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Location:
Epping, Sydney
Registered:
April 2003
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More power from Celica = Powerchip ??
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Mon, 05 May 2003 07:52
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I have an 88 Celica (ST162 w. 3S-GE engine) and have a K & N Drop in Filter and cold-air induction + berkley extractors on stock exhaust.
(I don't see the point of a big cat-back when we have a small exhaust from the extractors to the cat, where size is needed most -- furthermore, I hate big noisy reverberating conversation killing exhausts, so I haven't pursued this route)
I want to get a little more power out of the engine, and now that I have done the obvious mods, I saw an ad for Powerchip (www.powerchip.com.au), and thought that would be a good way to squeeze a little more out of my trusty baby without spending thousands on turbo's etc and then copping a hefty insurance bill..
...do custom chips mess up the insurance????
Any ideas?
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Location:
Cabramatta, NSW
Registered:
May 2002
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 Re: More power from Celica = Powerchip ??
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Mon, 05 May 2003 07:59
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I think Iggy (camryman) might have something to say about his experience with Powerchip in his SV20 (3S-FE) Camry....
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Location:
Brisbane
Registered:
May 2002
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Re: More power from Celica = Powerchip ??
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Mon, 05 May 2003 08:57
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A "PowerChip" is the modern equivalent of tweaking the dizzy and jets on an older carby engine. In other words it might make a bit of difference, but we're talking pretty small gains. Not worth the money spent IMO.
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Location:
bris
Registered:
February 2003
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Re: More power from Celica = Powerchip ??
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Mon, 05 May 2003 09:15
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exhaust shops are more than happy to make up a quiet system if you ask them... i'd get a decent system (nothing over the top) before i started tweaking the electrics
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Location:
Melbourne
Registered:
May 2002
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Re: More power from Celica = Powerchip ??
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Mon, 05 May 2003 10:01
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I had a powerchip on my 100kw 4AGE, and I was actually rather pleased with the difference. At the time they were $975 installed, and the one I had was programmable (Gold 98 Chip).
It increased the torque considerabley if nothing else, got rid of speed and/or rev limiter, and just made it a lot more fun to drive.
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Registered:
May 2002
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Re: More power from Celica = Powerchip ??
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Mon, 05 May 2003 11:12
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Well I'm going to put my dick on the line here.
I had a Gold 96 ICON powerchip put in before I join the club. Wasn't overly cluey about what this thing did but after reading a Road and Track article on a 3S-FE Rav4 I didn't question the results.
Anyway after a few club dyno days and the introduction of Optimax I thought I'd upgrade to the Gold 98 programming. Powerchip told me I had to send the ICON back to factory in Melb and showed me how to run the car on the stock computer again, which is the first time I was told this was possible. I thought this would make an interesting tech article to document the upgrade and publish results of factory, 96, 98 chips.
So went ahead with the purchase and was waiting for the courier bag to arrive. In the meantime I was off to Dyno Dave at Redline motorsports all excited, taking photos. Dave runs the Gold 96 chip first, followed by the factory chip as saids to me "Well Surprise, suprise". I looked at the graph to see the ICON with GOLD 96 chip made less power across the whole rev range compared to the factory chip.
So sent a little email to Powerchip telling them of my findings and said I hope the GOLD 98 would rectify the problem. Powerchip cancelled my GOLD 98 order, not really the actions of a company that has great faith in their product, specifically the ICON for a 3S-FE SV21 Camry.
Emailed ICON in UK asking if I could get the software to tune it myself. Only distributors are allowed to have the software.
The Powerchip warranty I had speaks of a money back performance guarantee. So I emailed them with all relevant documentation. They mailed back saying the performance warranty is only vaild for a limited time and sends me a copy of a warranty with this clause, which doesn't appear in my copy.
I never got around to following this up, too busy with the rest of my life.
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Location:
Brisbane
Registered:
May 2002
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Re: More power from Celica = Powerchip ??
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Mon, 05 May 2003 11:19
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Your story is a common one. Believe it or not, manufacturers like Toyota spend millions getting their tuning absolutely spot on. I find it amusing when some backyard operation claims they know how to tune Toyota engines better than Toyota does. 
Of course if we're talking modified engines that's a whole different story, but an off-the-shelf chip still isn't the answer - you need to get your car dyno tuned to suit your specific mods. Note that when I say modified I mean serious modifications (ie cams, head work, boost etc), not just an intake and/or exhaust.
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Registered:
May 2002
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Re: More power from Celica = Powerchip ??
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Mon, 05 May 2003 11:36
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I think the ICON might have been OK if I was able to tune it up here. All it is suppose to do is adjust the timing to any degree at any point in the rev range you chose. Reading the Autospeed article suggest that the chip actually does alter timing. I just don't how Powerchip ended up programming it to make less power.
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Location:
sydney
Registered:
March 2003
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Re: More power from Celica = Powerchip ??
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Mon, 05 May 2003 11:43
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i dont belive in biggy back computers or chips that say they will do this n that
when u start modifying engines they are each different
i dont know y people dont save abit more money and buy a fully programmable ecu which then will be turned to suit their engine
in the long run it will end up cheaper when u consider if u modify engine again all u need is a new tune
people say that programmable ecus are too expensive
why not look at it that u will spend more money over 5 yrs on crappy chips n ecus than u will if u bought a good ecu in the first place
if u cant afford a decent ecu then just leave the standard ecu in it till u can afford one
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Location:
Epping, Sydney
Registered:
April 2003
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Re: More power from Celica = Powerchip ??
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Mon, 05 May 2003 12:23
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Hey wow...
thanks for all the help! You read the Powerchip website and you think, 'what am I missing out on!'
not much it seems. I think I will shop around for a quieter sports exhaust to run from my Extractor's back... (do I get a custom Cat for that?) I have had real good experiences with this dude in Northmead.. called Paramatta Mufflers I think..
anyway, thanks a mill for the help. Nothing worse than wasting $900 bucks. That's SO bad CamryMan.. man that sux you should so chase that up. anyway.
Nothin' better than walkin' in the light 
Rob
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Location:
Epping, Sydney
Registered:
April 2003
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Re: More power from Celica = Powerchip ??
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Mon, 05 May 2003 12:29
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LadySX you had a pretty good experience though.. what mods did you have? I assume exhaust etc first? You haven't wanted to have it reprogrammed yet?
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Registered:
May 2002
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Re: More power from Celica = Powerchip ??
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Mon, 05 May 2003 12:44
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Hey Rob,
You can spent the money that it would have costed on a chip to put in a decent exhaust system. I have a Genie extractor which I believe was orginally designed for a 3S-GE. Anyway the end of it is 2 inches, so I had the whole exhaust changed to a 2 inch mandrel bent system with as many resonators as they could stuff to reduce the noise. The exhaust/extractor system was probably the biggest power boost done to the car.
Next was the suspension. I don't what your Celica is like now, but the Camry and soft family car suspension. When I upgraded it to a touring style suspension it decreased the power transfer from the front to back, so I was able to get more power down at the driving wheels at the front.
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Location:
Epping, Sydney
Registered:
April 2003
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Re: More power from Celica = Powerchip ??
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Mon, 05 May 2003 13:30
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Yeah CamryMan,
I will put the money into an exhaust then for sure. Did you run 2'' to the cat, then 2'' from the cat to the end? What did you do for a cat?
I already have Berkey extractors, so thanks.. I guess I will find a good exhaust to complement the extractors.. 
I just don't know what to do with the cat short of buying a new one to go with a 2'' exhaust else it will be like having a choker ring. hehe
you are right about the suspension, hence my desire to get some Koni adjustables. It used to be very lowered and I just was killing myself and the car dragging on everything and pounding the strut housings, so I put stock stuff back into it and totally unused to it I spun it right out chasing a Pulsar near Evoca.... such is life... small dent in the front.
So quality shocks are a must also... what a money hole cars are
Thanx CamryMan,
Rob
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Location:
sydney
Registered:
April 2003
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Re: More power from Celica = Powerchip ??
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Mon, 05 May 2003 14:14
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hey CamryMan what did your 2" exhaust system provide kw wise? is 2" big enough, i thought, based on what other people say, that
2 1/4" is better. i have a 2" cat-back system myself, looking to upgrade to a full system.
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Location:
Melbourne
Registered:
May 2002
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Re: More power from Celica = Powerchip ??
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Mon, 05 May 2003 21:14
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I had extractors, exhaust, CAI, and I think thats about it. I guess I got a bit of an advantage seeing as though they are based in Melbourne, so I dropped my car off to them and they programmed it all while they had the car. I remember though that not all of their chips range is re-programmable, but the one I had certainly was.
They were always really helpful with me, I called them numerous times to ask technical info. When i did my engine conversion they even asked if they could use my car as a guide to develop a chip for the GZE. I did the conversion and then forgot to call them 
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Registered:
May 2002
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Location:
Epping, Sydney
Registered:
April 2003
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Re: More power from Celica = Powerchip ??
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Tue, 06 May 2003 01:10
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So I guess my next question is,
Who wants to sell me a 'right-the-way through' exhaust? Actually I will go new, and get a new cat..
you guys have been awesome. thx soooo much
Rob
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Registered:
September 2002
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Location:
Castle Hill, Sydney
Registered:
January 2003
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Re: More power from Celica = Powerchip ??
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Tue, 06 May 2003 02:40
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yeh i would want someting like a 3S-GTE in mine but thats jus the cost of the engine, i wouldnt know where to start doin the conversion myself, so thats another few grade on getting someone to do it, then you have the woefull thought of insurance for an under 25 yo
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Location:
Epping, Sydney
Registered:
April 2003
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Re: More power from Celica = Powerchip ??
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Tue, 06 May 2003 03:57
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yeah I have always thought I would LOVE to stick in a 3SGTE. A great base. My aversion has always been more the cost of insurance + more on maintanance. Insuros loath us under 25 year olds. I was thinking that I wanted to do what I could while coming under the insurance radar. I already like my car, and being at Uni (Maq.. btw) I don't have the world's biggest budget.. On graudation.. baby! 3SGTE here I come.....
I love the car now you know, Toyota made a great thing in this car. almost unbreakable (I have tried, by accident..), and for it's vintage it is quite quick and fun to drive, but of course, the male calling is to make one's car go faster, and faster, and faster..........
Hey have you seen gt4rider's pics... now THERE is a car... I want him to sell it...
Your advice is true, I guess everyone wants a magic solution. I will put some pics up of my baby soon. (have to borrow someone's digi camera)
I beat a gen II CRX the other day... he was mad.
l8rs - Rob
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Registered:
May 2002
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Re: More power from Celica = Powerchip ??
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Tue, 06 May 2003 06:19
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High powered engines and FWD don't mix well with torque steer. Althought I have seen a dual boost setup where if the tranmission is engaged in 1st and 2nd the turbo is only set on low boost.
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Location:
Castle Hill, Sydney
Registered:
January 2003
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Location:
Epping, Sydney
Registered:
April 2003
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Re: More power from Celica = Powerchip ??
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Thu, 08 May 2003 09:47
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Gen 4 gt4, AWESOME.
How I would love that! So you can get it at your door for $8000? in from Japan? Is that reconditioned ones or what? My brother wants to get a gt4, but the ones around here have been trashed it seems : )
I am 23, unfortunately, had my ST162 for over a year now, it is a June 88 model. I will try and get my hands on someones digital camera tomorrow and post some pics.
Your looks really good. The colour coded spoiler is a good idea. I did mine about 6 months ago along with the lower paneling which is usually black and the mud flaps. It looks great.. well you decide when you see the piccies
I like what you have done with the aif filter also. Where did you get the adaptor for the flow meter from? I have a drop-in K&N with cold air running from below the radiator, I guess you should see the piccies . Doesn't sound as good as when I had a swiss-cheese box, but runs nicer. I would like to heat shield the ducting or maybe make up a wrapped pvc pipe. Stronger also.
Anyway, I will post again when I put the piccies up.
Rob
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