Topic: BEST CHIP/MODULE!?

[cjwvalentine]

Christmas is coming up, so I was wondering what the best chip would be for just plain performance and I guess a little bit better gas mileage. Mainly for performance though. I'm probably gonna go with the Hypertech MaxEnergy, but if anyone knows of a better one, I'd love the input. It can't be ridiculously expensive either...

[Main One]

I don't have any experience with the MaxEnergy, but I did have a Hypertech Power Programmer III for a while.  The Predator handheld had a lot more versatility than the Power Programmer, and seems to be the favorite around here, although a few of us  do our own tuning with computer software and interfaces such as what you can get from HPTuners, LS1Edit, etc., which have A LOT MORE VERSATILITY.

[cjwvalentine]

My brother has the MaxEnergy in his 04 Silverado and it that truck spins 'em. My father has the Power Programmer in his 3500 Diesel. I'm just looking for something that I can plug into the OBD II and go. Not too intense. I'll just be speeding on straight-aways and trying to avoid the Smokeys. 

Plus, I wouldn't know the first thing about the intense computer stuff I'm sure a lot of you guys know. I'm only 19. 

[oHIobellboy]

I want to point out that your brothers Silvy has a lot less weight on the back wheels also making it easier to break traction. I use a Predator with good results in both mileage and performance. Most handhelds ain't cheap though. Figure $350 - $400.

[cjwvalentine]

Any idea how much more HP or MPG you're getting? Those predators and superchips just seem like they're made cheap and sold for so much, maybe it's just the cheap name, but they give me a bad vibe. Hypertech has the info on their website for my truck, if you can beat +18 HP +16 TQ and a couple extra mpg's I'll definitely rethink it.

And I figured it would be a bit different than my brothers Silv, but I'm planning on putting some dual exhaust and a K&N in her next summer, so I should be getting a bit of power from all of this once I'm done. 

[oHIobellboy]

Mines an 04 z71 so it's 4x4. Keeping the cruise set on the highway so I stay around 2100rpms I've gotten as high as 19.8 on a long, pretty flat trip. Driving around town is mid 14's so I'm beating the sticker mpg both ways. As far as being cheap, I wouldn't say that. It has a lot more features than the HP as far as parameter adjustments. HP and TQ numbers? I've never had it dyno'd so I can't answer that but I will say that my SOTP dyno tells me it will out run my wife's '05 without problem.

[oHIobellboy]

Oh one more thing. Don't sell yourself short. There's plenty of brilliant young adults out there.

[Main One]

I want to point out that your brothers Silvy has a lot less weight on the back wheels also making it easier to break traction. I use a Predator with good results in both mileage and performance. Most handhelds ain't cheap though. Figure $350 - $400.

Seems these things go for about half of new price used on ebay.

[06MonteSS]

the diablo predator offers you the most adjustability than any of the others...

you can get 'em brand new, with full warranty, for only $279 at marylandspeed.com.. and free shipping too...

also, get the pc interface kit for it - which is the usb/serial cable and power adapter... so you can connect it to your Windows PC in order to download recorded data logs, and to import/export tune files for when you want a custom tune done for your truck...

yes, unlike the other handhelds out there, you CAN get custom tuning done for the diablo predator for your vehicle...  from diablosport CMR custom tuners (like myself)....   

[cjwvalentine]

I'm looking on the DiabloSport website and it seems like they do have a sh*tload more versatility, and they say trucks have a 20-30 HP gain, which would beat Hypertech's 18.

The only thing I'm concerned with is not having enough knowledge of all the options on the Diablo Tuner. Like is it going to ask me what I want to do with Torque Management and Injector Slope. I don't have the slightest clue about these, can I just make them automatic or something?

[oHIobellboy]

CJ, that's where the preset or "canned" tunes come in. You can use those tunes or even tweak those to your liking. People like Monte have the software also to create a tune for you,email it to you and then you upload it depending on any mods you've done to your Avy.

[06MonteSS]

I'm looking on the DiabloSport website and it seems like they do have a sh*tload more versatility, and they say trucks have a 20-30 HP gain, which would beat Hypertech's 18.

The only thing I'm concerned with is not having enough knowledge of all the options on the Diablo Tuner. Like is it going to ask me what I want to do with Torque Management and Injector Slope. I don't have the slightest clue about these, can I just make them automatic or something?

no, it doesn't "ask" you anything... you would just have to go in and make adjustments if you wanted to...

you can install the preset tunes as-is (which were developed on a dyno for the specific vehicle you're applying it to) and just leave it at that... you don't have to adjust anything if you don't want to, but you'll get better performance and mileage if you do...

or for more, you can do some data logging with it to see where your average long term fuel trims are at, and then modify the tune and adjust the injector slope to get your fueling more in line so that you get your average LTFT's in the 0 to -2 range...

torque management is already disabled in the tune...   tranny/shift parameters are already tweaked in the tune, but you can adjust them more if you want, like shift pressure for more or less firm shifts... 

or, like Ohiobellboy said, you can get a custom tune written specifically for your vehicle and not have to worry about doing any of that stuff yourself...  you would just email a diablosport CMR custom tuner (like myself) a data log file, copies of your original backup stock tune file and "last tune written" tune file, their fee, and then a custom tune would be created for you....

it would be emailed back to you, you import it to the predator, then install to your truck, and you're done....

it's really not that difficult once you get it and get used to it....

feel free to hit me up anytime for any questions you may have about it, or what to do, how to do something, etc etc...

you can also check out diablosport's forums and ask questions...  a lot of good info, tutorials, etc over there...

here's their GM Gas forum:  http://diablosport.com/index.php?name=PNphpBB2&file=viewforum&f=26