Powerchip or Unichip - Ford Forums - Mustang Forum, Ford Trucks, Ford Focus and Ford Cars

ricks · 06-03-2002, 03:52

Has anyone installed either the Powerchip or Unichip in a 2001 XR8,220kw. If so how is it performing. I have listened enough to the sales pitches from both suppliers on how and why blah blah blah. Would like to hear some facts. Any info would help.

EDxr8EBgt · 06-03-2002, 04:05

Both shite as far as I am concerned.
Why don't you try an eec tuner.

ricks · 06-03-2002, 04:07

tell me more on the EEC tuner

svo347 · 06-03-2002, 04:08

Seriously mate stick the Powerchip......

Jase_ELXR8 · 06-03-2002, 04:33

Dont really need either. AU computers handle everything pretty well and can adjust fine to mods.

PigDog · 06-03-2002, 05:10

I'd just like to mention what a disgrace i think 'Powerchip' are. Come now any company who sells 'Bronze, Silver and Gold' power level chips is just being ridiculous. What if you buy a bronze is that one tuned incorrectly? Silver, well we almost tuned that one correctly but not quite! Gold, yes that is the maximum power gain you can get from ECU tuning and we did it without even looking at your car and with no idea what modifications it has but yes this is still tuned correctly for your car. Of course if you do tell us what modifcations you have we will then tell you our chip is taking those modifications into account even tho we have no ****ing idea cos we probably haven't even tested it!

And why does it cost more money to burn a good chip than it does a bronze chip?

Really i think the only benefit a custom chip that is not tuned in real time can have is to remove a rev-limiter, speed-limit or similar electronic barrier. Unichip is not perfect but at least has to be tuned on a dyno in real time so you can be sure of some benefit for your engine. Every engine is going to require different fuel mixtures and be able to take different levels of timing before experiencing detonation, which powerchip's 'one size fits nothing' approach does not take into account.

From my experience a powerchip owner will always describe the improvement as 'improved throttle response!' which basically means 'It did absolutely **** all but i don't want to admit i just wasted 700 bucks which could have gone towards an actual physical engine mod'. hehe

anyway, rant over!!

xf351gt · 06-03-2002, 09:48

save the money get the eec tuner then you can change as
your engine upgrades.

you ditch the chip in 6months or sell it to a friend.

LTD4Me · 06-03-2002, 14:53

A slight side track....I want to get another EEC for the ZL LTD and write my own programs for it. problem is....don't know where to start (type of processor, instruction set, burning etc. Any ideas would be 'swell'

V8RUMBLE · 06-03-2002, 19:23

Quote:

Originally posted by PigDog
I'd just like to mention what a disgrace i think 'Powerchip' are. Come now any company who sells 'Bronze, Silver and Gold' power level chips is just being ridiculous. What if you buy a bronze is that one tuned incorrectly? Silver, well we almost tuned that one correctly but not quite! Gold, yes that is the maximum power gain you can get from ECU tuning and we did it without even looking at your car and with no idea what modifications it has but yes this is still tuned correctly for your car. Of course if you do tell us what modifcations you have we will then tell you our chip is taking those modifications into account even tho we have no ****ing idea cos we probably haven't even tested it!

And why does it cost more money to burn a good chip than it does a bronze chip?

Really i think the only benefit a custom chip that is not tuned in real time can have is to remove a rev-limiter, speed-limit or similar electronic barrier. Unichip is not perfect but at least has to be tuned on a dyno in real time so you can be sure of some benefit for your engine. Every engine is going to require different fuel mixtures and be able to take different levels of timing before experiencing detonation, which powerchip's 'one size fits nothing' approach does not take into account.

From my experience a powerchip owner will always describe the improvement as 'improved throttle response!' which basically means 'It did absolutely **** all but i don't want to admit i just wasted 700 bucks which could have gone towards an actual physical engine mod'. hehe

anyway, rant over!!

So true

. I've heard they just get a chip out of another car and sell it to you at a ridiculous price

.
I went the way of Chiptorque but had the cam and chip job done, and included was tynotuning and a few other things. I got a 26rwkw increase. I allready had extractors, high-flow cat and 2.5" sports exhaust.
I thought Unichip was where they hooked up the unit/box and a laptop and changed the programing of the unit while they drove your car on the street or on a dyno. I could be wrong here

.

06-04-2002, 02:19

Stick a K & N filter in the car first. That definetely helps
I am a bit unsure about these power chips. My uncle recommended to me to change the cylinder heads to yella terra or similar performance brand
Said that would make a big difference.
Do the simple stuff first. Exhaust & Filter