I've always heard that putting a chip in your engine is a good way to add horses without putting a huge hole in your wallet. But I'd like to know exactly what they do to add power. And any experience everybodys had with these would be appreciated!

 

I've always been more of a cracker fan myself.


That being said, you have a lot to learn. What are you working on?

 

Most "chip" manufactures won't disclose the specifics of what they change.

But to make a long story short, in the old days before cars were computer controlled you could mechanically change the ignition timing curve & advance, change the carburetor jets-power valve-secondary springs & pump squirters- & pump cams. You could also turn a screw in the trans vacuum shift modulator to make the trans hang the gear longer...

Now that the entire drivetrain is computer controled, when you add a 'chip' or flashing a new tune to the PCM your essentially doing the same thing that guys used to do mechanically before computers

 

I do have alot to learn. I know more about the older engines than the newer more advanced ones. I have a 2000 GMC Sierra that im lookin to add some power to.

And that makes sense to me. If I were to buy one do you have any suggestions?

 

They don't make "chips" for our trucks.

You should do some research on hand held tuners and custom tunes. Decide which one you want based on others experiences and the results you want.

 

Will do. Any suggestions on a certain brand?

 

Wheatley, Blackbear, or Nelson for custom tunes.

Diablo Predator for handheld.

 

Thanks. Have any personal experience with them?

 

90% of the site is prob going have a custom pcm tune.. The rest are handheld guys. For the money that a handheld cost, it is worth it to get a PCM tune done.. Many more variables can be tuned for along with things that a handheld couldn't touch..

 

Right, in the old day you changed out a ROM (?) computer chip that changed a few perameters, nowadays with OBDII ports we can link our laptops to the Engine Control Module and change things never considered possible before, with the right software.

"Tuners" such as were mentioned earlier are able to cnfigure your engine controll module for your specific application, hense "custom tune"

Enjoy the site and don't let Scott scare you, he's a puffcake