Chipping my 355 on Tuesday

Keep us posted, I've heard that changing the ECU doesn't really do much but would like to hear your side of the story. Are you doing a before and after BHP reading ?

Rick

 

save your money!!

it makes NO difference on the 355

 

I would love to hear the results - please post them.
Thanks

 

If it's so easy to reprogram cars to run better without any harmfull side effects, why don't they come that way from the factory?

There's got to be some side effects or something I am missing here.

 

The proof would be in the before and after dyno graphs not the subjective performance gage from the driver.

 

I wasn't inquiring so much about the ease or difficulty in reprogramming a chip. I was really wondering why the chips aren't programmed for optimum performance from the factory. I am under the impression that the chips are set from the factory at those values for a reason.

 

Lung...what did you pay for it?

I never gave much credibility for chips. A few weeks ago I installed Superchip in my truck for a little more tow muscle. Wow! I'm a believer. Like Lung, it re-programs your computer vs changing the chip.

Fred - I agree with your logic on FCars. Regular cars, I think, are programed for mileage, emissions, etc. You would think Ferrari max's the performance right out of the box...but I'm interested in Lung's comments.

 

I'm not saying that I don't believe it works, but without dyno before and after to prove it, subjective driving impressions are easily influenced by what you EXPECT to get, not what you actually got.

Birdman

 

Mnay Ferrari's do leave room for performance gains from mapping, but the 355 seems to be well mapped.

Reprogramming to the rev limit (higher) combined with fuel delivery and ignition advance to suit will yield more power....but at the expense of accelerated engine wear.

Changes to bypass valve setting controls, mid range mapping and part throttle settings may improve drivability and smoothness etc, but nothing amazing.

Ferrari's are set to meet strict emission levels. If you sacrifice a bit of that, you can make small gains.

If you found 10BHP within the std rev limit, I'd be surprised.

If you played with cam timing a bit at the same time, you could move the power up or down the rev range to better suit road/track use, but that's not a 5 minute job.......

 

there are probably only 2 companies in the world capable of programming such a chip in a successful way.

The car might 'feel different' but unless that wok has been done on a dyno with extensive testing for days how do you know what is happening in tyhe engine??-- you dont.

Of the 2 companies capable of this work DMS isnt one of them!I repeat on the 355 there is NO differenec

 

Dyno only tells part of the story, throttle response can be related to fuel flow etc, carb cars usualy waste excess fuel on acceleration through throttle pumps but respond much quicker tham most injected cars which are setup for emissions and economy. Changing fuel pressures and flows on acceleration can have a big effect that may not be apparent on the dyno.

 

Well how about Total Performance Inc? Anyone have experience or knowledge of their chips? They run a 1/4 page ad in the Ferrari New Bulletin every issue and claim up to 22hp for a 355 for $595. I've been tempted to try it and dyno the car before/after.

 

355f, who are the two companies that you feel are able to mod a 355?

I'd be interested to talk with them about my own car?

Thanks

 

I was not refering to any particular company that can 'chip' the 355

I was refering to the time required to program a system from scratch on a dyno and rolling road to produce results which firstly, improve performance and secondly, ensure the engine is not being dumped fuel together with many other parameters.

Companies that offer chips for this and that CANNOT have the expertise required and they simply vary the existing map to provide 'performance enhancement!

The 2 companies concerned are not chip companies and they are not based in the UK.

Ultimately, if the individual feels that this has been of benefit then thats fine- personally i would not want to 'chip' a 355 either 2.7 or 5.2 but thats silly old me!!

I am fortunate to know a systems company that does work for F1 and the rally teams, excluding the complications of the bosch system- to map an engine properly takes them 5 days of dyno time- thats not 5 days sitting at a laptop!!
I am not making sweeping statements if dms or superchips or BBR have customers that buy into this then fine!! im just making a balanced argument!

This in fact is very similar to the debate about 'free flow air filters' and the ,improvements one gets from fitting them.

you pays your money and...........

 

I’ve just had a long talk with DMS and I have to say I was very impressed with responses to my questions. I’ll think it over for a week or so but I’m sure I’ll take up their offer.

One of the advantages is an improvement in throttle response, and as they offer a money back guarantee they must be confident of the service that’s on offer.

While ultimate power output of two engines may be the same the shape of the power curve can make the engine & subsequently the car feel very different on the road. Production cars have to comply with some very specific criteria such as drive by noise & emissions. If you relax these conditions, as an independent tuner is able to do, then I believe that it would be possible to pick up gains.

I’m still interested to know the names of the two tuners that 355f mentions, and I don’t disagree that it could take a week on the dyno’ to map a race engine. But and it’s a very big but, getting a little extra out of a 355 may take a day on the dyno’, to then get that last few hp’s may take another week. Its like almost everything in engineering, a process of diminishing returns.

With a race engine the last hp is important with a road going 355 its not.

 

Hi Lung, Glad to hear you are still happy. Have you noticed any significant changes in oil, water temps, pressures? How about throttle response?
--tony

 

What would impress me is if they could change the power spread so there is a bit more low-down grunt. I've not found my 355 lacking in throttle response.

Surely, once a company has done the remap of their first 355, the next one would be very similar so wouldn't take long at all, and might, dare I say it, be a simple matter of software change?

Robert.