Is it really worth getting an inexpensive performance chip? would it actually do anything?

Hi, This is a new one of me. The two typical "chips" you see, are either a very stupid, simple resistor which you are supposed to fit into your own ECU - this just tells it to invoke the Choke injector, and treat ALL your miles as if they were the first ones on a very cold morning! The "logic", which is deeply flawed, is that for REAL POWER, you need MORE FUEL heading into the cylinders. The TRUTH is, you need the CORRECT amount of fuel in the Fuel/Air mix heading into the cylinders. The second aspect to chip-tuning, is to either have your own ECU re-programmed, or remove the Master chip inside your ECU, and swap it for one on which a "better" program has been written. I have bought one of these, from Germany, from a specialist tuner. The cost was around 50 pounds ($75 or so), but I obviously had to fit it myself. Taking the car to a Tuner, I would expect a firm like Superchips to charge me at least 350 pounds (about $500). It really DOES make the car more flexible at lower RPM's, it DOES give me more torque, the original program gives it's all between 4,000 and 6,000 rpm, but the car is sharper, pulling harder from 2,800 to the maximum 7,200 rpm on the tacho. Power is up by around 15%, from 152 to 175bhp, in a light and responsive car. All this from 2 litres, with a supercharger still to add. If it's cheap enough, give this a try - but I'd first try the owners' forums online, to see what they recommend. I'm sure my chip CAN be driven very gently, to get more mileage from a gallon, but that's not why I bought THIS car, and I do tend to drive it like I stole it.

That chip would do absolutely nothing. The majority of the cheap eBay "performance" parts do not do absolutely anything to increase output or efficiency. That includes electric superchargers, special swirly intakes, chips, etc. If you want more power you would start of with a cold-air/ram-air intake, cat-back exhaust, headers. You would then go on to a better intake manifold/throttle body and camshaft. For all of the above you would need some manner of tuning the vehicle to get the most power, although it would only be absolutely necessary if you did intake manifold/throttle body/cams.

heres an option for you to get good power from a 4.3L: buy a GOOD CUSTOM MADE $400 chip matched to your modifications like a Motorvation chip. you will gain some power if you have supporting mods. if you have no other modifications you dont need chip. 4.3L are a 350 5.7L minus 2 cyl and are known as a 3/4 350. there is potential to make good power and torque with it. there were aluminum blocks made for racing at one point and aluminum heads, they are hard to find. if i where looking for more power for a 4.3L id get a mail ordered performance chip (summit racings website has them) matched to an aftermarket cam, and headers/3" exhaust. EBAY CHIPS ARE A RIPOFF- TO BEAT A DEAD HORSE!!! Heres a few sources of good info to anyone who wants to learn about making power with a 4.3L Chevy V6 from about the mid 80's to mid 90's and newer ones too. these parts would be worth getting. 1--4.3L chevy built by Hotrod Magazine. 300 hp 300 ft/lbs torque + http://www.hotrod.com/techarticles/engine/113_0208_chevy_43l_262ci_v6_engine_build/viewall.html 2--Custom built Motorvation computer chips from summit racing http://www.summitracing.com/parts/MVC-7777/ 3-- Hooker long tube headers S10 ect. http://www.holley.com/2465HKR.asp 4-- Holley performance throttle body http://www.holley.com/502-7.asp 5-- Edelbrock intake manifolds http://www.edelbrock.com/automotive_new/mc/manifolds/chevy/performer-v6.shtml 6-- Edelbrock cam kit http://www.edelbrock.com/automotive_new/mc/camshafts/cams_chevy_6cyl.shtml theres lots of other stuff out there. you can use a lot of parts from a 350ci chev in a 4.3 chev. like pistons. check out the first link to Hotrod for more info on that.