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Chip recommendations and other questions?

3433 Views 11 Replies 7 Participants Last post by  maxumpower
These are probably newbie questions but here goes....


1. I have a 1994 GMC Suburban K1500. Not looking to race the thing or anything like that, but I've heard that some chips not only improve performance but gas mileage. At least it did on my european sedan. What should I get?

2. How does one go about replacing the oddball stock stereo in the '94 with a DIN model without destrying the dashboard? Is there some kind of an adapter available?

3. Anyone ever seen an aftermarket center-hump under dash console that works with/around/inspite of the 4wd shifter?

Thanks in advance for your help.
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First of all Welcome,PSP.

1. I'm not an expert at. So I'll let someone else take a stab at that one.

2. Yes there is an aftermarket kit with all the pieces at a good Stereo shop. Its the only way to go really. I had one in my 89 Chev Silverado. Looked, Mint!

3. I've only seen custom build under dash units. Years ago I build an over-head console (from visor to viser) for a friend. He put his CB, some switches and a Stereo up there it look sweet.

Good Luck!
This fella from Minnesota might have some ideas

http://www.gmtruckclub.com/forum/showpost.php?p=11335&postcount=1
There's more to that thread, but it seems to be missing now.

If you're looking for ideas on how to create your own center console, you might try searching through MP3car.com They have a lot of DIY'ers on that sort of thing.
Wish I could be of more help, I know the guys on my Fiero forum use lap tops to control their chips.

But any chip will have some programmable features, by some means. Be it their own programming devise or a lap top.

I’m not a real technology fan so my knowledge in this area is, to say the least, limited.
Wish I could be of more help, I know the guys on my Fiero forum use lap tops to control their chips.

But any chip will have some programmable features, by some means. Be it their own programming devise or a lap top.

I’m not a real technology fan so my knowledge in this area is, to say the least, limited.
looks like we have the same '94!
First of all Welcome,PSP.

2. Yes there is an aftermarket kit with all the pieces at a good Stereo shop. Its the only way to go really. I had one in my 89 Chev Silverado. Looked, Mint!


Good Luck!
Thanks! So what happens to the factory radio installation? It just stays where it is but isn't utilized?
Not sure. It was a few years back but my stock stereo came out and it came with a thing that turned it into a place for storage, like sunglasses and stuff. I looks pretty cool when it all done.
The kit is more than likely the same though
The radio installation kit will make a standard DIN sized radio fit in the oddball location of the factory radio. As cableguy said, it'll look stockish, nothing ugly about it. I have installed aftermarket radios in my 05 saturn and my 91 sub with everything looking perfectly stock. (on a side note, my sub radio doesn't look 100% stock simply because the kit came with different face offsets, and the way the 91 dash is set up, I chose to put the 2 inch forward offset on so I could get to the radio, but I could have opted to use the flush faceplate....)
(on a side note, my sub radio doesn't look 100% stock simply because the kit came with different face offsets, and the way the 91 dash is set up, I chose to put the 2 inch forward offset on so I could get to the radio, but I could have opted to use the flush faceplate....)
Good point! It does move it over to a bit of a stretch, but it not to far. I like your idea though. You just tilted it alittle towards you?
chips

dont know much about the other stuff but in my 06 i installed a superchips kit and it came w/ the programer so now i can pick and choose options like shift times and weither i want performance or gas milage it programs the truck to get the optimum milage out of the gas u use which for me is just normal 87 octane but not much use to u but i loved the fact that it allowed me to disable my rev and speed limiters lol those were the first to go just go to superchips.com and check it out
Go with the programable dealythingys. I had a 1994 GMC Jimmy 4 door with the 4.3 vortec CPI that had a Jet Stage 1 chip and nothing improved. I got free flowing exhaust, air intake, and underdrive pullys and then upgraded to the Jet stage 2 and still nothing. I drove it for a week which was about 8 or 9 hundred miles and with and without the chip and there was no difference in power or fuel economy.:confused: I even took it to a local track and ran the 1/8 mile without the chip and got a consistant 9.9 to 10.1 run. With the stage 2 chip installed i didn't get below 10.4.
I would like to try a Hypertech myself but haven't yet.
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