[s-cars] Question About Chip Options

[Kirby Smith]

To answer the second part of the question, yes, higher torque can cause
tranny damage.  Anecdotal comments I've heard suggest that the problem
occurs when generating maximum torque in first gear while cornering.

To avoid this rumored problem when I had a Hoppen Stage 1 chip installed
in my ECU, I added a boost controller (A'pexi AVC-R) programmed to match
the chip's maximum pressure (1.3 kg/cm^2) in the higher gears, and the
OEM pressure (1.1 kg/cm^2) in 1st gear.  However, I also don't try
maximum torque turns in 1st gear.  If I tracked the car, however, and
found a slow corner, I'm sure eagerness might overcome sense.

There are plusses and minuses with a boost controller.  Besides the
advantage above, I also get a great peak and instantaneous boost gauge,
or various other functions that can be displayed against one another. 
Also, the boost is "snappier" due to the way the wastegate is used.  

Disadvantages include: One of the several ways the ECU can limit boost
if it detects a problem is bypassed, boost programming subtleties that
the chip author might have wanted are bypassed, and the A'pexi readout
is green-blue, not red.  I am at sea level and use Sunoco 94 gasoline to
provide a large margin against detonation.  If I lived in the mountains
of CA, detonation would be a real concern, so it would have to be
listened for.  Detonation is not so obvious in a water cooled engine, as
it was in my air-cooled 1966 turbo Corvair.

kirby


David Greaves wrote:
> 
> Okay,
> 
> I am thinking about buying a chip upgrade, b/c as a
> former 98 Vette driver, I miss a 100+mph quarter mile
> car bottom line, plus I would like to minimize some of
> the power lulls I have found with my 94 S-4.
> 
> I see that there is Superchips, MTM, and TAP.  I
> notice that TAP is significantly less expensive.
> Whats the difference? And when considering the bang
> for the buck aspect, (Id rather not spend a ton of
> money) which is the better route to go? I have read, I
> believe from the UrS4 site, that the TAP renders less
> horsepower, but still brings on gobs of torque at
> boost.  Furthermore, does anyone have any  sense of
> the 0 to 60 times I can see using the respective chips
> above and with K and N filter on each one?
> 
> Finally, what are the real concerns in terms of car
> wear when chipping the s-4?  I dont want to replace a
> tranny because of this!
> 
> thanks for all the help you can offer
> 
> David Greaves
> Atlanta, GA
> 1994 Pearl s-4 w/83,000 miles.
> 
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