Performance Chips - Any suggestions?

[PA_944]

If I could have found the wilks Web site I would have bought a race chip.

[CHICKS]

I have the wilks race chip, it is nice, I remember it smoothing out the idle, but I've had it so long I can't remember much else. The race chip doesn't use the O2 sensor, so it's rich when cold, and I'm fighting cabin exhaust smell, so bleh', it's pretty annoying. Wilks page drive me nuts, and he did talk to me when I first bought it, but now he won't respond to emails.

[BoulderGeek]

I am also curious about the flEaBay chips.

if the vendors have thousands of highly rated sales, on the surface it looks like they are selling something that works.

I remember how many times I took my old Volvo 244 Turbo out while testing manual boost controller, adjustable cam timing, plugs, wires, octane levels, etc. If it pings or knocks, you back off and try something else.

My 944 makes no abnormal engine noises now, so I could immediately tell if the motor started behaving poorly with a chip addition. As long as you don't force it, or make the car live with it for a long time, one would think that you could just revert to the OEM chip and be fine.

I'm curious what PA_944's experience will be. I might go there, as well.

[akaKJB]

Originally Posted by PA_944

Because I'm impatient and curious i ordered a chip from eBay for $30.

I'll report back on how it is.

Add me to that list of people eager to hear about what this chip does to your car. I've been considering one for my '87 944S to see if it helps some of my idling and mileage issues.

[curtisr]

Well, my new chip evened out the crappy idle, kept the tires round, solved global warming and put an end to world hunger. Oh yes, it made my hair grow back.

[BoulderGeek]

Originally Posted by curtisr

Well, my new chip evened out the crappy idle, kept the tires round, solved global warming and put an end to world hunger. Oh yes, it made my hair grow back.

It grew hair on your back?? Count me out!

I just want to know if the Cheap Chips (TM) are bootleg reverse-engineered EPROM clones of better known professional tunes (not that I endorse piracy) or if they are just homebrewed TunerPro guesses by some kid in his Mom's basement.

[944 Ecology]

Originally Posted by kevingross

chipping a na car is, in my opinion, a waste of time and money unless you make coordinated changes to the engine, exhaust, etc.

+10k

[Jp-oh]

Originally Posted by 911tracker85

yep, this is Russel Berry. I have his chip in my 86 951. Lindsey Racing also sells his chips.

regarding the $30 chip from ebay. at that price hope it helps and does not have maps that will damage your engine.

a good chip that improves performance and driveability and does not cause damage to your engine from flawed maps takes a LOT OF DYNO time and knowledge.

I also have Russel's chip on my 85 911 NA, but 944/951s are his main focus.

Hello and sorry for the hijack. I have a Russell berry multi board chip in my 911 but the switcher is broken. I had an email correspondence with Russell about this a while ago but I have stopped receiving responses to all my emails and voice mails so I assume he was no longer in business. I'm guessing from this thread that's not the case?

Thanks

[fiily]

Originally Posted by BoulderGeek

I am also curious about the flEaBay chips.

if the vendors have thousands of highly rated sales, on the surface it looks like they are selling something that works.

I remember how many times I took my old Volvo 244 Turbo out while testing manual boost controller, adjustable cam timing, plugs, wires, octane levels, etc. If it pings or knocks, you back off and try something else.

My 944 makes no abnormal engine noises now, so I could immediately tell if the motor started behaving poorly with a chip addition. As long as you don't force it, or make the car live with it for a long time, one would think that you could just revert to the OEM chip and be fine.

I'm curious what PA_944's experience will be. I might go there, as well.

See ebay chip mythbuster on youtube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VGtImIP6j3A

[PA_944]

Fiily,

I also so that clip while thinking about getting a chip.

The important thing to take from the clip is that that is not a chip! It's snake oil, just the same as the magnet you fit round your fuel line which gives you a 15% improvement in mileage.

My 944 had a similar thing fitted to the air flow meter wiring with a dial you could adjust for more or less power. Didn't do anything at all.

The chips were talking about replace the factory chip inside the ecu and have different mappings.

If they are any good they will improve the driving experience by getting the most from the engine. Manufacturers ecu's are never programed to get the most performance available.

In fact saab used to offer to re-chip your brand new car to give you more horse power, it was even covered under warranty if the dealer did it.

I'm still waiting for mine to arrive 7 days and counting?

[fiily]

Right,

If someone has an ostritch 2.0 or a chip reader, I would love to see the maps and what this thing really looks like "under the hood".

[PA_944]

That's what I've been looking into but don't want to mess with my stock chip in case I kill it.

It should be as simple as copying the stock chip for later use if required and reflashing it.

[BoulderGeek]

OK, I have some good, first hand information on the aftermarket chip experience.

I picked up a 944MAX chip from maxhpkit.com. Normally $250, I snagged a new-in-box version for $160 on Ebay.

What a weird setup for the DME and alarm computers, under a piece of wood. The chip worked perfectly first ignition. I would have to agree with the other posters out on the forums who have said that the chip (944MAX, Wilkes, AutoThority, etc) makes the engine seem smoother and with more torque. I wouldn't say that it feels peakier or like there's more HP at the top end. But, for drive-ability, it does seem like it has added torque across the range.

My exhaust note is actually quieter, which is interesting. The stock DME chip had it running with a Braap-braap kind of sound, and it is now deeper and quieter. Interesting and unexpected.

So, you definitely wouldn't have felt like you got a turbo installed. It is much more subtle. If you had two cars, one with the stock chip and one with this chip, you could tell a driver, the stock is a 2.5L and the 944MAX is a 2.7L and they would probably believe it. A small change, but nice.

Installation was about an hour. I didn't want to damage the DME and had to read a couple of online guides to disassemble safely. The vendor's website was probably the best info at MaxBin - Installation

I reassembled the DME brace wrong, twice. Finally I got it back to where all items fit underneath the board. It would be much faster to do it a second time.

The chip swap and the linear throttle cam upgrade (purchased right here on Pelican Parts) definitely improved the throttle feel and all-around driver's experience. Since I spent under $200 on both, I feel like value was achieved.

[beamishnz]

I had Wilkes chip in my 944S and that ran very very well. I now run a low mileage S2 and the guy I sold my S to, sticks pretty close to me on club runs, even on the long open straights. S2 has more torque to haul it out of the corners but on WOT there is not much to chose between the stock S2 and the chipped S. Also had very good sensible advice and back up service form Wilkes. I'm tempted to try his S2 chip too

[PA_944]

My new chip arrived today, no thanks to the usps who had it sitting in a depot for 12 days.

Anyway the car is filled with 89ron and it says it should run 92 so I'll wait till I run most of the 89 out and refill with 93 before installing it.

[behringer]

I just bought a 88 924s. Does anyone know where I can get a FR Wilks RaceChip? If not, any idea what other chips are out there?

[SReppel]

I bough a Wilkes Race chip last year for my 87 944 that I'm using for a track car.
It did make the car more peppy and increase the rpm range to 7,000.

My car seem to respond a lot better also. I tested a 1/4 mile run with the stock chip and Wilkes chip and with the Wilkes chip was 2 seconds faster in the 1/4 mile. Not much but some difference. I made multiple runs and used track addict to record them.

[ChrisRL]

My 944S2 runs as advertised with my Wilkes chip - no more grandma's soccer wagon feeling, noticeably smoother idle and power curve, and much more like how I had imagined the factory curve to be. Good service and communication from Wilkes here too, BTW.
I had a similar feeling with the Wilkes on my 944, and also recall the difference between the stock 944/1 accelerator and the feeling with the throttle cam installed.

[ckelly78z]

Yes, definately get the throttle cam also. The combo of the Weltermeister throttle cam, and the Wilks chip made the car come alive from what was rather disapointing performance in original form.

[EPiK]

If I can get ahold of FRWilk I will be picking up a race chip for both the 85.1 and the 88.. or maybe just 2 88 chips since I have 2 of the dme's. anyone have any suggestions?