Well I'm about ready to make the jump to the next level but first there are some things I need to know. I'm lookin at getting the Whipple supercharger, but what all does the kit come with?
what is the minimum grade fuel required to run without getting detonation (octane level)?
what needs to be done to the rest of the powertrain?
how much boost does it produce right out of the box?
does it come w/anything to upgrade the fuel system and if not what should I get so I don't run lean?
what type of plugs would be best and would it be a good idea to get Granatelli's coil packs?
Is there anything else I need to know that I didnt ask .

Thaks everyone
Jack

 

I built my own kit but here is what I have done:

Replaced FI with Lightning models (42#/hr)
Repalced MAF with Lightning model (90mm)
Replaced intake with aftermarket
Replaced coil packs with Lightning models
Upgraded transmission with shift kit (stop gap) will replace with Monster Box when this trans dies.
Upgraded Spark Plugs to Lightning spec (Denso Iridium IT-20s - gapped 0.035)
Replaced Fuel Pump with Lightning model (Bosch 255 L/Hr)
Replaced complete cooling system and hoses
Replaced front and rear differential fluids
Installed adjustable thermostat to shutdown intercooler pump when temp drops below 25 deg F.
Upgraded ECM with custom program - should come with your kit
Octane will be determined by you and your programmer but 93 is my minimum

Not sure if the Whipple offers an intercooler but YOU MUST GET THIS FEATURE.

That should be a good start.

 

Most kits come with everything you need.

 

It comes with everything you need. You'll have to run 91 octane, but the motor likes 93 better. You don't need to do anything to the powertrain, but I did get a Factory Tech C-plate for my tranny to stiffen up the shifts. The Whipple kit makes 8lbs of boost and the stock fuel pump and injectors are good unless you are planning on uping the boost. The kit comes with Ford Racing "0" plugs, those or the Autolite HTO's are what's recommended. I haven't had a need to upgrade the coil packs. The only other thing I would recommend is some type of traction bar. Wheel hop was terrible on mine until I got the Roadmaster RAS.

 

Thanks for the info. and have to say that your truck is pretty sweet but the Shelby GT500 takes the cake , I want one of those so bad .

And if anyone else would like to add anything I would love to hear it!!

Thanks everyone
Jack

 

jsnsan,
I'm thinking about the Plasmabooster, did you notice any performance improvements or milage increases?

 

jmt0645,

I put everything on the truck really close together so I didnt have time to tell the difference between them all, but I do think it helps and it says that it's a good thing to have if you want to supercharge .

 

Jack, the Whipple kit comes with pretty much everything you need. I think you might be able to send Whipple your superchips tuner and they can put the program onto it for you to download, or they could possibly e-mail it. You'll probably be scrapping your air intake because the kit comes with one and with the relocation of the throttle body, you'll need the new hose at the least.

Having the tune on the superchips tuner as a baseline will also benefit you in the future if you change tire sizes or gear ratio's.

The problem you are going to run into up here is the premium gas is only 90 octane. I'm setting up a home fuel tank where I will mix 101 octane race fuel with 90 octane to bring it up to around 92.5-93. The over the counter octane boosters are junk, don't waste your money on them. You can get race fuel from the track out in Wasilla by the 55 gallon drum, but the stuff runs around 8 bucks a gallon (damn shipping). I've had to lay off the fast driving this summer because I do get some knocking and pinging at higher RPM's, but I'm running higher boost than stock form, which would increase the problem. The 90 octane might be okay with the stock 8psi system, but I'd keep a close eye on the plugs and the knocking noises to see if you are getting some detonation.

Keep us updated on your progress, it'll be nice to have another Whipple'd F-150 up here. You'll have lots of fun in the deep grooves on your roads down there in Anchorage. I'll post later in the spring if I make it down to the track in the valley. The new 4.56 gears are on, but I'm waiting for it to warm up a little more out since it's 25 below and I don't feel like running the truck in this cold of weather.

 

05RoushMarkLT,

I was hoping you would see this . I was wondering about the fuel system though, do I have to upgrade if i'm gonna stay at the stock 8psi or is the stock fuel system fine?

Oh yeah the other thing I wanted to know is the tranny able to take the abuse of the whipple or do I have to do something to beef it up?? I seen the factory tech valve bodies but I don't see one for the 4R75E, they do have a seperator plate though. I will tell you I have a Lead foot and the whipple is gonna be like throwing gasoline on a fire, if the tranny lasts a year I'll faint .

And about the octane, did you know they stopped selling 92 premium two or three years ago I think it was, that sucks when most chips in the performance tune are meant to use 92 . I hope the Whipple can run it, it might be a good thing to call or email them about. there use to be a gas station in town here that sold high octane fuel at the pump I might swing by there tomorrow and see if they still do, find out how much and what octane.

Thats awsome about your gears!! I get bummed out when I get a new toy and can't use it right away so I feel your pain. and boy is it ever cold out there lately I couldnt imagine living in Fairbanks, I've been here for 23 years and I still cringe when I look at there temps in the winter, gotta love those summer temps though. And I never did get your real name?

Later
Jack

 

Jack, the name's Jerry.

My little vertical peddal on the right has been mashed into the carpet pretty good for the last 6-7 months, and I haven't had any problems with the tranny or driveline. I also towed 7,000 pounds from Vegas to Fairbanks in 3&1/2 days, but I had some issues there with shifting issues and some serious pinging going on. I think the tune that I left Whipple with wasn't geared for heavy towing, and it showed. This was all custom stuff though, I think the stock tune would of been just fine for the drive. You won't need to upgrade anything in the fuel system. I'm still running my stock fuel pump, but I had to upgrade the injectors and MAF housing with the smaller pully and added timing. As long as you stick with the stock system, everything Whipple gives you is all you need to get rolling. I'm not sure if they are giving out the colder plugs with the kit, so that is something you might want to upgrade while you have the engine pulled apart. Make sure to tell them you want the speed limiter removed when you get the tune. Talk about a party foul. You get up to 99 in no time and she shuts down on you.

One of Dustin Whipple's suggestions to me was to take a little timing out to get rid of the pinging, but I didn't spend all that time and money just to take the power back out, so I decided to bite the bullet and mix race fuel to get the octane up to where I need it. I figure it's cheaper than buying a new engine, so I can sleep better at night knowing I'm making a good investment into my trucks future. I didn't realize that about the 92 octane. If you find some in Anchorage... please let me know! I'll make the trip down with the F250 a couple times a year to load up and haul it back to Fairbanks, it would be so much cheaper that way. I talked to the race tracks though, and none of them knew of any place that sold higher than 90 octane, so I think we might be SOL. I think they might sell 91 octane over in Canada, which is something else I've been meaning to check into.

I've been in Fairbanks all 31 years I've been alive, but I did spend the last couple of years in Vegas. Finally got moved back to reality though, those folks are crazy down there in America. I'm used to the cold, but my truck isn't anymore with the new equipment under the hood. I don't think I'll be driving it that much this winter, but I'll be ready to burn off the last little bit of rubber on the 22's come break up. I brought up a new set of Pirelli's with me when I moved back from Vegas, so the rubber I have on there now are my donor tires. I'll be posting up some new burnout video's next spring.

 

Does anyone know if you could add the Whipple SC tune to an Edge?

 

Well Jerry I found some 100 octane at a shell station BUT.....it's AV Gas and it's leaded.....that sucks!!! so the hunt continues . Just wanted to let you know.
maybe i'm doing something wrong with my trannys in the vehicles I own, I've went through 2 in my 93 Bronco that had a 5.0, one in my 99 F250 w/a 5.4 and the one in my 03 F350 CC PSD was starting to show a little sign of wear when I traded it in, I thought when I had the F350 that it would be bulletproof ...... Nope . but I got to hit the sack or else i'd write more and be up till the butcrack of dawn.

Later
Jack

 

The whipple tune comes directly from Ford Racing. You will get their tuner, which is a very generic tuner and very slow uploading. I have the whipple base tune on my Xcal 2 but my tuner put it one there. I've never heard on anybody having any type of custom tune on an Edge. I believe that once you s/c a truck, the Edge is just used for diagnostics and guages. If you decide to custom tune, I think you'll have a hard time finding a tuner that uses anything other than SCT or Diablo.

 

I picked up a Diablo tuner to download my dyno tune and I can now modify it with the use of that. I think you can use an edge, and if you already have one then go for it. The Diablo had everything I needed, and I got it through Whipple for a decent price. I have to hook it up now and download my stock tune because my 4.56 gears are on. and I can change the gear ratio on the PCM at home now. They are wrapping up a lube job and tranny flush, and I'll pick it up this weekend. Now it just needs to warm up outside, this 15-20 below ain't cuttin' it.

 

I found some 100 octane fuel too, but it was the leaded av gas stuff. Definately not an option.

I've had some bad luck with tranny's before too. My last truck was a sport trac, and I went through two tranny's, a driveline and lots of other parts. I've destroyed a couple other tranny's too. This F-150 tranny has held up just fine for me though, and I've been pretty hard on it. Hopefully yours will hold up fine too.

The racetrack in the valley had the 101 octane race fuel available, that was all I could find down that way. They put me in touch with a place in Washington that they order it from, but I lost the info. Shipping was pretty hefty though. The other solution that others have suggested is using Torco. I decided to mix instead of going that route, but it might be worth a try.

Good luck with the search.