I'm finally to the point where I need to get more peformance out of my 2002 7.3 diesel X. I'm looking to get a chip or programer......with so many out there I need a little help deciding. I like the edge unit because of the unit replacing the need for gauges....but my mechanic suggested either the diablo predator or a "van aken" chip. I've never heard anything about the "van aken". does anyone have any suggestions?

 

Tuners Are Nice..... Used To Run A Superchips Microtuner With Good Results.

But What I Would Recommend Is What I Am Running Now Which Is A Multi Position Flip Chip. ( Dp-tuner Chip ).

If I Would Have Known Then What I Think I Know Now I Would Have Bought A Chip Instead Of A Tuner In The First Place.

It Is Highly Recommended That No Matter What You Use... To Monitor Your Engine With Gauges When It Get Modified.

 

First thing, unless you get the Edge attitude, get GAUGES FIRST! Any performance mod like tuners or chips are going to increase the chance of causing damage if you dont have a way of monitoring things.
The Excursions are a little different when it comes to selectable chip's. They have a PATS passive anti-theft system that the Super Duty's dont have that can interfere with some chips, it will cause cold start issues. The hand held tuners dont have this issue, I had read some things about the Edge and tranny shifting that I didnt like also. Over all the best performance is going to come from a good selectable chip. I narrowed it down to 2 and What I learned before I made the final purchase. DP-Tuner: Jody has to flash the PCM to one that will accept the selectable chip with his tunes. At the time I talked to him he told me he only had a couple Excursions that he had chipped and was still working on them. Thats changed since then as I know of a couple people that are running them on there Ex. PM me if you want there info.
TS Performance: They do not require a flash of the PCM. It will not interfere with the PATS, the only difference is that the Theft light will blink a couple minutes longer after starting.
I went with the TS and have been running it for 6 months and its great. Zero problems. The Theft light does blink for a minute or two after start up but then it go's away. Killer performance also, turns these big SUV's into a different animal. Check out the link in my sig, it has pictures and info on the install's I have done on my X, including gauges and the chip.