<HR style="COLOR: #666666" SIZE=1>[font=verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif][font=verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif]Ford[/font][/font] owner since 15, I have never really gotten into chips or tuners - I currently have an 04', F-150 5.4L 4X4. I am thinking about adding either or, but do not know which way to go - either a tuner or chip. MPG would be nice, but so would extra [font=verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif][font=verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif]HP[/font][/font]. What would be the best alternative?
Thanks for any advice.

 

Chip describes a device that is attached to the ECM's interal programming port. If you have the option, go for a tuner. A hard chip will adjust fuel and spark curves, but is limited to engine control reprogramming and once it is programmed it is set. A tuner such as hyperpac, PP3, micro tuner, flashpaq, preditor and my personal favorite Sniper Special forces will allow you modify your tune to you hearts content. My only gripe about tunes in can programmers like the PP3, micro tuner, flashpaq and preditor is the tune is preset. You have a few options, but very limited to what you can do with it. The special forces software runs on your PC and you have several pages of information to input and change. Then you have a downloader box which holds 6 tunes and will transfer them from your PC to your truck.

Stay away from antequated technology like a hard chip if it is at all possible.

 

With the SCT X Cal 2 tuner you get 3 custom tunes such as performance 87 octane, towing 87 octane, and performance 93 octane. The tunes will be custom built for your mods such as a CAI or catback exhaust system...As you add different type mods or if you just want a different tune such as 93 drag racing, you can get new tunes but you'll have to pay for them...you can't go wrong with this tuner...

 

Thank you for the advice.
Luke

 

No problem, enjoy which ever tuner you decide on.

 

HI Lukn,

First - in 2004, the F-150 was redesigned and now uses the PowerPC-based PCM, so you cannot use a traditional performance chip - however, if it could, it would NOT limit the changes that could be made to the vehicle.

In PCM's that can accept a traditional performance chip, we can make all the same changes that we can in a flash type of device - the only exception to this are the very old single-bank type chips that cannot access all 4 banks of internal memory in PCM's like the EEC-V, for example, in FoMoCo vehicles.

Your 2004 (I am assuming this is the new body style) uses the ETC system, and as such, has very poor throttle response, as I'm sure you have already noticed - we completely rewrite all of that to not only give you much better peak horsepower and torque gains, but to increase power available all the time, at any throttle position or rpm - and you will have MUCH better throttle response, far better than the factory or with any other tuning.

See, we have specialized in tuning the Ford F-series for 15 years, and thus we know it extremely well, and we are well known for getting the best results in these vehicles in terms of maximum safe & sustainable performance gains, but also in areas such as overall driveability, shift characteristics, towing performance and many other aspects - we go much further in depth in the tuning of these vehicles than anyone else does, as that is our specialty.

We use the XCalibrator 2 to load our Troyer Performance custom tuning info, and it's the most advanced hand-held tuner on the market that actually does a complete flash of the PCM - it has not only complete built-in diagnostics (including Ford-specific enhanced diagnostics), but it also has an extremely fast datalogger built in, email & Internet update capabilities, and so much more.

We provide you with a set of 3 different custom tunes set up any way you like - whatever serves each individual vehicle owners needs & desires the best. We can also provide additional tunes you can store o your hard drive if you want to have even more different types of tunes - this gives you the utmost in flexibility and in actual performance improvement - whether you are actually drag racing, doing normal daily driver stuff, towing, or what have you, we offer tunes that will vastly improve that vehicles overall response and make it much more willing and fun to operate.

If you'd like to go over this in more detail, please feel free to give us a call at our number listed below & we'll be happy to go over this with you - in fact, we are currently running a Group Buy on our custom tuning, so this is a great time to get in on our custom tuning - just give us a quick call for all the details & we'll be happy to help.

Best of luck with your truck, & thanks for your post!