I have a '97 F150 SuperCab 2WD with a 4.6 engine/auto trans and have been thinking about getting a chip for some time. The stories of improved shifting and moderate hp gains sound great, but exactly how noticeable can I expect the changes to be with my truck?? I am not too concerned with mpg, but will a chip by itself make noticeable shifting/horsepower improvements? If not, do I need a larger exhaust and a new air filter with the chip to see a performance increase? Finally, do all chips require a change to premium fuel? Any info would be appreciated. Thanks.

-Mike

 

Mike: I'll try to answer your questions as best as I can. The chip will make your truck shift much firmer and raise the shift points under hard acceleration. The power difference you will notice really depends on what your expectations are. The chip will not turn your truck into a tire-scorcher, but, the power gains are noticable. The average driver in a full size truck can feel a 10hp increase. The chip in your truck adds 21hp and 15 ft/lb torque. All chips I am aware of require Premium fuel. The chip advances the timing to begin the burn in the cylinder sooner to allow for slower burning premium fuel. You could run regular fuel, but, would most likely experience preignition. Normal mileage gains are 1-2 mpg. The mileage gain might offset the price difference of the Premium fuel. My suggestion would be to talk with other truck owners on this site about their experiences with chipping their 4.2L engines and consider their opinions.
Thanks
Danny

 

Thanks for that clarification, Danny. 21 hp and 15 lb. ft. of torque on my 4.6 V8? That's definitely good to go. I'd really like to improve that shifting, too, so the information you gave me is all good news. Now I have to figure out which chip to get. Research, research, research. Thanks again for your assistance.

-Mike

 

I just checked the dyno pull results for the superchip and it looks like the 4.6 gets 26 hp and 40 ft/lb in the labs. Granted, results will vary, but this is all pretty promising.

-Mike

 

Mike: You might check the online store here. Ken just started selling Superchips at the most reasonable price on the internet.
Thanks
Danny