Anyone put an Apten in '98 Sport SOHC?

[sk1er17]

Hey guys, im just lookin to see if anyone with my X has put the dual programmed Apten Chip in theirs.

I have a 1998 Sport ;

4.10's
Flowmaster 50 series
Cut out airbox w/ K&N

Has anyone done the chip with a similar set-up? If so.. is it worth the $300? (what changes did you notice)

Also, i read how the chip may not work at first and you have to ship them your computer... is that a problem in my year?

*ive done the research and it seems this chip is a must buy for performance... but before spending $300+ id like to get a solid answer to these questions for my specific vehicles... not 1st gens, OHVs, 4door SOHC w/3.73's, etc.

 

[Nate1]

I have a 99 which is a 98 except for the front bumper. I have 4.10s too, a cut airbox, and magnaflow exhaust.
I really can feel the 93 octane program, espically with the colder weather! It was a great improvement, espically the shift points and firmness. It is a huge improvement over stock!

My service port was disabled and I had to ship my computer to Brian, but I next dayed it to him and he Fedex-Next dayed it back on SATURDAY! He was really great about it!!!
-----Nate

 

[sk1er17]

did you have to tell him what you wanted your shift points and stuff to be?

or would i just say:

"I want the dual chip to be able to switch from 87 to 93 octane. In either mode i would like the best possible performance settings for my explorer to increase Hp and torque."

How were you able to tell your port was disabled?
I cant go a few days without my car... is there any way to find out prior if the ports disabled? (did he charge you any more for enabling it?)

 

[Nate1]

I found out my ports were disabled because I hooked my chip up and my car wouldnt start.
I told Brian I wanted a 93 performance and an 89 performance with a little more emphasis on torque b/c of my magnaflow. He delievered.
No he didn't charge me a cent to fix my ECU.
I think he can also ship you a loan ecu too hook up while you send him yours to enable the service port.

 

[sk1er17]

any change in MPG with yours?

I tow a boat, but i also enjoy speed (not that i disobey the speed limit, but im constantly merging onto highways w/traffic going 65+), so i would want more torque too right? Im not exactly clear of the trade-offs on the chip... like if you empasize torque- what do you lose?

Hmm, im gonna have to contact brian i think. So if i put the chip in and my car dont start.. its the ECU. When i unplug the chip everything should work normal again?

If he can send me a temp ECU- im probably deffinetally gonna try it then..

 

[Apten]

mpg should go up some, depending on your driving habits. Normal is a 1mpg inrease, but it can be as much as 2-3mpg.

the trade-off of the chip is basically that you need to run premium gas to get the most out of it. It will give more torque, HP, and MPG with a premium performance program. With an 87 octane the gains are not as large.

if your port is off, the car won't start. Just pull the chip back out and it will run fine again. At that point call me and we work out some options!

Brian

 

[sk1er17]

It says this at the bottom of the website
"On dual program chips, we can make the two programs to fit your needs. We can make programs for 92 octane performance or towing, 87 octane performance or towing, valet mode, teen driver mode, race gas, nitrous, higher boost mode, and about anything else you could think up."

My truck is already great for towing.. i already tow a 21 foot boat with no problems what-so-ever. So would it be best for me to get the 92 Octane performance and the 87 Octane perfromance?

In other words- i wont lose any towing ability right? I should actually increase- just not as much as if i bought the towing package...

whats the trade off in the performance or towing programs?

 

[Nate1]

I think the trade off is a lower power curve. You raise your power curve no matter what with the chip, but with performance programs I think the top end (3k rpms and up) is emphasized for power, and the lower end is emphasized for torque. You aren't going to lose any towing abilitity, you will gain some, just not as much as if you got a towing program. I think the towing shift points are also designed to keep the tranny cooler and in the lower rpm range... but I may be wrong.

 

[sk1er17]

Option 1 or Option 2 or Option 3 ??

Option 1:
92 Octane (or is 93 the highest?) Performance and 87 Octane performance

Option 2:
92 Octane Perfromance and 87 Octane Towing

Option 3:
92 Octane Towing and 87 Octane performance

Im thinking option #1. Remember i have a 1998 4.0L SOHC (210Hp stock). I already tow a 21ft boat without any troubles.


So what do you guys think? 1 2 or 3?
(BTW, whats the octane levels? i thought it was 87, 89, 91... but ive been seeing people posting 92 or 93 octanes...)