Xcal 2 for 97-98 4.6L's
 

ok ok i may be asking a question alreayd asked but in my search could not find the answers. I have a 98 f150 with the 4.6L. How much of a performance gain will i see with the xcal 2? I had a superchip on my 97 and really never noticed that much performance gain except for tranny shifting and holding longer. I have an intake ready to go in, i will be doing a custom true dual exhaust in the next few weeks. But i dont want to plop down $375 or more on a tuner that will just adjust my tranny shifting and top speed limiter.

Can anyone with a early model f150 with the 4.6 chime in?

need help with this.

Hi.

Oh, that info is out there, all righty... bone up on search:). For example, check out post # 7 in this thread:

https://www.f150online.com/forums/sh...light=gains+10

Keep in mind that some of those early calibrations would not allow open loop operation, so in those cases the gains would be even higher. You won't know unless Mike has a chance to see your PCM code.

Final caveat - every truck is different - your results will vary.

Also you could always give Mike a call @ (540) 862-9515 and discuss it with him directly.

Cheers
Grog

Well i ordered it. 87 max performance 93 econonmy and 94 Max performance. Dont need a tow program as i dont tow and will not tow. I just can't wait to install it and my intake and hopefully my exhaust all around the same time.

Hi 97,

Thanks for your post!

The first thing to remember is that you can't make any accurate judgment about *any* type of performance enhancement via the seat of the pants feel - that does not work especially in these heavy trucks. Some people couldn't feel a 50 Hp difference if their life depended on it, while others will RAVE about a 20 HP gain - and everything in between. Meaning, it's just too subjective a manner in which to judge.

When we provide a custom tune for anyone, we write up a 7-10 page document for each individual, that tells them a lot of info, everything from their tunes to how to use the unit, to maintenance tips they need to know, things about fuel quality, and we go into thorough detail regarding precisely how to actually quantify the performance difference before & after any type of modification - that is info that is helpful to all, especially those who own these heavy trucks.

What needs to be remembered is that the *best* tuning is going to net you about a 10%-13% increase in horsepower, and about a 13% to 18% increase in torque - and the improvements in actual acceleration times are even better than that, making it hands down the single best bang-for-the-buck mod you can get, as nothing else for the same or less cost will do that - however, that is still not going to make a 2.5-3-ton truck feel like you just dropped a supercharger on board. :) I say it that way only because some people seem to expect that kind of feeling, especially when they see some others here rave about their results with our tuning - everyone's perspective is different when it comes to seat of the pants impressions.

For example, on your last Superchip, while it cannot be compared to the results from our Troyer Performance *custom* tuning, there is no way it did not increase engine power. It did in fact add power. Now the truth also is that that original style Superchip cannot make the kind of power gains or performance improvements that our custom tuning does, as we have specialized in this vehicle platform far longer than anyone else - and we go much further into the PCM's programming and get much better results.

So I think you will be very happy with what our custom tuning does for your truck - I think the most accurate way to look at it, is to look at it in term of a percentage, as that is the most effective way - in other words, expect it to feel like you just picked up about 10%-13% "more motor under the hood," so to speak - in terms of power - as that is basically what is happening. Now that is enough to certainly be worthwhile, but some people will RAVE about it, while others will say "where's the beef," usually because they just do not have an understanding of the amount of actual change in the vehicle's power to weight ratio.

Anyway, this is just some brief info for you - also, don't forget that since that is a 9 year old truck, it might also need some maintenance, as that can have a big effect on the results from tuning, or any other performance mod.

When it comes to tuning for the F-150, that is what we do, and what major chipmakers call us in for help with on these trucks - so generally speaking, the best overall results will be had with our custom tuning, and if that is the route you have chosen, congratulations, as I think you will be happy - especially compared to your original Superchip! :)

If you'd like to go over this in more detail, please feel free to give us a call, OK? And best of luck with your truck! :)

thanks for the reply back. im definitely looking forward to the tuner. i filled out the paperwork i was emailed and faxed it all back the sameday(overnight, work mids) I know i wont gain a huge amount of power but just a lil is better then nothing.

I remember the first time I started my truck afterloading my Troyer tune. My son was sitting shotgun, and when I hit the key and it started up, we both looked at each other with chit eatin grins.... sounded that much better on the first start. You are gonna love it.

97f150,
I just finished and faxed in the paper work for finalize my order for the XCal2 last week. Requested mine with a 87 Performance, 87 Tow, and 93 Tow for my 98' 4.6. I'd be interested in hearing how your experience is with the '87 Max Performance after you have had some time to play with it.

Hi 97f150f/s,

You're very welcome, & thanks for taking advantage of our Group Buy to get in on our custom tuning - I think you'll be happy with it. :)

The 4.6 F-150's can be funny beasts - some will gain 20-25 HP, and then some will gain well over 30 HP - those being the ones that have a "handicap" in their stock factory tuning that prevents them from being able to go open loop. Now we tend to find that more in the 1999-2003 4.6's, but there are some 97 & 98 codes that also have that problem - it was something Ford did to try to make them get better MPG when towing a heavy load, an we always thought it just wasn't a smart thing to do, as that prevents the truck from making it's stock rated power - and in those cases, we end up looking like heros due to the larger-than-"normal" power gains. Ford also does this in virtually *all* of the V-10 SuperDuty's.

But the bottom line is *all* of the F-150's, regardless of which engine, will definitely benefit from our custom tuning, and their owners generally enjoy it - I hope you will, too, & thanks for putting your faith in us - we hope to earn it! :)

S-C, i really am counting down till i get it. Im hoping i can call this guy in PA to do my exhaust this way i have the trifecta going the day i install the tuner and intake :bandito:

Hi 97,

I forgot to talk with you about the exhaust you are planning, as there are some things you need to know.

Doing a "true dual" system, which entails cutting up the stock factory Y-pipe so that you can actually make it a true dual system, takes some expensive work to do it right, and true duals will cause a very significant loss of torque in most cases - which is why we do not advise them unless the vehicle has a positive displacement type of supercharger.

Exhaust design has changed dramatically in recent years on these vehicles from the factory, thus the days of "true duals" are, for many configurations of vehicles, over - due to the resulting loss of torque.

If you do go ahead with a true dual setup, you will want to have it done in the following manner to avoid the loss of torque:

Gut out the front two cats (but leave them in place), and then replace the last 2 cats (your truck has 4 cats, 2 on each side) with Magnaflow high-flow units in 2.25" diameter - not 2.5". Then have your guy run 2.25" diameter custom-bent pipe from there into a good X-pipe, remembering to reinstall the 2 downstream O2 sensors after the Magnaflow cats - once again, I strongly recommend Magnaflow's 2.25" X-pipe, as it's cheap and works very well. Then for mufflers, I suggest using Magnaflow 14" 4x9 ovals, and keep all of your exhaust tubing at a 2.25" diameter - 2.5" diameter is way too much flow capacity, and thus will slow down the velocity of the spent exhaust gases so badly that you will lose cylinder scavenging - and *that* is what kills torque, not a loss of backpressure, as some think - and trust me on this, as there are even exhaust manufacturers that do not really understand that it is *exhaust gas velocity* that is the key to maintaining torque.

That setup will give you the best chance of maintaining torque, so this is very important to remember - if you do your true duals in any other way, meaning without doing a pair of high-flow cats and incorporating an X-pipe and keeping everything at 2.25" diameter, you are going to lose torque - then what will happen is you will put all of this stuff on at the same time, and the truck will feel like a dog until you are at high rpms and at wide-open throttle, which will make you very unhappy with the results. You want to have maximum possible horsepower and torque all the time, at any throttle position, and at any rpm, so when doing true duals on a normally aspirated truck, that is what it takes. If longtube headers were available for the 4.6 F-150, I'd also recommend them too, but nobody makes a good quality long-tube header, only "shorty" style headers are available - which you could do, but they won't add much in this type of scenario, maybe another 7-9 HP and for the cost of a good quality set of stainless steel and ceramic coated headers, I'd say to hold off on that expense for right now unless you have a lot of extra $$$ to spend, and just put the money into your true dual setup if that is the route you are going.

So just keep this in mind, and feel free to show this to your exhaust guy - and if your guy does not carry Magnaflow components at aggressive pricing, we can supply you with those components if need be - not trying to play salesman here, just trying to keep you from causing yourself a disappointing results if you are going to go with true duals, OK?

If you have any questions about this, please feel free to give us a call at our number listed below, & good luck! :)

S-C your a mind reader. I had true duals on my 97 f150 4.6 and ran 2.25" piping all the way specifically just for the reasons you stated. Mine at the time was only cat back true duals but with no x pipe. This time i plan on doing it the same but replacing the cats with high flows, x pipe and not sure which muffler yet. I had magnaflow's on my 97 also and was not happy with them.

Also, i forgot to ask when ordering the xcal 2, what is the typical turnaround time from order to receive?

Hi 97,

Right now it's running 16 business days from time we get your CPW's to the time we ship your order, so even with the Group Buy we are within 2-3 days of our normal delivery times. :)

For advice on which mufflers to use, give me a call and I can go over that properly with you - and good to hear you went 2.25", very smart! :)

i'll definitely give you guys a call when i go the exhaust route. I may skip exhaust and get some efans first. Not sure yet.

Any time, we'll be happy to help! :)