A guy I work with recently bought an 89 firebird, 350, some mild bolt ons were on the car when he bought it, like airfoil and headers and some other crap. Anyway, he has had a hard time starting his car. I noticed he has a hypertech chip in the computer and I took it out and swapped it with a bone stock chip that I had from my 89 formy 350. His car started right up! It idled nicely and drove smooth. When we put his chip back in, same friggin problems, doesn't want to idle, runs junky, and isn't smooth.

On my stock chip, timing is at 6 degrees BTDC, on his chip, it retards itself off the damn timing marks! I can't even guess where he's at when his chip is in! I thought the hyperjunk was going to advance timing, not retard timing, what could be the problem or problems that he is having. He wants to keep his chip and I kinda want to keep my chip also. Please help!

 

have you tried disconnecting the knock sensor while using his hypertech too see if it is detecting a knock and retarding to compensate.

 

ID suggest he buy a stock chip , or get one from a salvage yard as a back-up plan, its obvious that he needs a way to test,so he has the option of using it to test with so the car runs decent, those aftermarket chips are well know for failing occasionally,you can,t make logical choices without knowing exactly what your dealing with you might need to set the ignition timing differently if you change CPU chips, so the first step is verifying what your dealing with and true TDC and what your current advance curve IS.
but Id also suggest taking the time to verify you have the correct ignition timing and advance curve and the correct ignition advance, is functional, that starts with a timing light, verifying TDC (TOP DEAD CENTER) and getting a timing tape installed on your damper and a dent index able timing tab




READ THRU THESE LINKS IT SHOULD HELP YOU GET A BETTER GRASP ON THE PROCESS

http://forum.grumpysperformance.com/...hp?f=70&t=1015

http://forum.grumpysperformance.com/...hp?f=70&t=4683

http://forum.grumpysperformance.com/...php?f=70&t=967