CHIP or No CHIP
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Senior User
Joined: Jul 2004
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CHIP or No CHIP
I have 190,000 miles on my 95 bronco's 5.0. I have just rebuilt the trans which is a E4OD and was wondering if I should invest the money to purchase a programmer, like a preditor or something, to increase power?
I just don't want to put too much on my old motor and end up spending more money on a engine rebuild.
I just don't want to put too much on my old motor and end up spending more money on a engine rebuild.
Posting Guru
Joined: Apr 2005
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From: Longview, TX
Kem is one of the gunieses here. I would like to add that I replaced the timing chain set myself on my 94 5.8 at about 175k miles and it made a huge improovement. I think yours is the same double sprocket. Put a socket on the harmonic balancer bolt (I think it is 1 3/16" ) and turn the engine back and forth to see how much slack is in the chain before it starts to turn the cam. I think the whole poject of chain set, gasket set, water pump, and thermostat was just over $100. If I were to do it again I would replace the fan clutch while at it. Be sure to get engine very warm before setting timing. Mine likes between 11 and 12 degrees. The pointer mounting holes are a little large so the pointer may move a little with timing chain replacememt. I just listened for the highest idle rpm (with sprout disconnected). This improved gas milage by about 3 to getting 14 mpg highway w/AC and 11 pulling trailer. The 9mm ford wires are the next project.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 1997
Posts: 23,165
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From: Enjoying the real world.
Okay, first, a 95 will not work with a tuner. You need a chip.
Superchips, SCT and Diablo all tune at all throttle positions. Likely other brands do as well these days if they've updated tunes. The chip will take care of more than just advancing timing, there are a lot of things in the Ford engine and transmission tune that can be tweaked for more desireable results, though whether or not its worth it is entirely up to you. Don't expect miracles, its not a supercharger.
And you'll need to run premium fuel if you want to use a tune with the best power gains.
Superchips, SCT and Diablo all tune at all throttle positions. Likely other brands do as well these days if they've updated tunes. The chip will take care of more than just advancing timing, there are a lot of things in the Ford engine and transmission tune that can be tweaked for more desireable results, though whether or not its worth it is entirely up to you. Don't expect miracles, its not a supercharger.
And you'll need to run premium fuel if you want to use a tune with the best power gains.
Posting Guru
Joined: Apr 2006
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I have been toying with the idea of a chip for a long time. Most people on this forum echo the thoughts above. I will recomend the MSD ignition box to you. It was one of the easest mods I ever did that worked. If you get the plug in style, you can try it with and without in a matter of seconds. It runs smoother and I get about a mile per gallon better millage. Thats pretty good on my rig. I guess it has more power, although I cant feel it. This is not a plug for MSD as I've heard that the Jacops box is just as good.
Hotshot
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 14,285
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From: Bend,OR
I am sure Helirich had good success with an msd box. Honestly the ford ignition system is well up to the task of handling most anything you throw at it. keeping it tuned up will insure this. if you do run an msd or jacobs have the stock hardware with you incase of failure.
Headers, bassani y pipe and 3" exhaust would help a bunch and could still be used if you ever rebuilt the motor you have.
Headers, bassani y pipe and 3" exhaust would help a bunch and could still be used if you ever rebuilt the motor you have.
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Last week I put a Magnaflow muffler on it, just dumped it right after the muffler. Still have the two cats in front of the magna. I don't really know what kind of mileage I was getting before the muffler but now I am averaging 14 city 16.5 hwy. Thats with the a/c on. The muffler I replaced was the factory muffler so I am sure it was stopping up. I have considered removing the second cat but I don't want to mess any thing up. I have considered headers, but havn't really priced them. I have a set of flowtec shorty mufflers on a 89 f150 that are fine but they rusted in a couple months. So I would like to go with some coated headers.
I am just looking for improved shifts and a little more power after the shifts it seems like she just bogs a little. I am still a stock hieght and running 265's with 3.55 gears.
Thank you for your help.
I am just looking for improved shifts and a little more power after the shifts it seems like she just bogs a little. I am still a stock hieght and running 265's with 3.55 gears.
Thank you for your help.
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Senior User
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Where could I look up some headers and bassani y pipes at, I looked on jegs but I didn't see any thing much but shorty headers.
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 1,568
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From: Swansea SC
I agree that a chip is not the way for power increase.On my 1992 351 i installed the super chip for a better shift ( transmission).Premium fuel only, and at todays prices, my truck is not a dailey driver.I feel the first power increase will be rebuilding your power plant, then installing other goodies,in time.These trucks are heavy and the more foot u have the worst gas mileage u see.Ive did alot of aftermarket parts install ,chip,msd 6a box, msd billet distributor, edelbrock upper n lower, duals(flowmaster) 200amp alternator,bassani headers,K and N filter, accel plug wires,56mm bbnk throttle body.The gain i see from these mods is ok but other engine work with these mods would of made greater gains.I am not saying not to install, just start at the motor first.All add ons are costly and i had a few years to complete .TR 
Hotshot
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 14,285
Likes: 12
From: Bend,OR
gibson,jba,bbk,bassani all make great quality headers. the bassani Y pipe can be found pretty much anywhere. having the exhaust done with 3" is also advisable and keep it single to keep the low end power. having the motor well tuned up and timing set at 12*-13* btdc with spout connector removed will help as well.
Hotshot
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 14,285
Likes: 12
From: Bend,OR
go to my superford page , there is a pic of the spout
http://www.supermotors.org/registry/...il.php?id=4158
http://www.supermotors.org/registry/...il.php?id=4158
Junior User
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 76
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From: North Pole, AK
I have been using a Superchips tuner on my 96 Bronco for about a year. It doesn't give a lot of added horsepower. It gives it more top end horsepower, gets rid of that annoying pause when you stop it, and it runs a bit smoother. I did find out that they were not kidding when they said not to expose it to freezing weather. I forgot to bring in in the hotel when we were passing through Tok, AK around Thanksgiving time and it was -45 degrees. It does not work anymore. It was kinda a bummer, mainly because of the money spent, but I had just put shorty headers on it and a new timing chain. So, I don't really notice the problems I was having before now.
Kim
Kim