Good day ladies and gents. I have a quick ?? What is the difference between "chips" "tuners" "pucks" "programers" ect , and some of the pros and cons of these units for daily drivers. Just trying to chose one . Thanks

 

To my knowledge, I a tuner and programmer are devices that will change the software in your ECM. A puck is just a term used by a specific company. A chip would be more along the lines of a device that is permanently on the truck, tapping into the VP44 wires.

I myself like the idea of a "chip" as is displays me real time information, and the power output can be quickly and easily adjusted. Some believe this style of enhancer that taps the VP44 wires is all bad news, but there are a lot of truck out there with a similar set up.

I have the Edge Juice with Attitude in my truck, and I completely enjoy it. This is a unit that displays real time engine and transmission information, and the power level can be adjusted instantly with the push of a button. I usually run around on the setting just above stock for a little added drive ability, then tap that up arrow when it's time to boogie.

Hope some of that rambling helps.

 

Those are basically all slang terms referring to the same type of device. In your 98.5 24 Valve Cummins, Power mods come in two categories:
1. Electronic
2. Mechanical.

Those categories can be further broken down as follows:

Electronics are things those you referenced in your post. Mechanical mods would be things like injectors, pumps, turbos.

"bomb'ing" your truck is a very slippery slope, and you can easily find yourself in a cycle of modd'ing one part which in turn causes a weakness in another area. For example... your 24 valve Cummins is a VERY VERY VERY SOLID platform with a VERY VERY VERY SORRY (and expensive) injection pump.

I FULLY SUPPORT increasing the power of these motors... and I FULLY SUPPORT doing it RIGHT.

In my humble opinion, here's my prescription for more power - RELIABLY.

1. Fix Fuel Supply System -> FASS, Raptor, AirDog
2. Increase Airflow -> BHAF or aftermarket intake
3. Get the air out -> 4" exhaust
4. Add some way to monitor your Pressure's and EGT's - I suggest Edge or Quadzilla for 99% of applications
5. Add some POWER! ->The same Edge or Quadzilla "box,chip,tuner" suggested above
6. For Mo' Powah, you could drop in a set of mild injectors -> RV275's or one of the many 65hp injectors.

That's should be good for about a 100hp bump and over a couple hundred ft/lbs of tq over stock. Anything over that and you'll need to look at things like bigger turbo's, bigger injectors, etc.

The cost of all this is around $1500. Cheaper than the cost of a quality injector pump or turbo or long block. Just adding a "box,chip,puck,tuner" could easily cause the failure of any one of the aforementioned parts...

If you do it... do it right.

 

Thanks guys. Will keep you posted as to how it all turns out.