Yup, whoever wins Old World...
Yup, whoever wins Old World Industries' giveaway Thundertruck will be getting Ford Racing Performance Parts' Whipple screw blower as part of the deal. Inside its long-runner aluminum manifold sits an air-to-water intercooler, chilling the air charge to allow aggressive timing advance. Oh, and big power....
Recently, we've been following the evolution of Old World Industries' (OWI) Thundertruck from stock '07 F-150 Flareside into a special rig that anyone would be proud to tuck in the garage, hook to a trailer, or rip up the strip in. And someone will get this opportunity, as OWI-makers of Herculiner bedliners, Peak antifreeze, SplitFire plugs and about a million other products, will give it away in the coming months after the potent pickup makes appearances at various shows and race events and participates in Hot Rod magazine's '07 Power Tour. To transform this production truck into Thundertruck, OWI enlisted various project partners, including Ford Racing Performance Parts, Cervini's Auto Designs, Paul's High Performance, T&R Auto Body, Air Ride Technologies, Stainless Steel Brake Corporation, and Bridgestone tires.
Our initial installment documented its external makeover, a combination of Cervini's CT-Series body kit and an attention-grabbing tri-tone paint scheme, all applied by Illinois' T&R Auto Body. Then the gussied-up truck got trucked to Paul's High Performance in Jackson, Michigan, where, last time out, we detailed installation of its leading-edge suspension from Air Ride Technologies-an air-sprung, four-link, and Panhard bar setup that scores a trifecta by radically improving looks, ride, and handling.
Now it's time to open the hood and get down to the serious work of dialing up the thrust. And what better way to do so than with FRPP's intercooled Whipple-manufactured twin-screw blower. Available in both black crinkle and polished versions, this kit (PN M-6066-F105) went on with surprising ease, given that it's intercooled, and produced some whopping power increases. Feel free to look ahead at our dyno results. We'll have a sandwich while we wait for you to come back.
Being intercooled, FRPP's...
Being intercooled, FRPP's CARB-approved M-6066-F105 kit contains a Fluidyne heat exchanger along with a coolant pump and reservoir. The kit also contains about a gazillion other parts that aren't shown here, including a full cold-air induction setup. Also included is a certificate for a flash tool that Ford will ship, once the individual vehicle's calibration code is known. This then plugs into the OBD-II port and presto, instant calibration of engine and transmission parameters for supercharging.
FRPP's new zero-range spark...
FRPP's new zero-range spark plugs (PN M-12405-3V0) are part of the deal, but with the revised and thoroughly tested calibration, the factory fuel injectors are deemed to be sufficient-as long as the kit's stock 8 psi of boost is not exceeded.
Thundertruck's 24-valve 5.4L...
Thundertruck's 24-valve 5.4L is, in stock form, a great powerplant wrapped in decidedly utilitarian clothing, most notably the goofy-looking sound traps on the inlet tract. This plastic inlet was among the first things to go when Paul's High Performance technicians Mike Sears and Karl Roekle began the pleasantly brief task of fitting its new and very effective power adder.
The airbox has been removed,...
The airbox has been removed, revealing the stock throttle body and plastic intake. In simplest terms, the supercharger assembly replaces these components in the valley between the three-valve heads. The throttle body will be reused on the blower inlet, while the plastic manifold will go on the spare parts pile.
A cooler, 160-degree thermostat...
A cooler, 160-degree thermostat is part of the kit. The alloy coolant crossover tube will be temporarily removed, but it goes back in place once the blower manifold is in place. Obviously, draining the truck's coolant is one of the first steps of the project.
FRPP's fender cover became...
FRPP's fender cover became a makeshift fascia cover, making an ideal place to kneel for the long reach to the back of the F-150 engine bay. Notice that with the hood open, the front of the radiator is completely accessible. This came in handy when installing and plumbing the intercooler's heat exchanger.
The fuel rail has to be disconnected...
The fuel rail has to be disconnected and removed before the manifold can come out. The arrow points to the fuel-pressure sensor on the rail.
When the rail is fitted to...
When the rail is fitted to the blower manifold as part of its preinstallation subassembly, a kit-supplied billet pressure-sensor relocator goes between the rail and the sensor. This provides necessary clearance while allowing the sensor to remain "in the loop." Fuel pressure is a critical component in calibration computation and engine health under boost.
Once the plastic intake manifold...
Once the plastic intake manifold is unbolted, the disassembly is pretty much done. Unlike some blowers, the FRPP/Whipple kit does not require modification of the heater lines running down the valley.