Hello everyone,

I'm new to the site. I have a '02 Expy 5.4L EB 2WD with these upgrades: Volant air intake kit, Granettelli air massflow sensor unit, Gibson single side cat-back exhaust, Hotchkis bars, and elderbrock shocks. The rest is still stock. My Expy runs much better than stock, however I want to improve transmission shifting and gain more power. I have seen the forums on performance chips in this site, but frankly I'm still not clear on each chip's differences.
Can any one please tell me exactly what the differences are between Superchips, Diablo chips, and SuperchipMicroTuner? What "gains" each give? Any "losses" besides using premium gas?
Also, would I need a custom program for having upgraded air massflow sensor? Or Headers?
I live on the coast in CA, I'm not sure if this makes much difference.
I know you guys are probably tired of seeing this subject again, but please help me to clarify and understand.

 

Fits entirely inside computer box?
Superchips: No
SCMT (Superchips Microtuner): N/A, doesn't plug into box
Diablo Sport: Yes
Diablo Sport Delta: Yes

Installation clearance problems?
Superchips: sometimes ECU clip gets in the way, but not hard to overcome
SCMT: N/A doesn't plug into box
Diablo Sport: No
Diablo Sport Delta: No


Encased in protective metal housing?
Superchips: Yes
SCMT: Hand held tuner
Diablo Sport: No
Diablo Sport Delta: No

4 Bank Chip Available?
Superchips: no, will not work if computer has been reflashed
SCMT: N/A
Diablo Sport: yes, works most of the time if reflashed
Diablo Sport Delta: yes, works most of the time if reflasheds, if 4 bank is available for your particular ECU code

Large variety of EEC-V (1986-94/95) code available?
Superchips: yes
SCMT: N/A, works with 1996-2003
Diablo Sport: Limited
Diablo Sport Delta: Limited


Aggressive tuning for gas engines?
Superchips: agreesive
SCMT: agreesive
Diablo Sport: very agreesive, (tends to have slightly more HP than Superchips but requires higher quality gas)
Diablo Sport Delta: (tends to have slightly more HP than Superchips but requires higher quality gas)

Firms up shifts?
Superchips: Yes, usually firmer than Diablo
SCMT: Adjustable firmness
Diablo Sport: progressive firmness with throttle position
Diablo Sport Delta: progressive firmness with throttle position

Custom programming available?
Superchips: Yes, $125 gear/tire size, $250 MAF, nitrous, etc, $500/blower
SCMT: No, but allows tire/gear changes and shift point changes
Diablo Sport: $105
Diablo Sport Delta: $105 (or more for two customs)

Diablo is going to give you more HP, but Superchips has CARB certification (California Air Resources Board). The MAF changes will require custom code but Superchips has gotten expensive with custom code and according to a discussion with them earlier this week, it'll only get more expensive in the future.

 

Ken, Thanks for your immediate reply.
I still need your help in deciding which chip is best for me. Can you further clarify the following:
1. Superchip improves shifting all the time through out (under normal driving & aqqressive.) Diablo chips engage trans. shifting at full throtle(agressive driving) only, at higher RPM levels. Otherwise Diablo shifts as stock. So, does this make Super Chips a better chip for trans. improvements?
2. Engine tuning. You mention "Diablo" is more aggresive than "SC". How do you mean it's more aggresive? It is due to Diablo's optimum trans. shift points at full throtle? Or does it reprogram ECU at higher out levels than "SC" & "SCMT"?
3. For Diablo, you mentioned it requires better premium gas. What do you mean? Don't "SC","SCMT",& "Diablo" all require 91+octane?
4. What is the "SCMT"? Is it a performance chip? Is it essencially a "SC" plus it has more capabilities built in? Are the shift mods & power gains the same as a "SC"? Does it do what "Hypertech III" does essentially?
5. Do all these three chips improve throtle response?
6. As mentioned for "SC", does "Diablo" also make changes though out the power band at part & full throtle?
7. As for firm up shift differences, it said the "SC" is firmer but "Diablo" provides progressive firmness. Is this progressive firmness accomplised at aggressive driving (at full throtle, shifting gets firmer and at partial is less firm)?
8. Is "SC" firm up shift the same at partial & full throtle? Trans. shift points are set the same regardless of driving (normal or aggressive)?
9. "Diablo sport" & "Diablo delta" are they the same but one offers two or more custom programs? Or do they differ in performance?
10. I mentioned I have a Granettelli Mass Airflow sensor installed on my '02 Expy 5.4L. Do I need a custom programing? Will a custom programing give me more power gains by optimising mass air sensor? Or I need a custom program beacuse regular programed chip won't work the same with upgraded MAF sensor?
11. You have previously mentioned that "Diablo" does better with 5.4L Expys. Besides the fact that I'm in CA, does this still stand?
12. For CA smog test purposes. CAn stock programing be restored by simply removing chip from ECU(both "Diablo" & "SC")?
Ken, I know it is a long list of questions but please help me further understand differences.

 

>>>1. Superchip improves shifting all the time through out (under normal driving & aqqressive.) Diablo chips engage trans. shifting at full throtle(agressive driving) only, at higher RPM levels. Otherwise Diablo shifts as stock.

No. The Diablo provides firmer shifting at all throttle positions. The transmission line pressure increase, instead of being a steady amount, say 20%, like a Superchips, gets higher the more throttle you give it. This usually means a smoother shift during normal driving and a good firm shift when you get aggressive.

>>>So, does this make Super Chips a better chip for trans. improvements?

Its more of a judgement call. If you want a firmer shift all the time you'll certainly like it. It does, in most cases, tend to be firmer even at wide open throttle.

>>>2. Engine tuning. You mention "Diablo" is more aggresive than "SC". How do you mean it's more aggresive? It is due to Diablo's optimum trans. shift points at full throtle? Or does it reprogram ECU at higher out levels than "SC" & "SCMT"?

The Diablo has more timing advance. This gives more horsepower.

>>>3. For Diablo, you mentioned it requires better premium gas. What do you mean? Don't "SC","SCMT",& "Diablo" all require 91+octane?

Yes. All of them do. But Diablo is going to be more sensitive to marginal gas. You'll need to use a good name brand gas if the best you can get is 91.

>>>4. What is the "SCMT"? Is it a performance chip? Is it essencially a "SC" plus it has more capabilities built in? Are the shift mods & power gains the same as a "SC"?

Same tuning as the Superchip, except it lets you program shift points on a gear by gear basis and also adjust the firmness of the shifting.

>>>Does it do what "Hypertech III" does essentially?

Sort of but the Hypertech products only give additional horsepower at wide open throttle (same as Jet chips).

>>>5. Do all these three chips improve throtle response?

Yes.

>>>6. As mentioned for "SC", does "Diablo" also make changes though out the power band at part & full throtle?

Yes. Just as Superchips makes changes every 400 rpm, so does Diablo. Not surprising considering that some of Diablo's engineers used to work for Superchips.

>>>7. As for firm up shift differences, it said the "SC" is firmer but "Diablo" provides progressive firmness. Is this progressive firmness accomplised at aggressive driving (at full throtle, shifting gets firmer and at partial is less firm)?


See my answer to #1.

>>>8. Is "SC" firm up shift the same at partial & full throtle? Trans. shift points are set the same regardless of driving (normal or aggressive)?

See my answer to #1.

>>>9. "Diablo sport" & "Diablo delta" are they the same but one offers two or more custom programs? Or do they differ in performance?

Both can hold the same programs and the same custom programs. The difference is the standard chip is always on and the Delta has three positions: stock, performance program 1, performance program 2

>>>10. I mentioned I have a Granettelli Mass Airflow sensor installed on my '02 Expy 5.4L. Do I need a custom programing?

Yes.

>>>Will a custom programing give me more power gains by optimising mass air sensor?

Yes.

>>>Or I need a custom program beacuse regular programed chip won't work the same with upgraded MAF sensor?

Yes here too. You may have problems with how smooth the powerband is because the chip needs to calibrate for the correct air-flow.


>>>11. You have previously mentioned that "Diablo" does better with 5.4L Expys. Besides the fact that I'm in CA, does this still stand?

Yes, but CARB certification is an issue in California. They check for CARB numbers if they know you have a chip.


>>>12. For CA smog test purposes. CAn stock programing be restored by simply removing chip from ECU(both "Diablo" & "SC")?

Yes, but naturally, I can't advocate doing this for liability reasons! :-)

>>>Ken, I know it is a long list of questions but please help me further understand differences.

No problem, I'm happy to be of service.

 

Thanks again Ken.
Can you clarify these question a notch more:

4. What is the "SCMT"? Is it a performance chip? Is it essencially a "SC" plus it has more capabilities built in? Are the shift mods & power gains the same as a "SC"?

Same tuning as the Superchip, except it lets you program shift points on a gear by gear basis and also adjust the firmness of the shifting.

Ken, how does the "SCMT" feature of programing shift points work? Are there yes and no questions the chip programer asks, like Hypertech III does? Or how do you adjust the new shift points?
Does this feature after adjustment make it a better chip over "SC" as far as the overall performance? Would it (SCMT) now perform more like a Diablo chip as far as trans. shifting?


Both can hold the same programs and the same custom programs. The difference is the standard chip is always on and the Delta has three positions: stock, performance program 1,performance program 2

Ken, for the Delta chip, as far Smog checks goes, this chip can be switched from one program to stock. Does this mean if it is swithed to stock passing Smog Check Test would not be a problem? Would this by- pass checking for CARB numbers? What does checking for CARB #s mean to me?

12. For CA smog test purposes. CAn stock programing be restored by simply removing chip from ECU(both "Diablo" & "SC")?

Yes, but naturally, I can't advocate doing this for liability reasons!

Ken, is it beause chip may get damage in removal?

Thaks.

 

>Ken, how does the "SCMT" feature of programing shift points
>work?

Lets you adjust them up or down using an on screen menu. The upshift, downshift and WOT shift can be changed.

>Are there yes and no questions the chip programer
>asks, like Hypertech III does?

Yes.

>Or how do you adjust the new
>shift points?

Its a little too involved to put here unless I type in the entire section of the manual here.

>Does this feature after adjustment make it a better chip
>over "SC" as far as the overall performance?

Its not a chip -- its a handheld computer. You plug it it, set the options, let it program the computer and then unplug it. Horse power is exactly the same as the Superchips chip. Better? Well, I guess you could get better performance but improperly set shift points can also result in poorer performance.


>Would it (SCMT) now perform more like a Diablo chip as far as trans.
>shifting?

You can make it like, unlike, better or worse, all up to you.

>
>Ken, is it beause chip may get damage in removal?

No, its because California emissions laws require CARB certification for modifications that may effect emission unless used for offroad, racing applications and because of the potential liability issues, I am not going to advocate breaking the law.

I strongly encourage you to read the threads in the chips section on this site. Lots of these questions have been asked there by other users and I've answered them there. Or, give us a call and I'll be happy to answer your questions.... even typing 80 wpm my fingers are getting tired!