As part of the build of our Desert 4x4 Project Ford Ranger we knew we were going to use bigger tires. Using bigger tires means that your speedometer will be off the faster you go. We went from a 245/75/16 (29.5" x 9.6") to a 285/75/16 (32.8" x 11.2"). Now 3” might not seem that much of an increase, but to the computer it is a huge difference.

Before the use of computers in cars and trucks all this meant was you had to have a friend drive next to you to tell you how much your speedo was off. Another side effect of this was your odometer would run slower.

Flash to the present and everything has a computer, so why does the computer matter in this case. Well the computer does more than just control the engine functions it also controls your brakes in the case of ABS and the way your automatic transmission performs.

We went online looking for a Tuner that could fix these issues, and if we picked up a few horsepower along the way so be it. That’s when we found the Superchips Flashpaq.

What makes the Flashpaq unique is that you can update the software through the Internet. Now Superchips claims this is the easiest Tuner to use. Well I won’t go that far. After I purchased the Flashpaq I went to www.flashpaq.com and registered to get to the download area. Most people that use this tuner might not be as web savvy as I am (we do own a Web Design company). Well I tried the download on 3 different computers and kept getting an error that the session ended and I was left with a tuner I could not use.

Don’t let this discourage you. I am here to shed some light on the situation. Trying to get help from Superchips was hard because they are in Florida and we are here on the West Coast. I ended up just using the email support. Each time I got this error I would email. The response I kept getting is that there was a firewall stopping the download. Knowing what I know about computers and the ‘Net I turned the firewall off of our router temporarily to test this. Again trying it on 3 computers and nothing. I sent more emails with the same response. My next-door neighbor has a wireless air card for his laptop, and Bingo it worked. Well it seems since we live in a rural area and we can only get wireless Internet connection our ISP has a firewall before the signal gets to our house.

I jump in my truck and walk through the steps and yes it is very easy to use. Here are the specs from Superchips for the 2004 Ford Ranger:

• Increased Horsepower and Torque
• Internet Updateable
• Easy Installation
• No Tools Necessary
• Improved Fuel Economy
• Optimized Driveability
• Diagnostic Trouble Code Reading Capability
• In addition, part number 1815 provides the ability to:
  • Update Tuner via the Internet for Latest Calibrations
  • Available Data Acquisition at Flashpaq.com
  • Adjust Shift Points,
  • Enhance Shift Firmness,
  • Eliminate Speed Limiter
  • Recalibrate Speedometer for Larger Tire Sizes and Rear Gear changes,
  • Adjust Rev Limits,
  • Choose from Three Available Performance Settings
  • Superchips Tuning will work with Air Intake Filter Kit when stock Mass Air Meter is used, Shorty Headers and Cat Back Exhaust

All I did with my tuner was adjusted for the larger tires and added the performance tune. The nice thing about the 4.0 V-6 performance tune is that it is optimized for 87-octane gas. This unit works for the F-150 with the V-8 and you have to use 92-octance gas.

The performance data sheet provided by Superchips shows you get a little better horsepower number over stock, but it is nothing to write home about. Remember this is a V-6 not a fire breathing V-8. The main thing here for us at Prerunner Maniac is that our speedo is on and our brakes will work properly.

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