5.0 Mustang & Super Fords

Performance In A Chip
We Put Superchips Flip Chip To The Test













Performance computer chips burst onto the automotive scene soon after the development of electronic fuel injection, and they became so popular that it seemed every Mustang had a performance chip in it. Promises of improved quarter-mile times had Stang-bangers scurrying to get their hands on one. On a stock Mustang, a chip would improve performance by maximizing the timing curve. That was great for stock, or mostly stock, Mustangs. However, nowadays you can almost count the number of stock Mustangs on one hand. With a modified Mustang, you need a custom computer chip to work with the performance mods that you have added.
Our 90 GT has a Nitrous Express adjustable nitrous kit on it, so we chose to go with a Superchips Flip Chip. The Flip Chip will allow us to run on the naturally aspirated side when just cruising around. However, when were feeling froggy and want to make full use of the laughing gas, we can flip the switch attached to the chip and a second program takes over within the factory computercall it a nitrous program, if you will. The stock program will maximize the timing and fuel curve for naturally aspirated action, and on the nitrous program, the chip will back the timing down to protect against deadly detonation.
On Superchips dyno, and with the Flip Chip installed, our GT put down 207.5 peak hp without the nitrous engaged (obviously). However, with the 75hp jets in the Nitrous Express system, horsepower climbed to 254.5. There are two things to note here. First, our bottle pressure was only about 800 pounds, and optimum bottle pressure is 900-1,100 pounds. So, we need to go ahead and install a bottle heater to realize optimum bottle pressure. Second, after our first dyno runs, we went back and tried to bump up the timing a couple degrees on each program. Once back on the dyno (a matter of minutes), we realized we were going backwards. We actually lost 4 hp from our initial numbers, so we went back in and returned the timing to where it was initially set. Furthermore, we went ahead and installed the 100hp jets, but doing so got us nowhere. The tires were spinning on the dyno. However, we were already hitting 243 hp by 4,100 rpm when the tires started spinning, so we know with the 100hp jets were making a good bit of horsepower.
Even if you dont live around the corner from Superchips, they can still manufacture a custom Flip Chip for you. Theyll send a custom work sheet for you to fill out so they can make a custom chip according to your modifications. They will then burn a custom chip based on your Stangs combination and send it to you, along with a complete installation guide.
The Flip Chip is perfect for nitrous applications because of the drastic change the combustion process goes through when nitrous is added to the mix. Timing is everything when a nitrous system is involved. For supercharged applications, a Flip Chip really comes in handy at the track when youre using race gas and youd like to bump up your timing a few degrees. The second program will do just that. Once youve felt the power a Flip Chip can offer, youll be hookedif you can get traction that is!