Posted by paintballoma
The chips I were talking about where there hypertech or jet chips if that makes a difference.
Lighter wallet.
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Old Dec 15, 2014 | 10:34 PM
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Originally Posted by aklim
Lighter wallet.
I put together a 3 paragraph response to this thread and it didn't upload. You're response to store bought is correct, but custom is only as good as information received from buyer. Dumb answers equal dumb chip, and dyno tune is fine if you're racing on a dyno.
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Old Dec 15, 2014 | 11:19 PM
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Originally Posted by MrWillys
but custom is only as good as information received from buyer. Dumb answers equal dumb chip,

and dyno tune is fine if you're racing on a dyno.
You know what they say. Assuming the tuner is complete, Garbage in, garbage out. Quite a few programs I see, you give data, he sends programmed chip. No follow up so you don' know. OTOH, if you can datalog, they can tweak it.

Even datalogging at WOT is a risk. Buddy got pulled over for "unnecessary acceleration" or something since he did NOT exceed the speed limit. 4 pointer. When John Lingenfelter tuned my car, he had monitoring equipment and an assistant while he drove in the city. I suspect they gave him a pass or he'd have more tickets than trophies. He was outside his shop when he hit the gas hard and did a burnout. When I asked what he was trying to do, he said he just wanted to see what it would do. Not that I cared. Just curious.
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Old Dec 16, 2014 | 10:11 AM
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Originally Posted by paintballoma
The chips I were talking about where there hypertech or jet chips if that makes a difference.
Those do about what was in the vid I posted. You can better adjusting you fuel pressure and base timing yourself.
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Old Dec 16, 2014 | 05:20 PM
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on my car i have the electronic distributor with out vacuum advance. correct me if i am wrong but there is no way to adjust that timing with out going threw the chip. from the way it was explained to me was the chip took care of the advance curve.
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Old Dec 16, 2014 | 06:05 PM
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Originally Posted by paintballoma
on my car i have the electronic distributor with out vacuum advance. correct me if i am wrong but there is no way to adjust that timing with out going threw the chip. from the way it was explained to me was the chip took care of the advance curve.
Yes, what they are talking about is setting the base timing from say 6 to 8. I'm not a big fan of those kinds of tweaks myself and prefer to get it done thru the chip instead of the "redneck hacks" like that but you can.
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Old Dec 16, 2014 | 06:20 PM
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In the context of 'Hypertech' chips et al, Id hardly call base timing changes "Red neck". It gets results, which is more than you can say for the chip. That it costs $0.00 makes you look smarter than a red nek.
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Old Dec 16, 2014 | 06:24 PM
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Originally Posted by aklim
Yes, what they are talking about is setting the base timing from say 6 to 8. I'm not a big fan of those kinds of tweaks myself and prefer to get it done thru the chip instead of the "redneck hacks" like that but you can.
Agreed, and to expound I'll say this. The 85 uses a computer controlled spark map with about 250 different cells based on load and rpm. Stock base timing is 6 degrees, and any change is a global change. Example, under load at WOT above 3000 rpm you're at 30 plus 6 for 36 total. Change base to 10 and you're at 40 with an imaginary gain.
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Old Dec 16, 2014 | 07:08 PM
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Originally Posted by MrWillys
Agreed, and to expound I'll say this. The 85 uses a computer controlled spark map with about 250 different cells based on load and rpm. Stock base timing is 6 degrees, and any change is a global change. Example, under load at WOT above 3000 rpm you're at 30 plus 6 for 36 total. Change base to 10 and you're at 40 with an imaginary gain.
But if a global timing change yields an objective improvement...
What will these...
Originally Posted by paintballoma
The chips I were talking about where there hypertech or jet chips if that makes a difference.
...do? Nothing.
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Old Dec 16, 2014 | 08:23 PM
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when it get put onto a dyno and tuned what is it that they adjust? sorry for all the questions but performance tuning is one area i have little experience
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Old Dec 16, 2014 | 08:46 PM
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Originally Posted by paintballoma
when it get put onto a dyno and tuned what is it that they adjust? sorry for all the questions but performance tuning is one area i have little experience
Your stock chip is perfect until you change cam, or injector sizing. The only thing Hypertech, or Jet will do is bring your fans on sooner.
I don't do 85, because it uses an outdated 2732 chip. If you mod the car much it is always advised to repin it to the newer 1227165 ecm from the 86 to 89 model cars. If you have properly set devices your stock car will run just fine other than primary fan doesn't come on until 226F.
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