[Wavey]

I had Steve Wong (stevekw@pacbell.net) burn a custom chip for me several months ago and I just got time to install it last week. Man, what a difference! Not a huge power increase but definitely much better overall.

The car is an '88 Carrera 3.2, with Dansk euro premuffler and Dansk sport muffler with a single 84mm tip. The face has been cut off the airbox and it has a K&N filter. Those changes alone provided a very nice power boost, but the chip really woke the car up! BTW, the car originally came with the better "8" chip (same thing as a Club Sport chip but with the stock RPM limit).

I asked Steve to keep the timing a little on the conservative side because I sometimes run the car in hot weather with the A/C on, and I didn't want any preignition issues. Many of the mass-produced chips run up to 33 degrees total advance, but we held this one to 29 degrees. Otherwise the timing is more advanced throughout the range, and the fuel maps are richer where needed. I also had him hold the stock RPM limit because I really don't spend a lot of time up around redline. Most of the chip manufacturers get higher horsepower numbers by raising the RPM limit.

The main things I notice are:

Improved throttle response - the engine always feels like it's ready to go with the slightest crack of the throttle. A lot like the Saab Turbos we've owned for years, once they're up on boost.

More power down low, like below 3000 RPM - not a lot but definitely noticeable. It accelerates faster and smoother from lower RPMs than it did before.

More power from 3500 to redline - pulls smoother and harder than it did before, and right up to redline. This is especially noticeable in 4th and 5th.

Before the chip swap the exhaust made an occasional popping sound on decelleration (probably from a lean condition?), and that's gone. The exhaust note sounds healthier too.

Absolutely no evidence of preignition, even with the A/C on and air temperatures in the high 90's, oil temperature at about 210 degrees.

I couldn't be happier and I'd recommend Steve's work to anyone. You can get a custom chip burned specifically for your application for quite a bit less than what the mass-produced chips cost.