Our test subject is an '02 F-250 that has about 54,000 miles on the clock and had yet to be molested by a few horsepower junkies. The truck is used as a daily driver during the week, and on the weekends it hauls a 28-foot enclosed trailer from H&H Trailer Company that carries various Muscle Mustangs & Fast Fords magazine project vehicles to different events and shops. To say it doesn't get a day off is an understatement--the truck is always pulling a trailer or heading down the road.
The F-250 was strapped to the dyno with six straps--due to the pickup truck's light back end. We ripped over 50 dyno pulls at Flowers Automotive Performance, checking different scenarios and backing up the pulls to ensure accurate results. In bone-stock trim, our Super Duty truck belted out 212 rwhp and 421 rwtq. Each dyno pull did not take long since the powerband on these trucks is quite short.
Two Auto Meter gauges were selected--a boost gauge to monitor manifold pressure and a pyrometer to monitor exhaust gas temperature (EGT). The two gauges were mounted cleanly and neatly on the A-pillar, which puts them in easy view from the driver seat. For computer tuning we called Superchips Custom Tuning (SCT), which sent an Xcalibrator with three preset programs. The Xcalibrator is part of the company's new product line that is aimed at reflashing the computer rather than replacing the chip with a new one.
For the exhaust, we turned to MagnaFlow for one of its stainless steel systems. We kept the stock downpipe but replaced everything else. It's made from mandrel-bent 4-inch tubing and has a 5-inch chrome tip coming out just behind the rear passenger-side tire, like the factory exhaust. An added bonus is MagnaFlow offers a lifetime warranty on the exhaust system. For some induction help we looked no further than K&N's air filters. After talking to Shane Reichardt and his staff at the NHRA race at Englishtown, we decided on K&N's Fuel Injection Performance Kit (FIPK). The kit has a million-mile warranty and, as usual, the filter can be cleaned rather than replaced when it becomes excessively dirty.
This is a graph of the truck...
This is a graph of the truck in bone-stock configuration. Click image for larger view.
This graph is of a dyno pull...
This graph is of a dyno pull with the 75hp SCT tune-up, K&N cold-air kit, and MagnaFlow exhaust system. Click image for larger view.
This is a dyno pull with the...
This is a dyno pull with the 100hp SCT tune-up, K&N cold-air kit, and MagnaFlow exhaust system. Click image for larger view.
It is important to install...
It is important to install the air filter sensor. Without it a trouble code will be tripped, causing an idiot light to come on in the dashboard.
While we were working under...
While we were working under the hood, we decided to change the oil, too. It is recommended you change it every 5,000 miles in towing and performance applications. We used Shell ROTELLA T oil as well as one of K&N's new oil filters.
It's all about the nut. K&N...
It's all about the nut. K&N added a nut to the bottom of its oil filters to make them easier to remove.
Here is the MagnaFlow exhaust...
Here is the MagnaFlow exhaust (left) and the stock exhaust (right). The MagnaFlow system replaces everything from the downpipe back. As you can see, it is larger (four inches) and provides a straighter path for the exhaust to flow. Stainless steel construction ensures this exhaust system will last a long time.