Yes, I suppose this should be in the chips & tuning page but since the 04 & 05 are the ones with the most complaints about being under powered and I own an 05, I decided to post this here.

I just received my Troyer XCAL2 and installed the 87 Tow Safe. I have over 1/2 tank (35.7 gal tank) of 87 left so I have to use it up before I try the 93.

To give a little background to my story, I purchased a 05 Lariat 2WD after being a lifetime GM person, I'm still waiting for them to pull their heads out of their as$es at the GM HQ. They seem determined to run themselves out of business & alienate every customer they have. They can only get people to buy their cars by basically giving them away at less than actual value. To be completely honest, I never stopped liking GM/Chevy's but I would have been unwise to purchase what I believe to be a far inferior product, Chevy Silverado 1500, to the current F150. I really liked my new Ford except for one glaring fault: It had no power, I mean absolutely gutless and embarrassing. I belive all the guys who brag about dusting Hemi Dodges & Titans are full of it. Most people get 4WD, I have a 2WD so my truck is lighter and therefore should be faster. One guy on this site actually said he beat a Z28 for crying out loud, what a load of horse sh$t.

My father, brother-in-law & myself decided to see what could put up or shut up. My brother-in-law needs a new truck so he was basically shopping around by driving my dad's (04 F250 5.4) & my truck (05 F150 Lariat) against his 98 Chevy & my old 91 Chevy. We hooked up a trailer to each truck & ran them to see which was best. On paper, my 05 Lariat should have been the landslide winner. It came in 3rd out of 4. The best truck in our little test was a 98 Chevy (tranny was slipping which was why he's shopping around for a new truck, has since been wrecked & totaled, now he DEFINITELY needs a new truck) 1500 2WD, 180000 miles, with a 3.42 axle, 9000lb tow rating. It towed a 3400lb trailer like it didn't exist. #2 was a 91 Chevy 2wd 187000 miles with a 3.42 axle, 9000lb tow rating. It had a little trouble out of the blocks but never faultered after getting under way. Both Chevy's in our little test only dropped about 1.5 mpg. #3, My 05 Lariat 2WD, 8000 miles, 3.55 LS axle, hd tow package, 300hp engine couldn't tow the 3400 lb trailer to save it's life. It was actually embarrissing for me to tow that trailer with my truck. It was less than 1/2 of its rated towing capacity and it didn't have the ***** to get the job done. The last place winner was a 04 F250, 4WD, 5.4, 3.73 LS, 7700lb tow rating. It was a joke, nothing nicer to say about it. Both Ford's dropped about 6 mpg while towing. After this little test, I was doubting my purchase of a Ford product.

That is until today... After installing the Troyer tunes, I can't belive this is the same truck. It starts easier, idles better, pulls harder, shifts firmer, passes with AUTHORITY, etc... I noticed an improvement BACKING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY!!! It even makes my Gibson exhaust (known for being the quietest aftermarket exhaust out there) sound better. Even without trying the 93 octanes tunes, I can 100% say that the Troyer XCAL2 is well worth the $$$. Buy it, you WILL NOT REGRET IT...

This is something that needs to be said: Shame on you Ford. This is the way this truck should run out of the box. People should not have to spend large amounts of $$$ to get their truck to run the way it should out of the factory. Shame, Shame, Shame...

Before anyone decides to bash me for posting my results of our "Towing Test", I admit, I'm not a scientist or automotive tester. I simply put 4 trucks thru their paces in a realistic test that anyone can reproduce tomorrow: towing a 12X8X6 enclosed single axle trailer that weighs 3400lbs. I am not biasing any of the results or info and I'm not Ford bashing. I can't wait until Saturday, I'm towing the same trailer with the same load in it. I will post the results of that on Sunday. A friend in my squadron has a double axle car trailer with a 72 Mach 1 sitting on it in his drive way. He says it is about 6500lbs. That gets hooked up on sometime next week...

KC-10 FE out...

 

Good Lord dude! Great post and will be quite interested in what the new tow results will be with the new tune. My truck is quite pathetic on power as well and it's a full load 4x4 Screw. I have the XCAL II on order as well, and from your post and others, i'll be looking forward to a "brand new" truck. I agree as I am sure others will as well that Ford should have these trucks perform like they have 300HP, not 200HP. Great review.

 

Good review man.

 

That's some good reading, great post. At first I thought it was going to end up in a bad way. Now I'm convinced, Where and how much?? I got to get one!

 

Now its making me think twice about getting exhaust. Troyer will be getting another customer soon as my truck comes back from the dealer with it's problems fixed.

Good post KC-10 FE.

 

http://www.troyerperformance.com/cgi...catalogno=9400
I believe you get a discount if you tell em your from f150online.

 

You do get a discount. You're not allowed to speak of the prices on this message board according to the literature that came with the XCAL2. All I can say is call them. Their customer service is as good as people say. Everyone was very friendly and helpful. I even hooked the damn thing up incorrectly (key was in the ignition turned off, should be out when you start the process) and it wouldn't start the tune until I did it right. If you can operate a microwave, you can work an XCAL2.

KC-10 FE out...

 

Just wait till you do the 93 octane tune. I have all performance tunes since I don't tow. I was in the same situation having a 1/2 tank of 87 octane at the time so I ran the 87 octane tune 1st as well. I couldn't wait to drain the tank, it was so bad I actually drove around town just to empty the tank.

I have never looked back and only run the 93 octane performance tune. Having a Screw Lariat 4x4 weighing in at 7200 lbs it was painful. Now with the TP tunes it is really a whole new truck. Best bang for the buck upgrade I have done so far, and I have done a few...

Enjoy your new truck!!!!

 

Crash, did you get your programmer first? Before all other mods? If so could you lay some rubber down from a stand still with the 87 or 93?

 

No, I did exhaust (dealer installed) then the TP tunes. Even with all my mods I can only break the backend (3.73 LS diff) off the start with the 93 octane only. The 4x4 Lariat Screw is a tank and will only chirp them on asphalt. If I am on smooth pavement I can light them up for about 2 to 3 feet max.

 

Damm! Now I need to find the money to buy one! Anyone want to donate to my Xcal 2 fund raiser?

 

Great post man! I don't think anyone thinks you are Ford bashing or for that matter disagrees with you on your statement that this is how these puppies should be out of the block.

But that's what Mike is for!

 

As stated before, a great post. I felt the same way when I picked up my 05 S-Crew. I was driving a 2000 F-350 crew cab diesel with a chip and it was great. I sold that to get something smaller and better ride. When I first drove the F-150 I thought I had made a huge mistake this thing was just plain SLOW. Now with the tuner its a totally different truck and I have that big smile again. So once again a great post.
Jim

 

Great review and you just sold me once again on Troyer performance and customer service.

Power is trully the only complaint I have with my 05'Screw. It is plain and simple a dog. The only way it can break the tires is in rain. I will be calling Mike.

 

Just ordered mine this morning...god I cant wait! I even asked them to put me in front of all you clowns but they said sorry cant do!