The engines of today seem far more advanced than the power plants of yesteryear. Modern engines offer fuel injection, three valves per cylinder, overhead camshafts, computer-controlled cam timing, computer-controlled ignition timing, and the list goes on and on. What that has done for us is provide a 5.4L engine that makes approximately 300 hp in naturally aspirated trim, runs on pump gas, and knocks down fairly decent gas mileage (well, decent for a heavy-weight truck, not a passenger car). The automakers almost make it look like black magic when it's really just good engineering. As hot rodders, we have our own engineering ways and expand on what Detroit has given us. If a little is good, then more is definitely better. Adding a blower to your truck will jump the horsepower up to higher levels. Like we said, more is better.
This month, we ventured up to Dez Racing to follow along as they installed a ProCharger P-1SC-1 supercharger on an '05 F-150 pickup. Our test vehicle was bone-stock when we began our testing, and the only modifications we performed were the blower installation and the subsequent computer tuneup to make it all work properly.
What you see is what you get:...
What you see is what you get: ProCharger includes all hoses, elbows, lines, parts, and even a DiabloSport Predator with a custom tune for the computer.
The fuel injectors needed an upgrade, and those are included in the kit. A DiabloSport Predator comes as standard issue from ProCharger, and a special tuneup has been installed for the specific blown application. The blower system comes standard with a two-core intercooler to chill the advertised 8-9 psi of boost generated by the P-1SC-1 supercharger.
The P-1SC-1 supercharger is more than capable of pumping up the 330ci engine with enough air to blow the cylinder heads off the block, but the kit comes with the proper pulley setup to prevent any kind of catastrophic failure. Subsequently, if you do some engine work, then the supercharger can be spun harder and keep up with the new engine combination. ProCharger reports this blower is capable of 825 hp, and based on its racing achievements, we don't doubt the claims.
Brian Mochie and Mike Dez handled the installation and the associated chassis-dyno testing. With the ProCharger blower huffing the boost into the three-valve mill, our test F-150 spun the chassis dyno to 337 hp and 391 lb-ft of torque at the rear tires.
 This is what Ford gave us...  This is what Ford gave us. |  Pulling stuff apart is ea...  Pulling stuff apart is easy. |  Here is the bare bones engine...  Here is the bare bones engine with everything removed and ready for the blower installation. |
 The power-steering reservoir...  The power-steering reservoir is unbolted and moved to make clearance for the supercharger head unit. |  Disconnect the fuel rails,...  Disconnect the fuel rails, and replace the factory injectors with the 39-pound units supplied with the supercharger system. Check the fuel injectors for leaks before the initial fire up following the installation. The newer rails seem to be better than the factory 5L-Mustang rails in terms of fit, but you just never know. |  |