After reading about the merits of the Banks System I had one installed on my 03. The exhaust note is terrible. It sounds like my grandfathers 300 I-6 (which is a great engine) and so far the mileage according to the dash has dropped from 13.6 to 13.1. I have put my foot in it a couple of times and it does seem to have more punch once the truck is underway. From a stop light it almost feels more sluggish. Some of the taller overpasses in the area which used to kick it out of overdrive can now be taken in overdrive. But with it sounding like a Nissan instead of Ford's biggest I'd have to say the kit was a complete waste of money.

Actually, the truck had sufficient power until I drove the competitions large V8. Ford got out of the large gas engine business when they dropped the 7.5. I've tried to give the V10 a honest chance in this truck and my last and the truth is in real world driving, the 7.5 would out work it all day long and you didn't have to worry about flutter, piston slap or spark plug blowout.

I've always been Ford man and have no plans to change, I just wish they would put half as much effort and interest into their gas engines as they do the diesel.

 

You might give the system a couple of weeks and see if the ECM will adjust to the new free-flowing exhaust. I noticed that my truck seemed to run a little lean at first then it finally started to "richen" the fuel mix to compensate for the added flow.

As for the exhaust note, it too will change over time. But, if you are/were looking for a big-block V8 sound, you'll NEVER get it out of the V10. Might try doing some searches here and dig up some sound clips from other mufflers and see if you like their note better. Regardless, it sounds like the performance is there- even if you don't like the sound.

 

Did you install the Banks "Ottomind" along with the Power Pak? This might have an effect on the engine performance. This is what other Banks owners tell me.

 

13.1 MPG!
I can only dream about that kind of gas mileage!

 

yes I got the Otto-mind and the Trans Command shift module. It has great power at 2,500 rpm and up, but around 1900-2200 (which is where it is during most of my driving) it is worse than stock. I've been driving with OD off to get the rpms up and the truck seems happier. I typically drive 100-150 miles per day which is mostly highway and the indicator vary's between 13.4 to 13.6 mpg. Yesterday I had to do slightly more in town driving and it dropped to 12.5 but after driving home and then back to work this morning it is sitting on 13.2.

 

In the last two weeks I've installed, or had installed; Banks Stinger, <a href="http://motorhaven.autoanything.com/"><a href="http://motorhaven.autoanything.com/">Superchip</a>s</a> Micro tuner (thanks Ken) and ATR rotors and pads (thanks Dean) thanks to a great bonus from the Boeing Company and I couldn't be happier with the results.

Throttle response, acceleration and overall performance is greatly improved. The sound is OK, not like that of my old '68 Dart GTS, but still OK. Gas milage? Don't need no stinkin' gas milage!

Tick

 

Sorry you're not happy. I'll buy your banks kit off of you when you dump that POS V10....LOL.

Seriously, I've owned the 454/turbo 400, 460/C6 and 460/5speed and now the V10 and I can honestly say that the V10 is far and away the best between these 3. The stock '85 <a href="http://motorhaven.autoanything.com/">460 </a>and '87 454 were very close until I put the Edelbrock cam, manifold, timing gear set, Thorley headers on the 460. Only then did the mighty <a href="http://motorhaven.autoanything.com/">460 </a>wake up. Stock for stock the V10 would kill the 460's of old. All these combos have been tested with the same loads up and down Baker Grade between Vegas and LA.

On a couple of the major complaints I've seen here on the V10 were with the 3.73 gears. I do have the 4.30's and am very happy. Just an observation.

My best and only highway MPG check was from Vegas to LA at a mind numbing 70-75 MPH, I was right at 14 MPG. Overall I'm around 11MPG.

Considering I've got nearly 25 pounds more torque, 80 more horsepower, 3-4 MPG better fuel economy and a way smoother powerplant over the last 460's I'd say Ford did a heck of a job.

Now if they'd give us those 3 valve heads so we can go after the 8.1, I'd be ecstatic!!

 

Jakebrake may be on to something. I never liked the chips offered by Banks so I didn't have one on my V10 w/Powerpack. I'd pull the Ottomind and see if performance changes any. I will also note that my truck liked premium (93 octane) fuel- especially after the powerpack install.

 

I have a "quasai-PowerPack" in that I have the Banks headers with a Gibson cat-back. I just got my reprogrammed <a href="http://motorhaven.autoanything.com/">Diablo</a> installed and it is quite noticable! My <a href="http://motorhaven.autoanything.com/">Diablo</a> chip had to be pulled since the dealer reflashed my PCM right after I installed the headers. I was pleased with the headers even without the chip, but with the new chip, all I can say is WOW!!!

I have a manual transmission, so the improvement that I feel is not being generated by modifying shift points in a slush box. I can tell that there are more ponies coming out of the engine now.


Best regards,

Jeff

 

As you can see in my signature I have a Banks Power Pack on a V10, and 460.The V10 has a <a href="http://motorhaven.autoanything.com/">Diablo</a> chip and the <a href="http://motorhaven.autoanything.com/">460 </a>has an MSD ignition and the timing bumped to the high factory setting.

I like the <a href="http://motorhaven.autoanything.com/">460 </a>very much!
However,the V10 will flat whip it's a$$ everywhere,and the 02 SD even weighs quite a bit more than the 96,460.

If you want V8 sound you'll have to buy a V8.IMO,you'll be hard pressed to find a system that sounds better than the Banks on the V10.

If you want to hear a pathetic sounding V10 find a Dodge to listen to.

 

to be honest I do like the V10. My 03 V10 is much smoother and quieter than my 2000. It does seem to have more power in the higher rpms than the stock 460. I too had a Banks Power Pack installed on the 97 to get rid of that dead spot that the later 460's had in the power band. But for stop and go driving the <a href="http://www.motorhaven.com/">460 </a>with a 4.10 rear end seemed to have a little more get up and go than the V10 with a 3.73. There in lies my mistake. I should have gone with 4.30 gears and the second mistake was using the Banks system to make up the difference. It does have much better power once you are underway, yes, even more than the <a href="http://www.motorhaven.com/">460 </a>with the Banks and 4.10 rear end. But for some reason it seems to struggle in the 1500 to 2000 rpm range. This could be the Ottomind. I am going to disconnect it and see what happens.

Also, I did fill up with premium fuel as opposed to the regular grade I typically use and I could definately tell it seems to have a preference for the higher octane with the Banks kit installed. I guess the computer also has to acclimate to the new system. Should I have the ecm reflashed?

If Ford doesn't come out with a large V8 again, then I will not have a V8. I like the stock sound of the V10 over the enhanced sound. It is sort of like Teddy Roosevelt once said - "speak softly and carry a big stick."

 

I regret choosing the 3.73. It's not the gear of choice, especially for towing.

What do you guys mean when you say your Powerpack likes premium fuel? Banks feels that premium fuel is unecessary, and designs their systems without the need for it. I don't believe your computer makes any adjustment for premium fuel. IMHO, it's unecessary.

P.S., If your going to chip your Powerpacked V10 with anything but a Banks chip, a generic burn or the <a href="http://www.motorhaven.com/"><a href="http://www.motorhaven.com/">Microtuner</a></a> is not going to give you best power. It will also run lean. As explained to me over at another Ford site, "not lean enough to melt pistons, but too lean for best power". 'Al' at <a href="http://www.motorhaven.com/"><a href="http://www.motorhaven.com/"><a href="http://www.motorhaven.com/">Superchip</a></a>s</a> told me the same thing. A custom program will give you the correct #'s.

Take Care
D Buck
(formerly 3992824)

 

P.S., If your going to chip your Powerpacked V10 with anything but a Banks chip, a generic burn or the <a href="http://www.motorhaven.com/"><a href="http://www.motorhaven.com/">Microtuner</a></a> is not going to give you best power. It will also run lean. As explained to me "not lean enough to melt pistons, but too lean for best power".

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I purchased a <a href="http://www.motorhaven.com/">Diablo</a> Delta two program chip at this web site and it was custom burned with the Banks Power Pack taken into account.One program is for 91 octane and the other is for 93 octane.
I personally don't think the Ottomind option is worth the $$$ they get for it.IMO,a custom burned <a href="http://www.motorhaven.com/">Diablo</a> will accomplish more.

 

4x4x4x4, How log have you been running the <a href="http://www.motorhaven.com/">Diablo</a>, and what does your tailpipe look like. Are you confident with the program? What info did you provide when you ordered the chip?

Thanks
D Buck
(formerely 3992824)

 

LOL- I wonder if Mike T. was/is basing his information off of the information I gave him. Right after I installed the Powerpack on my (former) truck, I called him up to see about a <a href="http://www.motorhaven.com/">Superchip</a>- sorry Ken. He said he hadn't done one before, so he thought I should try the standard program. When I told him that my pipe was already turning white (indicates lean condition), he then said we should go with a custom program.

As an FYI, I didn't buy the chip. One of the important things I wanted was speedo correction and they couldn't do it for my V10's ECU code.

Anyway, it was a month or so later that the pipe started to "darken" again. Which, to me, indicates that the ECU was learning to richen the fuel mix on it's own. Because of this, I think it may be possible to run the standard chip program. However, I would definitely keep an eye on things to make sure the truck doesn't start running too lean.


On the issue of premium fuel...
Don't know what to say other than the truck towed noticeably better, ran stronger empty and even got slightly better MPG on premium fuel. Is there a knock sensor on the V10?