Got my Xcalibrator today via UPS and installed the 87-octane performance tune. Very easy to do, just push a couple of buttons and sit back and let it load. It made a huge difference in performance; I even get a tire chirp shifting into 2nd gear at WOT and that’s with a 3:55 rear. I got about another 100 miles of 87-octane to burn until I load the 93-octane performance tune, then the fun begins.

 

I believe it to be totally unfair that you got yours before I got mine. Keep me posted as it will be a week or two before Mike gets mine done as he is very busy and I told him I could wait a while.

 

Called yesterday morning and they got my info. So now the wait begins. With Mike gone from today thru the weekend I don't expect to see mine on the way till next week.

With the factory tune back in my PCM driving really sucks. I have a scanguage and the factory ignition advance is really retarded over my Stage I tune. The throttle lag is gone but the shift firmness is just not there. Shift points are back to about 4800 rpm. Once my Xcalibrator arrives I don't think I'll ever run the stock tune unless its to go to the dealer for something.

I'm keeping my eye on my e-mail. I want to see a shipping notice come through.

 

Hi John (jpdadeo),

Glad you're enjoying your new custom tuning for that 2004 3-valve 5.4 - we're happy to finally be getting them shipping out the door!

Almost all of the "backlog" of custom tunes for 2004 3-valve 5.4 F-150's have now been taken care of and shipped out - there are only a few that are yet to be shipped as of this point.

For Marc Carpenter - I think (if memory serves) that we're just waiting on your CPW's to get yours done - I'll check with Anita on that for you.

For HamRadio - in your case, you already had us flash a custom tune into your PCM some time ago - I think you got yours back earlier this year, so you've had it for months now. And we know that makes it just that much less fun to be back on the stock factory tune! But we had to have you do that, as you needed to have access to a stock factory tune for any number of other reasons - to be able to go back to stock for service if needed, etc. In this case, since we had already flashed your PCM, the only way for you to have access to a stock factory tune was to have your PCM reflashed with an update at a dealership to take it back to stock, and then let us know that new reflash code info, so we can then build the new set of 3 custom tunes for you based on that new stock code. Then once you get your new Xcalibrator, it will download your new stock factory program and save it for you as soon as you install it, so you'll always have access to it if the need ever arises. It's tough going back to stock in a 3-valve 5.4, especially once you've had good performance tuning - but it will be well worth it, as you will be getting even more power & performance from your new tuning once you get it. Try to hang in there, my friend - we'll get it done for you just as quickly as we can!

 

I can wait till you get it done, no problem. Just joining in with the rest of the gang here to say the stock program is really the pits. Especially after knowing what a really good tune can bring to ya.....

Now we are all set with the factory tune in the PCM. Back to square one and ready for all the fun. The dealer was a bit hesitant to do the flash but after I showed him the TSB on throttle lag and he asked me " Do you have this problem?" I said "YES!" and he wrote it on the maintenance order. I checked for the sticker before I left to make sure they got it right. Darn good thing he didn't test drive it first and tell me I did not need the flash.

I e-mailed T.P. as soon as I could get to my PC. Also called on Tuesdy to make sure you folks got the new PCM code.

Hope your weekend is going nicely. It turned very warm here in the west. Almost 80 today. Got my ride all polished and clean. A good weekend.

Later Mike,

Larry

 

Absolutely enjoying it Mike, the 93-octane max performance tune really whales. Never would have guessed 6,000 lbs could jump so fast. Now I need an intake kit & cat back; I’m trying to keep my powder dry until the Air Force One is released but it’s not easy.
Thanks for the comprehensive tunes you gave me on my Xcalibrator and especially for the excellent costumer service you and your staff provide.

 

Hi John,

>>>Absolutely enjoying it Mike, the 93-octane max performance tune really whales. Never would have guessed 6,000 lbs could jump so fast.<<<

I felt the same way a year ago when we first wrapped up our initial major R&D for the new 3-valve 5.4 F-150. At that time we had several brand new bone-stock 2004 3-valve 5.4 F-150's at our disposal, one of them being our own 6200 lb (empty) SuperCrew Lariat 4x4. The minute the tuning was done on our truck, we rolled it off the dyno, filled the 30-gallon gas tank with 93 octane pump gas and went out for a top speed trial. Those of you with 2004 Lariats with center consoles will appreciate this - the speedo goes to 120, and I wrapped the needle all the way around to the letter "I" in "LARIAT" as it appears at the bottom of the speedometer's display. Actually, it was still pulling but I had to get out of it to maintain control of the vehicle - we figured we easily hit an honest 130+ mph, and probably more like 135. That was with no other mods, just our tuning - no tricks, on 93 pump gas, the mirrors were fully extended, tailgate up and no tonneau cover, etc. With a capable suspension & tires, I think something more than 135 mph might have been possible.

The nicest thing about our custom tuning for the 3-valve 5.4's is that it makes these new & heavier F-150's feel "lighter" in normal everyday driving - that's the most common response we get, is the truck feeling "lighter" because it's much more responsive all the time, at any throttle position or engine rpm - now it feels like your right foot is actually connected to the motor, and that someone is at home when the call for more power is made.

You'll probably notice less downshifting going up grades, too - we made a nice "breakthrough" in that area specifically - it can still downshift or unlock the TQ any time it needs to of course, but that will happen less frequently now - some grades it will stay locked up in Overdrive, while on other steeper grades, it will go further up the grade before downshifting, etc..

Thanks for your posts with your impressions, etc. John - I know a lot of 2004 & 2005 F-150 owners appreciate hearing your results.

Have fun,

 

Hi Larry,

I wish we could say the same - the weather here and all the way to Indianapolis & back (for the PRI show) was rainy, and our '04 SuperCrew is absolutely filthy, inside and out - I hate that!

I'll probably be giving you a call in the next day or two to go over some things on your new custom tuning setup...........

Talk to you soon!

 

Looking forward to the call Mike.....

Sorry to hear the WX is so fowl back there. Talked to my son in Knoxville TN this AM, he said 19 degrees....

Happy to hear John is happy with his tune.
Too bad we don't get any of that 93 octane out here. Best we can do is 91.

Your quite right about the truck feeling lighter with the tuning. After having a great tune for so long then going back to stock you get a good picture of how good you had it. Now we feel fat and slow.

Have a great week

 

Mike,

Any word on the AF1 air intake. I am waiting patiently but its getting harder as I have permission form my better half to go ahead and upgrade everything. (Which is a first!)

I really want to do this right this time. I have only had the flowmaster catback from the dealership but it has to go.

I want the Magnaflow SIDO as well as the Xcalibator, underdrive pulleys, GB Belt and Electric E-Fans.

Did I miss something?

I think I almost described the Stage 2 kit... DOH!!

 

Gona be a Merry Christmas for sure. Just got a tracking number from Performance Products! Its on da Way.....

 

Say what ??!!

Are you saying the AF1 is on it way??? No way!

 

Sorry jdmclemore, I was refering to the shipment of my Xcalibrator which I have been waiting for.

Hope the AF1 gets together soon. I have the Airaid and so far am happy with it. If the AF1 can do the same performance as the Airaid and be a little quieter then I might change. But I really don't think the increase noise of the Airaid is unplesant.

 

Hi Larry (HamRadio),

My apologies, I won't be needing to call you as I had thought -

The deal was simply that as of a few days or so ago, we didn't have your new code from your dealer reflash last week (as it's a very new revision from Ford), and I wanted to call you & let you know that there would be a slight delay until we could get that code.

BUT - we just got some more new codes from some of the later reflashes, so we double-checked the cross-reference from your dealer reflash info (it can be tricky on the newest reflashes for the 2004 3-valve 5.4's), and we feel pretty sure it's now a CBE3 where it used to be a KEN2 - and so I went ahead and did your new custom tuning and shipped out your new Xcalibrator.

I have also tried something relatively new to get a tad bit more power than what we were getting before on those west coat 91 octane premium tunes in the 3-valve 5.4's - so I'm hoping you'll see even a little bit more performance than what you previously had with our last custom tune - time will tell.

At any rate, it's on it's way & I hope you enjoy it!

 

Hi Crash_edwards,

The AF1 won't be what I would call "soon," we're still testing various prototypes for them - even if we thought it was ready right now, it would still take 6-8 weeks to actually get it into production and start shipping, etc. And we're not there yet.

Realistically, anyone that wants to upgrade the intake on their 2004 or 2005 3-valve 5.4 F-150 shouldn't feel they need to wait on the AF1, as the Airaid unit is doing a fine job - we're using it. Sure, I too would prefer the nice polished stainless steel of an Air Force One, but we aren't waiting - our truck and many of our customers 3-valve 5.4 trucks are wearing the Airaid unit, it's doing a great job with big power gains (20+ HP at the wheels at only 3000 rpm!), and it's the only intake kit for the 3-valve 5.4 we approve of.

If you want to wait on the AF1, we can do a deal with you on say, our Stage 1 or Stage 2 kit (or whatever individual parts you may want) and ship you the AF1 once it's ready to be released. I don't know how much of a hurry you are in, but if you are in a hurry since you have the go-ahead to do your mods now (and congrats on getting the OK!), we'll be happy to work with you in just about any reasonable way we can that will work for you.

You could either go with the Airaid and be done with it, or you can always do the tuning & exhaust now and just wait for the AF1, for example - you'll still get great power & performance gains using our tuning & exhaust with the stock intake setup, for example.

It's all up to you, of course, whatever makes you the happiest - you'd probably like to at least see some custom tuning under the Christmas tree.

Best of luck whatever you decide, & Merry Christmas!