Installing a Performance Module
Photos/Video/Story: T-Bone. Click pic above for video on BlacktopTV
Call us crazy, but we enjoy working with people we like. I would bet a bottom dollar that you tend to buy products or work with people who you like to hang around with too.
In the competitive world of Performance Modules for late model cars, there are plenty to choose from. We have met Dan and Jess from Jet Performance Products on several occasions and the guys are a crack-up to hang around. Yet, it’s more than that. Celebrating 45 years of performance, they guys at JET know their stuff.
The Tour
From the front, the building is impressive white with black windows and nice architecture. In the lobby are the usual sample products, magazine articles, awards and testimonials from their many fans.
We went to the back shop where they build performance carburetors and refurbish traditional and JET Carbs. Their CNC and milling machines build spacers, and carb parts. I asked about the Jones logo painted on the wall. What started as Jones Performance Fuel Systems has evolved to Jones Electronic Technologies and now JET Performance Products. On the carburetor side of things, their specialties lie in performance and race components, from circle track to marine. On the queue rack was an old Holley double pumper that was originally tuned by JET. Apparently the owner wanted to keep the numbers matching set-up and have it refreshed.
Impressive, clean and organized shop we then went into the Performance Chip development room, which featured a row of laptops and tuning stations to dial in the necessary programs. We caught them on a Friday afternoon and a couple of the guys are off getting ready for a big show this weekend. We are having a Stage II Performance Module installed on Billy’s Blacktop Baller.
The Installation
I asked Jess how long the installation takes. Apparently my stomach was ready for lunch. He said it would take about 15 minutes. Shocked, I thought we’d be here for a while. Interesting that such a simple job will add about 17hp and 20 pounds of torque. Basically you remove the ECM from the firewall, and plug the JET module in the correct port re-install the ECM and then plug the stock harness into the JET Module. AND… it would have taken 15 minutes but like most projects, there’s always a bit of a hiccup. This time it was a small one. Of course the AIRAID Cold Air Box is RIGHT IN FRONT of the ECM. No sweat, a couple of bolts, a hose clamp and we had the air box out in no time. We were done with the installation before my stomach started chewing on my small intestine, so all is good. Time for some grub.
Stay Tuned
We will return in a couple months when it’s time to flush the coolant and add a 180 degree Thermostat. See you then. In the meantime, check out www.JETChip.com to see the variety of Performance Products for your vehicle!