Thread: D1 3.9 v8 Tune\Chips?

Do you mean to up the performance or just a regular tune-up type thing where you adjust timing & such. I don't think there's a "chip" as such from what I've read on here but I'm only a relatively new owner, I would be interested if there was

Hi, I asked the same question a while back and was told you can get performance chips for the 3.9 but when they told me the price I felt I could live with out it ..Gary

There are several chips you can get for a 3.9.
The preferred approach is a Piggyback chip that alters fueling and takes over the vacuum advance function.
Among others Unichip and Haltech are probably best known. They cost about $1400 including a new amplifier and give about 20% gain except at 3000 where the stock chip is pretty good and the gain is only about 10%.

This transforms the car from a slug to something that can keep up with traffic and the extra vacuum advance makes it more economical.

I don't know who do it in Perth, but Graeme Cooper in sydney, Davis Performance Landies.
Regards Philip A

Originally Posted by Gary S11

Hi, I asked the same question a while back and was told you can get performance chips for the 3.9 but when they told me the price I felt I could live with out it ..Gary

Gary, What was the price??? They aren't THAT bad.

PM me if you like.

JC

Originally Posted by PhilipA

There are several chips you can get for a 3.9.
The preferred approach is a Piggyback chip that alters fueling and takes over the vacuum advance function.
Among others Unichip and Haltech are probably best known. They cost about $1400 including a new amplifier and give about 20% gain except at 3000 where the stock chip is pretty good and the gain is only about 10%.

This transforms the car from a slug to something that can keep up with traffic and the extra vacuum advance makes it more economical.

I don't know who do it in Perth, but Graeme Cooper in sydney, Davis Performance Landies.
Regards Philip A

The above reply from Philip, was why I couldn't justify the third of my purchase price on a chip that was recommended ..there where way cheaper on eBay but would they work ??

Originally Posted by Gary S11

The above reply from Philip, was why I couldn't justify the third of my purchase price on a chip that was recommended ..there where way cheaper on eBay but would they work ??

I would have to second that, ouch

The above reply from Philip, was why I couldn't justify the third of my
purchase price on a chip that was recommended ..there where way cheaper on eBay
but would they work ??

NO
Look the piggyback will give you the best Bang for Buck for anything that you could do, but really you have an almost 20 year old car with that much wear.
You can get a little more just by advancing the ignition, and improve fuel economy a little by buying some cheap cleaned US fuel injectors.

BUT unless you have spent WAY MORE than $1400 on new head gaskets , cam, lifters etc and your bottom end is still sound, don't bother .
Regards Philip A

Trying to get more go out of an 18 year old D1 with 180,000km on it is going to be an exercise in futility, unless you know that your engine is 100% sound. If it even has a whisper of a problem with head gasket, worn cam, rings or bearings, then you will need to get that sorted first, or any money you attempt to spend on aftermarket add-ons will be wasted.

However, one option that's not been mentioned here is removing the 14CUX and going Megasquirt. There are a couple of threads on here about it, and if you are handy with electronics, you could conceivably do it for $1000.