Hey, i just got a 91 tbi firebird, she is bone stock, I am looking into getting a chip to help free up some power, just had a few questions. Does the chip actually work? If so should i wait until i have done more modifications to the car, or will the gains be the same even if the car is not modified.

 

A chip will definitely help even if the motor is bone stock. The stock tune on these cars really isn't all that great to begin with. With each modification you do, a new chip will probably be needed, it all just depends on the modification done. For example, install an open element, probably won't need a new chip, put in an LT4 cam, you will absolutely need a new chip.

But, first things first, stay away from those Jet, Hypertech, etc. off-the-shelf chips, as well as E-Bay "custom" PROMs/chips. They do nothing, absolutely nothing. All they do is make nice $150 paperweights (trust me, I know). All those chips do is add a little timing and fuel, that's it.


Now, for your options. The best option, by far, is to just do it yourself. The parts needed aren't very expensive, and all it really takes is patience and the know-how. Check out the stickies on the DIY-PROM board for some great write-ups on beginning to burn custom chips. It's all going to look like gibberish at first, but it will slowly sink in.

There are some other options, though. Many shops that have chassis dynamometers (dynos) offer custom dyno tuning. It's hard to find shops that still offer custom chips for our ECMs, but they are still out there. I have seen mixed reviews on dyno tuning, though. Your other option would be to have someone else burn you a custom chip. That usually requires you to datalog (how to datalog is covered in the PROM burning guides), send that info to them, and then they will send you a custom chip. An example of this would be TBIchips.com. I have seen mixed reviews of him, as well.

 

Well that answered my questions, i remebered seeing an ad in GM hightech performance for a company called TBIchips, i looked it up and for the price, and the suggested gains i think i just might have to order one, they cost half as much as ones i have seen in catalogs. When checking his stuff out on ebay, it said that insalling this chip will disable the 110-115mph speed governer. Do both auto and manual have this or just auto?

 

They both have the limiter.

I would wait on the chip, put an open element on, then full exhaust and some rear end gears, then maybe think about the chip (unless of course you do it yourself, in which case you could pick up some power). The chip is just not a good bang for your buck deal. You WILL feel the difference with an open element and full exhaust, it will be like a night and day difference in your car.

 

yeah i would recomend the open elemnt and full exhaust also. i would recomend the edelbrock tes headers, very nice response. those two do make a world of difference!!

 

Then burn your own chips, it is well worth it. On my old 355 I went from LAME to FAST and TAME by burning my own chips. It is the ONLY way you are going to make a modified engine run up to its potential. ANYTHING that changes the volumetric efficiency of the engine needs to be calibrated for.

 

Welcome to the boards. I see you are a newer member so I figure I'd let you know about the function available to you. Just type in the keywords you are looking for (which, for what you are asking about in this thread, you'll find somewhere in the neighborhood of 4,238,095 threads covering what you are looking for. Since I know your topic has been covered QUITE a few times, I'm sure you'll find the info you need, so I'm going to close this thread. Good Luck!!

Bruce (90RS305)