The Flashpaq from Superchips...
The Flashpaq from Superchips (PN 1865; $359) is designed to work specifically with all Ford gas vehicles. It includes two quick tunes: Performance (91-octane) and 87-octane. You can also go into advanced mode and adjust the Rev Limiter, Speed Limiter, Gear Ratio, and Fan Temps.
It's well-known that the first three upgrades to a Mustang are a cold-air kit, exhaust, and a tune. Modern-day tuners fill your factory computer with high-performance ideas via the OBD-II port under your dash. Some are designed to deliver more performance, some better gas mileage, and in some cases both.
To see how much an off-the-shelf tune could help our 2008 GT, we ordered Superchips' new Flashpaq programmer, which offers built-in tunes for 87- and 91-octane fuel. Not only does the Flashpaq tune your computer, it will also read the diagnostic codes thrown by the computer. Once you register online and update the programmer, it will also have the ability for data logging.
To be fair, this car isn't...
To be fair, this car isn't completely stock. We've installed Ford Racing 5230-S mufflers. Ford Racing doesn't claim an increase in horsepower with these mufflers. Our baseline Mustang Dyno test showed 245 hp and 266 lb-ft before the mufflers. We didn't test it after adding the mufflers, so it could have picked up a couple from the exhaust.
Our Mustang was nearly stock, with the only install being the Ford Racing 5230-S mufflers, the same mufflers used on FR500S racecars. Ford Racing claims no power gains with the mufflers, but subtract a couple if you like. With the Superchips performance tune installed, we gained 25 hp and 11 lb-ft of torque!
Those numbers are definitely noticeable on the street as we terrorize the neighborhood near the 5.0&SF headquarters. You can really feel the torque increase off the line and the horsepower up top. We have to say that the Flashpaq is definitely worth all the One-jamins you'll spend on it!
On The Dyno
| Baseline | Flashpaq | Difference |
| RPM | TQ | HP | TQ | HP | TQ | HP |
| 2,500 | 230 | 111 | 251 | 120 | 21 | 9 |
| 2,600 | 229 | 114 | 240 | 119 | 11 | 5 |
| 2,700 | 247 | 128 | 246 | 127 | -1 | -1 |
| 2,800 | 235 | 126 | 247 | 132 | 12 | 6 |
| 2,900 | 244 | 135 | 247 | 137 | 3 | 2 |
| 3,000 | 243 | 140 | 245 | 141 | 2 | 1 |
| 3,100 | 236 | 140 | 248 | 147 | 12 | 7 |
| 3,200 | 243 | 149 | 245 | 150 | 2 | 1 |
| 3,300 | 244 | 154 | 250 | 158 | 6 | 4 |
| 3,400 | 241 | 157 | 255 | 166 | 14 | 9 |
| 3,500 | 245 | 164 | 257 | 172 | 12 | 8 |
| 3,600 | 261 | 180 | 263 | 181 | 2 | 1 |
| 3,700 | 257 | 182 | 264 | 187 | 7 | 5 |
| 3,800 | 257 | 187 | 264 | 192 | 7 | 5 |
| 3,900 | 260 | 194 | 269 | 200 | 9 | 6 |
| 4,000 | 260 | 199 | 271 | 207 | 11 | 8 |
| 4,100 | 263 | 206 | 271 | 212 | 8 | 6 |
| 4,200 | 266 | 214 | 275 | 220 | 9 | 6 |
| 4,300 | 265 | 218 | 275 | 226 | 10 | 8 |
| 4,400 | 264 | 222 | 277 | 233 | 13 | 11 |
| 4,500 | 261 | 224 | 275 | 236 | 14 | 12 |
| 4,600 | 265 | 233 | 274 | 240 | 9 | 7 |
| 4,700 | 259 | 233 | 273 | 245 | 14 | 12 |
| 4,800 | 256 | 236 | 272 | 249 | 16 | 13 |
| 4,900 | 257 | 240 | 271 | 254 | 14 | 14 |
| 5,000 | 257 | 245 | 273 | 260 | 16 | 15 |
| 5,100 | 251 | 245 | 261 | 254 | 10 | 9 |
| 5,200 | 246 | 244 | 262 | 260 | 16 | 16 |
| 5,300 | n/a | n/a | 257 | 259 | n/a | n/a |
| 5,400 | n/a | n/a | 262 | 270 | n/a | n/a |
| 5,500 | n/a | n/a | 254 | 266 | n/a | n/a |
| 5,600 | n/a | n/a | 247 | 264 | n/a | n/a |
| 5,700 | n/a | n/a | 244 | 265 | n/a | n/a |
| 5,800 | n/a | n/a | 238 | 264 | n/a | n/a |
| 5,900 | n/a | n/a | 240 | 270 | n/a | n/a |
Plug the programmer into the...
Plug the programmer into the OBD-II port with the key in the off position. Follow the instructions on the programmer. It's vital that you don't unplug the programmer while you're tuning your Mustang. If you do, the computer could be left in an unusable state. A modern car without a functioning computer is a doorstop. Before taking your Mustang to the dealer for service return it to the stock tune with the programmer. If the dealer has to flash your computer, the programmer won't be able to tune your computer.
The first time you use the...
The first time you use the programmer, it saves the stock tune. To use the Performance tune, you must use 91-octane gasoline or better. We also went into the Advanced Tune section of the programmer to change the parameter for the gears as we have the 3.55:1 gears installed.
After the tune, we tested...
After the tune, we tested the car again and found a 25hp and 11-lb-ft increase from the Superchips Flashpaq programmer. Color us impressed.