Hey Guys,

So as most of you know I’ve been on the fence regarding the Xcal2 and 3.25 AF1 from Troyer for roughly a year. I had a variety of different concerns but for the most part it’s the fear of spending a lot of money and just having firm shifts as a result. Sure the dyno could tell me I gain 30 RWHP, but would I feel that 30 RWHP. My last experience with a vehicle and a performance air intake did not go well and I’m a little scared.

I'm considering the 3.25 AF1 and Xcal2 now because I have to switch from my 22s which have a larger diameter tire to the stock 18s in the fall and spring. The dealer was doing this for free but now wants to charge $149 to do it. The Xcal2 would eventually pay for itself after two years.

I had a Ford re-flash and while I agree the factory tune from Ford was horrible, it definitely improved with the re-flash my dealer performed. I wondering how much better Troyer’s tunes and the AF1 would actually make my truck perform, short of feeling firmer shifts.

Common sense and the months of reading in this forum tells me his tunes provide substantial improvement over the factory Ford tune. But my thoughts are two fold, 1. What about those with a Ford re-flash; and 2. Will the difference in power be enough for me to feel it when accelerating?

It’s not a question of if Troyer’s work is good, I already know the answer or I wouldn’t be considering purchasing items from him, but rather is my re-flash that bad and will a air intake and custom tunes provide enough results for me to feel the difference instead of reading a dyno difference?

Here are my truck specs:
2005 F150
5.4 3V V8
3.73LS
4WD
Supercrew
Only performance add-on is a Maggie SIDO catback w/ Maggie Resonator

Initial Code: Tem7

Ford Re-flash: 5L3A-12650-CLB

Thanks again,

Duke

PS.

While I have everyone's attention. Does anyone with the Maggie SIDO SS catback have substantial surface rust on the pipes? My resonator body, muffler body, and tips don't have any rust of them. However, the SS pipes that came with this catback system are covered in rust. The system has been on close to a year. Is this normal? I though SS wasn't supposed to rust?

Duke

 

Duke, if you've been considering it this long, you just need to bite the bullet and place your order. I don't suppose you have any members in your area with the troyer tunes that would let you test drive their truck would you?

You could always just get the XCal2 with tunes and no intake to keep your costs down and you would still notice a huge difference in the way the truck drives. The throttle response and shift changes are worth the price along, imho.

I had a TEM7 code as well, never got a reflash, so I don't know what you've got now... Could you tell a difference after the reflash? \

My truck is very very close to yours, except I've got the S.Cab and true dual flowmaster exhaust. With troyers tune and the 3.25 AF1 it really does feel like a totally different beast.

I'll make you a deal, if you're not 100% thrilled with the tunes I'll buy ya a brew

 

Haha, thanks for the info and the offer! Unfortunately there isn't anyone in my area that has done the Troyer tunes. If I am going to commit to this I'd definitely do the AF1 as well to suck every bit of easy power I can get. Things like fans and pulleys would require more work then I'm willing to give right now.

Yeah I did notice a HUGE difference at first when I had a reflash done, but then it tappered a bit. It wasn't my getting used to it either. It literally started not responding as fast and happened within a matter of days. But it's still better now then when I first bought it.

Duke

 

Hey Fellas,

Part of the idea of posting this information was to see if this is what TP will need when I tell them my truck has been reflashed. Can anyone confirm this? I'd really like to make a decision today or tomorrow since my birthday is October 18th. I know it's a SERIOUSLY fat chance but how sweet would it be to get to install this stuff on my birthday?

Duke

 

Duke, just curious to ask why you did the re-flash?
Ho much $$$ did it cost you?
Did it improve your gas mileage?

thanks......

 

My truck had a real problem with hard starts. It would sometimes take a couple trys to get the truck to start. I also talked to the service advisor about an abnormal lag in the throtle when accelerating from a stand still. They advised a reflash and thus it was covered under warranty. Gas mileage didn't change.

Duke

 

Hiya Duke.

Couple/few things...

First - I think you will still need the full 7 character calibration code of your freshly reflashed PCM - (I dunno if he can derive that from the reflash number you provided). Mike will send you a blank Xcal2 to do this with when ( not if ) you order. Once he gets that info & your CPW stuff, in the queue you go and it's all over but the nail-biting.

Second - seriously doubt you'll get it by your birthday, but you never know. I ordered on 14-Aug, but I already had an X2 to read the strategy - sent that in along with the CPW, and with MT's workload at the time I was able to get my tunes on 21-Sept just 3 days before my birthday - a great present! My turnaround time may not be representative, you understand.

Third - everyone's truck and expectations is different of course, but a lot of customers have definitely felt a substantial increase in performance & vastly improved driveability - me included, if you've seen my recent reports, and all I've added so far is The Tunes. [Well... that and the TP sticker ]. You're also going with the Top Dog AF1, and you have the exhaust... and 3.73's...man, you are all set.

Personally, I was simply blown away by his wizardry on that 5.4L 3V. I don't impress easily. I'd be real surprised if you did not find the effort produced excellent results. You need to do some maintenance things to help ensure all is copacetic. All that is spelled out in Mike's comprehensive documentation.

Oh - and line up a dyno somewhere in your area, as datalogging is highly recommended.

BTW - I'm really glad you got your vibration issues sorted out - I know that was gettin' to ya !

Good luck, bud.

Cheers
Bubba

 

Hey MGDfan,

Thanks for all the information! As is the usual verdict, I guess it's best that I call TP. The only problem is finding time to do that today as I'm slammed with work.

Thanks again for the info and well wishes.

Duke

 

Duke,
While I have had neither the reflash or a XCAL2, I was like you and sat on the fence since the beginning of the year. Thought about it, then forgot it, then thought some more. I finally ordered the XCAL2 plus the AF1 about a week ago. Now I am sitting here waiting and dreaming….

Woof
Bowser

 

Hi Duke,

I have an 03 Exp w/ 4.6l. Not a rocket by any measure. I did the Xcal2 with TP tunes (87perf, 93perf, 93perf tow). I use the 93 perf. After a few weeks I also installed the AF1 intake.

I have to say for a 6Klb truck with a smallish motor, the tunes made a delightful difference. Can easily pass on the highway, accellerate nice and smooth. I am going to do a datalog session soon and send the files into TP for their review. I was hoping for better mpg, but I can't say I've seen that. However I am happy to get a peppy truck. the stock condition was like driving a deridgible down the road. Oye!

Do a tune first and see how you like the results, if $$ is an issue. then ad an intake later.

Best Regards,

John

 

*in a subliminal tone of voice*

Just buy it.... Just buy it.... Just buy it.


Seriously bud, like I told you in the PM, you'll be hard pressed to find anyone that wasn't impressed by the difference. Yes, there are a couple that like to go around beating the 'it wasn't worth it' drum -- there are only a couple though. Look through the volumes of posts that say otherwise...

I'm on the 'it was totally worth it' side of the fence. It's amazing what the 5.4 3v really has in there and it's ashame that Ford didn't exploit a little more out of it -- but, being conservative for fuel types and driving styles, it's tough to put out a 'canned' stock tune that would be fantastic for everyone.

Hence, the reason I spent my money and let Mike go to work... Zero regrets.

As for the AF1, like others have said, if you want to do it, do it. If the $ is a bit more tight, push pause -- you can always come back to it. I do recommend it though!

 

Hi Duke,

Well, there *are* people out there who literally cannot feel a 30 Hp gain - but they probably shouldn't modify their vehicles.

I'm kidding, of course, about the shouldn't modify their vehicles part!

In fact we talk specifically about this in the docs we send to each and every single custom tuning customer of ours - and we give them several different ways to do controlled before & after tests to SHOW them exactly what they got!

Seat of the pants is never the way to judge the effectiveness of any performance part of any kind - though we pretty much all still do it, the reality is that only data will tell you that - or racing someone you've raced before and enjoy kicking their butt.

As you have been seeing for a long time now, virtually everyone raves about our tuning, and it is the single best bang for the buck performance enhancement you can do to your vehicle, and nothing for the same or less cost will do what our tuning does for the performance of the vehicle. Now I would say NOT to expect our tuning to turn a 3-ton tank into a rocketship, that won't happen - but it is the best bang for the buck, and why it's so popular - all those thousands of people that have posted here over the past 10 years or so cannot be wrong.

And having the 3.25" AF1 and our custom tuning combo is a very nice way to wake that truck up - you will notice it.

 

Hey Mike,

I put in the order last week and will be faxing the docs to you in the next couple hours.

I'm also emailing Anita with pictures regarding something she and I discussed on Thursday. I'm worried about the amount of rust on the exhaust pipes from the Maggie Catback exhaust I bought from you guys back in Nov. When we had the truck up on the lift fixing the vibration issue (ended up being a sticking brake slide pin), we noticed a ton of rust all over the pipes of the magnaflow kit, but the muffler and tips themselves were fine.

Talk to ya soon,

Duke

 

Hey Duke - just some info, when I had my 05 Lariat, I had the same PCM code - TEM7 - and it needed reflash to correct a bad 1-2 upshift as well as the throttle lag. Sounds like you were also reflashed to a BKP1 code as well. Yes, the reflash 'feels' better but it ain't nothin compared to what the Mike's 93 octane max performance tune will do. Your truck is still a complete slug, no midrange or topend. You'll see... ( just break down and get the tuner/AF1 combo ). You'll never look back dude.

 

Awesome, it's good to hear from someone in a similiar "dealer reflash" situation as me.

Well I haven't seen to many pumps with 93 around here so I went with 91 high perf, 87 high perf, and 87 tow. I can't wait and am extremly antsy. I just wish they weren't so busy so I can install this stuff on my birthday!

By the way, if I was running the 91 perf tune and had to put on a tow tune (87 perf being the only one I have), could I run the 87 perf tune with 91 octane in the tank? Would it hurt anything?

Duke