Steve Wong Chip - WOW

david482 · 02-09-2015, 06:42 AM

I have a pretty much stock 89 Cab and have been thinking about mods and things i could do relatively easy and in reading through the posts the SW Chip seemed to great great reviews so finally pulled the trigger.

I installed it this weekend, very easy, toughest part is getting to the nuts that hold the Motronic box, long skinny fingers would help (something my had does not have).

Car fired up and immediately seemed to be run smoother as I started driving. Overall responsiveness seems much better and the seat of the pants dyno sure seems like more power.

So far seems like it has really improved the power and pickup especially around 4K RPM.

Driven97 · 02-09-2015, 07:42 AM

I wouldn't say it uncorked a ton of power in my car by seat of the pants, but the idle, part throttle, and lack of 4k dip improvements cannot be overstated. Maybe my favorite money spent on the car.

megerian · megerian's Garage

Same here, easy to install mod, and totally reversible, assuming you keep the stock chip. I love mine.

gliding_serpent · gliding_serpent's Garage

Best bang for buck for the 3.2's by far. To get that kind of power benifit for any other mod you need to start adding an extra zero to the price.

archizzzz · archizzzz's Garage

anyone using a steve wong chip in california?

jlex · jlex's Garage

My '85 was doing a bit of surging between 2m-3m rpm's. Spent a decent amount of time running it down to no avail. Installed the SW chip in the car last year & surging is now gone. Thanks, Steve.

pepebaja · pepebaja's Garage

I had same question in regards to having SW chip in California and if so, is it a replace with original chip for smog.

cabmandone · cabmandone's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by gliding_serpent

Best bang for buck for the 3.2's by far. To get that kind of power benifit for any other mod you need to start adding an extra zero to the price.

What power benefit is seen? I have seen a lot of S.O.T.P dynos but no real numbers. Does the fuel mapping change throttle response on the low rpm range where it's really needed? My car is a little "doggy" in the low rpm range but wakes up nicely in the 3500 and up range.

Pstallo · 02-09-2015, 02:56 PM

I didn't do any pre- post- dyno tests on my Cab when I installed the chip, but it seems to me like the power comes on sooner in the RPM range than it did before the swap. I really like it. That plus the MK premuffler and an MAF really changed the sound and feel of the car when driving it.

They may be small changes, but they're FUN changes, especially when the top is down.

Pstallo · 02-09-2015, 03:00 PM

BTW, does your 89 Cab have rear shoulder harness seatbelt? I have an 86 and they aren't even a possibility. For the kids' sake, I'm on the lookout for a 911 Cab that does.

jeffbottman · 02-09-2015, 03:05 PM

Quantitative data: SW chip, M&K premuffler and 1/1 muffler, Dynajet dyno run:

241 HP with very good-looking plot.

Stock HP is 207 I believe. '86 car, pretty high mileage.

Driven97 · 02-09-2015, 04:19 PM

There's lots of dyno charts on the 911chips website.

Like I said though, the full throttle stuff is nice. The low end "dip" goes away, and the power doesn't taper off near redline like the stock map. But the real magic is in the part throttle driving, and the better idle control. Makes the car easier and more responsive to drive even just around town. That doesn't show up on dyno charts.

jlex · jlex's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by pmax

Why would a change in mapping fix a surging problem ?

I don't know. Just reporting my experience. Seemed to make it more user-friendly around town at lower speeds as well. Nearly eliminated the "bucking" that I used to have to control by using the clutch more at slow speeds.

Tippy · 02-09-2015, 07:01 PM

Quote:

Why would a change in mapping fix a surging problem ?

Fuel and timing adjustments. You get into an oscillation that can be tuned out if you know how.

Speed metal · 02-09-2015, 07:53 PM

I can report some similar results. I installed a SW chip this winter. 93 octane, cat delete chip I believe..
I installed the chip, started the car. Success!! It ran!

I then took it for a short run(With the stock CAT still in place)
Idle quality was much better. Also seemed to have more zip over 4KRPM. I was happy enough and parked the car. Last month I finally installed the Cat-Delete pipe I built and waited another month for some decent weather.
Happy to report, it was worth the effort. Better response in damn near all the throttle range.The 3.5K power leaves the stock setup in the dust. Sounds much better too with the new pipe. (Gratuitous pics of said pipe to follow lol!)
Worth the $ for sure.

Pstallo · 02-10-2015, 04:00 AM

I agree with the surging fix. Before the chip, mine was a surge at idle from about 800-1200 RPMs about once every two seconds. Don't know how it fixed it, but it did and I ain't complainin'.

david482 · 02-10-2015, 04:08 AM

On the seatbelt question my 89 does not have rear shoulder belts only the lap belts.

gliding_serpent · gliding_serpent's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by cabmando

What power benefit is seen? I have seen a lot of S.O.T.P dynos but no real numbers. Does the fuel mapping change throttle response on the low rpm range where it's really needed? My car is a little "doggy" in the low rpm range but wakes up nicely in the 3500 and up range.

That is a complex question for sure. Maybe best to talk to Steve. He has a lot of dyno charts on his website which are worth taking the time to look through.

Here is the jist of it... Steve Wong shared this himself a number of years back.
It is a good summary of expected gains for the average healthy 3.2. Now this is WOT data, so I can not comment on part throttle/lower RPM gains/losses. I know his site says his chips to remap part throttle also... but to what end I can not say, as my car came with one of his chips. Your choice of intake, exhaust, cams, tuning, etc will also play a big part in the lower and higher rpm gains/losses. Generally, the guys that gain bit top end power do at a cost to low and mid range livability. I went SSI as the primary diameter is more optimal for mid range and part throttle applications. YMMV

Of note, steve also has dyno data of open airboxes adding maybe 5hp to a stock 3.2 (needs to be chipped tuned however). Gains from the airbox increase as the total output of the engine goes up (i.e. more to gain with a more powerful engine).

The advantage of dyno tuning a car with a chip is that you can use the data to id an unhealthy engine, or unhealthy air/fuel ratios (which can be corrected). That in its own right may fix some running problems.

jlex · jlex's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by Speed metal

I can report some similar results. I installed a SW chip this winter. 93 octane, cat delete chip I believe..
I installed the chip, started the car. Success!! It ran!

I then took it for a short run(With the stock CAT still in place)
Idle quality was much better. Also seemed to have more zip over 4KRPM. I was happy enough and parked the car. Last month I finally installed the Cat-Delete pipe I built and waited another month for some decent weather.
Happy to report, it was worth the effort. Better response in damn near all the throttle range.The 3.5K power leaves the stock setup in the dust. Sounds much better too with the new pipe. (Gratuitous pics of said pipe to follow lol!)

Wow... beautiful work on that cat delete pipe. You didn't happen to make a spare, did you?

Bleedsblue · 02-10-2015, 07:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Driven97

But the real magic is in the part throttle driving, and the better idle control. Makes the car easier and more responsive to drive even just around town. That doesn't show up on dyno charts.

Actually, I think this does show up in the charts w/ how smooth/linear the curve is. No?

Quote:

Originally Posted by jlex

Wow... beautiful work on that cat delete pipe. You didn't happen to make a spare, did you?

No kidding! Such welds...