Hi. I am installing a Holley Stealth Ram, Cam, etc. on a 1986 TPI 305. Need to get a custom chip. Any recommendations on who/where I should get this done?

 

Anyone out there use Hawk's to customize a chip? Any other companies?

 

tpichips.com is mentioned here and there.

 

as said harris performance
http://www.tbichips.com

hes great with gm fuel injection. he did my tpi chip and just a few weeks ago i sent a 2003 s10 xtreme pcm for a tune.

(there's 5 different web addresses that will bring you to his site.tbi,tpi,harris performance LLC etc. )

 

Few have responded, so I’ll stick my neck out here. IMO, there is no one who can provide a chip that will provide optimum performance for yours or any other engine. No one! Yes, they can get close by modifying a stock PROM based on specs you provide, but it is virtually impossible (no, it’s impossible) to remotely tune a car. Many of the chip vendors will certainly disagree with me, but so be it. Unfortunately all too many of the custom chip programmers merely change the injector flow constant, a few idle parameters, and a couple of the spark advance settings in addition to disabling VATS, setting EGR delete, etc.

The reason an engine cannot be “remotely” tuned is because there are just too many variables that have to be set and tested; reset and retested, etc. It’s an iterative process, and no one has the magic answer. Plus, every engine is different. Every engine!!! You’re far better off investing the $$$ you would spend for a “custom chip” by buying the stuff needed and doing it yourself. Plus, you can also change many other important parameters that have absolutely nothing to do with how the engine runs, such as fan on/off temps, various learn temps, VSS settings, TCC lockup speed settings, etc. Here’s one of many examples. Suppose you have a 700R4 auto trans and the lower gears TCC lockup has not been set to a proper MPH. You accelerate only to find your trans locking up in third gear once the MPH setting has been exceeded. Likely not what you would want to have! Ditto for 4th gear.

There is more than enough information on this and other sites to educate anyone who is truly interested in doing it. I’m a testimony to that. I’ve always had pre-computer, carbed cars and have been successful doing it myself thanks to great sites like TGO and those here willing to share what they know. Thanks to everyone!

Yea, I have a few bruised knuckles and have made many mistakes, but you learn from your mistakes. You don’t learn by having someone else do it for you – and as a first shot only! After a few months of learning and playing, I have a 128 +/- BLM engine at all RPMs and loads. Life is good!

So now all the chip vendors are mad at me. That’s OK. DIY is the only way to go!

PS – Ever see a top fueler, funny car or any other computer-controlled/monitored car tuned by someone not at the track?

 

your tcc scenerio is how they leave the factory.that is always fixed by a aftermarket chip.

when i have a chip done or ecm flashed by harris performance you speak to him on the phone,and there is a sheet you fill out to specify all the specs of vechicle.
including,fan temps,tire height,gear ratio,desired idle,fuel octane,along with anything done to the car,motor and trans.

not everyone has time or desire to datalog a car to get that extra 5-15% left on the table with a mail order tune.

and not to mention that a majority of owners would just stuff a big cam in a tbi 305,leave the stock prom in and crank up the fuel pressure and throttle stop screw and hope it runs.thats what happens to a lot of camaro's and birds.i consider a mail order tune far better than that

gm produces millions of motors and they leave the assembly line with the same tune,and they run 2-3 hundred thousand miles with that tune.

if its a radical 11:1 motor that wont idle under 2 grand then you wouldnt be worrying about a prom or tcc settings