[Shotimes] Chip Help

[Adam Parrott]

Robert,

Steve and the others have made some good points here.  If you'd like some
additional "food for thought" concerning chips and tuners, visit the thread
on the SHO Forum below where I briefly outlined the pros and cons of each.
Hopefully it will help give you a better idea of which way to go:

http://www.shoforum.com/showthread.php?p=218953

Contrary to popular belief, the reason for H3Zx's "crappiness" actually has
more to do with chipset issues and not factory programming.  I know it may
surprise some people, but there really isn't much difference between the
H3Zx and D4U1 factory programs, tranny programming included.  FWIW, I've
also heard from several people who have had zero problems running a stock
H3Zx computer with a rebuilt ATX and no chip on their '93.  YMMV.  ;)

Having seen several Superchip dumps, I agree with Steve that a Superchip is
NOT the way to go with a V6 SHO.  Their "off-the-shelf" programming for the
V6 SHO computer is a joke, and the (lack of) methods that they use to
modify shift behavior on the ATX gives the appearance of being lazy and
careless - too many shortcuts taken with not enough of the proper tables
being utilized.  Stick with a Ted B. LPM or chip from Alberto at
americanmotorsports.com and you'll be a lot better off, IMO.

Adam

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Steve Tatro" <stevetatro_shotimes@earthlink.net>
To: "ROBERT SCHIRMER" <1surferbum@msn.com>; "TaurusSHO"
<shotimes@autox.team.net>
Sent: Monday, June 14, 2004 6:59 AM
Subject: Re: [Shotimes] Chip Help


As someone already stated, the first upgrade you want is the D4U1 computer.
The H3Z program was apparently such a piece of crap that it lasted one
whole model year in the SHO, then they revised it and were happy enough to
use it for the final two years of the V6 ATX.

I have a Ted B. LPM in my '93 ATX (with the D4U1).  He won't even program
one for the H3Z series computers; he'll tell you the same thing I am about
upgrading the computer first.  I think he still sells them for $200 program
med, which includes free lifetime reprograms (you pay the shipping both
ways, obviously).

I tried a Superchip in my '93 ATX for about a week.  I was testing it for
another list member who thought it may be causing their car troubles.  It
didn't wreak any havoc on me, but man did the car slam into certain gears.
Especially the 1-2 shift; I thought the tranny was going to fall out.
Luckily I have a good rebuild with shift kit, etc. to stand up to some
abuse.  I would not feel comfortable putting my tranny through that on a
permanent basis.  We all know the sloppy factory 1-2 shift is bad, and a
quick firm shift is good, but the Superchip just takes it too far, IMO.

Get the D4U1 and you'll know it's an upgrade immediately.  I was able to
feel the shifting improvements immediately.  The LPM just made it that much
better!

Good luck.

-----Original Message-----
From: ROBERT SCHIRMER <1surferbum@msn.com>
Sent: Jun 13, 2004 12:43 PM
To: TaurusSHO <shotimes@autox.team.net>
Subject: [Shotimes] Chip Help

Guys

I am thinking about getting a chip for my '93 ATX. The only other upgrade I
have made is a 80 mm Pro-m MAF.

Any recommendations on chip manufacturer, or about getting one where you
can do the programming yourself on a hand held  programmer, versus sending
one back to the manufacturer all the time. Would the chip have to be
reprogrammed if the exhaust system gets upgraded in the future??
Approximate costs??

Thanks
Bob