Autothority vs. Steve Wong chip

[johnnyo]

First off let me start by saying I've heard nothing but good things about the Steve Wong chip, that being said I have a Autothority chip which was given to me for my 1987 911 and wanted to know if there was a big enough difference between the two to warrant spending the money for a chip from Steve I don't want to spend unnecessarily for just a 2-3 hp advantage with Steve's chip, I'd rather apply the money to a better exhaust upgrade, Thanks for any insight, Johnny O

[juanbenae]

you should ask lorenfb,

have fun.

[nut11]

[DByers]

Subscribing to this thread with popcorn in hand.

[ChrisBennet]

If your planned "exhaust upgrade" reduces the backpressure you really should get a chip for that setup.
-Chris

[Jeremy Cottrell]

No "movie night" with the family tonight Dan?

[DByers]

No "movie night" with the family tonight Dan?

Something tells me this could prove to be more entertaining Jeremy. (plus Im stuck in the office doing paperwork) Now get Brads car done so I can come drive it!!!


Chris nailed it. Leave the stock chip in and then get a chip that works with the upgrades you have planned if you want to go the chip route. I have heard plenty of great things about Steve and I would think he would work with you on what you want.

[drl911]

Originally posted by ChrisBennet
If your planned "exhaust upgrade" reduces the backpressure you really should get a chip for that setup.
-Chris

I am at the same cross roads except my car was already modified by the PO with Autothority chip, headers/megaphones, cam regrind, etc...

Is the implication that the Autothority chip is for a "stock" set-up and the SW chip can be burned custom to your car's current status?

Thanks,
Dan

[buttjoint]

Steve will fix ya right up with what ya need. Don't even consider anything else.

[PorscheG]

Well,

I upgraded my exhaust, (Dansk dual out and Euro- Premuffler). and left the stock chip for a while. I wasn't too impressed. , Then I put an Authority chip on it and got more power (I think this chip runs fuel rich all times) but still I had lots of problems with idle speed. Then ordered S.Wongs Chip and that hit the nail. He sold me the optimized version for 93 octane fuel and that definetely made a difference. After that I still though that the top end speed could be improved and I did not like the smell on the exhaust with the premuffler. So I bough a GHL high flow Catalytic converter.

To make the story short that was the last time a messed with my exhaust, I love the setup and S. Wong Chip put your pants on the seat after you hit 4K RPMs.

Just to give you some input. Others may think different but I am just speaking from personal experience from my own experiments.

[Thrasher]

Ok, I think I'm somewhat qualified to answer this, seeing how I drove my 84 3.2L 911 for almost 2 years with an Autothority chip and have recently swapped it out for a 911Chips (Steve W) chip. I have a B&B header exhaust, K&N Cone filter, and pretty much stock engine other than that. Here are my observations.

1. The Autothority chip worked well. I can only compare to OE chips in other Carrera's because mine has had the Autothority chip since I got it, so my comparison there is not very significant.
2. My plugs and exhaust valves were a little more whitish than tan as I'd prefer with the Autothority. I would attribute that to the fact that the Autothority chip was probably mapped for the OE exhaust and intake, and switching to a header exhaust and (possibly) K&N Cone puts thru more air, causing a lean mixture. Or would the MAF sensor handle that?? Hmm…
3. My low-end torque was a bit lacking with the header exhaust, compared to the OE Exhaust. Steve's chip has restored much of that lost torque, I would assume a richer fuel map could be responsible.
4. I was experience some burbling and slight backfiring with the Autothority chip on decel. That also has gone away, now I'm getting a smooth hum on decel.
5. The car sounds smoother and feels stronger at all RPM ranges.
6. Improved idle stability. Steve uses a 4k mapping, the OE and Autothority chips only used 2k until 1987. A jumper change was required to utilize the DME's capacity of 4k, which Steve says is backwards-compatible if you want to put in a 2k chip later.
7. My Johnson is longer and thicker, and I'm scoring more with the ladies than ever.

Ok, so they're all pretty subjective (except #7, that is fact). But, my engine has not yet blown up, either. Bottom line for me was that Steve's chip is more tailored to my setup than the Autothority was, but I still think the Autothority provides much higher performance than the OE 84 chip does. I found a Bruce Anderson article in Up-Fixen Vol 7 (or was it 8?) where he talked about the conservative mappings on the 84-86 chips and how Porsche realized this and offered the same chip that the CS had for sale as an upgrade.

My car has 156k miles on it and many of those were using the Autothority chip, and I track the car, so it's not been babied. It runs very strongly, but has not been dyno'ed.

I'm sure I'll get picked apart by Loren on this one, and that's fine, I just wanted to offer up my personal (non-empirical) observations.


Craig

PS: My Autothority chip is available if anyone is interested


edit - omigod, I think I have just managed to throw in the 2 most contorversial upgrades Chips and K&N's. I will now add on the record that I do not and never have owned a Cool Collar

[johncarlos2003]

I would suggest that you go with the SW chip for now- then, when you save your dollars for the exhaust upgrade, contact Steve and he can customize it for your new set-up. He does have some kind of charge of that (i don't know amount) but he can tweak it for what you're running down the line. I don't know the Authority chip but I'm rolling an SW happily with no issues on my 88 coupe.

[Rot 911]

I just purchase a SW chip for my '86 with rebuilt 3.2 and backdated with SSI's. When I install it I will report the results. If the chip is crap I will tell you it is crap. If it does nothing, I will so report.

[Venetian]

"Subscribing to this thread with popcorn in hand"

Now that"s funny.

[jorian]

Do your exhaust upgrade and then ask SW to burn you a custom chip for whatever exhaust/intake/octane/etc. you plan on running.

Autothority is an off the rack suit - SW chip is a tailored affair. Can't wait to see myself flamed for that bit.

[mb911]

Me to waiting That is! Really though syeve is a great guy. He has been very helpful and I have never even bought anything from him

[Craig 930 RS]

No brainer.

With Wong, you can't go Wrong.
(Munch, crunch...hey is this Orville...?)

[Nine9six]

Originally posted by k911sc
you should ask lorenfb,

have fun.

Toby,
Quit stirring the pot!

[Rob Channell]

If chipping my car is Wong, I don't wanna be Wight....

[Craig 930 RS]

If you don't use Wong, you be smokin' a bong.....