How big of an improvement will a chip REALLY make? I see inflated claim, 25 hp, 30 hp, 20 hp! Does it make a difference with the Lightning? Since the Lightning requires 92 octane, wouldn't it already be "chipped" from the factory? How could a superchip improve on something Ford is specifically building for speed? Sorry for all the questions, I'm considering buying a Lightning and need to know what I'm getting into.

 

I'll try to answer most of your questions.
Yes the chip does help the Lightning by adding 26hp and 44 ft/lb torque. The chip accomplishes this in the same way it does for all other Ford engines. The timing, and the fuel/air ratio are changed. And, I don't think that the Stock Lightning is required to run premium. This is why a Lightning chip is a Flip Chip. Flip the switch one way for Premium and the other way for regular. With the changes that the chip makes, the engine would be compromised running regular fuel. Most auto manufacturers would rather that their engines produce horsepower in the 70% range. I hope that I have answered most of your questions, if not feel free to give me a call or drop me an e-mail.
D

 

My 2000 Lightning, bone stock with 600 miles on the odometer, ran a 14.01 with a 2.00 60ft time. At 2,800 miles with an R9 Superchip, it ran a 13.30 with the same 2.00 60ft time. At 3,100 miles with the chip and a cold air/filter setup, it ran a 13.110 with a 2.08 60ft time. This configuration produced 366 rwhp on a Dynojet dynometer. This is an improvement of 1 second in the 1/4 for about $500. If I could get the same 60ft with the current configuration as I did stock, it would be in the 12s. In short, the Lightning responds incredibly well to a chip.

 

You may want to pick up this months issue of Muscle Mustangs and Fast Fords. Their 99 lighting with chip, aftermarket exhaust, Cervini's Ram air hood, with intake, 2400RPM stall torque converter and shift kit, along with slicks ran 12.72 in the 1/4
That sounds like a lot of mods, but it really isn't, considering that they are all simple bolt ons.
I can't wait to buy a lightning, will definitely get one in the next few years.

Les