I recently purchased an 86 GN, the previous owner has a Hypertech Stage I chip installed. He did give mw the stock chip in case I wanted to use it.
Will this chip hurt my engine?
My car is a daily driver, with occasional stoplight runs against foolish Mustang owners.
Should I keep the chip?
Is there a better chip?
Should I even bother?
Will it hurt my car?
Car is basically stock with K&N filter, 3" downpipe and adjustable wastegate, that I don't even know how to use.
You don't have too much to worry about with Hypertech chips hurting anything. Their technology is/was only slightly above the stock chip anyway.
Yes, there are much better chips available, from many different sources (which you'll learn and hear more about) Most of them are on the "Vendor's list".
So you can run that chip without much worry.
It's an old chip with, perhaps, too much timing for today's version of 93 octane. If you are not running too much boost, it will not do any damage. If the boost is adjusted to 16# or more, you are probably detonating and chewing away on your head gaskets.
Do you have an aftermarket boost gauge? The factory leds are usually a bit inaccurate after this period of time and only go to 17 counting the two red lites at the end as I recall. Mine do not read correctly.
Yes, much better chip selection out there today.
Lengthening the rod decreases boost and vice versa.
Go to the technical resources on this site and read the Spring Cleaning article, the 12 second recipe, and some of the other articles. That will help get you up to snuff more quickly.
Don't be afraid to use the archive search facility, you will find many answers there-use the second version by keyword.
I have an aftermarket boost gauge but its not hooked up it that tough? I also have a temp gauge that is hooked up and an oil gauge that is not hooked up, I have the sending unit for the oil guage and think that will be easy to hook up, I'd like to hook up the boost gauge, can you help, is that tough?
Also, which chip would you recommend?
The boost gauge is simply Tee'd into any of the vacuum/boost lines that come off the vacuum block on top of the plenum as long as the Tee is between the plenum and any check valves that may exist in the line you choose. Many use the line that runs to the map sensor mounted on the passenger inner fender. There are one or two articles on the web site under Technical Resources showing how to to install one. Basically very easy.
As far as chips go, most require more fuel pressure. Do you have an adjustable fuel pressure regulator or the stock appearing unit that the number ends in 237 instead of 233 which was the stock unit as I recall....?
As far as individual chips, there are a number to choose from. With stock injectors, the Thrasher might be a good starter chip and costs only a few dollars. It is available from at least a couple of list members. Jim Testa has a good reputation among list members for his chips as well and I think he may make some for stock injectors. PTE, Jack Cotton and Red Armstrong (Quad Air) have many supporters and their numbers are in the vendor section of the web site.
Before you start buying a lot of parts, however, take some time to read the articles on the site. These cars go surprisingly fast with very minimal upgrades so don't need to buy everything in the catalog....:>)
You got it right Steve. The Bosch 233 was the stock fuel pressure regulator, the 237 is identical in appearance but provides more pressure. It is suggested for use with the Thrasher series of chips, which is nice because you can pick the 237 up from any nearby parts store. The Thrasher needs the extra perssure, but when used in a properly running TR with hotwired hi-volume pump and the 237, will not cause any undue engine damage, and will provide a nice increase in performance.