Tuner vs. Chip

2000stallion · February 7th, 2010, 11:07 PM

I want more power out of my v6 mustang. I have a couple bolt ons but want to see more power out of them with a chip or a tuner. My dad says chips are bad on the engine. But he doesnt think i need any more horsepower than i have. So which should i get. Oh i also plan on getting 3.73 gears soon. So i need to plan around that too. I own a 2000 3.8.

mcqueen · February 7th, 2010, 11:27 PM

1. Chips are not bad on your engine. A bad tune is bad on your engine. Get a good tune and a chip is just fine. I personally went with a handheld tuner. I prefer being able to change some things myself.

2. Read this: Simple Buyers Guide to Mustang Chips and Mustang Tuners at Americanmuscle.com

JASonic · February 8th, 2010, 12:54 AM

dont be cheap. get a good handheld.

Get a reputable tuner to help you at least run some datalogs to have it done right. A tuner will NOT hurt your engine if you use it correctly....it can actually do it some good along with better MPG.

24KStang · February 8th, 2010, 01:10 AM

Which handheld tuner do you suggest? I've looked a SCT and Diablo but I am not sure which one I should go for? And should I wait until I have bolt-ons before I buy a tuner? Thanks

JASonic · February 8th, 2010, 01:29 AM

I had an XCALIII and I loved it. It was easy to use and it made the car totally different. I cant say it is better than diablo because Ive never used that kind. I know the Xcal was great though. To your second question, you can get it now and start having fun with it. As you add mods you will use the tuner to make adjustments with those aftermarket parts. I wish I would have put mine higher on my "mod list".

2000stallion · February 8th, 2010, 08:35 AM

All i really would want is maybe a econo tune and performance tune. Basically im just looking for speed. Im in high school so im not really shooting for the fastest v6 in the state...I just want to get all the power i can from my mods already.

mcqueen · February 8th, 2010, 09:05 AM

A handheld would really be your best bet. It's extremely useful when you change gears or wheel size and AM offers free tunes for life with the SCT SF3/X3 and one of the DiabloSport tuners. It's no dynotune, but it's free and good enough for most bolt ons.

Codeman · February 8th, 2010, 11:48 AM

I would say go with the xcal 3 from am. I have one, and it works great. The free tunes are nice also. I do not know much about diablo, but it seems that most mustangs use sct software to tune.

goren813 · February 8th, 2010, 12:34 PM

^Agreed, and most every place I've been that does tuning works exclusively with SCT.

rfcsoulja · February 8th, 2010, 01:04 PM

^Thus why I sold my Diablo for the SCT. They both work the same and do the same stuff, but the availability of tuners for the SCT far exceeds the ones for Diablo (especially e-mail tuners).

24KStang · February 8th, 2010, 03:38 PM

Thanks my q's been answered... SCT it is!

Trick Tuners · February 8th, 2010, 03:50 PM

Hit me up. I'm in san diego too. My dyno is damn close to be rolling now!

NASTY03GT · February 8th, 2010, 04:08 PM

I have a SCT Xcal3 and I love it!! Very easy to use. I personally recommend a handheld tuner for it is a flash for the computer rather than a chip that just piggy-backs onto your current computer. Plus the handheld tuner gives you the ability to change settings, a chip cannot. More advantages with a handheld tuner. Only advantage to a chip is changing the tunes you have set on the fly with the dial.

Codeman · February 8th, 2010, 04:56 PM

The nice only way that i would have a chip is if I was running different octanes all of the time, then I would get one so I would not have to carry my tuner around.

February 7th, 2010, 11:07 PM	#1
2000stallion Hardcore Enthusiast 2000 Mustang slow@slow Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Kansas Posts: 2,000 iTrader: 1 reviews	Tuner vs. Chip I want more power out of my v6 mustang. I have a couple bolt ons but want to see more power out of them with a chip or a tuner. My dad says chips are bad on the engine. But he doesnt think i need any more horsepower than i have. So which should i get. Oh i also plan on getting 3.73 gears soon. So i need to plan around that too. I own a 2000 3.8.

February 8th, 2010, 11:48 AM	#8
Codeman Hardcore Enthusiast Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: North Dakota Posts: 2,933 iTrader: 1 reviews	I would say go with the xcal 3 from am. I have one, and it works great. The free tunes are nice also. I do not know much about diablo, but it seems that most mustangs use sct software to tune. __________________ UDP, CAI, True Duals, LTs, 91 Tune from TT, 3.73 gears, Tlok,Windstar upper, GT TB, Ported lower, Comp 218/226 cam, FRPP C Springs, J&M LCA, Tokico Blue shocks and struts, and J&M Full Length Subframe Connectors

February 8th, 2010, 12:34 PM	#9
goren813 MM's Official Lucifer '00 3.8L & '05 4.6L Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Odessa, FL Posts: 3,620 iTrader: 0 reviews	^Agreed, and most every place I've been that does tuning works exclusively with SCT. __________________ "Fast she goes...in the city of Overdose"

February 8th, 2010, 03:50 PM	#12
Trick Tuners MM Fanatic KB'd GT Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: San Diego Posts: 4,467 iTrader: 3 reviews	Hit me up. I'm in san diego too. My dyno is damn close to be rolling now! __________________ Check out my forums for stuff on troubleshooting, tuning, etc We teamed up with Socal Performance Racing to bring dyno tuning to San Diego. Be friends with us on FB

February 8th, 2010, 04:56 PM	#14
Codeman Hardcore Enthusiast Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: North Dakota Posts: 2,933 iTrader: 1 reviews	The nice only way that i would have a chip is if I was running different octanes all of the time, then I would get one so I would not have to carry my tuner around. __________________ UDP, CAI, True Duals, LTs, 91 Tune from TT, 3.73 gears, Tlok,Windstar upper, GT TB, Ported lower, Comp 218/226 cam, FRPP C Springs, J&M LCA, Tokico Blue shocks and struts, and J&M Full Length Subframe Connectors

February 7th, 2010, 11:27 PM	#2
mcqueen Dancing Naked In The Rain Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Ozark, MO Posts: 15,719 iTrader: 0 reviews	1. Chips are not bad on your engine. A bad tune is bad on your engine. Get a good tune and a chip is just fine. I personally went with a handheld tuner. I prefer being able to change some things myself. 2. Read this: Simple Buyers Guide to Mustang Chips and Mustang Tuners at Americanmuscle.com

February 8th, 2010, 12:54 AM	#3
JASonic The George Forman of Keepers Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 2,385 iTrader: 20 reviews	dont be cheap. get a good handheld. Get a reputable tuner to help you at least run some datalogs to have it done right. A tuner will NOT hurt your engine if you use it correctly....it can actually do it some good along with better MPG.

February 8th, 2010, 01:10 AM	#4
24KStang Newbie 2k 3.8 5spd Not yet.. Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: San Diego Posts: 43 iTrader: 0 reviews	Which handheld tuner do you suggest? I've looked a SCT and Diablo but I am not sure which one I should go for? And should I wait until I have bolt-ons before I buy a tuner? Thanks

February 8th, 2010, 01:29 AM	#5
JASonic The George Forman of Keepers Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 2,385 iTrader: 20 reviews	I had an XCALIII and I loved it. It was easy to use and it made the car totally different. I cant say it is better than diablo because Ive never used that kind. I know the Xcal was great though. To your second question, you can get it now and start having fun with it. As you add mods you will use the tuner to make adjustments with those aftermarket parts. I wish I would have put mine higher on my "mod list".

February 8th, 2010, 08:35 AM	#6
2000stallion Hardcore Enthusiast 2000 Mustang slow@slow Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Kansas Posts: 2,000 iTrader: 1 reviews	All i really would want is maybe a econo tune and performance tune. Basically im just looking for speed. Im in high school so im not really shooting for the fastest v6 in the state...I just want to get all the power i can from my mods already.

February 8th, 2010, 09:05 AM	#7
mcqueen Dancing Naked In The Rain Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Ozark, MO Posts: 15,719 iTrader: 0 reviews	A handheld would really be your best bet. It's extremely useful when you change gears or wheel size and AM offers free tunes for life with the SCT SF3/X3 and one of the DiabloSport tuners. It's no dynotune, but it's free and good enough for most bolt ons.

February 8th, 2010, 01:04 PM	#10
rfcsoulja Hardcore Enthusiast 01 True Blue v6 to slow to matter Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 1,141 iTrader: 0 reviews	^Thus why I sold my Diablo for the SCT. They both work the same and do the same stuff, but the availability of tuners for the SCT far exceeds the ones for Diablo (especially e-mail tuners).

February 8th, 2010, 03:38 PM	#11
24KStang Newbie 2k 3.8 5spd Not yet.. Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: San Diego Posts: 43 iTrader: 0 reviews	Thanks my q's been answered... SCT it is!

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