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Sep 4, 2008 | 08:38 PM

Jeff Dodson

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From: Angleton Tx.

Chips / Programmers

Is there a CHIP or Prgeammer for my truck ( 97 F250 5.8 4x4 ) that I can get to maybe better the fuel milage, performance or whatever.

Sep 5, 2008 | 07:11 AM

Jeff Dodson

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From: Angleton Tx.

ANYBODY ? I now there is a page for this I figured I would post it here because yall know these trucks

Sep 5, 2008 | 07:53 AM

fgraziano

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for 97 it's all ODB-2 and there are a bunch of tuners out there. Superchips and SCT come to mind off the top of my head.

Put in your car to this site: http://www.autoanything.com/performa...0A50211A1.aspx

Sep 5, 2008 | 08:09 AM

Conanski

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From: Ottawa, Ontario

No.. a '97 truck with a 5.8 will be OBD-1 so there are no easy programers like the newer vehicles have. The route to more power/better fuel milage with the older system is all about improving it's breathing ability, and the primary focus should be the cork-like exhaust system on the truck. The best solution is to drop the complete system including the manifolds and install longtubes and custom exhaust, but emissions requirements in your area may prohibit that. Anything you can do to improve the system will help though, you can loose the complete cat back without making the exhaust overly noisy.. that's how restrictive the stock cats are. Hollowing the cats or installing a highflow replacement helps as well.
Besides that you can advance the timing from the base setting of 10deg BTDC, some motors will tolerate upto 4 degress additional advance and this really improves torque and milage.

Sep 5, 2008 | 10:01 AM

fgraziano

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wow really? I thought it was a federal mandate that all cars after 1995 were to be OBD-2. You learn something everyday.

Sep 5, 2008 | 01:38 PM

Conanski

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From: Ottawa, Ontario

Yep.. Ford carried over the OBD-1 powertrain in the HD trucks(over 8500lb GVWR) until late 97 and 98 when the new SD truck was introduced. All F150's and LD F250s went OBD-2 for the '96 model year.

Sep 6, 2008 | 07:08 AM

Jeff Dodson

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Joined: Oct 2005

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From: Angleton Tx.

Every site I have been on there was always at least one VERY knowledgable person on there and it helps a GREAT DEAL. Thanx a million CONANSKI.

I checked the timing yesterday and it was set on 10*. I didnt mess with it much because I was involved with HOUSE projects, Gotta keep the wife happy. Maybe today I will try advancing the timing. With these big tiresm it needs to build a little more torque. Well they are noy that big, they are 295's butpretty aggresive all terraine tires, The exhaust has 3 inch from the CAT back, still has the original CAT, the pipes from the manifols are still original. I dont really want to mess with pulling the manifolds, I like the dependabilty of the manifolds, I really just dont want the hastles of the Headers, been there done that.