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My first C4 was an 84, and I put a Hypertech chip and the 160 degree thermostat in it. It made a big difference in both the performance and gas mileage. Finally I could hang with the Mustangs off the line and still pull 28 mpg on the highway.
Since then I've graduated to my bloved '92 vert, and I put a post up about mod suggestions. I got a lot of wonderful and much appreciated replies, but to my surprise, no one mentioned the chip (unless I overlooked it). At $250, including the chip, thermostat, and fan switch to kick on the primary fan at 160, it seems like a cheap way to get a little extra power. But because no one mentioned it, it's making me wonder if the chip has fallen out of favor. It's 50 states legal, so I'm wondering what gives.
From: St. Peters MO Sometimes you have to prove yourself by doing alot of killing or alot of dying...
I bought a Hypertech programmer for my 96 and am quite pleased with it. I would recommend doing a chip or some form of programming to enhance performance, but I'm also new to this Corvette thing. Anyone else please chime in. I know in the F-body world, this is still a common mod.
I have one in my garage off my 93 if you want one cheap. Its the one designed for the Auto and the 160 Stat. If you want it, I can save you a bundle. I was forced to go with a custom chip (Cam, gear, etc) So, its just sitting in my cabinet.
I picked one up from Ebay for a low price, added the 160 stat and open lid and that woke her enough for me to be able to spin the 315's at will. I've never dyno'd it so I can't verify what if any Hp I picked up, but I wanted it mainly to kick my fans on earlier.
I'm doing this mod to my 87 right now. I pulled of the throttle body last Sunday. I'm also getting it bored to 52MM and adding an adjustable fuel regulator and a fareing to the front of the throttle body. I've got the 160 degree thermostat and temp switch.
However, I've found a good consept on the chip I think I'll like better than an off-the-shelf Hypertech. The TPIS chip is a little priceier, but it is about as close to a custom chip as you can get without spending a whole lot more. They are sold in "levels" so that if you do more changes to your car, you can trade the chip back for the next level chip and just pay the difference.
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.