I see some performance chips online as cheap as $60 that promise a 30 hp gain and 8% fuel mileage increase. Now I wouldn't expect 30hp from that, but even 10-15 would be worth the money, not to mention a small increase in mileage. What says the forum? I don't know a lot about them. The one I saw didn't look like it would plug straight into the ecm, it had a case and wires, as if it's made to work outside the ecm. Says you plug it into the IAT. This is just one I found at first click....

http://www.gfchips.com/pontiacfirebird.aspx

 

Bump the base timing, and fuel psi. Work just as well

 

...except I have no idea how to do that yet. I'm still pretty much a rookie when it comes to stuff like that. It'd be easier for me to buy the chip and install it!

 

Sounds like the perfect time for you to learn. Gotta start somewhere and timing is EASY. You just need a timing light. Don't buy into performance chip snake oil. If you're going that route get a real tune from a real tuner.

 

Yeah, I learn something new just about every day. I don't have a timing light yet. I saw a good thread on here about changing timing somewhere. I think I could use a new FPR too, as I can smell just a little gas at the vacuum line. Something else I need to get to sometime. I did a test last week, I was at 35 psi at idle with the vacuum connected, and at 45 with it removed. Not bad, but seems like it could be a little higher with the vacuum on I think. It's borderline from what little I know. From what I've seen, you don't want it lower than 35. BTW, the fuel pressure isn't adjustable on a stock FPR is it? How would you adjust it?

 

And I'm also not sure about messing with the timing when I have a code 32 issue, for which I've done absolutely everything egr related except pull the runners off of it and try to clean inside the intake. I even have a new ecm.

 

Normal base fuel pressure with the vacuum disconnected is 43.5 psi. If yours is actually at 45 then you should be fine. With the vacuum connected it's all dependent on how much vacuum you have so don't fret too much about it. The factory one is not adjustable. Personally I have one that is adjustable but the tune is correct and my psi is at factory settings.

Timing and the code 32 will have no big threat either. I do suggest you fix it before doing anything else. If you don't need emissions and you still want a new tune, get it tuned and have the egr tuned out. Otherwise finish fixing the actual problem. http://sethirdgen.org/egr.htm

 

Yes, I've read that egr tech several times, but it doesn't really help me fix what's wrong with mine. I've checked, changed, etc etc everything except cleaning the intake. One other off the wall thought I had was that the 02 sensor was clogged or malfunctioning, and it was fooling the ecm into throwing a code 32, but not bad enough to throw a 33? IDK. Having the egr tuned out is beginning to look better and better, but I'd rather fix the actual problem.

 

Perform a little research into fuel mileage programming. Specifically, search for "Highway Fuel and Spark Mode" terms and do some reading. The generic. cookie-cutter PROMs which are not tailored to your configuration may not provide all the benefits they promise, and possibly will provide no benefit at all.