SW Chip. Initial Impressions

[shaunmbenson]

So I traded some schwag for a SW chip and premuffler. Then I ordered the m and k 1/1 exhaust

Today I did just the chip because I like feeling what changes do what. For example I updated my shocks before torsions and now I know what each does by feel not just by online info

Installed the chip and car wouldn't start. Turns out the chip was for an 87 and I have 85. This means my DME has a few jumpers soldered differently from what the instructions suggest. So I took a deep breath, broke out my soldering iron and said f*ck it
15 minutes later I had it all back in my car and took her out for a drive

HOLY *****. It's a different car. I describe it like this - my car had potential to be fast before - now it IS fast The kick in the back I used to get at 5400rpms now comes at 3700. It pulls and pushes with a new urgency

The idle has never been a problem and in the hour I had her running the idle is bang on happy

Will let you know how the exhausts feel after i do them tomorrow

[DRACO A5OG]

Nice ��
Congrats

[BFT3.2]

Great to hear!..
Im installing one in my '88 tmrw. Eager and hopeful the "dead range" in the 3000's gets brought to life. Installing a 1 in 2 out exhaust didn't do the mid-range any favors either.

[Hugh R]

Have had a SW chip about ten years. Noticeable difference. I live in LA so Steve and I fine tuned mine on the 101 freeway on a very early Sunday morning. He plugged in some data logger to my DME and then fine tuned it to my ROW.

[Brando]

Originally Posted by BFT3.2

Great to hear!..
Im installing one in my '88 tmrw. Eager and hopeful the "dead range" in the 3000's gets brought to life. Installing a 1 in 2 out exhaust didn't do the mid-range any favors either.

The "dead range" you speak of is frighteningly common. If you still experience it after upgrading, might be time to check the AFM.

[BFT3.2]

Maybe "dead" was a overstatement. Before I installed a 1 in 2 out exhaust the 3000's were lets say weak, after the install it became noticeably weaker. Apparently a known side effect. I'll report back after the install.

[Driven97]

In my car the SW chip completely eliminated the mid-rpm dead spot. It also started better, idled much more solidly, and had a smoother, less lumpy power delivery through the rev band.

I didn't test for sure if it gives me any more power at the top end. It feels like it. But even if it didn't, the improved drivability alone was more than worth the price.

The only mod I've made that had absolutely zero negative tradeoffs, which I guess by default makes it the best mod I've done.

[dw1]

Welcome to the club - those of us who feel justified bowing down in the direction of Steve Wong after we take an exuberant drive.

Many of us had a very similar experience to yours. My '87 has the 93 octane chip along with a Fabspeed premuffler and a Dansk 1-in-2-out and I never thought it would make such a difference - It doesn't show so much in the numbers as in mid-range performance.

[Bleedsblue]

I never had a mid-range dead spot, but my idle was rather jumpy on cold starts. My chip (bought used actually) really improved idle, and noticeably made the car stronger at lower RPMs. A little bit more urgent to redline, but the primary gain felt was low-to-mid range for sure. Love it!

[Retro]

I have a M491 coupe. I had B&B headers into a GT3 exhaust. I was disappointed in the performance. It was still a slug until 4500rpm. Steve did a custom chip for my application. Totally transformed the performance of my engine. It pulls strong from 2000 rpm. The best performance investment you can make. Not to mention Steve Wong is one of the most helpful guys in the Porsche community.

Stephen Retrotech: Classic and vintage Porsche cars, accessories and Porsche parts