fbarnhill

Well, I got Ken's chips on Tuesday and installed them in my spare computer set while watching a movie with the wife. She was complaining about me spending too much time with the car. So, I had to go to Durham today to get the alignment king to align the car after new rack, ball joints etc... So, I just put them in the footwell, unplugged the current computers and vac line, and plugged them into the set with Ken's chips.

Now, this car would not idle at startup since the rebuild and I was waiting to troubleshoot until I finished the suspension stuff as it would run pretty well after holding your foot on the pedal for about 30 seconds. So, no 'Q'-rings, no other stuff at all. I had completely disassembled the pod and instrument cluster and had to get it all back together quickly to get the car to Brad. So, I hook up the ground strap, hit the key and in literally 2 seconds of starter it fires right up and idles perfectlly. I could NOT believe it. I blipped the accel a few times to be sure it was going to run. My toe was out 1/4" on each side and I couldn't remember how to adjust it I was so tired. I just jumped in the car and off I went to Durham. Hit the highway and she just moaned like, ''''Well I can't say here but it was awsome acceleration.... Didn't drive all that bad for as far off as everything was.

As I have remarked before, I have spent a ton of $$$ on this car but this is the BEST $$$ I have spent on anything so far. Sure, you say it is nice to put it on a rebuilt engine but wow....

If you have an S3 and you don't have Ken's chips, then ????

So, it was a 45 mile trip each way. The 45 back were the best I have had all year. I had no idea how fast to go so I just kept up with the fast lane. So, she runs this well and I still have the x-pipe, remove the cats, install the rings in the intake boots, install new boots and clamps and see what she will be like then.

Thanks again Ken, keep up the good work. I can't wait to see what the heck you come up with next. And, one more thing, please don't buy an s4.

SeanR

Agreed, every Semi-OB (85/86) that I've put these in has shown a nice gain all the way around.

I'm a snake oil fan too.

PorKen

S4 FPR? It will run quite lean with the stock FPR.

With all the other stuff installed and adjusted, it should feel 100% better, on top of what you have now!

fbarnhill

Oh, I forgot to mention that the gas needle barely moved for the entire 90 miles. I will bet that my old 79 would have used between 1/3 and 1/2 tank for the same trip and the motion of the car was just effortless.

I don't mean this thread to overlook any of the other awsome people who have helped in this project. It couldn't have even been begun without Roger Tyson, Mark Benton and I believe we even got Sean on the phone one day for some question or another. There are just no words that I know that can convey the amount of help, guidence and kindness of these people as well as others on this list. I started this project after becoming totally disabled with Psoriatic Arthitis over a year ago. I came close to a much bigger project after my beloved 88 burned but Mark's words of wisdon, patience and kindness helped guide me to a project that I had a chance to finish and succeed and he was right. Roger provided just about anything I needed including words of encouragement when I was ready to get rid of it all and there were several of those times. When your hands won't do what you want them to, and you wind up breaking something so simple that it just drives you crazy... Instead of throwing things, giving up, etc.. just get a new part and do it again until it was right..... That is the added value of people like Roger and Mark.

fbarnhill

Oh, I do have that. I installed that from the beginning. Roger helped me remember things like that as I knew I was preping for the chips and Mark B. made sure I had the correct injectors. I got the ones from his race car.

The reason for the emphisis of no extras, was that I didn't have it running perfectlly like you reccommend. I just decided to see what impact it would have. And, I have the AFR connected.

h011yw00d

If I ever said anything bad about Ken my car would spit me out and run over me.

PorKen

Frank - if you had the S4 FPR on there with the stock chips, it would, conversely, run quite rich, which might explain why it didn't run right.


I'm with you on the new chipset. After finally putting the X-pipe back on it, I've been driving my '86.5 auto quite a bit lately. Air temps here are still in the 40s, or lower, and the 3.6 chips feel flawless, even if I do say so, myself.

Jon B.

Very nice all around! Ken, your 3.6 update was when exactly? I'm pretty sure I've got the latest but one can't be too certain.

jbrob007

I've got to chime in... My 86.5 LOVES... ABSOLUTELY LOVES... Ken Once I save up enough for an X pipe it will run EVEN BETTER... if there is such a thing!

yardpro

frank...
glad to hear it is running...
next time i come up we will have to go play on some back roads.

Randy V

I don't think the term 'snake oil' applies to a proven product that lives up to its claims.

billtool

So here's the deal...I think Sean coined a new phrase..."Semi-OB"...hadn't heard it before and I do like it.

I have:
X-pipes and no cats
Latest chips
Intake rings
55 psi FPR
Recent intake refresh (thanks Mike F and Sean)

Give me some more snake oil Ken. My car hauls ***. I know for a FACT my old SHARQ (many here know the reference) has schooled 2 well running S4's (one auto, one 5-speed). From the line, from mid-rpm, and neither was interested in seeing the top end (which was cool with me as I was scared ****less and wanted to slow down anyway).

The only reason I don't want Ken to come up with anymore chip improvements is all my tabs are broken on my EZK and LH. Oh well - keep it coming. I'll just use more duct tape.

Oh yeah - I dig my lift bars too!!!

Right on, Ken. I"ll stick with my "Semi-OB" (thanks Sean).

SMTCapeCod

Ken has opened the door for great HP and Tq from otherwise stockish S3s....now lets see if we can get him to tackle valve body upgrades for the slushbox cars?...

PorKen

Last month for 3.6. Mostly fixes cold starting which I could not test for when 3.5 (which you have) was released. Some air temp compensation tweaks, and a 91 octane version.

Cold starts have a new higher idle (varies by coolant temp), like what L-Jet does, which works quite well. (Clears out fuel condensation.) It may sound simplistic, but I can start my auto dead cold, throw it in gear, and it drives great. Another 'better than stock' experience.

IrishLegend

So, I have an x-pipe and no cats. All I need now is an 87' FPR and the chip and I'm good to go right?