I keep reading about these Holley units. Every one says it's the ultimate SC for the 5.4L. But it's expensive. Is anyone actually running one of these? Easy install? Happy with the results? My SO has let me budget up to $6K for a SC, but I want to plink it for the right unit. I've read some really negative stuff on the ATI over at one of the Dodge boards, so I think it's now between the KB twin screw, the MagnaCharger or the Holley. Can we rehash this one more time? TIA!!!

 

there is i think one guy here and one on the world board that is running the holley. it is expensive, but it does come with more stuff than the other kits. like.... superchip throttle body.... ect. there is an article on it it the latest mm&ff mag. they got 330 at the rear wheels with 42lb injectors and a fuel pump. the ATI gets much more power and there are probably 5 or more here running that with great success. i have herad nothing but good things about it. that is what im planning to get. what did you hear bad about it? i dont know if i would trust those dodge guys anyway... lol. oh and you will only hae to save up 5K because that is what the holley is going for at www.truckperformance.com let me know what you decide.


-steve

 

Actually, the article states that they added 36lb injectors (and the picture's caption states they were 38lb injectors), not 42. I guess we cant really be sure. Also, depending on what kind of dyno they use, the numbers can be differet, you cant compare numbers from a dynojet to another brand dyno. Some use mechanical resistance, some use electrical resistance, etc...

Another thing I found strange. They started swapping pulleys on the unit too. They also added an external fuel pump. I was under the impression the kit contained a new internal fuel pump. So then why would they add the vortech pump? The pump included by holley was never mentioned. They also never state on what kind of dyno the pulls were made. I know on some dynos you have to add 15% to compare to the dynojet reading.

Lets compare the numbers Holley got compared to the MM&FF article.

Holley Before: 212 hp

Holley After: 322 hp

These are all on a 99 truck. They also give us this for comparison

In comparison the Ford Lightning produced 292hp on our dyno so we are 30hp above them. The Kenne Bell Blowzilla supercharger kit only made 281hp at the rear wheels according to the November 99 Super Ford Magazine and that was with a set of JBA headers.

They also say it was through the stock exhaust, on Holley's own in house dyno (dyno of optimism with holley products??, underestimate a lightning dyno??)



MM&FF numbers go as follows

Before : 201.4 hp

Blower Only: 289.2 hp

Bassani exhaust: 304.2 hp

80mm MAF, pulley and 36# (?) injectors: 331.8 HP

Some other things worth noting.

Holley's test rig may have the PI 5.4. We know for a fact it was a 99. MM&FF never states what year the truck is. Seems like a 99+ but the front end may have been changed. It may be one of the 235hp 5.4's. Seems likely since the first HP number is low compared to Holley's.

In addition, look at the wheels and tires on MM&FF's rig. Lightning wheels and some nitto tires. They are also by a LONG SHOT, much smaller diameter than stock. Holley never states if any changes were made here.

I would be very interested to see what Crash and Skid think of what I found.

 

sorry about the misinformation on the injectors i was just getting that off my head.... i must have remembered that crash was going to go with 42lb ers. another thing is that they said the catback was a bassani but i believe is a steeda unit that is made made by borla for steeda.... i assume they are useing bassani headers... and i dont know what they are doing to replace that pitiful Y pipe that ford gives us.... i believe that is the most restrictive part of the exhaust. anyway i suppose we will never really knowhow much power that is putting out..... i wish that these mags would give us just a bit more info.... and about holleys #s i wouldnt give them too much credit... just because i am not a trusting person..... at least when it comes to big companys and selling a product.....

-steve

 

I Agree with you on holley's numbers now looking more suspect. I never trusted them, but now you can see , if the MM&FF test is right, they still have about 20hp missing from their claims for the blower kit on its own. MM&FF's numbers seem correct, but a few discrepncies make them suspect also. With more information about the missing items this could be alot clearer.

 

I have friend with the Holly on his 2000 5.4 expedition. With the stock pully, 80mm mass air, 36 lbs injectors, trex inline pump and a walbro 255 intake pump, and a custom exhaust he made 332 rear wheel horsepower and over 400 tq. I can not remember the exact tq number. I thought it was very impressive. The truck roasts the tires on the street with 17 inch rims and Nitto tires. I think their numbers are preety much dead on. It should make that much power have any of you seen how big that blower accually is. It is huge. It makes the lightning's blower look like a baby blower. If I could do everything all over again I would put that blower on my truck instead of the vortech.

 

hhhmmmmm.... but 5K.... that mucho dinero.... but it does sound cool.... still seems that the ATI gets more power.... but... i dont really know... i wonder if anyone has track times with a holley... does your buddy with the EXPY run at the track? let us know...

-steve

 

expy track times can never compare to an f150's.

Have you seen skid's dyno slip though? 349 rwhp, no tuning!

 

 

OK, here are my qualms about the holley kit: the power is there, but it takes more than the stock kit to get there.

Holley advertises 322 rwhp with stock exhaust, and nothing more on the car other than their kit. Your friend and MM&FF both seems to have gotten a lot less than the advertised hp, about 30 less with the blower only, and only after adding a bunch of things do you get near holley's numbers.

Also, the holley blower seems to be an old design. It may need to be so big because it is extremely inefficient.

But oh my, does the holley kit look amazing on these engines!!!

 

yea... good thing you guys pay attension because i forget to think alot of the time. I WANT AN ATI.... MAD power just MAD i tell you... I just want to.... have MAD power!!!! woah... you got me all excited.... all i need now is 5K 3.5 for the blower and 1.5 for UPGRADES.... woohoo and about the Holley kit, something just doesnt seem to add up... i bet the blower isnt the best technology... but i think it is definately cheaper to get power out of an ATI but it doesnt look as cool... but it sounds cooler... and i dont have one of those clear hoods like the ricers.... so ill go ATI

-steve

 

Good choice steve. I'll probably go ati too because the holley kit is cool, but the technology is old school, and everyhting doesnt seem to add up. I alos like that with the ATI. crash and skid are there to help out all the way.

When i first saw the holley i was dead set on it, but looking into everything more closely comes out with a lot of question marks on holley's end, question marks that shouldnt be there.

THe ati can outpower the holley, just doesnt look so cool. Im going to get the polished unit and now i heard you can get polised tubes too. Im also going to paint the mounting plate flat balck so the blower stands out more. Now i have to save up less money too

 

Thanks Crash!

I was looking around and what finally convinced me was this:

Skid's dyno run with 349rwhp. The holley, not even in its advertised ratings (much less real life ones reported here and in mm&ff) can even come close.

Also, the ATI can be tuned by anybody with tools and too much time for his own good (me!!)

THe holley just costs too much and everybody seems to get a different kit with different things they end up adding in order to complete it.

I want the polished unit, and I'll paint the panel flat black, so the charger itself sticks out more visually. Stock, it looks like a pile of crap in the corner and the only thing thats visually engaging are the tubes.

Superchargersonline.com had a polished tube option listed for $200. I guess thats not available.

Finally, Skid tows that big trailer with his ATI. I'm sure the ATI will do an excellent job with my new toy.



My dad and I went to the boatshow today, and we looked at this one and the sea ray. It's leaps ahead in every category, more features for the money, and looks better too. Ours will be the 5.7L V-8 with the metallic blue and brushed aluminum trim hopefully.

Hey I saw ati had a kit for the 496 mercruisers. Maybe i can have a procharged boat too !

 

crash... i saw on one site that sells the ATI that you can get polished tubes too for an extra 200. are they wrong? or is this for diffrent kits? or do they possibly do this on thier own seperate from ATI? if you want to know the site, send me an email. also about the 9PSI.... that would just be MADNESS. and i love it. i will probably try that when i get bored with my base ATI power... but for now all i can do is dream......


-steve

 

He has not run his truck at the track yet. He is lazy and says he does not care about the track as long as he can beat ricers at the stop light.