I am amazed about all of the tech info on this board, to burn your own chips. There are some really swift people out there. But is it worth it? I have been told that you don't need a custom chip unless you modify your engine. I'm talking heads, cam, headers as well as any other major motor work. I notice there are several companies that make off-the-shelf chips for our cars. I have an ADS Superchip in my IROC. It seemed to help at the time, over 7 years ago, it was basically my first mod. I have done many of the easy, cheap mods since, but my manifolds have never been off, tranny and rearend is also stock. I was thinking of switching to another chip, perhaps a PR or Fastchip.

The question is, do I need a custom one, or would another off-the-shelf chip work?

I would love to get the equipment and software to burn my own chips. I have a decent scan tool, and good electrical/computer skills. Looks like fun!!

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Best ET 14.413 @95.57 without
pulling valve covers or manifolds.
Also with stock 2.77 rear end!!!

 

I believe it is. Stock EPROM are programmed in a very conservative way. Off the shelf chips are better, but not exactly tailored to your car, your mods, your style of driving etc. So making your own is the best IMO. I'm just starting myself, but I think it'll be a lot of fun

 

I have a stock 305 TPI and I've found it to be worth it already. The only thing I haven't changed on my IROC is the engine, which I've never even pulled off the valve covers. I do have a gutted air box, home-made ram air, ported plenum, Hooker headers, "free-flow" cat, cat-back, and a ton of suspension and brake mods. Even changing just the ESC attack and recovery tables and leaning it out a little made a noticable difference in my 1/4-mile times. Best part is I can change things whenever I want and not have to pay any more money.

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Greg Westphal
'87 IROC 305TPI/A4

 

I like what you guys are saying. I was thinking of getting a new PR chip, after I make a gear change. That may be awhile, so maybe I will look into burning my own chips. I learned about it in school, and we used to have the equipment at work to program microcontrollers, but not anymore. I'm good with PC's, and have an electrical background as well. It looks like fun. I also like the idea of have a couple of chips laying around, to try different things. You could even set one up just for drag racing, then pop it out for the ride home.

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Best ET 14.413 @95.57 without
pulling valve covers or manifolds.
Also with stock 2.77 rear end!!!

 

the beauty of it is that you dont NEEd to have a seperate chip for drag racing and driving home. Realistically you can have one chip that works for both. Let the carb guys worry about a track setup and a street setup

 

Hehehehehehe